Lambert, Stapleton Win Big at CMA Awards

Lambert, Stapleton Win Big at CMA Awards

Country music singer Miranda Lambert has a great career going for herself.

The key word being “herself.”

For a few years, Lambert shared the spotlight¹ with her equally famous husband, Blake Shelton.

But the couple divorced earlier this year after being married for four years.

Now Lambert is on her own again.

And she won one of country music’s biggest awards on Wednesday night.

Lambert earned the Female Vocalist of the Year award for the sixth year in a row.

“I needed a bright spot this year,” she said.

Shelton is perhaps more famous for his role as a judge on the television talent show “The Voice.” He confirmed rumors³ that he was dating another star singer, also a judge on “The Voice,” Gwen Stefani. Stefani is famous for singing with the rock band “No Doubt.”

Shelton won last year’s Male Vocalist of the Year award but did not win anything this year. Instead, Chris Stapleton won three big awards.

Stapleton’s album “Traveller” helped him win “male vocalist of the year,” “album of the year” and “new artist of the year.”

The Reuters news agency called the awards “unexpected.”

Luke Bryan won last year’s Entertainer of the Year award. He won again on Wednesday.

But he deferred⁵ most of the spotlight to Stapleton, known more as a songwriter than a singer.

Stapleton wrote hit songs for Bryan, Darius Rucker, George Strait and other country music starts before releasing his own album.

“Watching Chris Stapleton have this night is so uplifting,” Bryan said.

Stapleton said he dedicated⁶ his album to his father, who died two years ago.

The three-hour show at a sports arena⁷ in Nashville was a mix of award presentations and live music performances. Most of the singers who received awards performed – including Stapleton, who sang a duet with pop singer Justin Timberlake. They performed Stapleton’s song “Tennessee Whiskey.”

Words in This Story

the spotlight – n. public attention or notice

divorce – n. the ending of a marriage by a legal process

entertain – v. to perform for (an audience): to provide amusement for (someone) by singing, acting⁸, etc.

defer⁴ – v. to choose to do (something) at a later time

uplifting – adj. causing happy and hopeful feelings

dedicate – v. to officially make (something) a place for honoring or remembering a person, event, etc.

duet – n. a piece of music that is performed by two singers or musicians

arena – n. a building for sports and other forms of entertainment that has a large central area surrounded by seats

rumor² – n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven to be true

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 rumor   

n.谣言，谣传，传说

参考例句：

• The rumor has been traced back to a bad man.那谣言经追查是个坏人造的。
• The rumor has taken air.谣言流传开了。

3 rumors   

n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷

参考例句：

• Rumors have it that the school was burned down. 有谣言说学校给烧掉了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rumors of a revolt were afloat. 叛变的谣言四起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 defer   

vt.推迟，拖延；vi.(to)遵从，听从，服从

参考例句：

• We wish to defer our decision until next week.我们希望推迟到下星期再作出决定。
• We will defer to whatever the committee decides.我们遵从委员会作出的任何决定。

5 deferred   

adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
• a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划

6 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

7 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

8 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。