Swift sweeps Country Music Awards

Former 'Hootie' frontman takes best new artist

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It's been Taylor Swift's year, and Wednesday was her night as she became the youngest person and the first solo female act in a decade to win the Country Music Association's entertainer of the year award.

Swift won all four awards for which she was nominated, making history on a historic night that included Darius Rucker's win as new artist.

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Country artist Taylor Swift (right) accepts the Entertainer of the Year Award from Faith Hill and Tim McGraw during the 43rd Annual Country Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday.
(AP)

PHOTO GALLERY

CMA red carpet

CMA WINNERS

• • Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift

• • Single: "I Run to You," Lady Antebellum

• • Album: "Fearless," Taylor Swift

• • Song: "In Color," Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto

• • Female Vocalist: Taylor Swift

• • Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley

• • Vocal Group: Lady Antebellum

• • Vocal Duo: Sugarland

• • Musical Event: "Start a Band," Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)

• • Musician: Mac McAnally

• • Music Video: "Love Story," Taylor Swift

• • New Artist: Darius Rucker

AP

"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 as she accepted the association's highest honor during ceremonies at Sommet Center.

The 19-year-old crossover sensation beat the biggest names in country and snapped Kenny Chesney's stranglehold on the category: He won three straight and four of the last five. She also ended Carrie Underwood's three-year dominance in the female vocalist category.

Chesney hugged and kissed Swift on the cheek, then whispered a message in her ear before she received the trophy. She 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.

Rucker was also a fan favorite, running into the crowd during his performance of "Alright." The Hootie and the Blowfish frontman, who has sold 1 million copies of his first country album, "Learn to Live," became the second African-American to win a major individual CMA.

He joins Charley Pride, who won entertainer of the year in 1971 and male vocalist in 1971-72.

"First of all, to the fans, thank y'all for accepting me," the jubilant Rucker said. "And I think most importantly, to country radio, you took a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, S.C. Thank you so much for that!" AP