BMI Songwriters Dominate 45th Annual CMA Awards
Taylor Swift led the resounding charge of BMI’s new country vanguard at the 45th annual CMA Awards, held Wednesday, November 9 in Nashville. Swift earned her second Entertainer of the Year title, just one day after taking home an armful of BMI hardware at the BMI Country Awards for penning “Back to December,” “Mine,” and “Fearless.”
BMI songwriters took home more a walloping 76% of the CMA’s trophies, proving that BMI’s country repertoire remains unmatched thanks to its inclusion of the genre’s legends, current leaders, and most promising new voices.
Newlyweds Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton earned trophies for Female and Male Vocalist of the Year, respectively, capping off their red-letter year. Lambert and Shelton join fellow BMI songwriters Faith Hill and Tim McGraw as the only married artists ever to win the vocalist honors in the same year.
Jason Aldean scored his first two CMA Awards: Album of the Year for My Kinda Party and Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Want to Stay.”
The Band Perry also earned their first CMA gold for Single of the Year for “If I Die Young” and New Artist of the Year. Front woman Kimberly Perry also claimed Song of the Year honors for “If I Die Young,” which she wrote. The song earned Perry her first BMI Country Award the previous evening.
BMI groups fared well: Lady Antebellum claimed their third Vocal Group of the Year win, while Sugarland scored Vocal Duo of the Year honors for the fifth time. Kenny Chesney walked away with Video of the Year honors for “You and Tequila.”
For the fourth year, BMI songwriter/artist Carrie Underwood co-hosted the ceremony, which featured an all-star tribute to BMI legend Glen Campbell. BMI songwriters Vince Gill and Keith Urban paid homage to the iconic singer and guitar player by performing “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” and “Wichita Lineman,” respectively.
The show also welcomed Faith Hill back to its stage for her first CMA Awards performance in five years. In a rollicking mash-up of pioneer and current chart-topper, BMI songwriters Gregg Allman and Zac Brown partnered for “Georgia On My Mind.” Blake Shelton, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Hank Williams, Jr. and others also delivered crowd-pleasing performances.
For more information on the 2011 CMA Awards, visit cmaawards.cmaworld.com
Entertainer of the Year
Taylor Swift
Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton
New Artist of the Year
The Band Perry
Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Vocal Duo of the Year
Sugarland
Album of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
My Kinda Party
Jason Aldean
Broken Bow Records
Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer(s))
“If I Die Young”
The Band Perry
Republic Nashville
Song of the Year
(Award goes to Songwriter(s))
“If I Die Young”
Kimberly Perry
Musical Event of the Year
(Award goes to each Artist)
“Don’t You Wanna Stay”
Jason Aldean
Broken Bow Records
Music Video of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
“You and Tequila”
Kenny Chesney
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