2011 CMA Award winners - 2011 CMA Awards Winners, Country music's biggest night belongs to the Band Perry! Lead singer Kimberly Perry is the big winner at the 45th annual Country Music Association Awards, taking home three trophies. She shares with brothers Reid and Neil two of those honors, New Artist and Single of the Year, while the blond beauty is the solo winner for Song of the Year, having written the band's breakthrough hit, 'If I Die Young,' by herself.

"The CMAs are the Super Bowl in the Band Perry household, so we feel like we're walking away with Super Bowl rings tonight," Kimberly told reporters backstage. "It's just great to be a part of the country music family tonight."

'If I Die Young' has certainly been a career changer for the talented threesome. It topped both the country and AC charts and has sold more than three million copies.

"I believe this song would've been written with or without me. It was a song meant to be here," said a beaming Kimberly upon accepting Song of the Year honors. "I'm just excited to have had a pen and paper in hand when this song came to earth."

Taylor Swift stakes claim to the night's top honor, CMA Entertainer of the Year. "Thanks to all the fans who filled up the stadiums all over the world this year," the clearly astonished singer said from the stage, going on to also thank every guest artist who has joined her for surprise duets on her Speak Now world tour, reading names ranging from Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney to Usher and Justin Bieber off her hand. "You have made my year!"

Right behind the Band Perry in number of 2011 CMA trophies is another first-time winner, Jason Aldean. The Georgia native took home Music Event of the Year with Kelly Clarkson for their smash duet, 'Don't You Wanna Stay.' His multi-platinum selling 'My Kinda Party' album was named Album of the Year, in what was arguably the toughest category of the night.

"What a year!" said a visibly moved Jason from the stage. He went on to thank his wife and daughters "for putting up with my schedule" and his longtime producer, Michael Knox, for plucking him from an Atlanta club and bringing him to Nashville 13 years ago to fulfill his dreams.

Sugarland have their fifth win in a row in the Vocal Duo of the Year category, and Lady Antebellum are the CMA Vocal Group winners for the third year in a row. Blake Shelton has his second consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year trophy, and wife Miranda Lambert has her second Female Vocalist win. See a full list of 2011 CMA Awards winners and nominees below, with the winners in *bold.

2011 CMA AWARDS NOMINEES

Entertainer of the Year: 

Jason Aldean
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
*Taylor Swift - WINNER
Keith Urban

Female Vocalist of the Year

Sara Evans
*Miranda Lambert -- WINNER
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist of the Year

Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
*Blake Shelton - WINNER
Keith Urban

New Artist

*The Band Perry -- WINNERS
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
Thompson Square
Chris Young

Vocal Group

*Lady Antebellum - WINNERS
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Vocal Duo

The Civil Wars
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
*Sugarland - WINNERS
Thompson Square

Album of the Year
(Award goes to artist and producer)

'All About Tonight'
Blake Shelton
Produced by Scott Hendricks

*'My Kinda Party'
Jason Aldean
Produced by Michael Knox - WINNER

'Speak Now'
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift

'This Is Country Music'
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers

'You Get What You Give'
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown

Single of the Year
(Award goes to artist and producer)

'A Little Bit Stronger'
Sara Evans
Produced by Tony Brown

'Colder Weather'
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall and Zac Brown

'Don't You Wanna Stay'
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson
Produced by Michael Knox

'Honey Bee'
Blake Shelton
Produced by Scott Hendricks

*'If I Die Young'
The Band Perry
Produced by Paul Worley - WINNERS

Song of the Year
(Award goes to songwriters)

'Colder Weather'
Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles

'Dirt Road Anthem'
Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford

*'If I Die Young'
Kimberly Perry - WINNER

'Mean'
Taylor Swift

'You and Tequila'
Matraca Berg and Deana Carter

Musical Event of the Year

'As She's Walking Away'
Zac Brown Band featuring Alan Jackson

'Coal Miner's Daughter'
Loretta Lynn, Sheryl Crow, and Miranda Lambert

*'Don't You Wanna Stay'
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson - WINNERS

'Old Alabama'
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama

'You and Tequila'
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter

Music Video
(Award goes to artist and director)

'Honey Bee'
Blake Shelton
Directed by Trey Fanjoy

'If I Die Young'
The Band Perry
Directed by David McClister

'Mean'
Taylor Swift
Directed by Declan Whitebloom

'Old Alabama'
Brad Paisley featuring Alabama
Directed by Jim Shea

*'You and Tequila'
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter
Directed by Shaun Silva - WINNERS

Musician

Sam Bush - Mandolin
Jerry Douglas - Dobro
Paul Franklin - Steel Guitar
Dann Huff - Guitar
*Mac McAnally - Guitar - WINNER


Full list of winners from the 45th Country Music Association Awards:

Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift
Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
Male Vocalist of the Year: Blake Shelton
Vocal Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum
Vocal Duo of the Year: Sugarland
New Artist of the Year: The Band Perry
Album of the Year: My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean
Single of the Year: "If I Die Young", The Band Perry
Song of the Year: "If I Die Young", The Band Perry
Video of the Year: "The House That Built Me," Miranda Lambert
Musical Event of the Year: "Don't You Wanna Stay," Jason Aldean featuring Kelly Clarkson
Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally, guitar
Music Video of the Year: "You and Tequila," Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter

via: boot