New York City was the place to be on November 15th as the CMA awards took center stage in a new venue. Brooks & Dunn hosted the awards and seemed a whole lot more comfortable this year!

If you missed this show, you missed a bunch of fun and excitement. Garth Brooks performed his tribute to Chris LeDoux in Times Square (do we all really think he is going to stay retired?), Lee Ann Womack came out the big winner with 3 awards and Keith Urban made history with his 2 wins. It was a fun show and dare I say it? It came off better than this years ACM’s in this viewers opinion.

As the show started, we were treated to Lee Ann Womack winning the first award of the evening and proclaiming “I love Country Music”! She looked to be totally shocked to have won the Single of the Year award and they kept coming for her, she also won for Album of the Year and Musical Event of the Year (with George Strait).

Keith Urban made CMA history by being the first act to win the Horizon Award (2001), Male Vocalist of the Year (2004 & 2005) and Entertainer of the Year (2005). As Keith accepted the awards he said it was all the more special because his Mum was there to witness his triumph. Dierks Bentley was so sure he wasn’t going to win the Horizon Award that he didn’t have any type of speech prepared.

It was great to see Alabama and Glen Campbell again as they were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Both acts were grateful for the fame that they have achieved and to be honored for their accomplishments. The family of Deford Bailey were on hand to see his induction, they looked to be thrilled and excited.

Brooks & Dunn and Rascal Flatts were both repeat winners in their categories and talked about how happy they are that the fans are still coming to their shows and supporting their music. Gretchen Wilson won for Female Vocalist of the Year and did her best not to a “crybaby” this year, but by the end of her speech was tearing up from the emotion of winning for the second time.

Horizon Award
Dierks Bentley

Single of the Year
I May Hate Myself in the Morning
Lee Ann Womack

Album of the Year
There’s More Where That Came From
Lee Ann Womack – MCA Nashville

Music Video of the Year
As Good As I Once Was – Toby Keith

Musical Event of the Year
Good News, Bad News
George Strait w/Lee Ann Womack

Song of the Year
Whiskey Lullaby

Female Vocalist of the Year
Gretchen Wilson

Male Vocalist of the Year
Keith Urban

Vocal Group of the Year
Rascal Flatts

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn

Entertainer of the Year
Keith Urban