NEW YORK -- With its country twang intact, the CMA Awards held its first shindig in New York Tuesday night, with Madison Square Garden transformed into the Grand Ole Opry with rootsy performances by Lee Ann Womack, Sara Evans and Rascal Flatts.

Womack emerged as an early leader with three wins, including album of the year for "There's More Where That Came From."

"Oh my God, I love country music!" Womack shouted as she accepted her award for single of the year for "I May Hate Myself In the Morning," a bittersweet ballad from an album that marked her return to traditional country after she had spent time singing more pop-infused material. Earlier in the evening, she won for best musical event for her duet with George Strait, "Good News, Bad News."

The Country Music Association uprooted the awards show from its traditional home in Nashville to shine in New York's international spotlight at one of the city's most famous venues.

Although New York's skyline was the visual backdrop for the show and the ceremony was to be peppered with cameos by Elton John, Billy Joel, Donald Trump, James Gandolfini and Bon Jovi, Nashville's influence was hardly diluted.

The show kicked off with a fitting performance from Big & Rich, who have shaken up country with their mix of various musical genres, including hip-hop. They pair performed "Comin' to Your City," crooning: "We're comin' to New York City, we're gonna play our guitar and sing you a country song."

Later, Norah Jones played piano while Willie Nelson sang "Still Crazy After All These Years," and Paul Simon joined the pair and sang "Crazy."

Womack and Brad Paisley led all award nominees with six each. Other multiple nominees include Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Toby Keith.

Other early winners included Keith, who won music video of the year for "As Good As I Once Was," and dobro player Jerry Douglas, who nabbed musician of the year.

Jon Randall and Bill Anderson won song of the year for "Whiskey Lullaby," sung by Alison Krauss and Brad Paisley.

"I've probably been writing songs in Nashville longer than anybody. My first co-writer was Andrew Jackson," Anderson joked.

The CMA show's move was designed to raise its profile in New York City. While country generates plenty of multiplatinum superstars and New York is one of its top markets in terms of album sales, it lacks a major presence here, including a radio station devoted to the genre.

But the move is a one-time stint; the show will return to Nashville for its 40th anniversary next year.

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