Author: Jeff Gage / Source: Rolling Stone
Keith Urban was named Entertainer of the Year at the 52nd CMA Awards in Nashville.
Stephen Lovekin/REX/Shutterstock
Karen Fairchild had to compose herself as she opened the envelope for Album of the Year at the 52nd CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday night.
Surrounded by her Little Big Town bandmates, she closed her eyes, her face relaxing as though silently giving thanks, then said, gently, “This is for all the little girls writing songs out there.”The winner was Kacey Musgraves, the only female artist nominated in the category and the first to win it in nearly half a decade. Based on sales alone, that supposedly all-important country music metric, her Golden Hour LP was a massive underdog. But as far as bold artistic leaps of faith go, it was a worthy choice — not that Musgraves seemed any less genuinely surprised for having won because of it.
“This is really, really crazy timing, because I just realized this morning — it sounds like a lie — 10 years ago today I moved to Nashville,” said Musgraves, who took the stage in a suit and tie rather than one of the many long, flowing dresses that populated Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday. “I’m so proud of [Golden Hour]. It’s inspired by this beautiful universe, all of you, and most of all love.”
On a night of flashy performances and all-star crossovers, Musgraves’ victory reveal was one of the most touching interludes, a small gesture made to feel immeasurably big. Though she returned later on for a rendition of “Slow Burn” that was simmering and poised, there were few other moments that matched it for unscripted emotion, save for Carrie Underwood being named Female Vocalist of the Year.
Underwood, who performed a striking “Love Wins” with the help of 30 or so backup singers, was back to share hosting duties with Brad Paisley almost a year to the day after a fall that required roughly 50 stitches in her face — an event that received an uncomfortable parody in the form of a bubble-wrap dress during the monologue. When the camera caught her backstage after the announcement, she was visibly…
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