Taylor Swift wins entertainer of the year

The 19-year-old country music sensation Taylor Swift became the first female singer since Shania Twain a decade ago to win entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association (CMA) awards last night. Swift dominated the awards, taking four in total, including album of the year for Fearless, America's top-selling CD of 2009.
 
The Nashville-based CMA, which has more than 5,000 members, is often seen as conservative. Yet they voted for Swift (pictured performing at the awards) above four far more established male performers, including Kenny Chesney who has won the entertainer award four times in the past five years, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley and veteran singer George Strait.
 
All four will be kicking themselves: they helped raise her profile by asking the teenager to open for them in their concerts. But Paisley for one was magnanimous: "She has taken the music world by storm. She's the biggest artist in music right now, by far. It's hands down. She's entertainer of the year in country music, no doubt, and I'm really proud of her."
 
Swift cried as she accepted the entertainer of the year award, saying: "I will never forget this moment." The singer, who also won video of the year for her single Love Story and was named top female vocalist, thanked the fans for their support of Fearless when she collected best album of the year. "You guys, this album is my diary, and so to all the people who voted for me, this is a thank you for saying you love my diary, because that's the nicest compliment."
 
The award caps off a spectacular year for Swift: she has enjoyed not only a best-selling album but also a sell-out concert tour of the United States. ·