NAN-ELS-1
Awards
Nashville (U.S.), Nov.3, 2016 (Reuters/NAN) American country pop singer and songwriter, Troyal Garth Brooks, won the top prize at the 50th annual Country Music Awards on Wednesday at Nashville, U.S., broadcast live on ABC.
Born on Feb. 7, 1962, Brooks took home the top award of Entertainer of the Year, presented by Taylor Swift.
Legendary country music star Dolly Parton was also among the big honourees as she got the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
Parton, who quipped, said “I would cry, but I didn’t want to mess up my eyelashes and
the crowd roared with appreciation at Parton as she observed her award.
Another country music star, Kenny Chesney, was presented the special Pinnacle Award, the third time the honor was ever presented.
The Female Vocalist of the Year award went to Carrie Underwood, her fourth win in the category and after blurting thanks to the many legends in attendance, Underwood was seemingly at a loss for words, saying “I’ve just become suddenly stupid.”
Chris Stapleton was named Male Vocalist of the Year, and ended his speech saying “it
takes a village, a line often associated with U.S. presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton.
Co-hosts of the award Brad Paisley and Underwood also mined the presidential campaign in opening banter that included the lines “this show is rigged,’’ “will you accept tonight’s results?” and “you’re a nasty woman.”
Other top awards included single of the year, won by Thomas Rhett for “Die a Happy Man,” and Lori McKenna’s “Humble and King,” named song of the year.
An emotional Maren Morris won for new artist, noting “Last year I sat across the street in a bar and watched this show.”
Eric Church won album of the year for “Mr. Misunderstood.”
Other awards went to Little Big Town for vocal group of the year and the Brothers Osborne, named vocal due of the year.
However, the country music biggest night turned out to be something different as
pop-R&B queen Beyonce commanded the spotlight with a thumping performance
of “Daddy Lessons.”
Accompanied by the Dixie Chicks, the Texas-born star appeared more than two hours into the more-than three hour long show, even though fans tuned in specially and expected her widely touted performance to open the show.
As if to commend the audience for the wait,Beyonce, working a glittering, beaded gown,
brought the A-list audience to its feet with the country-blues “Daddy Lessons” from her newest album “Lemonade’’.
She was joined by a bevy of on-stage musicians and the Dixie Chicks. (Reuters/NAN)
ERO/HA
========
(Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Hadiza Mohammed Aliyu)