Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley didn't shy away from poking fun at the political climate in their opening monologue as hosts of the 51st CMA Awards. 
 
 Related CMA Awards 2017: The Complete Winners List From Entertainer of the Year to New Artist, here are the winners of the 51st CMAs 
 
 As expected, they helped further heal a rift between the Country Music Association and members of the media, after the CMA released (and later rescinded under pressure) a strict set of guidelines barring journalists from asking questions about politics. Paisley lamented the fact that he's now unable to sing political songs like "Harper Valley DNC," "Hold Me Closer, Bernie Sanders" and "Stand By Your Manafort," the third a jab at the ongoing Russia probe plaguing the Trump administration. 
 
 But the highlight of their parodies was "Before He Tweets." Performed to the tune of Underwood's "Before He Cheats," the lyrics took down the President's habitual, early-morning tweeting. 
 
 "Right now, he's probably in his PJs / watching cable news / reaching for his cell phone," sang Paisley. "In the middle of the night from the privacy of a gold-plated white toilet seat / he writing Liddle' Bob Corker, NFL and covfefe." 
 
 The payoff line, however, was a chorus as cutting as it was humorous, referencing the high-stakes game some believe Trump is playing with North Korea. 
 
 "It's fun to watch it that's for sure / until little rocket man starts a nuclear war / and maybe next time he'll think before he tweets." 
 
 This marks Paisley and Underwood's 10th consecutive time hosting the CMA Awards. ||||| The 51st annual Country Music Association Awards kicked off with a tribute to the victims of last month’s Las Vegas tragedy. Darius Rucker led an all-star group of country superstars in a rendition of his Hootie and the Blowfish hit “Hold My Hand.” On stage with him was a who’s-who of the country world including Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire and more. 
 
 CMA Awards hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley only paid tribute to victims of the horrific shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Vegas but also the most recent mass shootings that have made headlines. In addition, they recognized the victims of the hurricanes that devastated Texas, Florida, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. 
 
 The performance comes after last week’s backlash the Country Music Association faced when organizers set guidelines telling journalists not to ask about the Las Vegas shooting when interviewing talent during the awards. The backpedal came after Paisley and others spoke out against the ban. 
 
 “Our music lifts people up, and that’s what we’re here to do tonight,” Paisley said during tonight’s ceremony, which aired on ABC. “So this year’s show’s dedicated to all those we lost and to all those who are still healing. We love you, and we will never forget you.” 
 
 The duo lightened things up by joking to the audience how the ceremony was a politics-free zone, poking fun at the aforementioned ban. Paisley and Underwood went on to sing a song set to the tune of Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” which immediately skewered Donald Trump. 
 
 “In the middle of the night from the privacy of a gold-plated White House toilet seat he writes NFL and covfefe,” they sang. “Til little rocket man starts a nuclear war, maybe next time he’ll think before he tweets.” ||||| Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley mock CMAs ban with Trump parody song 'Before He Tweets' 
 
 CLOSE From Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley's Trump spoof 'Before He Tweets' to Taylor Swift's surprise win, the CMA Awards show was full of memorable moments. USA TODAY 
 
 Did you really think Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley would open the CMA Awards without getting political? 
 
 The hosting duo of 10 years didn't waste time getting to Donald Trump as they opened Wednesday's awards show, which came under fire last week for barring journalists from asking artists questions about gun rights, political affiliations and the recent mass shooting in Las Vegas. 
 
 The Country Music Association apologized and rescinded the restrictions last Friday, but that didn't stop Underwood and Paisley from laying into the ban. 
 
 "We can't be doing any of our silly little songs because this year's show is a 'politics-free zone,' " Underwood joked. 
 
 "Are you kidding me? That's not fair," Paisley rebuffed, offering sample lyrics of political spoofs such as, "Way down wander on the Scaramucci" and "Hold me closer, Bernie Sanders." 
 
 The pair eventually landed on a comical rendition of Underwood's hit Before He Cheats, changing the lyrics to lampoon President Trump's Twitter habits. 
 
 "Right now, he's probably in his PJs, reaching for his cellphone," Paisley sang. "Right now, he's probably asking Siri, 'How in the hell do you spell Pocahontas?' 
 
 "In the middle of the night from the private seat of a gold-plated White House toilet seat, he writes, 'Liddle Bob Corker,' 'NFL' and 'covfefe,' " Paisley continued, before his co-host joined in to finish the chorus. 
 
 "It's fun to watch it, that's for sure, until little Rocket Man starts a war. Then maybe next time he'll think before he tweets." 
 
 Read or Share this story: https://usat.ly/2AlNtgX ||||| Miranda Lambert, left, and Jason Aldean perform "Drowns the Whiskey" at the 52nd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) (Associated Press) 
 
 Miranda Lambert, left, and Jason Aldean perform "Drowns the Whiskey" at the 52nd annual CMA Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) (Associated Press) 
 
 Chris Stapleton won the most awards at the 2018 Country Music Association Awards and had the show's best performance, almost capping a perfect night. 
 
