Taylor takes home Song of the Year Award with 'Better Man', while Keith is presented with Single of the Year Award for his 'Blue Ain't Your Color'.
- Nov 9, 2017
AceShowbiz - The 2017 Country Music Association Awards has officially started. Darius Rucker kicked off the event hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley at Nashville Bridgestone Arena with an all-star performance of "Hold My Hand". The 51-year-old singer was joined by Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire.
After the opening performance, which was dedicated to all the victims of the numerous tragedies that have struck America in recent months, co-host Brad said that it was the best way to honor fans. "The best way to honor our fans is to play our music, loud and proud," he said. "This year's show is dedicated to all those we've lost and all those who are still hesitating."
Couldn't ask for a better way to open the 51st #CMAawards! Watch NOW on @ABCNetwork! pic.twitter.com/CnDKjpCdx6
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) 9 November 2017
The hosts, who previously promised that they would make this year's event entertaining again, then took a jab at Donald Trump by singing a parody of Carrie's "Before He Cheats". They rhymed, "Right now, he's probably in his Pjs/ Watching cable news/ Reaching for his cell phone/ In the middle of the night from the privacy of a gold-plated white toilet seat/ He writing Liddle' Bob Corker, NFL and covfefe."
.@BradPaisley & @CarrieUnderwood's host opening gave us ALL the feels! #CMAawards - it's LIVE now on @ABCNetwork! pic.twitter.com/kDHmwSdPzN
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) 9 November 2017
Afterwards, it was announced that Taylor Swift, who is currently reigning as a pop artist, won Song of the Year Award for writing Little Big Town's hit song "Better Man". Taylor couldn't come to the event, so Little Big Town accepted the award on her behalf.
"We didn't write this," the group's frontman Karen Fairchild joked. "We're really grateful that Philip checked his e-mail one night and that song was in his e-mail. We want to say thank to Taylor Swift. She couldn't be here tonight with us. Taylor, wherever you are, thank you for writing this beautiful song, and loving songs and loving Nashville. To the fans, to the country radio, thanks for being so good to us."
Keith Urban was later announced as the winner of Single of the Year Award with his song "Blue Ain't Your Color". The song beat out Little Big Town's "Better Man", Sam Hunt's "Body Like a Back Road", Jon Pardi's "Dirt on My Boots" and Miranda Lambert's "Tin Man".
