The world’s biggest country music awards kicked off in Nashville, Tennesee thsi week, boasting a star-studded guest list.
Carrie Underwood, Taylor Lautner, LeAnn Rimes and Miranda Lambert were to the southern city, famed for its love of music, for the fan-voted awards.
American singer-songwriter Carrie made history at Monday’s ceremony as she clinched her 24th and 25th Country Music Television award.
The American Idol winner, 39, officially set the record of the most CMT awards ever won by a single person.
She won the prize for collaborative video of the year, as well as video of the year for her song If I Didn’t Love You with country music star Jason Aldean.
It was Carrie’s 10th time winning video of the year, and Jason’s first in a 17-year career – but it’s hard to say who was more excited as they took to the stage to accept.
Speaking to the gathered audience and viewers at home, Jason thanked the fans ‘for loving the song like you have,’ and called Carrie ‘the perfect partner’ for the collaboration.
‘I just have to say 17 years in the game, this is the first time I have ever won video of the year so this is pretty amazing to me,’ he admitted.
Singer Carrie meanwhile, thanked everyone who worked on the video, as well as the CMT awards and the fans themselves, saying the song ‘belongs to you’.
Carrie and Jason had beaten out some major contenders for the music video of the year, with If I Didn’t Love You chosen over the likes of Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Kacey Musgraves.
As if Carrie’s record-breaking wins weren’t enough, the star made the night even more memorable as she soared over the audience for an incredible live performance of her track Ghost Story.
The singer, dressed in a purple outfit, was lifted high above the stage and the crowds as she was joined by a troupe of dancers for the haunting moment.
Carrie led a series of performances on the night, including by Jimmie Allen, Little Big Town, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson and Cole Swindell, Mickey Guyton and more.
Country rock royalty Bryan Adams even treated audiences to a live performance of single Heaven.
One celebrity couple watching the moving performances was Twilight star Taylor Lautner, ex of former country music star Taylor Swift, and his new fiance Taylor Dome.
Taylor, 30, and his future wife, 25, were seen cuddling up to each other on the red carpet and remained close throughout the night.
The actor looked dashing in an all-black suit, while his fiancée opted for a purple glittery affair.
Taylor and Taylor began dating in 2018, and made things official last year when the actor got down on one knee and asked her to marry him, saying ‘all my wishes came true’ when she said yes.
Also present at the ceremony was country music legend LeAnn Rimes, who stunned on the red carpet in a sheer mesh gown that trailed along the ground.
A glittery leotard – cut out in choice areas – covered LeAnn under the material, with the star matching the look with silver jewelry and a sparkling silver clutch bag.
As for the awards handed out, the female video of the year award went to Miranda Lambert for her track If I Were A Cowboy.
The star paid tribute to the women of country music as she accepted, noting: ‘We’re really starting to kick some a** and I’m excited about it.’
Meanwhile, newcomer Parker McCollum won the award for breakthrough video of the year for his track To Be Loved By You, while country legend George Strait won his first-ever CMT award for performance of the year.
The male video of the year was awarded to Cody Johnson’s track Til You Can’t.
Accepting the buckle, Cody said he was ‘very proud to be the person that got to get the song’, and called: ‘Long live country music.’
The awards were hosted by Anthony Mackie and last-minute replacement Kane Brown.
They had been due to be hosted by Anthony and singer Kelsea Ballerini, however she tested positive for Covid-19 just hours before the show was due to kick off.
The CMT Awards represent country music’s only fan-voted awards show.
Fans can watch the awards in full on the Paramount Plus streaming service.
