CMA Awards   -  Archives

Vince Gill joins Reba McEntire as co-host of the show and begins his long association helming the CMA Awards. Gill is once again named male vocalist and shares song of the year honors with Max D. Barnes for the hit, "Look at Us." Garth Brooks continues to collect CMA awards. This year he wins entertainer and album for Ropin' the Wind. Music video of the year goes to newcomer Alan Jackson's "Midnight in Montgomery," and the uber-popular hit "Achy Breaky Heart" gives Billy Ray Cyrus the single of the year award. Brooks & Dunn take their first vocal duo of the year CMA award, and Diamond Rio are named vocal group. Suzy Bogguss receives the Horizon Award, and Mary Chapin Carpenter earns female vocalist honors. But it is another female singer who steals the spotlight that night. The red ribbon, which signifies the plight of AIDS victims and their families, is introduced this year. The staunchly conservative CMA warns artists to opt instead for a green ribbon to signify environmental causes. But singer-songwriter Kathy Mattea wears three red ribbons and during her presentation announces the names of her three friends who've died from the disease. The iconic George Jones and BMI president Frances Williams Preston are inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.