and big — CMAsNASHVILLE, Tenn. — Darius Rucker became the first black singer to win new artist of the year at the Country Music Association Awards, joining Charley Pride as the only African-Americans to win a major individual award, while Taylor Swift won two early awards, including album of the year.
Rucker, whose first country album, “Learn to Live,” sold more than 1 million copies, took the stage Wednesday night to wild cheers from the crowd and shouted, “What a year!”
“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!”
Swift, who was in the running later Wednesday night for entertainer of the year, thanked the fans for their support of “Fearless,” the top-selling album of the year. She also won video of the year for “Love Story.”
“You guys, this album is my diary, and so to all the people who voted for me, this is a thank you for saying you love my diary because that’s the nicest compliment,” Swift told the audience.
Lady Antebellum won two awards in the vocal group and single of the year categories. The win in vocal group ended Rascal Flatts’ six-year dominance in that category.
“Rascal Flatts, you’ve inspired us for such a long time,” Lady Antebellum singer Charles Kelly said. “Thank you so much for letting us be up here.”
Jamey Johnson, along with James Otto and Lee Thomas Miller, won song of the year for “In Color.”
The biggest question on the red carpet Wednesday evening was whether Swift — this year’s top-selling music artist in all genres outside of the late Michael Jackson — can end Kenny Chesney’s reign and become the first female solo artist to win the entertainer category since 1999.
“I think that you can’t help but talk about Taylor Swift when you talk about modern country music,” Otto said. “People talk about pop country or country pop. Whatever brings more fans to country music, I’m all for.”
Swift, Johnson, Zac Brown and George Strait were each up four CMA awards.
