Watch CMT Artists of the Year

CMT Artists of the Year is a star-studded annual event that celebrates the achievements of the most influential and successful country music artists of the year. The show, which aired in 2013, featured performances and tributes from some of the biggest names in the industry, including Lady A, Alabama, and Jason Aldean. Lady A kicked off the show with a powerful performance of their hit song "Goodbye Town", which had the audience on their feet and singing along. The trio, made up of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley, and Dave Haywood, has had a phenomenal year, with hit singles like "Downtown" and "Compass" soaring up the country music charts. Next up were the legendary country music group Alabama, who were honored with the first-ever CMT Artist of a Lifetime award. The group, formed in 1969, has had a remarkable career spanning over four decades and has sold over 75 million records worldwide. They performed a medley of their biggest hits, including "Mountain Music" and "Song of the South", to a standing ovation. Jason Aldean was also honored at the show, named CMT Artist of the Year for the third consecutive year. Aldean has had a remarkable year, with hits like "Night Train" and "When She Says Baby" topping the charts, and a record-breaking headlining tour. He performed his hit single "1994", which pays homage to country music icon Joe Diffie, whose music inspired Aldean's career. The show also included tributes to other country music stars, including Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift. McGraw received the Impact Award, which recognizes an artist who has made a significant impact on country music and inspired others with their contributions. Swift, who was unable to attend the show, was honored with the Artist of the Year award, which she has won twice before. Other performers at the CMT Artists of the Year show included Luke Bryan, who performed his hit "That's My Kind of Night", and Blake Shelton, who performed his latest single "Mine Would Be You". The show also featured interviews with the honorees, in which they reflected on their careers and shared their gratitude for being recognized by CMT. Overall, the 2013 CMT Artists of the Year show was a celebration of the best and brightest in country music. The performances were outstanding, the tributes were heartfelt, and the honorees were grateful for the recognition. It was a night to remember for all involved, and for country music fans around the world.