Taylor Swift accepts award for Entertainer of the Year at the 45th annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 9, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images)

The 45^th Annual CMA Awards is in the books and it was another year to remember. Two artists took home their first CMA honors, a living legend was honored by three of country music’s biggest stars and another superstar made her return to the CMA stage for the first time in five years, just to name a few of the highlights. In no particular order, here are our Top 10 Moments from this year’s CMA Awards:

Taylor Swift – Taylor took home the biggest prize of the night when her name was called for Entertainer of The Year for the second time. “I am so happy right now!” Taylor exclaimed after accepting her award from Reba McEntire. Taylor thanked the artists who joined her for special appearances during her tour, reading each of their names from a list on her arm. She also thanked her fans for filling arenas and stadiums across the country night after night. “I’m so happy we had so many to play for this year,” she said. “You have made my year. Thank you so much!” Taylor also debuted new music during the show, performing “Ours” acoustically.

The Band Perry – It was a big night for The Band Perry, who won their first  CMA awards, taking home three trophies by the end of the night.  The sibling trio won Single of the Year for their hit “If I Die Young” and Kimberly Perry was honored as the track’s songwriter  with the Song of the Year award. “Thank you to the beautiful fans of country music,” Kimberly said while accepting the Single of the Year trophy. “It is the joy of our whole lives to sing this song night after night.”

The trio also won the CMA for New Artist of the Year. “We just wanted to thank everybody so much for the last few years that you’ve given my brothers and me,” Kimberly said with her brothers, Neil and Reid Perry, by her side. “We promise to keep working hard every day out on the road and here at home in Nashville to continue to earn this award. Thank you so much for the honor of tonight.”

Jason Aldean – Always a nominee but never a winner, Jason finally heard his name called. Jason took home two awards, one for Musical Event of the Year for “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” his duet with Kelly Clarkson, as well as the coveted Album of the Year award for his triple platinum My Kinda Party. A visibly-moved Jason thanked his wife Jessica for “putting up with my schedule and everything that’s been going on over the past few years” while accepting his Album of the Year trophy. He also thanked his producer, Michael Knox, and gave a shout out to his daughters, saying he hoped they were in bed soon.

“I definitely think Album of the Year is a big one,” Jason said backstage. “From the guys who play on every song to the producer to the management to the label. It’s kind of a group win. To me, it’s big. Hopefully this album will be around long after I’m gone.”

See photos from this year’s CMA Awards Red Carpet! >>

Glen Campbell Tribute –Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley teamed up for a moving tribute to country music legend Glen Campbell. The three performed a medley of Glen’s hits “By the Time I Get To Oklahoma,” “Wichita Lineman” and “Galveston” with Jimmy Webb, the man who penned the songs, joining in on piano. Glen, who announced earlier this year he’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and embarked on his farewell tour, sang along in the audience before joining the group onstage. “It was awesome, it really was,” Glen said backstage after the performance. “The whole thing was just wonderful.” Continue Reading

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Robert Plant and Patty Griffin, with Gregg Allman, perform "Glory, Glory Hallelujah" during the finale of the 10th Annual Americana Honors and Awards Show. Photo by Erika Goldring.

Robert Plant’s Band of Joy picked up album of the year honors, and Buddy Miller earned an Artist of the Year nod, during the Americana Music Association’s 10th Annual Honors and Awards tonight at Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium.

The event celebrated a year of the best in roots music. It opened with a moving tribute to the late John Hartford, represented by an unaccompanied banjo and bolo hat side stage,  followed by Buddy Miller, Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Jerry Douglas and Don Was performing “I’ll Fly Away” in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the O’ Brother Where Art Thou? soundtrack.

Jim Lauderdale served again as master of ceremonies, his ninth in-a-row, while Miller led an all-star house band comprised of famed record producer Don Was on bass, Cody and Luther Dickinson on drums, guitars and various other instruments, Greg Leisz on steel guitar and John Deaderick on keys. Adding harmonies were The McCrary Sisters: Ann, Regina and Alfreda.

It was a big night for Miller, winning not only the Artist of the Year Award, but adding another Instrumentalist of the Year Award to his treasure chest of Americana trophies, now totaling twelve. Raul Malo and Carrie Rodriguez handed him the award. Marshall Chapman presented him with the Artist of the Year.

The 2009 New/Emerging Artist Justin Townes Earle cemented his place as one of Americana Music’s heirs apparent by picking up Song of the Year for “Harlem River Blues.”  John Oates and Mindy Smith presented.

The Avett Brothers walked away with another Duo/Group of the Year win, their third after winning in 2007 and 2010 and fourth overall,  while Mumford and Sons were crowned New/Emerging Artist of the Year. Mark Olsen and Gary Louris of The Jayhawks presented the Duo/Group  Award; The Greencards, winners in 2006, presented New/Emerging Artist.

