Taylor Swift
Photo: Jon Kopaloff/ Getty Images

This year's CMA Awards broke the mold of usual suspects, with Taylor Swift taking Entertainer of the Year and former Hootie frontman Darius Rucker nabbing New Artist of the Year.

Last year's Country Music Association Awards were pretty rote: Kenny Chesney won Entertainer of the Year for the fourth straight time, and Carrie Underwood took home Female Vocalist of the Year for the third year in a row. But the rise of Taylor Swift's album Fearless has turned the country music world on its ear, and last night's CMA Awards show proved that although the crossover superstar has made an impact all over the music world, she still holds the respect of her core peers.

	2009 Country Music Awards Red Carpet

Swift won in all four categories in which she was nominated: Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year and Video of the Year (for "Love Story").

It was a long night of firsts, as former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker took home the statuette for New Artist of the Year, while alt-country outlaw Jamey Johnson won Song of the Year for "In Color." Here's a list of the night's big winners:

Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift
Album of the Year: Taylor Swift, Fearless
Single of the Year: Lady Antebellum, "I Run to You"
Song of the Year: Jamey Johnson, "In Color"
Vocal Group of the Year: Lady Antebellum
New Artist of the Year: Darius Rucker
Female Vocalist of the Year: Taylor Swift
Male Vocalist of the Year: Brad Paisley
Vocal Duo of the Year: Sugarland
Music Video of the Year: Taylor Swift, "Love Story"
Musical Event of the Year: Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally

• 2009 Country Music Awards Red Carpet

• Taylor Swift
• Darius Rucker
• Hootie & the Blowfish

Ol' Dirty Bastard (file)
Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images

Ol' Glory: Ol' Dirty Bastard may be gone, but in this post-Tupac world, that doesn't mean he can't still make some moves. A Son Unique is not only his first release on Def Jam, it's also the first to attribute the music to "ODB," not "Ol' Dirty Bastard," on the album art. Songs include a cover of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Macy Gray, "Intoxicated" and "Skrilla."

Five — And Still Alive: Bewildered by the title of Staind's Chapter V? Time to hit the bins. While many thought 2001's Break the Cycle was their debut, and those who looked a little deeper unearthed 1999's Dysfunction, Tormented, an independent album from 1996, actually began the band's cycle. Chapter V might sound like a turning of the page, but Aaron Lewis seems as tormented as ever with "Cross to Bear," "Runaway" and "King of All Excuses."

A Motley Crew: Tommy Lee's invited some major — and majorly bizarre — guests to his TommyLand: The Ride, including Nick Carter, Good Charlotte and Slash, but by releasing the record through a tiny Michigan-based distributor, sales could be a challenge. Then again, Lee has drawn plenty of attention in the past by slipping out his stuff through, uh, less traditional means. Songs include "Makin' Me Crazy" with Dirty Harry, "Sister Mary" and "The Butler."

The Search Is Over: More than three years after it was first announced, D12's Proof is finally dishing up Searching for Jerry Garcia, a follow-up to 2002's Electric Cool Aid: Acid Testing EP. He's tweaked the original concept, which was for each song to be named after a musician or icon ("Janis Joplin," "Billie Holiday," etc.), although he did retain "Kurt Kobain." He's also padded the LP with some red-hot guests: 50 Cent ("Forgive Me"), D12 ("Pimplikeness"), Obie Trice ("72nd & Central") and Nate Dogg ("Sammy Da Bull").

Chopped & Served: Swishahouse Records owner Mike "5000" Watts is fine-tuning his chopped-and-screwed skills for retouched versions of Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz's Crunk Juice and the Ying Yang Twins' U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta).

Stones Galore: Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Ron Wood roll onto Tim Ries' The Rolling Stones Project and contribute to the album design; Wood also surfaces on the Jones Gang's Any Day Now, a record he also did the cover art for; and a reissue of the Blasters' 4-11-44 includes a bonus video of "Daddy Rollin' Stone."

Around the World in Six Albums: We Will Take You With Us (Epica), Made in China (Juliana Hatfield), East/West (Bill Frisell), Underneath a Brooklyn Moon (JC Hopkins Biggish Band), Let Me Come Home (Limbeck).

