Johnny Cash, who died in September, became the oldest winner in Country Music Awards history on Wednesday night, honored with three awards for work done in the last year of his life.

The nationally televised event also featured a touching tribute to the late "man in black."

Cash won Album of the Year, Single of the Year, and Music Video of the Year a year described by his son, John Carter Cash, as one of pain in which his mother, legendary country entertainer June Carter Cash, also died.

In a honky-tonk driven show, the Entertainer of the Year honor went to Alan Jackson, who also won it last year.

Jackson also won Male Vocalist of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year, with his duet with Jimmy Buffett, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere."

Martina McBride won Female Vocalist of the Year.

The Horizon Award went to Joe Nichols, while Brooks and Dunn won Vocal Duo of the Year. Randy Scruggs took Musician of the Year honors, and Song of the Year was "Three Wooden Crosses," written by Doug Johnson and Kim Williams.

Toby Keith, who earned seven nominations, was shut out completely.

Also failing to win despite their record-breaking tour this year were the Dixie Chicks, who lost to Rascal Flatts for Vocal Group of the Year. However, the three-member Rascal Flatts group surprised the audience by insisting on giving the trophy to the fellow nominee group Alabama, which they said, deserved it more.

Cash who died on Sept. 12 at the age of 71, had been nominated for four awards.

A thunderous ovation greeted the musical tribute to Cash, which included renditions of some of his hit songs by Kris Kristofferson, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Travis Tritt and Hank Williams, Jr.

Cash's album, "American IV: The Man Comes Around" was his third victory in that category. His first two came in 1967 and 1968. His Single and Video wins were for "Hurt", a song first recorded by the rock group Nine Inch Nails, written by lead singer Trent Reznor.

Backstage in the media room, John Carter Cash raised the awards over his head, saying "To the very end, he always stayed true to what he believed was right. This is not just about the music. It's about who he was as a human."

In response to questions about the period in which the Nashville labels dropped him when his sales were off, he responded that his father had not been bitter.

During that period, Cash went on to make his music with California producer Rick Rubin on Lost Highway Records.

Emphasis on honky tonk came from performers as well as from nominated songs, particularly by Keith.

Although women were ignored this year, except for all female categories, they turned in acclaimed performances on the show. Dolly Parton joined Norah Jones in a duet "The Grass is Blue" and Shania Twain dazzled the audience with "She's Not Just a Pretty Face."

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