 That was until Keith Urban surprisingly won the top prize — entertainer of the year — moments before the three-hour show wrapped Wednesday night. 
 
 Urban's actress-wife, Nicole Kidman, was in tears as the singer walked onstage to collect the award at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. 
 
 "Baby girl, I love you so much," he said. "I'm shocked beyond shocked." 
 
 Urban last won entertainer of the year in 2005 and also beat out Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and Kenny Chesney for the prize. 
 
 "I wish my dad was alive to see this," the Australian performer said. 
 
 Stapleton, however, cleaned house at the CMAs, winning four awards including male vocalist, song and single of the year. 
 
 "I want to thank my kids who put up with me being gone quite a bit and not getting to be as a good daddy that I would always like to be," said the father of four and soon to be five since his wife, singer-songwriter Morgane Stapleton, is pregnant. 
 
 Stapleton also won the performance of the night: His supergroup featuring Mavis Staples, Maren Morris, Marty Stuart and his wife gave a soulful and powerful performance of "Friendship," a song made famous by Pop Staples, the iconic singer's late father. They then performed "I'll Take You There," jamming onstage along with a choir. They earned a standing ovation from the audience. 
 
 When Stapleton won single of the year — where he won as both a performer and producer — earlier in the show, he said he was "thinking about the people in California right now" and he wants to "dedicate this award to them." 
 
 He was referring to the 12 people who were killed at a Southern California country music bar last week, who were also honored at the top of the show when Garth Brooks held a moment of silence as the names of the victims were displayed on the screen. 
 
 "Tonight let's celebrate their lives. Let the music unite us with love," Brooks said. 
 
 The CMAs, which aired on ABC, also took time to honor those affected by the deadly wildfires in California. 
 
 "We send our love to you," said Carrie Underwood, also mentioning the "brave firefighters." 
 
 Underwood worked triple-duty as co-host, performer and nominee at the CMAs. She was teary-eyed when she won female vocalist of the year. 
 
 "Thank you God. I have been blessed with so much in my life," she said. "Thank you family. Thank you country music. Thank you country music family. ...It's all about family around here." 
 
 She kept the positive and uplifting theme of the show going when she gave a rousing performance of her song "Love Wins." It features the lyrics, "I believe you and me are sisters and brothers/And I believe we're made to be here for each other." 
 
 Kacey Musgraves, the only woman nominated for album of the year, won the prize for "Golden Hour." 
 
 "This is really, really crazy timing — 10 years ago today I moved to Nashville. That's so crazy," she said. 
 
 "I'm so proud of it," she said of the pop-leaning country album, which was inspired by Sade, the Bee Gees and others. "It's inspired by this beautiful universe, and all of you, and mostly love." 
 
 Dan + Shay lost in all four categories they were nominated in but gave an impressive performance of their hit "Tequila." When Brothers Osborne won vocal duo of the year, John Osborne said, "I thought this was going to go to Dan + Shay. Make some noise for those boys." 
 
 "I don't know why we keep winning this," John Osborne said when he first walked onstage. 
 
 "If this was in Florida there definitely would be a recount," added T.J. Osborne, which earned laughs from the crowd. 
 
 Luke Combs, who has the year's most-streamed country music album, sang onstage with a red cup in his hand and won new artist of the year. 
 
 "God, I love country music, man," said Combs. 
 
 Brooks performed a touching new song dedicated to his wife, Trisha Yearwood, who was teary-eyed and was hearing the song for the first time. Recent Country Hall of Famer Ricky Skaggs performed alongside Brad Paisley and Urban. 
 
 Underwood and Paisley returned as CMA hosts for the 11th time this year, telling jokes at the top of the show, which ranged from Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's "A Star Is Born" to Underwood's pregnancy. 
 
 Underwood seemingly revealed a secret about the child, saying it will be a "Willie" after Paisley repeatedly asked about the sex of the baby.
– The 51st annual Country Music Awards was a "politics-free zone," hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley said Wednesday night—before they launched into a song poking fun at President Trump's Twitter habit. "In the middle of the night, from the privacy of a gold-plated White House toilet seat he writes Liddle Bob Corker, NFL, and covfefe," they sang in "Before He Tweets," sung to the tune of Underwood's "Before He Cheats." The hosts joked about Democrats and Republicans alike, making up song titles including "Harper Valley DNC," "Hold Me Closer, Bernie Sanders," and "Stand By Your Manafort," Rolling Stone reports. The hosts were joking about politics because of the Country Music Association's decision last week to ban journalists from asking about the Las Vegas massacre, political affiliations, and other issues, which it later rescinded, USA Today reports. "Our music lifts people up, and that’s what we’re here to do tonight," Paisley said, per Deadline. "So this year's show is dedicated to all those we lost and to all those who are still healing. We love you, and we will never forget you." The night's big winners included Garth Brooks, who was voted Entertainer of the Year, Miranda Lambert, who was Best Female Vocalist, Chris Stapleton, chosen as Best Male Vocalist, and Taylor Swift, who won Song of the Year for "Better Man." A full list of winners can be seen here.