Song Titles Of The Week:

"There's a Coldest Day in Every Year" (Cursive's The Difference Between Houses and Homes: Lost Songs and Loose Ends 1995-2001)

"Twelve Years on Tour and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" (Suicide Machines' War Profiteering Is Killing Us All)

"Women Turn on Your TV" (Kool Keith's Lost Masters: Volume 2)

Other Notables:

Backandtotheleft - Obsolete (Metropolis): The Seattle band's moniker is a tip to the famous "magic bullet" line quoted by JFK conspiracy theorists, hence joining the ranks of Dead Kennedys, Texas Is the Reason (whose own "Back and to the Left" came out in 1996), Kennedy, Bay of Pigs and Jackie O Mother------.

Chimaira - Chimaira (Roadrunner): Hardcore heroes Chimaira pay tribute to a fallen comrade, Dimebag Darrell, on "Nothing Remains," one of 10 tracks featured on their self-titled fourth record. "Lazarus" is another tribute, this time to a friend who committed suicide, while "Left for Dead" and "Comatose" deepen the somber mood.

Tremolo - Love Is the Greatest Revenge (Flagship): The Bay Area band is putting its money where its mouth is — literally. The benevolent bunch — which has been heard on numerous MTV shows — is donating 50 percent of the proceeds from its debut to the Love>Revenge Fund, a site that, through online voting, allows fans to decide where the trust fund money should go to.

Various Artists - Def Jazz (Verve): Yup, you guessed it: a collection of smooth-jazz versions of rap faves commemorating the 20th anniversary of Russell's baby. Unlike the ever-present Pickin' On tributes, however, this endeavor brings in veritable talent like Roy Hargrove and Gerald Albright — and tosses in a version of "Bring the Pain" with flute and Moog to boot.

Out Tuesday, August 9:

• Backandtotheleft - Obsolete (Metropolis)
• Big Blue Hearts - Here Come Those Dreams Again (Adrenaline)
• Bottom of the Hudson - Holiday Machine EP (Absolutely Kosher)
• Kaci Brown - Instigator (Interscope)
• Chimaira - Chimaira (Roadrunner)
  Buy Now: Chimaira (Roadrunner)
• Day of Contempt - The Will to Live (EP, Epitaph)
• Epica - We Will Take You With Us (The End)
• Fleshtones - Beachhead (Yep Roc)
• Bill Frisell - East/West (live, 2 CDs) (Nonesuch)
• Eliza Gilkyson - Paradise Hotel (Red House)
• Gogol Bordello - Gypsy Punks Underdog World Strike (SideOneDummy)
• Groovie Ghoulies - Berry'd Alive (EP, Green Door)
• Hail Social - Hail Social (Polyvinyl)
• Juliana Hatfield - Made in China (Ye Olde)
• Holopaw - Quit +/or Fight (Sub Pop)
• Ellis Hoojeks - Godson of Soul (Evidence)
• JC Hopkins Biggish Band - Underneath a Brooklyn Moon (featuring Queen Esther) (Evidence)
• Hootie & the Blowfish - Looking for Lucky (Sneaky Long Records)
• J-Henry - Another Long Day (Rockview)
• The Jones Gang - Any Day Now (Reality/AAO)
• The Juan MacLean - Less Than Human (Astralwerks)
• Kill Your Idols - Live at CBGB's July 30th 2000 (Blackout)
• Earl Klugh - Naked Guitar (Koch)
• Koufax - Hard Times Are in Fashion (Doghouse)
• Tommy Lee - Tommy Lee Presents: TommyLand the Ride (Rocket Science)
  Read: "Tommy Lee Parties With Good Charlotte, Slash And, Er, Nick Carter on Tommyland"
  Buy Now: Tommyland: The Ride (Rocket Science)
• Lil Jon & the East Side Boyz - Crunk Juice - Chopped & Screwed by Michael (TVT)
• The Life and Times - Suburban Hymns (DeSoto)
• Limbeck - Let Me Come Home (Doghouse)
• Lunascape - Reminiscence (Noir)
• Mad Ro - The Foul Stench of Something Good (Noc on Wood)
• Pat Metheny - Song X (Nonesuch)
• Minotaur Shock - Maritime (4AD/Beggars)
• Mobius Band - The Loving Sounds of Static (Ghostly International)
• Moggs - The White Belt Is Not Enough (Absolutely Kosher)
• Carrie Newcomer - Regulars and Refugees (Philo/Rounder)
• Nickel Creek - Why Should the Fire Die? (Sugar Hill)
• ODB - A Son Unique (Def Jam)
  Read: "ODB Album Preview: Star-Studded A Son Unique Is Radio Ready"
  Buy Now: A Son Unique (Def Jam)
• David Pack - The Secret of Movin' On (Peak/Concord)
• Pennywise - The Fuse (Epitaph)
  Buy Now: The Fuse (Epitaph)
• Proclaimers - Restless Soul (Persevere)
• Proof - Searching for Jerry Garcia (Iron Fist)
  Read: "D12's Proof Readying Solo LP With 'Kurt Cobain' On It"
• Tim Ries - The Rolling Stones Project (Concord)
• Poncho Sanchez - Do It! (Concord)
• Scars of Life - What We Reflect (Sixthman)
• Shelby - The Luxury of Time (Gigantic)
• Sons and Daughters - The Repulsion Box (Domino)
• Staind - Chapter V (Elektra)
  Read: "Staind Pushing Hard To Put Grey Days Behind Them"
  Buy Now: Chapter V (Flip/Atlantic)
• Suicide Machines - War Profiteering Is Killing Us All (SideOneDummy)
• Swarmy, Astro & Glide - Le Souk Sunday Sessions (Aurora Music Group)
• Richard Thompson - Front Parlour Ballads (Cooking Vinyl)
• Tremolo - Love Is the Greatest Revenge (Flagship)
• Ying Yang Twins - U.S.A. (United State of Atlanta) - Chopped & Screwed by Michael (TVT)
  Buy Now: USA (United State of Atlanta) [Chopped & Screwed] (TVT)
• Various artists - American Folk (Putumayo)
• Various artists - Dance 2 This Volume 2 (Thump)
• Various artists - Def Jazz (Verve)
• Various artists - "Heights" soundtrack (Tommy Boy)
• Various artists - Killer Queen: A Tribute to Queen (Hollywood)
• Various artists - Ministry of Sound Clubber's Guide Vol. 1 (Ultra)
• Various artists - Pure Chill (Water Music)

