Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley gave a couple of hundred guests a taste of Nashville that they haven’t seen as he played host to friends, label executives, media and country radio programmers in town for the CMA Awards at his majestic property just south of Music City on Tuesday night.

Guests were loaded in pickup trucks and taken up to a high spot on his land, otherwise known as “The Ridge,” and as they walked towards the blazing bonfire surrounded by bales of hay, each person was given a bundle with gloves and a Dierks’ ski hat to keep them warm, while they enjoyed the music of Station Inn staples, the Nashville Brigade bluegrass band. Adult beverages were served in Mason jars, while the buffet featured down home grub — pork barbecue, ribs, chicken, corn muffins and apple pie. There was also a hot chocolate stand, complete with jumbo marshmallows, Hershey’s chocolate bars and graham crackers, so invited guests could make s’mores. Vintage lanterns, cars and gas station pumps lined the party, giving it a truly laid-back and comfortable atmosphere.

Among the faces huddled around the bonfire was pal Jack Ingram, who has been in town writing songs.
Dierks got on stage to welcome everyone to his place, which he explained he bought piece-by-piece after several of his songs hit the charts. “I have no agenda here, except to give a sincere thanks to radio for playing my songs,” he said, also thanking guests for embracing his bluegrass-influenced album, ‘Up on the Ridge.’

Later in the evening, the Arizona native climbed on stage for a second time to perform a pair of songs from his CMA-nominated Album of the Year.

As his invited guests left the party to head back down to their cars and shuttle buses, they were given parting gifts — vintage lunchboxes containing bottle openers and goodies to get them through the rest of the busy CMA week.

Dierks was up bright and early Wednesday morning, performing on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America.’ He’ll also sing on the 44th annual CMA Awards tonight, where he’s up for three trophies: Album, Male Vocalist and Music Event of the Year.

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Dierks Bentley

Dierks Bentley gave a couple of hundred guests a taste of Nashville that they haven’t seen as he played host to friends, label executives, media and country radio programmers in town for the CMA Awards at his majestic property just south of Music City on Tuesday night.

Guests were loaded in pickup trucks and taken up to a high spot on his land, otherwise known as “The Ridge,” and as they walked towards the blazing bonfire surrounded by bales of hay, each person was given a bundle with gloves and a Dierks’ ski hat to keep them warm, while they enjoyed the music of Station Inn staples, the Nashville Brigade bluegrass band. Adult beverages were served in Mason jars, while the buffet featured down home grub — pork barbecue, ribs, chicken, corn muffins and apple pie. There was also a hot chocolate stand, complete with jumbo marshmallows, Hershey’s chocolate bars and graham crackers, so invited guests could make s’mores. Vintage lanterns, cars and gas station pumps lined the party, giving it a truly laid-back and comfortable atmosphere.

Among the faces huddled around the bonfire was pal Jack Ingram, who has been in town writing songs.
Dierks got on stage to welcome everyone to his place, which he explained he bought piece-by-piece after several of his songs hit the charts. “I have no agenda here, except to give a sincere thanks to radio for playing my songs,” he said, also thanking guests for embracing his bluegrass-influenced album, ‘Up on the Ridge.’

Later in the evening, the Arizona native climbed on stage for a second time to perform a pair of songs from his CMA-nominated Album of the Year.

As his invited guests left the party to head back down to their cars and shuttle buses, they were given parting gifts — vintage lunchboxes containing bottle openers and goodies to get them through the rest of the busy CMA week.

Dierks was up bright and early Wednesday morning, performing on ABC’s ‘Good Morning America.’ He’ll also sing on the 44th annual CMA Awards tonight, where he’s up for three trophies: Album, Male Vocalist and Music Event of the Year.

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Blake Shelton

Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins and Mac McAnally are among the early winners at the 44th annual CMA Awards in three categories announced prior to Wednesday's (Nov. 10) telecast on ABC.

Lambert and director Trey Fanjoy shared the video of the year win for "The House That Built Me." Lambert was still on the red carpet outside Nashville's Bridgestone Arena when the award was announced. Fanjoy said, "I swear to God, I'm going to cry tonight. I'm so excited. ... She's such a wonderful artist, and she's so deserving. Tonight Miranda made country music history, and I'm proud to be her friend and a woman in country music." Lambert is nominated for nine awards -- the most ever for a female artist at the CMA Awards.

