Kenny Chesney
and
Jason
Aldean's recent vocal collaborations have made them early winners at the
45th
annual CMA Awards. Awards in three categories were announced prior to Wednesday night's (Nov. 9) telecast on ABC. Chesney
and Grace Potter shared the video of the year award for
"You
and Tequila." The award also went to video director Shaun Silva. Aldean and
Kelly
Clarkson shared the musical event prize for
"Don't You
Wanna Stay." In accepting the trophy backstage, Aldean said, "This is my first one of these, so thank you guys very much.
First of all I've got to thank Kelly Clarkson, who is not here. ... This is really cool. I appreciate it." Guitarist
Mac
McAnally, a frequent sideman to Chesney and
Jimmy Buffett, won the
musician of the year award for the fourth consecutive year. "I don't know if I even belong in the same phone book as the rest
of these guys I'm nominated with, but I'm mighty grateful." The CMA Awards show airs live from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena
at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC.
