Carrie Underwood Extends CMT Awards Series

Carrie Underwood has extended her career as the most decorated act in the history of the CMT Music Awards with her 20th win on Wednesday night.

Underwood won two awards at the fan – voted show, including the year – long video for "Cry Pretty" and the female video of the year for "Love Wins".

"Fans, thank you very much. I saw you celebrate on Twitter, get together, do your job and vote, "she said. "None of us would be able to do what we do if it was not for you. You put us here. You make us continue. You let us live our dreams.

When she won the first televised award of the night, Underwood celebrated her husband's birthday (she is married to former hockey player Mike Fisher, who was sitting in the audience).

"It's my husband's birthday today. Look what they bought you, "she said.

The Grammy-winning country star also played at the show, which celebrated the best country music videos of the year at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.

Thomas Rhett, Little Big Town and Trombone Shorty gave the kickoff to the event with a performance of "Do not threaten me with a good time". Other collaborative performances followed: Brett Young sang "Here Tonight" with Boyz II Men, even blending into the R & B group "Water Runs Dry" for performance. Sheryl Crow and Maren Morris teamed up on the stage, while Tanya Tucker – whose new album will be produced by Brandi Carlile – sang "Delta Dawn" with Grammy-winning American singer Americana Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Lauren Alaina and several others.

Little Big Town, who also played and came back for a second year as the show's host, spoke of the lack of female singers on country radio before the strong female performance. This week, in the Billboard Airplay chart, which retraces the radio broadcast, only 10 of the 60 slot machines belong to women or songs featuring a woman.

"In December, the situation was even worse – there was none," said Karen Fairchild of Little Big Town. "Here's my question, ladies at home:" What should we do to have some antenna time here? "

Little Big Town told jokes at the top of the series and even sang excerpts from "Old Town Road", the country rap hit No. 1 of newcomer Lil Nas X, which had been launched in the song chart Billboard country, while the melody was not considered relevant. country enough.

Dan + Shay – who won a Grammy Award this year as well as Academy of Country Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards – maintained his year of victory by winning the video duo of the year for "Speechless".

Shay Mooney thanked "the real stars of the video" – their wives – when they accepted the award.

Zac Brown Band won the group video of the year for "Someone I knew before" and his leader was passionate when he read his speech in a newspaper.

"For you, young artists, have the courage to fight against the machine, be yourself, work hard and one day you can stand up and tell all enemies to" take revenge, "said Zac Brown.

When Ashley McBryde won the video breakthrough title of the year, she took a glass of Luke Combs as she headed for the stage.

"I am still uncomfortable and I usually bring my drink with me, but as I had not gone for a drink, I took the glass of Luke Combs, "said McBryde, author of the Grammy and Emmy nominations this year.

Keith Urban and Julia Michaels – the pop singer who co-wrote the hits for Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez and herself – won the collaborative video of the year for "Coming Home," while Kane Brown won the male video clip of the year for "Lose It. "

Luke Combs and R & B singer Leon Bridges – who won his first Grammy this year – won the CMT performance of the year for "Beautiful Crazy" in the "CMT Crossroads" series.

"First, my beautiful fiancée Nicole – thank you for having inspired this song," said Combs.