Notable Reissues:

• Bardo Pond - Selections: Volumes I-IV (unreleased and rare tracks, ATP)
• Blasters - 4-11-44 (bonus video, Rainman)
• Chin Up Chin Up - Chin Up Chin Up EP (three bonus tracks and a bonus video, Flameshovel)
• Cursive - The Difference Between Houses and Homes: Lost Songs and Loose Ends 1995-2001 (two unreleased songs, 10 rarities and a 24-page booklet by written by frontman Tim Kasher and illustrated by Eastern Youth's Yuriko Yoshino; ATP)
• Kool Keith - Lost Masters: Volume 2 (Dmaft)
• Pat Metheny and Ornette Coleman - Song X: 20th Anniversary (six unreleased bonus tracks, Nonesuch)
• Michael McDonald - The Ultimate Collection (Rhino)
• Mouse on Mars - Autoditacker (Too Pure/ Beggars)
• Orange Juice - The Glasgow School (two unreleased bonus tracks, Domino)
• Sloan - Smeared and Twice Removed (Koch)

DVDs:

• "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" (featuring Ashanti)
  Read: "Ashanti's Muppet Co-Stars Pull Back The Curtain On 'Wizard' "
• Jerry Garcia Band - "Live at Shoreline 9/1/90" (Rhino)
• Chris Isaak with Raul Malo - "PBS Soundstage Presents: Chris Isaak Live in Concert" (Koch Vision)
• Steve Winwood - "PBS Soundstage Presents: Steve Winwood Live in Concert" (Koch Vision)
• Yes - "Songs From Tsongas: Yes 35th Anniversary Concert" (Image)

Coming Attractions:

August 16:

• 311 - Don't Tread on Me (Volcano)
• The Click Five - Greetings From Imrie House (Lava)
  Read: "Click Five Winning Over Soccer Moms On Ashlee Simpson Tour"
• Killers - Hot Fuss (limited edition, Island)

August 23:

