By Madhuri Dey
Nov. 12, (THAINDIAN NEWS) The Country Music Awards 2009 was as usual a gala affair. All the stars and starlets of the world of country music came over to bask in their share of the glory. This was the 43rd annual installment of the event. The surprise visit of the awards was actress Nicole Kidman, who came to cheer for her husband Keith Urban. Not that he needed any of it, him being a country music superstar in his own right.

The event was greatly dominated by the 19 year old Taylor Swift, who won the award for the “Entertainer of the Year.” The win was indeed spectacular, as she was pitted against a pack of male big time country singers. She is also the youngest person to win the award and the first solo female singer to win it in the last decade. She also bagged the award for the best album of the year for “Fearless” and video of the year for “Love Story.” The new artist of the year award was won by Darius Rucker for his hit single “Alright”, which he also performed in the Awards. His win is significant as he is the first black American to be given the award and the second after Charlie Pride to win a major solo award.

Lady Antebellum won two awards, one in the vocal category and the other for the single of the year for “I Run To You”, thus ending the dominance of Rascal Flatt in the vocal category for the last six years. “In Color” won the award for the best song. Sugerland won in the vocal duo category. Brad Paisley won in the best male vocal category and musical event.