What the CMT Music Awards Looked Like 10 Years Ago

Go back in time 10 years with a look at the 2009 CMT Music Awards.

Lauren Jo Black

| Posted on

June 1, 2019

6:05 am

Jason Aldean, Taylor Swift, Luke Bryan

With the 2019 CMT Music Awards quickly approaching, Country Now is taking fans back in time 10 years with a look at the 2009 CMT Music Awards.

The show looked a lot different a decade ago. Hosted by actor/comedian Bill Engvall, the 2009 CMT Music Awards was dominated by then-country sweetheart Taylor Swift. The superstar, who was just 19 at the time, opened the show with a much-buzzed about collaboration with rapper T-Pain. The unlikely pair rapped to a new version of Swift’s mega-hit “Love Story” called “Thug Story.” In addition to starring in the opening scene, Swift also took the stage to perform “You Belong With Me” and joined rockers Def Leppard for an electrifying closing number.

Swift and Brad Paisley were the night’s top winners, taking home two and three wins, respectively. Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band also took home belt buckle trophies throughout the night.

Several artists performed during the live show, including a baby-faced Lady Antebellum, who sang their second single “Lookin’ For A Good Time,” and Toby Keith, who performed “God Love Her.”

Prior to the star-studded telecast, which also featured appearances by Kid Rock, actress Melissa Peterman and gymnast Shawn Johnson, artists strutted their stuff on the red carpet. The stars’ fashion choices reflected trends of the late 2000s, with many artists opting for a more casual look.

Dierks Bentley surprised fans by bringing his adorable dog Jake to the show and even posed for photos with him on the red carpet (Jake later passed away in 2016).

Check out the slideshow above for more memories from the 2009 CMT Music Awards.

Fans can catch the 2019 CMT Music Awards, hosted by Little Big Town, on CMT on Wednesday, June 5 at 8 p.m. EST.

Written by

Lauren Jo Black

Lauren Jo Black, a University of Central Florida graduate, has immersed herself in the world of country music for over 15 years. In 2008, she co-founded CountryMusicIsLove, eventually selling it to a major record label in 2015. Following the rebranding of the website to Sounds Like Nashville, Black served as Editor-in-Chief for two and a half years. Currently, she assumes the role of Editor-in-Chief at Country Now and oversees Country Now’s content and digital footprint. Her extensive experience also encompasses her previous role as a Country Music Expert Writer for Answers.com and her work being featured on Forbes.com. She’s been spotlighted among Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. Black also spent time in front of the camera as host of Country Now Live, which brought live music directly to fans in 2021 when the majority of concerts were halted due to the pandemic. During this time, she hosted 24 weeks of live concerts via Country Now Live on Twitch with special guests such as Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Jordan Davis, Brett Young, and Jon Pardi. Over the course of her career, she has had the privilege of conducting interviews with some of the industry’s most prominent stars, including Reba McEntire, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson, and many others. Lauren Jo Black is a longtime member of the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.