Vegas honors among top moments at CMAs

Yes, Garth Brooks won entertainer of the year and Chris Stapleton picked up two honors, including album of the year. But the moments that dominated the 2017 Country Music Association Awards had less to do with winning, and more to do with a community banding together to heal.

Here’s a look at some of the top moments from the awards show Wednesday at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Honors: The show, the most prestigious gathering for the country music genre each year, honored those who died last month at a Las Vegas country music fesival with a beautiful and powerful performance by Carrie Underwood, who was so emotional she couldn’t finish singing the words to “Softly and Tenderly.”

Underwood was performing during the “In Memoriam” section of the show, which began with photos of country singers and members of the community who died in the last year. Then photos of the 58 people killed in Las Vegas were also displayed.

The open: Underwood and co-host Brad Paisley used their opening segment to poke fun at President Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, their fellow country singers and the Country Music Association.

Paisley and Underwood also used their monologue to get serious: They honored the victims of the Sutherland Springs, Texas, church shooting and those affected by hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

“The best way to honor our fans is to play our music loud and proud,” said Paisley. “Our music lifts people up.”

Here are Wednesday’s winners: Entertainer of the year — Garth Brooks. Female vocalist of the year — Miranda Lambert. Male vocalist of the year — Chris Stapleton. Album of the year — “From A Room: Volume 1,” Chris Stapleton. Song of the year — “Better Man,” Taylor Swift. Single of the year — “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” Keith Urban. Vocal group of the year — Little Big Town. Vocal duo of the year — Brothers Osborne. New artist of the year — Jon Pardi. Musical event of the year — “Funny How Time Slips Away,” Glen Campbell with Willie Nelson. Music video of the year — “It Ain’t My Fault,” Brothers Osborne. Musician of the year — Mac McAnally (guitar).