• Björk - "Drawing Restraint 9" soundtrack (One Little Indian)
• Jim Jones - Harlem: Diary of a Summer (Koch)
• Kurupt - Against the Grain (Death Row)

August 30:

• Death Cab for Cutie - Plans (Atlantic)
  Read: "Death Cab For Cutie Living Up To The 'Death' Part On Next LP"
• Rihanna - Music of the Sun (Def Jam)
• Kanye West - Late Registration (Def Jam)
  Read: " 'Can He Do It Again?' — Kanye West Says New LP Backs Up His Bragging"

• Ol' Dirty Bastard
• Staind
• Tommy Lee
• Proof
• Pennywise

Jessica Simpson (file)
Photo: Columbia

Jessica Simpson takes another stab at conquering the charts this week with the release of a revamped In This Skin. The "collector's edition" repackaging includes a few new tracks, including an acoustic version of current single "With You," and a DVD with memorable moments from the first season of "Newlyweds."

Adding Southern flava of a different kind to the mix, Cee-Lo comes with his long-awaited second album, Cee-Lo Green ... Is the Soul Machine, featuring producers such as Timbaland and the Neptunes. And Baby Bash breathes new life into Tha Smokin' Nephew with a chopped and screwed edition, cashing in on a trend that's rapidly gaining momentum.

Nineties feel-good rockers Hootie & the Blowfish return with a greatest-hits album — and before anyone asks if they even had a second album, let alone enough songs for a collection, it's actually been 10 years since lead singer Darius Rucker and company hit the scene. In addition to chart-toppers such as "Hold My Hand" and "Let Her Cry," the album also contains the band's remake of "Goodbye Girl," the theme song for the television adaptation of Neil Simon's play of the same name.

And in the spirit of oldies-but-goodies revisited, '80s mainstay Cheap Trick release Essential Cheap Trick, for all those people trying to relive pop's most colorful decade.

Out Tuesday, March 2:

• All State Champion - It Is Nothing to You (Five One)
• Artimus Pyle – F---ed From Birth (Prank)
• Baby Bash - Tha Smokin' Nephew: Screwed & Chopped (Universal)
• Branford Marsalis - Steep Anthology (Sony)
• Clint Black - Spend My Time (Equity Music Group)
• Cee-Lo - Cee-Lo Green ... Is the Soul Machine (Arista)
  Read: "Neptunes, Ludacris Help Cee-Lo Operate His Soul Machine"
• Cheap Trick - Essential Cheap Trick (Sony)
• Death Comet Crew - This Is Riphop (Troubleman Unlimited)
• Drift - Ribs Is Touchin (Lightyear)
• Get Up Kids - Guilt Show (Vagrant)
  Buy Now: Guilt Show (Vagrant)
• Here Kitty Kitty - This Is Broken (Lorelei)
• Hootie & the Blowfish - The Best of Hootie & the Blowfish, 1993 Thru 2003 (Atlantic)
• Keith Javors - Mo' City Jungle (Zoho)
• Just Jack - The Outer Marker (TVT)
• Jeff Kelly - From the Swan in the Hallway (Hidden Agenda)
• Kill Me Tomorrow - The Garbageman and the Prostitute (Gold Standard Laboratories)
• Denise LaSalle - Love Talkin' (Malaco)
• Layo & Bushwacka! - All Night Long (End Recordings)
• The Living End - Modern Artillery (Reprise)
• Lone Pigeon - Schoozzzmmii (Cargo/Revolver)
• Lunasa - The Kinnitty Sessions (Compass)
• Mahjongg - Machinegong (EP, Cold Crush)
• Kitty Margolis - Heart & Soul: Live in San Francisco (Mad-Kat)
• Dominic Miller - Shapes (Decca)
• Cyril Morin - Western Pansori (Milan)
• PBR Allstars - Buck and Roll Volume One (Universal South)
• Jessica Simpson - In This Skin (reissue, Columbia)
  Read: "Jessica Simpson Plans Breathtaking In This Skin Re-Release"
  Buy Now: In This Skin (Columbia)
  
