Carrie Underwood, Tim McGraw Big Winners For CMT Music Awards

Carrie Underwood picks up Female Video of the Year, for “Smoke Break.”

Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw walked away with top trophies during Wednesday night’s (June 8) CMT Music Awards. Underwood’s “Smoke Break” (directed by Randee St. Nicholas) nabbed honors for CMT Performance of the Year for her performance of the song on CMT Instant Jam, as well as Female Video of the Year. Underwood also brought in one of the evening’s most electrifying performances, enlisting a choir and commanding the stage for “Church Bells.”

McGraw’s “Humble and Kind,” directed by Wes Edwards, won overall Video of the Year honors.

“When we make a footprint as an artist, there’s a lot of people involved in making that footprint,” McGraw said upon winning. “And we do it because we hope to move you, we hope that we make a little bit of an impact in your life, and you care a little bit about what we do,” McGraw said onstage. “Thank y’all for caring a little bit about what we do, because we care a whole lot about y’all.”

Other performance highlights included Chris Stapleton‘s outlaw country-inspired “Parachute,” Cam‘s harmony-rich mashup of “Mayday” and “Work From Home” with pop quintet Fifth Harmony, as well as Florida Georgia Line’s pared back, earnest rendition of “H.O.L.Y.,” which featured photos from the band member’s respective weddings in the background. Keith Urban welcomed tourmates Maren Morris and Brett Eldredge for a collaboration on Urban’s current single “Wasted Time.” Dierks Bentley performed his latest single, “Different For Girls,” with duet partner Elle King, who offered some banjo playing for the performance. Meanwhile Blake Shelton teamed with The Oak Ridge Boys for Shelton’s song “Doin’ It To Country Songs,” before transitioning to the Oaks’ classic “Elvira.”

The show wrapped with a spectacular production for Little Big Town‘s funky collaboration with Pharrell Williams of “C’mon,” from their special project Wanderlust.

Awards Winners:

Video of the Year: Tim McGraw, “Humble and Kind” (directed by Wes Edwards)

Male Video of the Year: Thomas Rhett, “Die A Happy Man” (directed by TK McKamy)

Female Video of the Year: Carrie Underwood, “Smoke Break” (directed by Randee St. Nicholas)

Group/Duo Video of the Year: Little Big Town, “Girl Crush” (directed by Karla and Matthew Welch)

Breakthrough Video of the Year: Chris Stapleton, “Fire Away” (directed by Tim Mattia)

CMT Performance of the Year: Carrie Underwood, “Smoke Break” (from CMT Instant Jam)

Social Superstar of the Year: Blake Shelton

Sam Hunt and Tim McGraw

Cam with Fifth Harmony

Carrie Underwood performs “Church Bells.”

Thomas Rhett wins CMT Male Video of the Year.

Keith Urban performs “Wasted Time” with Maren Morris and Brett Eldredge.

Chris Stapleton and Morgane Stapleton perform “Parachute.”

Photos: CMTPress.com

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Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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