Big Wins at This Year's CMAs

Country music had quite a night at the 42nd annual Country Music Association, CMA awards. Performer George Strait won particularly big at this year's. Strait picked up the first nine trophies awarded this year, including Single of the Year award for "I Saw God Today" and Album of the Year Award for Troubadour. He has now won a record of 22 awards and has been nominated by the Country Music Association 75 times. Songwriter of the Year went to Jennifer Nettles, who was the big show stopper last year with her song, "Stay," performed by Sugarland, who won Duo of the Year this year. Nettles is the first woman since K.T. Olson in 1988 to win in this category.

The Eagles found their way back to the CMAs, after making their first televised performance at last year's event. They were nominated for their first Vocal Group of the Year award, but lost to six time consecutive winner Rascal Flatts. The Horizon Award, renamed Best New Artist of the Year award, was awarded to a new trio, Lady Antebellum, by last year's winner, Taylor Swift. Brad Paisley again took home the Male Vocalist Award, beating out Kenny Chesney and George Strait. Paisley also won the Music Video of the Year award for his 12th hit single, "Waitin' on a Woman."

Kenny Chesney was the big surprise of the evening, after being denied seven wins, Shania Twain announced him the CMAs Entertainer of the Year award, which he has successfully won four times since 2004.