• Sissel - My Heart (Decca)
• Lisa Sokolov - Presence (Laughing Horse)
• Sunny Jain Collective - Mango Festival (Zoho)
• Sweetback - Stage 2 (Sony)
• Taxi Chain - Smarten Up! (Northernblues)
• Dulcie Taylor - Mirrors and Windows (Black Iris)
• Various artists - Tha Down Low (Razor & Tie)
• DVD: Dave Gahan - Live Monsters (Rhino)
• DVD: Sissel - In Concert: All Good Things (Decca)
• DVD: Xzibit - Strong Arm Steady (Fortress)

March 9:

• BT - Music From and Inspired by the Film "Monster" (Digital Sound)

March 23:

• Johnny Cash - Life (Sony)
• Knoc-Turn'Al - The Way I Am (LA Confidential/Elektra)
• Pastor Troy - By Any Means Necessary (Universal)

March 30:

• Janet Jackson - Damita Jo (Virgin)
  Read: "Janet Jackson Making Sexiest Album Yet, Producer Says"
  Buy Now: Damita Jo (Virgin)

April 6:

• Rahzel - Rahzel's Greatest Knockouts (Readyrock)
  Buy Now: Rahzel's Greatest Knockouts (Readyrock)

• Jessica Simpson
• Cee-Lo
• Hootie & the Blowfish
• Baby Bash
• The Get Up Kids

Hootie And The Blowfish have joined the "Get In Step With The People Of South Carolina" protest against the state's continued practice of flying the Confederate flag over the South Carolina Capitol building in Columbia.

• Hootie & the Blowfish

With folk-rockers Hootie & The Blowfish currently on a break, guitarist Mark Bryan is now gearing up for the release of his first solo album, "30 On The Rail," due out on March 14.

• Hootie & the Blowfish

The Goo Goo Dolls and Hootie and the Blowfish have agreed to perform at this year's Rock To Erase MS benefit, slated for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on May 21-22.

• Goo Goo Dolls
• Hootie & the Blowfish
• LL Cool J

The Guinness Fleadh festival is expanding again this year, as promoters have announced plans to bring such artists as the Cardigans, Ben Harper, Shawn Mullins, Van Morrison and other to four U.S. cities -- San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and New York -- in June.

Featuring Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Ben Harper, the Cardigans, John Lee Hooker, Shane MacGowan, Luka Bloom, Saw Doctors, John Prine, Dave Alvin, John Martyn, Moxy Furious, Eleanor McEvoy, Young Dubliners, Martin Sexton, Shana Morrison and Too Cynical to Cry.

Featuring Van Morrison, Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Hootie and the Blowfish, Shawn Mullins, Steve Earle, Taj Mahal, Shane MacGowan, Luka Bloom, Saw Doctors, John Prine, Dave Alvin, John Martyn, Moxy Furious, Eleanor McEvoy, The Drovers, Martin Sexton, Kila, Too Cynical to Cry and Jack Lukeman.

Featuring Elvis Costello, Hootie and the Blowfish, Shawn Mullins, John Lee Hooker, Richard Thompson, Shane MacGowan, Luka Bloom, Saw Doctors, Black 47, Martin Sexton, Blink, Eileen Ivers Band, Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy, Eleanor McEvoy, John Martyn, Moxy Furious, Mark Geary, Too Cynical to Cry, Watercress and Jack Lukeman.

Featuring Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Hootie and the Blowfish, Shawn Mullins, Richard Thompson, Shane MacGowan, Luka Bloom, Saw Doctors, John Prine, , Black 47, Martin Sexton, Blink, Eileen Ivers Band, Tommy Makem, Liam Clancy, Eleanor McEvoy, John Martyn, Moxy Furious, Mark Geary, Too Cynical to Cry, Watercress, Jack Lukeman and Candy Butchers.

• The Cardigans
• Elvis Costello
• Hootie & the Blowfish
• Shawn Mullins

Concertgoers planning to bring your laser pointer to the show, think again.

• Hootie & the Blowfish
• Kiss

After scoring a top five debut on next week's album chart, Hootie & the Blowfish will celebrate by launching a month-long series of daily cybercasts featuring the likes of Third Eye Blind, Paula Cole, Soul Coughing, and more.

• Hootie & the Blowfish

Apparently the makeover paid off.

• Hootie & the Blowfish
• Marilyn Manson

MTV.com LIVE: Hootie and the Blowfish Photos 08.08.2005

• Hootie & the Blowfish