Taste of Country

Super hot country star Jason Aldean returned to the stage at the 2012 CMA Awards for his second performance of the night, treating the capacity crowd to a rocking version of his recent No. 1 hit 'Take a Little Ride' from the album 'Night Train.'

Little Big Town sure had a busy night at the 2012 CMA Awards. The band kicked off the night by snagging the Single of the Year trophy for 'Pontoon,' and later returned to pick up a second award for Vocal Group of the Year.

A much-deserving Hunter Hayes took home the honors for New Artist of the Year at the 2012 CMA Awards, beating odds-on favorites Lee Brice and Brantley Gilbert to win the coveted award, just as we predicted.

Country rocker Brantley Gilbert took the stage –- the platform that was in the middle of the crowd and in the center of the fan seats, not the rig at the front of the auditorium -- at the 2012 CMA Awards in throwback style. Wait, what? He simply performed an old song, his first single 'Country Must Be Country Wide.'

The Band Perry held up the high standard of musical performances at the 2012 CMA Awards tonight (Nov. 1) as they put on a rocking performance of their new single, 'Better Dig Two.' In the past we've seen the siblings Perry looking fun and friendly in country music get-ups, but tonight the trio was clad in black and white for their intense performance.

Only a mega-talented superstar like Brad Paisley could cover Jay-Z at a country awards show and make it meaningful and freakin' cool at the same time. And that's just what he did at tonight's CMA Awards. There was no irony and no jokes. There was nothing silly about it. It was straight from the heart.

Country superstar Faith Hill returned with a vengeance at tonight's (Nov. 1) CMA Awards, performing 'American Heart' to a rousing ovation from the Nashville crowd.

It's hard to beat a live Keith Urban performance. But when the Australian-born country star joins forces with Zac Brown Band, he can't be beat. Tonight (Nov. 1), Urban and ZBB teamed up sing Urban's 'Georgia Woods' and blow some minds at the 2012 CMA Awards.

This year's CMA performances were largely dominated by big acts on the main stage, but sometimes a solo performance is just as commanding as a full band. When Hunter Hayes took the seat at his piano in the middle of a crowd at the CMA Awards, he had the attention of the entire audience as he played 'Wanted.'

Taylor Swift performed her emotionally resonant ballad 'Begin Again' live for the first time at the 2012 CMA Awards. It wasn't just another live performance of a new song, though. In fact, there was nothing ordinary about it, as Swift transformed the stage into a Parisian cafe. It helped the performance take on a life of its own.