Taylor Swift wins top prize at CMAs

Taylor Swift accepts the award for entertainer of the year at the 45th annual CMA Awards in Nashville. Picture: Source: AP

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban on the red carpet. Source: Getty Images

TAYLOR Swift won the top award while a batch of newcomers broke through at the 45th Country Music Association Awards in Nashville yesterday.

Swift was named Entertainer of the Year, while The Band Perry was announced as New Artist of the Year during the ceremony at the Bridgestone Arena.

Swift beat Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban for the top award.

Male and Female Vocalist of the Year were newlyweds Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, while Lady Antebellum was named Vocal Group of the Year.

Jason Aldean's "My Kinda Party" was the year's best album, while "If I Die Young" performed by The Band Perry - written by Kimberly Perry - was both Single of the Year and Song of the Year.

Flanked on stage by her brothers Reid and Neil, Kimberly said the award-winning tune "just always felt like a song that was meant to be here. I was so excited to have a pen and paper in hand when it was ready to come to Earth," CBS News reported.

Guitarist Mac McAnally was named the year's premier musician.

Sugarland won the Best Duo award, the Aldean and Kelly Clarkson duet "Don't You Wanna Stay" was the Musical Event of the Year and Kenny Chesney won the Best Video award for "You and Tequilla," which he also took to the stage to perform.

Hank Williams Jr. made an appearance during the awards' opening skit, jo! king wit h hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley about his controversial removal from the Monday Night Football telecast for comments concerning President Barack Obama.