Kenny Chesney captured country music's top prize -- entertainer of the year -- for the fourth time in five years on Wednesday in an awards show that also saw big wins for Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley and traditionalist George Strait.
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Country singer Kenny Chesney
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"It's very wonderful to stand up here and hold this trophy for the fourth time. I love what I'm doing," said the black-clad Chesney, who tied Garth Brooks for most wins of the Country Music Association's top award.
The awards show's two co-hosts also walked away with honors. Carrie Underwood of Fox TV's "American Idol" fame won her third consecutive female vocalist of the year award, and Brad Paisley won male vocalist for the second year in a row.
Underwood performed a ballad honoring fallen American soldiers. Wearing a jet-black floor-length gown, she was introduced by the widow of Master Sgt. James Ponder, who was killed in a 2005 helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
"Music has the power to help us heal, and I thank God for that power," Leslie Ponder told the audience.
Chesney, 40, was chosen over fellow nominees Paisley, Strait, Sugarland and Keith Urban. Chesney previously won the prize in 2004, 2006 and 2007 in an 11-year career that has produced such hits as "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven," "There Goes My Life," and "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy."
Chesney has sold more than a million concert tickets each of the past six years and led with seven CMA nominations.
He married actress Renee Zellweger in 2005 but the marriage lasted only a few months.
Strait was honored in two categories, album of the year for "Troubadour" and single of the year for "I Saw God Today." Strait has won the most CMA awards of any performer with 22.
(CRI November 14, 2008)
