The 47th annual Country Music Association (CMA) Awards saw big wins for Taylor Swift and George Strait Wednesday night in Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
Strait won his third entertainer of the year award after taking home the illustrious prize in 1989 and1990. "This blows me away," said Strait. "I just cannot believe it. You guys that are nominated are such powerful entertainers. I'm just thrilled to even be nominated again."
A bitter-sweet moment as the 61-year-old country music icon starts the final leg of his The Cowboy Rides Away tour. His farewell tour will kick off again Jan. 9, 2014 at Bossier City, La.'s CenturyLink and ending sometime after May at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Receiving a video tribute including congratulations from Mick Jagger, Justin Timberlake and actress Julia Roberts, Swift earned the Pinnacle Award. The coveted prize are given to country music artists who spread the genre's reach to a wider audience.
Critics including New York Times writer Jon Caramanica testified about Swift's true standing as a country artist.
"The only way for country music to respond to [Swift] - and for her to engage with country music, a dance partner she only sometimes favors - is to fete her endlessly, to let her be both serious in addition to frilly, to weave her even more tightly into the fabric of Nashville," Caramanica wrote.
American Idol winner Carrie Underwood and former The Voice guest coach Brad Paisley hosted the night's ceremonies.
Complete list of CMA Awards winners below:
Musical Event of the Year - "Highway Don't Care" (Announced Earlier) Tim McGraw (with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban)
Music Video of the Year - "Highway Don't Care" (Announced Earlier) Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
Single of the Year - "Cruise" by Florida Georgia Line
Vocal Duo of the Year - Florida Georgia Line
Musician of the Year - Mac McAnally
New Artist of the Year - Kacey Musgraves
Album of the Year - Blake Shelton "Based on a True Story"
Vocal Group of the Year - Little Big Town
Female Vocalist of the Year - Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year - Blake Shelton
Entertainer of the Year - George Strait
