{babes} A couple wins for 'it' couple Lambert, Shelton at CMAs

The sixth time was the charm for Brad Paisley as the perennial bridesmaid finally took home entertainer-of-the-year honors at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday night in Nashville.

He had been nominated for the award five times previously and was visibly moved in his acceptance speech. "God bless everybody," he told the crowd.

The pressure came off early for "it" couple Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton, who went into the awards with a combined 13 nominations.

In categories announced before the national broadcast, Lambert won best video for The House That Built Me, and Shelton won musical event for his collaboration with Trace Adkins on Hillbilly Bone. Early in the show, House won song of the year for writers Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin, and Lambert's Revolution went on to win album of the year.

Then came the crowning moments: In something of a surprise, Shelton was named top male vocalist, and minutes later, Lambert won female vocalist.

"This is unbelievable," said Shelton before thanking his fiancée, who was celebrating her 27th birthday and was up for nine awards, the most nominations ever for a female artist.

Lambert, who had just finished singing Coal Miner's Daughter with Sheryl Crow and Loretta Lynn (making an unannounced appearance), teared up and hugged Lynn as she accepted.

Co-host Paisley joked: "With the night Blake and Miranda are having, I think we can expect a baby in about nine months."

Other major awards produced few surprises. Lady Antebellum was named top vocal group, and the trio's Need You Now, this year's most-played song on radio, won top single. Established hitmaker Zac Brown Band was named best new artist, and Sugarland won top vocal duo on the strength of chart-topping single Stuck Like Glue.

Paisley and his co-host, Carrie Underwood, supplied plenty of laughs with musical comedy routines that poked fun at everything from Tiger Woods' infidelities to the Gulf oil spill and the Tennessee floods.

And they welcomed the visibly nervous actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who made her country music debut by singing a duet with Vince Gill on Country Strong, the title track from her forthcoming movie.