Taylor Swift won female video for “Our Song” and Rascal Flatts won group video of the year for “Take Me There” during Monday’s Country Music Television awards.
“Are you serious? I can’t even believe this,” said Swift, 18, who won in a field that included Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, LeAnn Rimes and Miranda Lambert.
Kellie Pickler, 21, won breakthrough video for “I Wonder.” Like Carrie Underwood, Pickler is a former “American Idol” contestant.
“Thank you ‘American Idol,’ you are the rocket that launched my career,” Pickler said.
Paula Abdul, who introduced Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s performance of “I Need You,” remarked, “There are so many ‘American Idol’ alum here that I feel this is a reunion and I’m a proud mom.”
Rimes and Bon Jovi won best collaborative video for the steamy video “Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore.” Rimes, who accepted the award without Bon Jovi, cracked, “I had a lot of fun rolling around with John in bed.” Then she looked over at her husband in the crowd and added, “Sorry, honey. I love you. You’re hotter.”
The show was hosted by “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus and her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. The pair performed their duet “Ready, Set, Don’t Go.” During their opening segment, Billy Ray Cyrus joked about his daughter’s popularity.
“I know what’s going on here, OK. I didn’t fall off the turnip truck yesterday … it’s pretty obvious what you’re all doing. You’re just using Miley to get to me.”
The show opened with a skit about Trace Adkins trying to get tickets to the show and featured presidential candidates Barack Obama, John McCain and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Keith Urban opened the musical portion with “Raise the Barn” and was joined by Brooks & Dunn.
Sugarland, Little Big Town and Jake Owen performed the ‘80s hit “Life in a Northern Town” by the British folk rock group The Dream Academy.
Snoop Dog joined Jason Aldean to introduce Alan Jackson’s performance of “Good Time.” The rapper wore a black outfit and cowboy hat in honor of the late Johnny Cash, who he said was the inspiration for his single, “My Medicine.”
Brad Paisley’s “Online” led the list of nominees. “Online” was up for video of the year, male video of the year, comedy video and supporting character for actor Jason Alexander, who plays a nerdy character who fantasizes about being Paisley. The former “Seinfeld” star also directed the video.
Sugarland’s “Stay” is nominated for video of the year, duo video and tearjerker video. The duo also is nominated for its performance of “Stay” during last year’s show.
Underwood, Pickler, Kenny Chesney, Rimes, Rascal Flatts, Swift and Adkins all received three nominations apiece.
Director Shaun Silva has four nominations: One for video director of the year and three for his work on video of the year candidates “Stay,” “Don’t Blink” by Chesney and “Take Me There” by Rascal Flatts.
The fan-voted awards show aired live on CMT from Belmont University in Nashville.
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