No doubt it was Taylor Swift’s night at the 2009 CMA Awards as she took home the biggest award plus two other top honors.   Swift became the youngest ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR in CMA history (she’s 19).   She also won Album of the Year for “Fearless“, and Female Vocalist of The Year.    “I’d like to thank everyone in this room for not rushing up on stage” she quipped in her heartfelt and eloquent acceptance speech.   It was also touching to see her parents in tears in the the front row.   They should be proud.

Swift’s victories along with surprise wins from Lady Antebellum (Flatts are now left to do Wendy’s commercials?!) and Darius Rucker’s new artist win (great speech) signals a seismic shift in Country Music.  Is it the class of 2009?  It may be too early to tell but with the “departure” of Brooks and Dunn it feels a bit different.   Are things leaning too pop?  Can’t stop change.

The other surprise of the evening was, perhaps, that Zac Brown walked away empty handed after the best musical performance of the night.

Overall the best awards show in decades.

Other winners:

Musical Event – Paisley / Urban “Start a Band”

Male Vocalist – Brad Paisley

Song Of The Year – Jamey Johnson “In Color”

Single Of The Year – Lady Antebellum “I Run To You”