Brooks Again Tops In Country
Garth Brooks was named entertainer of the year for the third time and laconic cowboy George Strait took home top album and male vocalist honors at the 31st annual Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night.
Brooks, who also won the award in 1991 and 1992, was on the road and didn’t attend the ceremony, held at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tenn. Strait won the two awards for the second year running, this time taking home the album prize for “Carrying Your Love With Me.”
Deana Carter, whose barefoot performance of the feminist honky-tonk ditty “Did I Shave My Legs For This?” was one of the show’s highlights, earned best single for that song. She jumped up and down on stage amd leapt into presenter Ricky Skaggs’ arms. Later, “Did I Shave” won best song for writers Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison.
Teenage sensation LeAnn Rimes won the Horizon award for career progress and Trisha Yearwood, who performed the bombastic “How Do I Live,” took home the female vocalist award. The trophy was presented by blind singer Ronnie Milsap, who remarked: “I’m up here with five beautiful women and I can’t see any of them.”
Englishman Sting, looking like a country squire in his Colonel Sanders tie, performed “I’m So Happy I Can’t Stop Crying” as a duet with Toby Keith. “Do you mind if we call you “Stang?”” quipped host Vince Gill.
Husband and wife team Tim McGraw and Faith Hill won the vocal event award for “It’s Your Love.”
xxxx THE WINNERS Entertainer: Garth Brooks. Female vocalist: Trisha Yearwood. Male vocalist: George Strait. Single (for singer): “Strawberry Wine,” Deana Carter. Album: “Carrying Your Love With Me,” George Strait. Horizon Award: LeAnn Rimes. Vocal group: Diamond Rio. Vocal duo: Brooks & Dunn. Music video: “455 Rocket,” by Kathy Mattea. Song (composer’s award): “Strawberry Wine,” Matraca Berg and Gary Harrison. Vocal event: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, “It’s Your Love.” Musician: Brent Mason. Country Music Hall of Fame (all to be inducted): Brenda Lee and songwriters Harlan Howard and Cindy Walker.