Taylor Swift leads winners with three CMA Awards... but loses out to Miranda Lambert in Female Vocalist Of The Year category

It is one of the biggest nights of the year for country music.
And the genre’s most famous names and rising stars joined forces for the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday.
While some dispute whether or not her music is really country, that didn’t stop Taylor Swift from being a big winner at the ceremony.

Big winner: Taylor Swift scooped three gongs at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday

Taylor was nominated for six gongs and presented with three early awards, before the live TV show.
These included Video Of The Year and Musical Event Of The Year for Highway Don't Care, a collaboration with Tim McGraw and Keith Urban.
The 23-year-old also collected the Pinnacle Award, which recognises an artist who has garnered worldwide success thanks to concert performances and record sales.

Emotional: Taylor was reduced to tears when she was presented with the special Pinnacle Award

Congratulations: Faith Hill hugged the 23-year-old while (L-R) Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox, and Joe Don Rooney of Rascal Flatts and Tim McGraw applauded her

A dream team: Taylor teamed up with Alison Krauss (second left) and Vince Gill (centre), and the group performed with (L-R) Ed Darken, Sam Bush and Edgar Myer

Putting an interesting spin on it: The group performed an acoustic rendition of Taylor's song Red

McGraw led the tribute, recalling when he met her at the tender age of 17, and said: 'We’ve all seen her grow up into a beautiful woman and a superstar.'
Faith Hill, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban were amongst the other country favourites who presented the prize to a tearful Taylor.
Several other stars left video messages to Taylor, and the singer was delighted at the kind words from Julia Roberts, Mick Jagger, Reese Witherspoon and Justin Timberlake.

Nothing can bring her down: Miranda Lambert pipped Taylor to the post in the Female Vocalist Of The Year category

Country's First Couple: Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert looked gorgeous on the red carpet together

First time for everything: Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert teamed up to perform a duet together

'They told me that this was going to happen but I didn't know there was going to be all this. My parents are not just crying at this point, they are balling,' Taylor said as she accepted the honour.
She remembered when she got her first gig at the age of 16 and when she toured with Paisley and Urban in the early days of her career.

After thanking everyone who helped her get where she is today, Taylor said: 'Thank you. I love you. You've made me feel so special right now.'
Taylor also performed at the event, singing an acoustic version of the song Red with the help of country legends Alison Krauss and Vince Gill.
‘I'm performing with some of my favourite musicians, Alison Krauss and Vince Gill,’ Taylor said ahead of the show. ‘It's something I've been looking forward to for a very long time.’

 

Nobody but him: Blake was delighted to win the award for Male Vocalist Of The Year, and hadn't expected it

Twice as nice: The Voice mentor had a trophy for each hand as he won Album Of The Year too

Touching: While Kelly Clarkson (L) presented Blake with his Male Vocalist gong, Robin Roberts got a standing ovation before giving out the Entertainer Of The Year prize

She's a fan: Kelly Clarkson couldn't hide her delight when she revealed that Blake had won for Male Vocalist

While Taylor will hardly be disappointed with her winnings, she was beaten by Miranda Lambert in the coveted Female Vocalist Of The Year category.
And Miranda was not expecting it, saying 'Well hell, thank you,' as she got onstage before launching into her acceptance speech.
The star made sure to mention all the other nominees: Taylor, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood and Kacey Musgraves.

The biggest honour of all: George Strait won Entertainer Of The Year, the final award of the evening

'Never in a million years': The country star was another winner who couldn't believe his luck

Heartbreaking: George and Alan Jackson (L) sand He Stopped Loving Her Today as a tribute to the late George Jones, seen in the image on the screen with his wife Nancy

'I really didn’t think this one was going to happen this year. I have to pinch myself. Taylor I was crying, that was fricking awesome. That wall of stars? Kelly, really?
'Carrie, your performance tonight blew me away. Kacey. congratulations on your new artist award, that was awesome. Us East Texas girls have got to stick together.'
Of course, she had to thank her other half Blake Shelton, and did so with the words: 'My husband, I love you. Thanks for putting up with my crap.'

Taking the country world by storm: Kacey Musgraves was awarded New Artist Of The Year after performing earlier on in the evening

'I feel very thankful': Kacey mentioned how grateful she was in her speech and pointed out her grandmother in the audience

Blake and Miranda got to have his and hers trophies as Blake took home the prize for Male Vocalist Of The Year while a tearful Miranda watched.
'Oh my gosh. Not to just completely echo the words of Miranda, but I really did not think this was gonna happen this year. But it did, so let me thank some people.'

Earlier in the show Blake won Album Of The Year for the first time for his record Based On A True Story, and as he accepted his trophy, Blake revealed he had said that particular award was ‘the one that would mean the most’ to him.
Shortly afterwards the Voice mentor took to the stage to perform Mine Will Be You, following Tim McGraw’s performance.
Blake was later surprised but delighted when he was presented with the Male Vocalist Of The Year award, and said: 'I really did not think this was gonna happen this year but it did so let me thank some people.'

'I love me some country music, baby': Diddy surprised everyone by presenting an award with Kellie Pickler

Another person who was shocked at their win was George Strait, who was given the most coveted award of the ceremony in the form of Entertainer Of The Year and said he 'never in a million years' expected it.
Robin Roberts gave him the trophy but not before making a speech that led to the entire audience giving her a standing ovation, as this time last year she was recovering from a bone marrow transplant.
'Last year I was watching you between my toes on my sick bed, your beautiful music a great comfort,' she said. 'And I thank all of you for your prayers and the love you sent my way this past year.
'It is great to be back at the CMA Awards and it is a privilege to present the biggest honour on country music’s biggest night of the year.'
Strait wasn't just honoured with an award during the ceremony - he also paid tribute to the late George Jones by performing his hit He Stopped Loving Her Today with Alan Jackson.
Before introducing them Brad Paisley pointed out Jones' widow and said: 'We would have lost him so much sooner if it wasn’t for that woman there, Nancy Jones,' while the crowd applauded her.
Florida Georgia Line won the first award of the evening in the form of Single Of The Year for Cruise.

They owned the night!: Lady Antebellum took the stage by storm while performing their new single Compass

The band had just performed alongside Luke Bryan during the opening number, which it seems gave them some good luck.
Kacey Musgraves picked up the Best New Artist award and had also performed earlier in the show.
‘I feel very thankful, thank you so much,’ she said after pointing out that her grandmother was in the audience.
It may have been the 25-year-old brunette beauty’s first year at the show but she was nominated in a whopping six categories.
Meanwhile Diddy made a surprise appearance at the ceremony where he declared: 'I love me some country music, baby!'
The rap star, along with Kellie Pickler, presented the Vocal Group Of The Year Award to Little Big Town.