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The Inspirational Country Music Awards took place this past Thursday night in Hendersonville, TN, and some big name stars took home some awards. The theme of this year’s show was “Faith, Family, and Country,” and members of our armed forces played big roles in the show. Members of the military lined a red, white, and blue carpet for artist arrivals, while some soldiers were in attendance to present awards, performers, or announce nominees via satellite from Afghanistan. One particularly moving appearance was from former soldier Shiloh Harris. Harris was injured in an attack, lost both of his ears, sustained burns over 30% of his body and spent 48 days in a coma. Harris’ positive outlook was evident as he presented the ICM award for Christian Country Song of the Year to Russ Murphy for “Cowboys Love Jesus, Too.”

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Carrie Underwood added to her growing trophy collection when her video for “Temporary Home” took home the award for ICM Video of the Year. Craig Morgan took home two awards, one for Mainstream Inspirational Song of the Year (“This Ain’t Nothin’”) and one for Mainstream Country Artist of the Year.

Last year’s winner of the ICM for Vocal Duo of the Year, The Roys, took home the honor again this year, and followed up their win with a very moving performance of “I Wonder What God’s Thinking” from their upcoming CD.

The night’s biggest award, Entertainer of the Year, went to Point of Grace, who were the 2009 winners of the ICM award for Vocal Duo of the Year. The ICM award for New Artist of the Year went to Laura Dodd, Tim McGraw and Sandra Bullock’s movie “The Blind Side” won the ICM award for Faith, Family, and Country Movie, and Ricky Skaggs took home the Award for Inspirational Bluegrass Artist of the Year.

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The night was also filled with moving performances. Emma Jacob performed her song “After All,” Katrina Elam sang “The Gift,” (from the upcoming movie “Cross Country 2,” in which she appears with George Strait), and other artists such as Love & Theft, Joey & Rory, Nathan Stanley, Mary James, Freight Train, Andy Griggs, Sarah Darling, and CrossCountry the Band performed inspirational songs.

The show was co-hosted by GAC’s Storme Warren and Inside Edition host Megan Alexander.

For more information on this year’s ICM Award winners and performers, visit http://www.ccma.cc/index.php.

Mariah Childress
CMTT Music Contributor
http://twitter.com/mariahchildress