He Took CMA's Top Prize: 'I'm Shocked Beyond Shocked'

Keith Urban last won the honor in 2005
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Nov 15, 2018 4:39 AM CST
Chris Stapleton Wins Big at CMAs
Keith Urban wipes away tears as he accepts the award for entertainer of the year at the 52nd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn.   (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)

Chris Stapleton won the most awards at the 2018 Country Music Association Awards and had the show's best performance, almost capping a perfect night. That was until Keith Urban surprisingly won the top prize—entertainer of the year—moments before the three-hour show wrapped Wednesday night, the AP reports. Urban's wife, Nicole Kidman, was in tears as the singer walked onstage to collect the award at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. "Baby girl, I love you so much," he said. "I'm shocked beyond shocked." Urban, who last won entertainer of the year in 2005, also beat out Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, and Kenny Chesney for the prize. "I wish my dad was alive to see this," the Australian performer said.

Stapleton won four awards including male vocalist, song, and single of the year. "I want to thank my kids who put up with me being gone quite a bit and not getting to be as a good daddy that I would always like to be," said the father of four. When Stapleton won single of the year—where he won as both a performer and producer—he said he was "thinking about the people in California" and he wanted to dedicate the award to them. He was referring to the 12 people who were killed at a country music bar last week, who were also honored at the top of the show when Garth Brooks held a moment of silence as the names of the victims were displayed on the screen. "Tonight let's celebrate their lives. Let the music unite us with love," Brooks said. Click for a list of winners.

(More Country Music Association Awards stories.)

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