Watch CMT Music Awards

The Country Music Television Music Awards, commonly known as the CMT Music Awards, was a highly anticipated event among country music fans. The 2005 edition of the show was no exception, with a vibrant display of country music's best acts coming together to celebrate the genre's finest.

The show took place on April 11, 2005, at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tennessee, and was aired live on CMT. Hosted by Jeff Foxworthy, the award ceremony featured performances from some of the biggest names in country music, as well as plenty of nominees vying for the highly coveted awards.

One of the keys to the CMT Music Awards' success was its unique approach to nominating and selecting candidates. Unlike other music awards shows, the CMT honours its fans by allowing them to vote for their favourite artists in each category. This helped to ensure that the winners were truly representative of the genre's fan base, and gave a voice to those who had the most invested interest in the outcomes.

The 2005 awards ceremony was no different, with an impressive array of categories on offer. The nominees represented a diverse range of country sub-genres, from the traditional sounds of George Strait and Alan Jackson to the more contemporary styles of Keith Urban and Gretchen Wilson. There were awards handed out across every area of country music, including Male and Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Video of the Year.

One of the standout moments of the night came from the rising star Miranda Lambert, who performed her hit song "Kerosene" in an electric live rendition. The song was nominated for the Female Video of the Year award, which Lambert ultimately took home. She was just one of many up-and-coming artists that night who were vying for recognition along with some of the more established performers.

Another highlight of the show was the appearance of the legendary Loretta Lynn, who won the Johnny Cash Visionary Award that year. Lynn performed a stirring duet with Jack White of The White Stripes, one of many examples of how the country music genre has been able to reach out and connect with other musical styles.

As with any awards ceremony, there were some surprises or upsets in some categories. One such example was the win by Rascal Flatts for the coveted Video of the Year award, beating out more established acts such as Tim McGraw and Toby Keith. However, credit was given where due, and the Flatts' music video for their hit song "Feels Like Today" was widely praised.

Through its celebration of country music, the CMT Music Awards provided a platform for both up-and-coming and established artists to showcase their talents and gain recognition from their fans. The 2005 edition of the show was no exception, with a wide range of talent on display and a diverse array of awards handed out. Whether you were a die-hard country music fan or just an occasional listener, the CMT Music Awards represented a true celebration of a uniquely American musical style.

CMT Music Awards is a series that ran for 10 seasons (28 episodes) between June 12, 2002 and on CMT