Keith Urban ‘Did Not Expect’ to Win CMA Entertainer of the Year in 2005
"I truly did not expect that to happen. It was just such a magical night," said Urban.
In 2005, Keith Urban was named the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year. Nominated alongside country heavy-hitters Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith and Brad Paisley, the relatively new country act had a hard time believing that he’d been nominated, let alone win.
“What I remember about the Entertainer of the Year category in 2005 was that first feeling when people say it’s just an honor to be nominated, and I thought, ‘I know what that means! I know what that feels like,’ because for me it was a huge honor to be nominated so soon into my recording career,” Urban explained recently. “To be in that category, it just felt unbelievably quick for me. And then when they read my name out as the winner, I think I actually said, ‘I thought I was just rounding out the category,’ because [laughs] I thought you’ve got to have four or five people in the category. I truly did not expect that to happen. It was just such a magical night.”
The shock was clearly plastered across Urban’s face when Shania Twain read out the final ballot. While he may have not seen the accolade coming, his fellow nominees were clearly excited for his win as they embraced him on his way to the stage.
Since winning the CMA Awards’ top honor, Urban has gone on to win numerous other accolades from the CMAs, ACMs, CMTs, GRAMMYs, AMAs, Teen Choice and others.
Currently, Urban is one of the top nominees for the 51st annual CMA Awards and is once again vying for Entertainer of the Year against Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Chris Stapleton.
The CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, will air live from the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. Fans can view a complete list of CMA Awards nominees HERE.
