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Taylor's turn: Swift is entertainer of year

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-13 14:11

Singer Taylor Swift performs Fifteen at the 43rd annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville on Wednesday. The 19-year-old became the youngest artist ever to win the Association's Entertainer of the Year Award.

NASHVILLE, Tennessee: All four of the guys who lost to Taylor Swift for entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards on Wednesday made a tactical error: They asked the crossover sensation to open for them in their concerts.

The 19-year-old quickly shed her opener status and shook up the music world with an incredible year that included the best-selling album, a concert tour that sold out almost immediately and, now, a historic night at the CMAs that included becoming the youngest winner of the association's highest honor.

The CMA's more than 5,000 members seemed as taken with Swift as the rest of the music world has been. She won all four awards for which she was nominated, snapping Kenny Chesney's streak of four entertainer wins in the last five years. Chesney hugged and kissed Swift on her way to the stage.

Association members didn't stop with Swift, making interesting choices in most of the 12 categories. Darius Rucker became the second black performer to win a major individual award when he took new artist, joining Charley Pride, who took entertainer of the year in 1971 and male vocalist in 1971-72.

Lady Antebellum, winners of two awards, ended Rascal Flatts' six-year run in the vocal group category. And Jamey Johnson, known for his outlaw country sound and wild beard, won song of the year for In Color with Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto.

The only winner beside Swift with multiple awards was Brad Paisley, who won two, including male vocalist for the third straight year.

Swift also won album of the year for Fearless, the top-selling CD of the year, and video of the year for Love Story.

After being handed the entertainer trophy by her childhood idol Faith Hill, Swift called her band on stage and was the center of a group hug as fans cheered wildly, holding signs that said: "We love you, Taylor." Her father cried in the audience.

"I'll never forget this moment because in this moment everything that I have ever wanted has just happened to me," Swift said through tears.