Shelton and Adkins shared the honor in the musical event category for "Hillbilly Bone." Commenting on his first CMA win, Shelton said, "Thank you, fans! Yeah! That's how I like to start the night right there. I can relax and get drunk now! ... If Trace were here -- and he's not -- I'm sure he would have said something like, "You better be glad we won this, or I would have whipped somebody's ass."

Guitarist Mac McAnally, known for his work with Kenny Chesney and Jimmy Buffett, accepted his third consecutive musician of the year award.

"The guys I got nominated with are all better than me, but if this means I get to keep picking with them, then I'm the luckiest guy in the room," he said.

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Carrie Underwood Wedding

If Gwyneth Paltrow was looking for a good place to bridge the gap, she found one.

Though Miranda Lambert had the real night to remember, all eyes were on the Oscar winner at the 44th Country Music Association Awards, which lately has become a warm, friendly place for artists who are drifting from pop (Sheryl Crow), rock (Kid Rock) and has-been (Darius Rucker) territory into the country realm.

Or, in Paltrow's case, promoting a movie and, perhaps, courting a record deal.

MORE: Gwyneth "Nervous But Excited" About Singing Live

Happily, the Country Song star didn't embarrass herself warbling the title track from her new film, costarring Leighton Meester (on hand to introduce pal Taylor Swift) and Tim McGraw, who swooped in at the last minute Wednesday to present the night's top honor, Entertainer of the Year, to...Brad Paisley?

It sure seemed like momentum was building in either Lambert, who was also celebrating her 27th birthday, or Lady Antebellum's direction (they would have been the first group to win since the Dixie Chicks in 2000). But you can't ever count the touring tour de force that is Paisley out.

"My hero, Little Jimmy Dickens, has a saying: If you see a turtle on a fence post, it had help getting up there. I feel just like a turtle on the fence post at this point," Paisley said in thanks.

"It sounds like a cliché when you say thanks to the fans," he continued, "but the great thing about country fans is, when you say fans, I don't even mean mine. You guys are loyal to everyone in this room. It's the most amazing loyal fan base in the world."

He also thanked actress wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley for "saving me from despair."

But it was Lambert, who led the field with nine nominations, who added four more CMAs to her trophy trove. (FYI: Barring ties, she only could've won seven times anyway—she was up twice for Single and Music Video of the Year.)

"Revolution has truly caused a revolution in my life this year," Lambert said upon accepting Album of the Year. "Thanks to the country music industry. It's my baby, it's what I do, it's what I live for. Thanks for loving it, too."

Nice trick, ABC, leaving Paltrow's debut for last, but in the end she was just another artist at the the annual lovefest, which features far more performances than award categories.



Among other humorous musings, including a downer of a running joke about the Nashville flood, cohosts Paisley and Carrie Underwood paid musical tribute to tiny wedding rings in honor of tonight's king and queen of the ball: Lambert and her fiancé, Blake Shelton.

"Actually, in all truth, after they got engaged, they sent me a picture of it," Underwood said, presumably speaking of Lambert's ring, "and it is beautiful and big, just perfect, gorgeous."

"OK, I have to do it—that's what she said," added Paisley.

Shelton saved face in front of his future missus, winning CMAs for Male Vocalist of the Year and Musical Event of the Year for "Hillbilly," featuring Trace Adkins—a couple of engagement gifts you just can't register for.

"After the night Blake and Miranda are having, I think we can expect a baby in about nine months," Paisley quipped.

Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Busch of Sugarland were named Vocal Duo of the Year for the fourth year in a row.

And as Nicole Kidman sat through her umpteenth country award show since marrying Keith Urban, Katherine Heigl was also in the house with hubby Josh Kelley, whose brother Charles Kelley is one-third of Lady Antebellum, winner for Vocal Group of the Year.

"Thank you to my brother...for making me to move to Nashville six years ago, I love you," he said as the trio accepted for Single of the Year for the wistful "Need You Now."

Speaking of crossover stars, Crow presided over a tribute to grand dame Loretta Lynn, Kid "Detroit's leading cowboy" Rock sang "Born Free" and Kelly Clarkson showed up to duet with with Jason Aldean on "Don't You Wanna Stay."

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