Tears greet music award

Press, 22 October 1986, Page 24

Tears greet music award

NZPA-Reuter Nashville A tearful Reba McEntire accepted the prestigious Entertainer of the Year award at the twentieth annual Country Music Association awards at the Grand Ole Opry. The 30-year-old, redheaded Oklahoma cowgirl edged out Willie Nelson, last year’s winner, Ricky Skaggs, George Strait and the mother-daughter duo, the Judds. McEntire was the first woman to win the award in five years. Barbara Mandrell won in 1980 and 1981, followed by the group Alabama, winners three years running, and Skaggs.

McEntire also won Female Vocalist of the Year for the third con-

secutive year, the first since Tammy Wynette took the title in 1968, 1969, and 1970. As was expected, the so-called “new breed” of country artists dominated the show.

The Texan, George Strait, aged 34, won Male Vocalist of the Year for the second successive year.

Also winning for the second year were the Judds, mother Naomi, aged 41, and daughter Wynonna, aged 22, who took Vocal Group of the Year.

A newcomer, Randy Travis, won the Horizon Award for outstanding career development. The singer shot to stardom last year and was nominated

in three other categories, Album of the Year, Single of the Year, and Male Vocalist. Other winners were Marie Osmond and Dan Seals for Vocal Duo of the Year and the Oak Ridge Boys for Instrumental Band of the Year. Album of the Year went to Ronnie Milsap’s “Lost in the 50s Tonight,” marking his fourth win in this category. Single of the Year went to “Bop,” recorded by Dan Seals.

Song of the Year, a songwriter’s award, was “On The Other Hand,” recorded by Randy Travis.

George Jones won a standing ovation for Music

Video of the Year, titled “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes.” The veteran fiddler, Johnny Gimble, who won Instrumentalist of the Year in 1975, repeated his victory, cutting short a five-year consecutive reign by the guitar great, Chet Atkins, who was not nominated this time. Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame were the late country comedian, Whitey Ford, known as the “Duke of Paducah (Kentucky),” and the music publisher, Wesley Rose. Willie Nelson and Kris Kristofferson, both sporting beards, hosted the awards.