Carrie Underwood wins video of year at CMT Music Awards

Click here to see a red carpet gallery of the 2012 CMT Music Awards. Pictured: show cohosts Kristen Bell and Toby Keith (Photo: George Walker IV / The Tennesean)

Carrie Underwood was the only multiple winner at Wednesday night’s CMT Music Awards, broadcast live from Bridgestone Arena.

The “Good Girl” singer accepted the award for Video of the Year, the night’s top honor, and said: “Thank you guys so much, everybody that’s been voting for any one of us tonight, I know how great of company I am in as far as the other nominees, and I just want to thank you guys for watching the videos and supporting all of us.”

Underwood, along with Brad Paisley, also won the first award of the night: Collaborative Video of the Year for their hit duet “Remind Me.” When their names were announced, Paisley jumped out of his seat and gave Underwood’s husband Mike Fisher a bear hug.

“Did you see my husband hug him first,” Underwood asked the fans when she and Paisley, who were seated next to each other, got the stage.

“I’d like to thank this beautiful woman for being in the video, otherwise it’s just a dork walking through the desert,” Paisley said.

The awards show, hosted by Toby Keith and actress Kristen Bell, kicked off with a mock election, pitting Keith and Bell against each other to see who would be the best host. Stars, entertainers, and politicians weighed in with their opinions with actor Matthew McConaughey saying Keith was cool because he played guitar but that Bell knew how to throw a party. Jon Bon Jovi commented “as country goes so goes the country.” And President Obama and Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney also took time to tackle the dilemma.

“This is one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make since I’ve been in office,” President Obama said. “I want them both,” then it showed a hand circling both Keith’s and Bell’s names on a ballot.

“I thought the presidential election was rough but that is nothing compared with the politics at the CMT Awards,” Romney said. “I think I have the solution though. I propose Toby and Kristen co-host the show. See, I just put two people back to work.”

Willie Nelson settled the faux debate and the stars rode into Bridgestone Arena in a giant Red Solo cup, a nod to Keith’s hit song “Red Solo Cup” which was playing in the background.

Lady Antebellum and Hot Chelle Rae had the evening’s inaugural performance, a mash-up of their respective hits “We Owned the Night” and “Tonight, Tonight.”

Jason Aldean broke his losing streak at the CMT Music Awards, accepting the trophy for CMT Performance of the Year for his version of “Tattoos On This Town,” which he delivered during the 2011 CMT Artists of the Year program. Aldean had the most nominations at last year’s CMT Music Awards and walked away empty handed.

“I got to say a big thank you to CMT for still playing videos,” Aldean said. “That’s such an important part of what we do and how to get our face out and still connect with our fans.”

Wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin and actor Tom Arnold provided one of the evening’s more memorable trophy presentations. Before giving Luke Bryan his award for Male Video of the Year for his chart topper “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” the men ripped the sleeves off their clothes in promotion of Arnold's CMT series “My Big Redneck Vacation.” (Austin hosts "Redneck Island.") Bryan accepted the trophy and told the audience he was wearing his favorite camouflaged underwear. Then, in the redneck theme, invited Arnold to reach into his pants and pull them out.

Miranda Lambert teared up when accepting her award for Female Video of the Year for “Over You.” Lambert wrote the song with husband Blake Shelton about the death of his brother.

The evening’s stand-out performances include Brad Paisley who joined Hank Williams, Jr., on the stage in the plaza in front of Bridgestone Arena in a duet on “I’m Going to Get Drunk and Play Hank Williams All Night Long.” Zac Brown Band, Keith, Jamey Johnson, Darius Rucker and Nelson took turns singing lines from Nelson’s marijuana anthem “Roll Me Up,” Kenny Chesney debuted his new single “Come Over” and Rascal Flatts and rock group Journey performed the country trio’s “Banjo” and “Don’t Stop Believin.’”