NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A giddy Taylor Swift won her second entertainer of the year award and rising sibling act The Band Perry was the night’s top winner as the Country Music Association Awards celebrated the young women of country music Wednesday night.
Swift was rewarded for an amazing year during which she brought country music to the Far East, scored hits all around the world and continued a run that’s made her country’s hottest young star for several years. She’s just the second woman to win the award twice, joining Barbara Mandrell.
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“This is thanks to all the fans who filled the stadiums and arenas all over the world this year,” said
Swift, who leaped from her seat with her hands in the air and jumped for joy. “I am so happy we had so many to play for this year. You have made my year.”
It was a melancholy song about dying young that ran hard against the tried-and-true country radio formula that had everyone’s attention most of the night, though. “If I Die Young,” written by Kimberly Perry, won song and single of the year, and the band picked up new artist of the year as well.
Technically, the band, which includes Perry’s brothers Neil and Reid, won two awards because song of the year goes to the writer, who was Kimberly Perry alone. But the message was the same nonetheless.
“If I Die Young” is one of the few country songs that managed to cross over into the pop world.
“We sort of feel like we are part of the country evangelism scene and we love to hear country songs on pop radio,” Kimberly Perry said. “It proved to be a song with really long legs.”
Crossover appeal proved to be the theme of the night. Jason Aldean, who won his first major CMA award when his platinum-selling “My Kinda Party” won album of the year, also won musical event of the year for his duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson. And Kenny Chesney won music video of the year for his duet “You and Tequila” with Grace Potter.
Other winners at the 45th annual CMA awards:
• Female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert.
• Male Vocalist: Blake Shelton.
• Vocal Group: Lady Antebellum.
• Vocal Duo: Sugarland.
• Musician: Mac McAnally.
Murphy won’t do Academy Awards
LOS ANGELES — Eddie Murphy has bowed out of his gig as host of the Academy Awards, following pal Brett Ratner’s decision to leave the show as producer because of an uproar over a gay slur.
The news of Murphy’s departure came Wednesday, a day after Ratner quit as producer of the Feb. 26 show.
Ratner left amid criticism of his use of a pejorative term for gay men in a question-and-answer session at a screening of his action comedy “Tower Heist,” which opened last weekend and stars Murphy and Ben Stiller.
“I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony,” Murphy said in a news release.
Despite tweets, Ruby Dee alive
NEW YORK — Contrary to a flood of tweets overnight, Ruby Dee is very much alive.
Jeffrey Leavitt, representative for the 87-year-old actress and civil rights activist, corrected the false reports on Wednesday.
Dee’s rumored death apparently resulted from confusion between her name and that of Heavy D, the popular rapper who died in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Tuesday at age 44.
The mix-up was compounded when the Rev. Jesse Jackson informed his Twitter followers that Ruby Dee had died, and she became a trending topic on the social network.
Shortly afterward, Jackson corrected his post.
Jackson doctor defends self in preverdict talk
LOS ANGELES — The doctor convicted of killing Michael Jackson never testified at his trial, but he is now defending himself in multiple NBC interviews taped just days before a jury returned his guilty verdict.
NBC’s “Today” show planned to broadcast interviews with Dr. Conrad Murray in which he defends his use of the surgical anesthetic propofol to put Jackson to sleep. Although multiple experts testified at his trial that propofol should not have been administered in Jackson’s home, the doctor disagreed.
“I think propofol is not recommended to be given in the home setting,” Murray said, “but it is not contraindicated.”
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