Advertisement

Carrie Underwood named top artist at CMT Music Awards

Carrie Underwood has taken home the top prize at this year's CMT Music Awards.

She won the award for video of the year - and female video of the year - for the single Drinking Alone.

In her video acceptance speech, she thanked fans for voting for her in a year marked by tour cancellations due to the pandemic.

"This one is all about you guys especially," she said, "because we again haven't been together, but I feel so loved tonight."

Pop star Gwen Stefani won her first CMT award for collaborative video of the year for her duet with partner Blake Shelton, Nobody But You.

The couple expressed their love for one another in their recorded speech.

"What is happening in my life?" she said.

"This is a crazy pairing in lots of different ways, but it's working," Shelton said as they clinked glasses.

Taylor Swift came full circle, presenting the breakthrough award 13 years after winning the prize.

The delighted 17-year-old Gabby Barrett said: "I can't even believe that this is real. This is definitely the highlight of my senior year."

Her song, I Hope, has been a number one hit across both country and pop charts this year.

Country singers Kane Brown and Ashley McBryde joined Modern Family actor Sarah Hyland as co-hosts during Wednesday night's show, which was mainly shot in various outdoor locations around Nashville, Tennessee.

From inside a Charlie Chaplin museum in Switzerland, country superstar Shania Twain performed her 1995 classic Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under.

In a leopard print top and sequined pants, she danced and sang alongside mannequins dressed to look like the silent film comedian and actor.

Country's newest star Luke Combs shotgunned a beer with legends Brooks and Dunn to open the event.

Luke Bryan won male video of the year for One Margarita, while country duo Dan + Shay took home the award for duo video of the year for their song I Should Probably Go To Bed.

Shay Mooney gave a shout out to his toddler son, Asher.

"He's watching right now. So you do need to go to bed for sure right now," he joked.

The fan-voted awards show had a new category, quarantine video of the year, which highlighted country artists who got creative with music videos and songs during the pandemic.

Singer Granger Smith won for his music video called Don't Cough On Me!

Other winners include Old Dominion for group video of the year and Chris Young for performance of the year.