The crossover man who puts the “meh” into amehricana, Chris Staplegun has done it again. Oh and people should be prosecuted for beating Jerry Douglas in any category. Rolling Stone reports: “The 51st CMA Awards were held in Nashville on Wednesday, with Garth Brooks taking home the night’s top honor of Entertainer of the Year for the sixth time in his storied career. Brooks, who triumphed over Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Eric Church, returned from hiatus in 2014 and launched a sprawling world tour that will continue through the end of 2017. Brothers Osborne and Chris Stapleton wound up as the night’s most-awarded performers, with two wins each.
Stapleton’s From A Room: Volume 1 was named Album of the Year, beating out a stack of critically acclaimed releases that included Miranda Lambert’s The Weight of These Wings and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s The Nashville Sound. Stapleton previously won Album of the Year in 2015 for Traveller. He also added to his streak in the Male Vocalist of the Year category, beating out Dierks Bentley, Eric Church, Keith Urban and Thomas Rhett for his third consecutive win.
In a repeat from 2016, Brothers Osborne were named Vocal Duo of the Year, beating out a field that included Florida Georgia Line and Dan + Shay. TJ and John Osborne also took home a second award in the Music Video of the Year category for their action-packed send-up of Donald Trump in “It Ain’t My Fault,” directed by Ryan Silver and Wes Edwards. Additionally, the siblings performed on the telecast, combining their sinewy punch of “It Ain’t My Fault” with the late Don Williams’ funky “Tulsa Time.”
Jon Pardi won the first CMA Award of his career, taking home the New Artist of the Year prize after a breakthrough year with hits such as “Head Over Boots,” “Dirt on My Boots” and “Heartache on the Dance Floor.”
Many past winners refused to be unseated from their respective categories. Miranda Lambert extended her reign as Female Vocalist of the Year, taking the category for the seventh consecutive time. Meanwhile, Little Big Town collected their sixth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year win. The vocal quartet also accepted the Song of the Year award for “Better Man” on behalf of its writer, Taylor Swift. The night’s big winner Brooks was himself a repeat champ: he took home Entertainer of the Year at the 2016 show.
Keith Urban’s “Blue Ain’t Your Color” was named Single of the Year, giving the Aussie performer his 11th career win. Guitarist Mac McAnally was named Musician of the Year, marking his ninth win in the category. “Funny How Time Slips Away,” which the late Glen Campbell recorded with Willie Nelson for his farewell album Adios, won Musical Event of the Year.
Here’s the complete winners list:
Entertainer of the Year
Garth Brooks – WINNER
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Chris Stapleton
Keith Urban
Album of the Year
The Breaker – Little Big Town
From A Room: Vol. 1 – Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Heart Break – Lady Antebellum
The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
The Weight of These Wings – Miranda Lambert
Single of the Year
“Better Man” – Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban – WINNER
“Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt
“Dirt on My Boots” – Jon Pardi
“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert
Song of the Year
“Better Man” – Little Big Town (songwriter: Taylor Swift) – WINNER
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban (songwriters: Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey, Steven Olsen)
“Body Like a Back Road” – Sam Hunt (songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne)
“Dirt on My Boots” – Jon Pardi (songwriters: Rhett Akins, Jesse Frasure, Ashley Gorley)
“Tin Man” – Miranda Lambert (songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert, Jon Randall)
Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Eric Church
Thomas Rhett
Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Keith Urban
Female Vocalist of the Year
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert – WINNER
Reba McEntire
Maren Morris
Carrie Underwood
New Artist of the Year
Luke Combs
Old Dominion
Jon Pardi – WINNER
Brett Young
Lauren Alaina
Vocal Duo of the Year
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line
LoCash
Maddie and Tae
Brothers Osborne – WINNER
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town – WINNER
Old Dominion
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
Music Video of the Year
“Better Man” – Little Big Town
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris
“It Ain’t My Fault” – Brothers Osborne – WINNER
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
Musical Event of the Year
“Craving You” – Thomas Rhett feat. Maren Morris
“Funny How Time Slips Away” – Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson – WINNER
“Kill a Word” – Eric Church feat. Rhiannon Giddens
“Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney with Pink
“Speak to a Girl” – Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas (Dobro)
Paul Franklin (Steel guitar)
Dann Huff (Guitar)
Mac McAnally (Guitar) – WINNER
Derek Wells (Guitar)
