MUMBAI: Country star Blake Shelton swept the Country Music Association awards on Thursday, winning three trophies, including the coveted ‘Entertainer Of The Year’ prize.
Shelton, 36, fended off challenges from other nominees like newcomer Jason Aldean, country-pop sensation Taylor Swift, veterans Brad Paisley and Kenny Chesney. He has not released an album since Red River Blue in July 2011.
He shared Song Of The Year honor with wife, Miranda Lambert, for ballad ‘Over You’, while Lambert took home the Female Vocalist prize, also for the third time. ‘The Voice’ star also won male vocalist of the year award.
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Swift, who won the Entertainer Of The Year last year and in 2009, and Aldean both came away empty-handed. Eric Church, who went into awards show with a leading five nominations, went home with one award – ‘Album Of The Year’ for ‘Chief’.
“Entertainer of the year? What are you talking about? I know I am not out there on the road as much. I don’t know how this happened. I freaking love it though. I know I have a side job”, Shelton said, referring to his role as a judge in reality singing contest ‘The Voice’, “but country music is still what I love doing.”
Hunter Hayes won new artist of the year, while Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw won musical event of the year for ‘Party Like a Rock Star’ and Toby Keith won video of the year for ‘Red Solo Cup’.
The ceremony also paid tribute to singer and songwriter Willie Nelson, 79, and his storied career, presenting him with the inaugural Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement award.
