Country music stars gather to honor year's best

Arts and Culture

Country music stars gather to honor year's best

Country stars and other celebs arrive at the 41st CMA awards presentation event in Nashville.

Get ready to top off your tux with a Stetson and blend your bling with boots -- tonight Nashville plays host to the 41st annual Country Music Association Awards. Singer Randy Travis is among the first to arrive at the event.

Katie Armiger: Still a teenager, Katie won the title of "Houston's Best Country Singer" in a radio station contest.

Trent Tomlinson: Describes his style as "let's-have-a-party" country music.

Sarah Buxton: Says as a youngster, she tried sports and dance before finding her niche in music.

Rissi Palmer: One of a few African-Americans in country music, she turned down a pop record deal to pursue her passion for country.

Newcomer Laura Bryna gets decent height with her 'do, but the dress lacks the zing that sets country chanteuses apart from starlets at other awards shows.

Luke Bryan: Georgia native will return to this state for two Athens dates right after the CMA awards.

Jason Meadows: Says he loves the rodeo as much as he loves country music.

James Denton ("Desperate Housewives")

Jennifer Hanson: In second grade, sang Dolly Parton's "9 to 5" in front of a school audience while accompanied by her father on guitar.

Sheryl Crow (one of tonight's presenters)

Heidi Newfield: One of Country Weekly's "Most Beautiful Woman" nominees

Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn with daughter Haley: Brooks & Dunn have gathered 20 CMA awards and 26 ACM awards.

Cowboy Troy: Calls himself a "hick hop" rapper

Clay Walker smooches up on his wife, Jessica. Walker: Stopped to have barbecue in Mississippi, ran across a wedding party, and ended up serenading the bride and groom.

Rascal Flatts, from left, Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney: Once, Rooney sat in for the others' MIA guitarist, and the trio was born.

Singers Jewel and Ty Murray. Murray: In 1990, Sports Illustrated proclaimed him "the best danged rodeo cowboy of 'em all."

Kellie Pickler: The motherless child idolized Dolly Parton because they "both came from nothing, and had big, big dreams."

Kate Walsh (late of "Grey's Anatomy," now on "Private Practice")

Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman arrive at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards in Nashville, Tenn.

Taylor Swift: Got her start singing karaoke but received a big break singing the national anthem at the U.S. Open

Rodney Atkins (with his wife, Tammy Jo) is a nominee for Male Vocalist of the Year. Besides Atkins and Chesney, other Male Vocalist of the Year nominees are Paisley, Strait and Urban.

Gretchen Wilson and Kid Rock. Wilson: Wrote songs based on her life and also her live show.

Country sweetheart (and "American Idol" winner) Carrie Underwood

Sugarland's Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles: Once, Paul McCartney complimented them, giving the group a memory they love to recall.

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Get ready to top off your tux with a Stetson and blend your bling with boots -- tonight Nashville plays host to the 41st annual Country Music Association Awards. Singer Randy Travis is among the first to arrive at the event.

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