NASHVILLE, TN  [Wednesday Nov.8.2006]  /WMQT.com/ -- The milestone 40th Annual CMA Awards show at the Gaylord Entertainment center in Nashville was the biggest CMA awards show ever staged in music city just by the sheer numbers of fans and music industry folks able to pour into the show. The show, broadcast on ABC TV had great performances and record breaking wins.

Brooks&Dunn had an enormous presence, not only because they served as host, but also because the won big. Brooks & Dunn took home the most wins, including Music Video, and Single and song of the Year for "Believe," and their unprecedented fourteenth Vocal Duo of the Year Award. These three Awards bring Brooks & Dunn's overall CMA Awards tally to 18, tying Vince Gill's record for most wins. "It's really good to win," Kix Brooks said backstage. "We are prepared every year to clap for someone else. We are surprised that voters aren't tired of seeing us win every year."

Ronnie Dunn also picked up his first Song of the Year Award with 2004 Song of the Year winner Craig Wiseman for "Believe," a song about hope and redemption with a Gospel feel. "It's an amazing song and I am blown away by it," Wiseman said backstage after praising his co-writer. "Every time I hear it it's like I hear it for the first time." The duo, who took their third turn as hosts of the CMA Awards, opened the show with "Building Bridges" with Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow, which was nominated for Musical Event of the Year.

BRAD PAISLEY picked up two Awards, including Musical Event of the Year for "When I Get Where I'm Going" featuring Dolly Parton and Album of the Year for Time Well Wasted. Paisley performed "She's Everything," from Time Well Wasted.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD had said before the show that if she only one award last she most wanted The Horizon award because, she said, "You only have one shot at that award when you're new." So, she was understandably happy about taking the award she wanted, ""Thank you so much! It took so many people to make this have this year be as successful as it was. Thank you country radio, thank you fans. To Arista, thank you American Idol, thank you fans, thank you, thank you, you don't know how much this means to me. Thank you God, thank you mom and dad," Carrie exclaimed. At that point Carrie thought that was her big win of the night, until she blew past some of the biggest female artists in country music to take Female Vocalist of the Year as well.

Carrie was nearly overcome with emotion as she accepted the second award, "Oh my gosh! You guys, two years ago I sitting home watching these awards watching everybody win and having the best night of their lives and this is the best night of my life!"


KENNY CHESNEY was extremely pleased to accept his second CMA Entertainer of the Year award. "The relationship that I have with all of the people back there in the back is unbelievable," Chesney said from the stage. Backstage, Chesney could not say enough about his fans. "To see those people come hear the songs I sing ­ it's bigger than anything I have ever dreamed." Chesney performed current single "You Save Me" from his double-Platinum album The Road and the Radio.


KEITH URBAN, in absentia, won his third consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year Award, matching George Strait who won in 1996 through 1998. In the event that he won this award, he gave his friend, Ronnie Dunn a letter to read as he accepted the award on Keith's behalf. "I'm pained not being here tonight," Urban wrote. "I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I look forward to coming home and seeing you soon."


RASCAL FLATTS MADE IT FOUR VOCAL GROUP WINS IN A ROW The trio of talented men of Rascal Flatts had accomplished so much on the charts, in record sales and tour, that this was the one category where the outcome was a surprise to nobody including their competition. "We've had an amazing year," lead singer Gary LeVox said. "Thank you to God for giving us a stage to perform on every night." BRAD PAISLEY PICKED UP TWO AWARDS Brad Paisley collected two wins for Musical Event of the Year, with Dolly for "When I Get Where I'm Going."

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