Star-studded CMAs Gives ABC A Much Needed Ratings Boost

In a night filled with great performances, memorable moments, new country songs, and surprise wins—the recently concluded Country Music Association Awards Night was something ABC needed to boost up its ratings over the weekend. In fact, its rating for the night helped the network achieve the strongest week in ratings in over a year, beating out rival CBS. On November 11, over 17 million people tuned in to the star-studded Country Music Association awards, according to the Nielsen Co.

The buzz was all worth it especially when up and coming superstars such as Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Sugarland and Darius Rucker, along with veterans George Strait, Tim McGraw, and Brooks & Dunn, gave the night some memorable performances that served as highlights of what was billed as “country music’s biggest night.”

Clearly, the year’s biggest winner was Taylor Swift who won four awards including Album of The Year (“Fearless”), Music Video of the Year (“Love Song”), Female Vocalist of the Year, and the much-coveted Entertainer of the Year Award which was awarded to fellow young artist Carrie Underwood a year ago. In her acceptance speech after receiving the Entertainer of the Year Award she said, “In this moment, everything that I have ever wanted just happened to me.” Swift was still reeling in disbelief backstage when she was interviewed by Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell saying, “I feel like I’m walking around in a dream right now, It’s… the CMA Awards and four awards? I can’t even believe that!”

Apart from Swift, the night’s big winners were vocal duo Sugarland who pulled an upset in the Vocal Duo of the Year category over sentimental favorite Brooks & Dunn who have announced their retirement this year. Another big surprise was Darius Rucker, former frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish, who won the New Artist of the Year Award, making history as the first black singer to have won this award for country music awards. Clearly surprised with his win, he thanked “the fans, thank y’all for accepting me. And most importantly, to country radio, you took a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, S.C., and God bless y’all for that.”

Popular group Lady Antebellum also walked off with two awards, Single of the Year (for “I Run to You”) and Vocal Group of the Year, beating out heavy favorites Rascal Flatts and the Zac Brown Band. In their acceptance speech Charles Kelley said, “Thank you so much for just letting us be up here and feel part of the community — the country music industry. You guys have been so supportive of us.”

Meanwhile, as predicted, Brad Paisley went on to win Male Vocalist of the Year in a category which included Kenny Chesney, Darius Rucker, George Strait, and Keith Urban as fellow nominees. Other winners include:  Jamey Johnson, Song of the Year (”In Color”) and Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, Musical Event of the Year (”Start a Band”).

In related news, ABC’s record-breaking ratings for that weekend were also boosted by the “In the Spotlight” special which aired before the awards ceremony. In the report, Robin Roberts interviewed stars including Carrie Underwood and Tim McGraw.