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The 46th annual Country Music Association Awards were handed out November 1 in Nashville, Tennessee. Husband-and-wife duo Thompson Square earned its first CMA award and ended Sugarland’s five-year winning streak as Vocal Duo of the Year. Thompson Square was also nominated for this year’s New Artist of the Year award, but lost in that category to Hunter Hayes, 22. Earlier this year, Hunter had a Number One hit with his debut single “Wanted.” Then 21 years old, he made history as the youngest solo male artist to reach Number One on Billboard’s Top Country Songs chart. While accepting his New Artist trophy, Hunter expressed his gratitude to everyone who helped him throughout the past year. “I don’t even know what to do right now. Oh, wow, thank you!" Hayes exclaimed. "Country radio, thank you for believing in me, thank you so much. Thanks to my band, my crew, everybody. Amazing…this is awesome. I’m just blessed beyond belief. Thank you so much fans, Country radio. I love you guys. Thank you.” Little Big Town was a double CMA Award winner. The four-member band took home the Single of the Year award for its summertime hit “Pontoon” and was also named Vocal Group of the Year. Miranda Lambert and her husband Blake Shelton shared this year’s Song of Year honor for co-writing Miranda’s Number One ballad, “Over You.” The song was inspired by the loss of Blake’s older brother, Richie Shelton. | 
