Associated Press (Nov. 7th 2013)

CMA Awards, fellow stars salute George Strait

[edited version]

The entertainer of the year trophy at the Country Music Association Awards is one of the most coveted honors in the genre, but sometimes it's OK to lose -- like, say, when George Strait is a nominee.

Strait won his third entertainer of the year award and his first since 1990 o9n Wednesday night against country music's current hit makers, and no one seemed disappointed. Blake Shelton -- one of five performers with a leading two victories -- was excited to lose to the 61-year-old whose popularity defies his age. 

"That's how it needs to be because he's not just entertainer of the year, he's entertainer of the last three decades, I guess, or four decades," Shelton said. "I don't know who's keeping score. I mean, it's George Strait. He's King George. I couldn't be happier with how this turned out."

Shelton was one of five top winners with two trophies apiece, along with Florida Georgia Line and the trio of Taylor Swift, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban, who won music video and music event of the year for their "Highway Don't Care" collaboration.