Blake Shelton Dominates CMAs, Taylor Swift Gets Snubbed

by UInterviewNovember 2, 2012, 12:00 amNews >

The 46th Country Music Association Awards, hosted by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, were marked by a forgettable night for one artist, a memorable night for another, and a slew of performances from country music's elite.

It was a rough night for Taylor Swift as hosts Underwood and Paisley mocked Swift’s recent breakup with Conor Kennedy, as well as her new hit single from the album, Red, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” Upon bringing up the breakup, Paisley asked, “Are they ever getting back together?” which then prompted Paisley and Underwood to go on a back-and-forth run of “never, ever, never, ever," before Paisley finally said, “Maybe she’ll write a song about it.”

The evening turned out doubly depressing for Swift, who walked away empty-handed despite being nominated in the three categories of Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for “Safe and Sound” with the Civil Wars, her Hunger Games theme song.

On the flipside, The Voice coach Blake Shelton, 36, claimed three of the biggest awards of the evening: Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year for "Over You" — an honor he shared with wife Miranda Lambert, 28. "When I moved to Nashville in 1994," Shelton said during one of his many acceptance speeches, "I had two goals: one day to have a gold record, and one day to be a member of the Grand Ole Opry," he said. "Entertainer of the year — what is this? … I don't know how this happened, but I freaking love it."

The three-hour event also featured performances of "The Only Way I Know" by Luke Bryan and Eric Church, "One of Those Nights" by Tim McGraw, "Begin Again" by Swift, as well as songs by Jason Aldean, Lambert, Zac Brown Band, Dierks Bentley, The Band Perry, Eli Young Band, Little Big Town, Hunter Hayes, Faith Hill, Brantley Gilbert, Keith Urban, Paisley, Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney, and — last but not least — Lifetime Achievement winner Willie Nelson, in a collaborative tribute to him.

And don't feel too badly for Swift. Paisley and Underwood may be laughing at her, but she's laughing all the way to the bank — Red sold more than 1.2 million copies in its first week.

Other winners include:

Vocal Group of the Year — Little Big Town

Single of the Year — “Pontoon,” Little Big Town

Album of the Year — Chief, Eric Church

Musical Event of the Year — "Feel Like a Rock Star," Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw

Musician of the Year — Mac McAnally

Music Video of the Year — "Red Solo Cup," Toby Keith

New Artist of the Year — Hunter Hayes