Nashville's big winners

Nashville was abuzz Wednesday night as the Country Music Association presented the 42nd Annual CMA Awards.

Event co-host Carrie Underwood [shown] said during her Female Vocalist of the Year Award acceptance speech, "I got here through an unconventional way, and you guys didn't have to accept me at all. Everybody in town, everybody in Nashville, everybody in the country music community has been so great."

Taking home two trophies for Single of the Year and Album of the Year, George Strait now proudly holds a total of 22 CMA Awards, more than any other artist in the history of the event.

Tied with Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney was presented his fourth Entertainer of the Year Award.

The evening included performances from Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Alan Jackson, Big Kenny, Kid Rock, The Eagles and Trace Adkins.

Hollywood's Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman joined the country music ranks as presenters during the industry's biggest night.

The 2008 CMA Winners are:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Brad Paisley

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Carrie Underwood

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Rascal Flats

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Sugarland

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
I Saw God Today - George Strait

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Troubadour - George Strait

SONG OF THE YEAR
Stay - Jennifer Nettles

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
Gone, Gone, Gone - Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Waitin' on a Woman - Brad Paisley and Jim Shea

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Mac McAnally

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Tom T. Hall
Emmylou Harris
The Statler Brothers
Ernest V. "Pop" Stoneman

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