Other award highlights of the night included a tearful Lucinda Williams accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award for songwriting from record executive Luke Lewis, who last year earned the Lifetime Achievement Award for Executive. She followed it with a haunting performance of “Blessed.”

Buddy Miller accepts his Instrumentalist of the year award, one of two he collected at the 10th Annual Americana Honors and Awards Show. Photo by Erika Goldring.

Joining Williams in the Lifetime Achievement categories,  the legendary Gregg Allman received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Performance. Allman is one of the architects of Southern Rock and member of the Allman Brothers Band.  Keb Mo handled the presenting honors.

Alison Krauss gave the Lifetime Achievement Award for Instrumentalist to Jerry Douglas, equally revered for his solo work, session playing, and as a longtime member of Krauss’ Union Station.

R&B Legend Candi Staton presented the Jack Emerson Lifetime Achievement for Executive to Rick Hall, whose groundbreaking production work at FAME Studios created the Muscle Shoals sound, a unique style that crossed musical formats.  Afterward, she took to the Ryman stage to sing her hit “Heart On A String.”

Bob Harris crossed the pond to accept his Trailblazer Award from Emmylou Harris. The celebrated radio host and journalist works as a tireless advocate for exceptional artistry, playing a pivotal role in exposing listeners to rising talent, no matter the genre.

The annual Americana Award Show was peppered with standout performances, from Amos Lee (“Cup of Sorrow”), Elizabeth Cook (“El Camino”), Earle (“Harlem River Blues”), Jessica Lea Mayfield (“For Today”), Hayes Carll (“KMAG YOYO”), The Secret Sisters (“Why Don’t You Love Me?”), Miller (“Gasoline and Matches”), The Civil Wars (“Barton Hollow”), The Avett Brothers (“The Once and Future Carpenter”) and Plant (“Monkey”).

The event was broadcast live throughout Middle Tennessee on Nashville Public Television (NPT).  An abridged version will be broadcast on PBS stations nationwide on November 19th (check local listings) as a special episode of  Austin City Limits Presents.

2011 Americana Honors and Awards recipients

ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Band Of Joy, ROBERT PLANT

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: BUDDY MILLER

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR:  BUDDY MILLER

NEW / EMERGING ARTIST: MUMFORD AND SONS

SONG OF THE YEAR: Continue Reading

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Marty Stuart will be attending the Americana Music Association Festival & Conference, October 12-15, 2011.

Lucinda Williams, Peter Rowan, Nanci Griffith, James McMurtry and the Blind Boys of Alabama will attend the Americana Music Association Festival & Conference, to be held in Nashville October 12-15. More than twenty additional artists including Sierra Hull, Will Hoge, Marty Stuart and Matraca Berg are scheduled to appear during the event.

The Americana Music Festival & Conference will include showcases, luncheons, a trade show and a panel discussion. The Honors & Awards presentation at the Ryman Auditorium on October 13 is one of the highlights of the event and will feature Lucinda as well as Jim Lauderdale, Robert Plant and the Band of Joy, Gregg Allman, Hayes Carll, The Civil Wars, Elizabeth Cook, Justin Townes Earle, Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Secret Sisters and more. Continue Reading

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Tim McGraw photo courtesy of Curb Nashville.

When Gregg Allman showed up Tuesday with Tim McGraw on “The Jay Leno Show,” it was a bit of an event, though maybe not quite as unusual an event as it would have been in years gone by.

Gregg was an appropriate musical partner — after all, Tim’s current single “Southern Voice,” which he performed on “Leno,” namechecks the Allman Brothers along with Tom Petty and Chuck Berry.

But Gregg’s hardly the only pop star or rocker with an attachment to country these days. The Zac Brown Band’s “Toes” is co-written with singer-songwriter Shawn Mullins, who referred to Los Angeles as “Nashville with a tan” in his 1998 pop hit “Lullaby.” Carrie Underwood’s “Cowboy Casanova” counts Mike Elizondo, who’s worked with Maroon 5 and Snoop Dogg, among its writers. Brooks & Dunn’s “Honky Tonk Stomp” gets a signature vocal stamp from ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons. Jimmy Wayne enlisted Daryl Hall & John Oates to back him on his remake of “Sara Smile.” And Darius Rucker came to country music after first establishing himself in Hootie + The Blowfish.

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Tim McGraw photo by Danny Clinch, courtesy of Curb Records.

Tim McGraw releases his new Southern Voice album Tuesday, and in gearing up for the street date, he’ll appear this weekend with host Nan Kelley on GAC’s Top 20 Country Countdown.

The album’s first single, “It’s A Business Doing Pleasure With You,” was written in part by Chad Kroeger of the rock band Nickelback, and his current hit, “Southern Voice,” namechecks such rockers as Chuck Berry, Tom Petty, Jerry Lee Lewis and the Allman Brothers. In fact, Gregg Allman will sit in with Tim when he performs “Southern Voice” on “The Jay Leno Show” Oct. 27.

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