NASHVILLE, TENN. (AP) - Miranda Lambert’s going to need a trophy room for “The House That Built Me” after picking up yet another honor at the CMT Music Awards.
Lambert won female video of the year Wednesday night for the career-changing song, which has picked up Grammy, Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music awards.
It was a rare predictable moment on a night that offered the usual surprising mix of unlikely pairings and odd sights that the CMT Awards are known for.
Taylor Swift joined Shania Twain for their own version of “Thelma & Louise.” Justin Bieber induced tears from teenagers as he walked the red carpet with Rascal Flatts. And Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and “Dancing With the Stars” champion Hines Ward wore cowboy boots.
Swift and Twain mounted a cross-country crime spree in a faux movie trailer at the top of the show, dispatching a slimy Ron White and running host Kid Rock off a cliff in a pre-recorded segment that also included Donald Trump and Kenny Rogers. Wynonna Judd taught host Kid Rock a little something about country on a duet of Kid Rock’s “Hell, Yes, I’m Country.” And celebrities as diverse as Ludacris, Mary Steenbergen, Kristin Chenoweth and “Celebrity Apprentice” washout Gary Busey.
Sugarland kicked off the night with the first win, taking duo video of the year for “Stuck Like Glue.” Lady Antebellum won group video of the year for “Hello World.” The Band Perry won breakthrough video for “If I Die Young.” Jimmy Buffett and Zac Brown won best CMT performance of the year for “Margaritaville.” And pop sensation and teen heartthrob Bieber added a CMT belt buckle to the pile of trophies he’s won in the last year, taking home best collaboration with Rascal Flatts for “That Should Be Me.”
Long a fan of Rascal Flatts, Bieber drew some of the night’s biggest cheers from the crowd in a corridor of the arena, where the red carpet was moved to avoid oppressive temperatures near 100. One of the night’s largest entourages included Rascal Flatts singer Gary LeVox’s daughters, 10-year-old Brittany and 8-year-old Brooklyn, who were clearly smitten with Bieber.
“If I wanted to go home, I had no choice but to bring them,” LeVox said.
Bieber and Flatts weren’t the only interesting matchup of the night.
Fans have been voting on the winners for weeks, but there’s still work to do. Kid Rock, hosting for the second straight year, announced the five finalists for video of the year at the top of the show. Fans will decide a winner from the field of Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland and Swift during the telecast.
Aldean made no secret of coveting a belt buckle.
“I’m not stingy,” Aldean said. “I just want one.”
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