CMT Honors 'Artists Of The Year'

Haggard Honored, Urban Amazes

Country music legend and Hall of Famer MERLE HAGGARD was presented the first-ever “Artist Of A Lifetime” award, while current stars JASON ALDEAN, LUKE BRYAN, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, MIRANDA LAMBERT and KEITH URBAN were honored as 2014 “CMT Artists Of The Year” during last NIGHT’s (12/2) live simulcast on CMT and VH1.

There were two notable moments during the show, which took place at NASHVILLE’s SCHERMERHORN SYMPHONY CENTER. 

LADY ANTEBELLUM performed LUKE BRYAN’s “Drink A Beer” and were joined by CHRIS STAPLETON, who penned the song. It was a touching moment and a fitting song, as BRYAN was unable to attend the show due to the passing of his brother-in-law BEN "LEE" CHESHIRE, over the THANKSGIVING holiday weekend (NET NEWS 12/2).

Later, KEITH URBAN dazzled while covering JAMES BROWN’s “It’s A Man’s World,” while backed by a 15-piece all-female band that included string and horn sections.

JASON ALDEAN led off the show appropriately, with “Just Gettin’ Started,” FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE performed “Sun Daze” and MIRANDA LAMBERT sang “Holding On To You” from her “Platinum” album.

HAGGARD was saluted by ERIC CHURCH, ASHLEY MONROE and T BONE BURNETTE, who teamed for HAGGARD’s classic, “Workin’ Man Blues.”

Accepting the “Artist Of A Lifetime Award,” HAGGARD kept it concise and to the point, remarking, “Anything I would say would be short of the mark,” before waving and walking off stage.

Encore presentations aired TODAY (12/3) already, with another set for SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7th at 2:00p (ET/PT).

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