It was another star-studded night in Nashville's Bridgestone Arena where the 47th Country Music Association Award was held on Wednesday. While Taylor Swift took away the Pinnacle Award, veteran country crooner George Strait was honoured with the Entertainer of the Year Award.
The Pinnacle Award is given to artists who take the genre to an international level and give it a worldwide audience. Swift is the second artist to win the prestigious award. Garth Brooks won it in 2005. A group of renowned artists came to present the honors, including Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, , Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and George Strait, according to CBS News.
"I just know that this had to have taken a lot of people to make this decision to give this to me," Swift said, "You're not only rewarding my hard work and exhaustion, you're rewarding the hard work and exhaustion of my family and my label and anyone who works with me. And, most of all, the fans who filled stadiums. I love you."
Swift was nominated in nine categories for the CMA 2013, including the biggest award of the night - The Entertainer of the Year- which went to the veteran Texan musician George Strait.
The win was Strait's first since 1990. Moreover, since he is retiring from the road after he completes his 'Cowboy Rides Away' tour, it is the perfect way to end a brilliant career.
"What? Oh my gosh, never in a million years," Strait exclaimed on receiving the award. This blows me away, I cannot believe it. ... This means the world to me I appreciate it," he said, reported Reuters.
Other winners are Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and Lee Brice. Check out all the categories, nominees and winners in this list here.
Hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood cut through all the emotion and touchy-feely atmosphere with their hilarious, tongue-in-cheek emceeing. Underwood was quite appreciated for her fashion sense too.
Check out who did what best here.
