Little Big Town and Chris Stapleton bag most of the awards during the 49th annual Country Music Association Awards for both group and singer categories, respectively. The event was held at the Nashville, Tennessee's Bridgestone Arena.
Little Big Town's hit song "Girl Crush" won as Single of the Year and Song of the Year while the group won the Vocal Group of the Year award, making it their fourth year to win such an award. Out of the six nominations, the group won three.
Group member Karen Fairchild thanks the country radio for playing their single and helping them win the award despite it receiving negative reviews stating that their song show support for homosexuality. "This is about being brave and being bold," she says.
Meanwhile, Stapleton was hailed as Male Vocalist of the Year and New Artist of the Year, putting a halt to Blake Shelton's five-year winning streak. His album, Traveller, also bagged the Album of the Year award. It can be recalled that the singer has no top 40 single on the country charts.
The singer also performed with Justin Timberlake during the event. They covered Stapleton's Tennessee Whiskey and Timberlake's country-tinged track Drink You Away.
"About two years ago, I lost my dad and I made this record thinking about a lot of music he would like. ... My mom is here tonight. I want to thank my mom," said Stapleton. "I'm not going to take it lightly ...I got to thank my wife again, she always pushes me to be the best I can be ...I gotta thank all my cousins in Kentucky."
Other artists who won awards during the night are Luke Bryan who was awarded as the Entertainer of the Year, Miranda Lambert for landing her sixth year as the Female Vocalist of the Year, Florida Georgia Line for winning Vocal Duo of the Year, and Maddie & Tae for taking home the Music Video of the Year award for their Girl in a Country Song.
