Merle Haggard photo courtesy of Capitol Nashville.

• Two collaborative efforts – Rhythm, Country & Blues and Common Thread: Songs of the Eagles – were featured in nominations and performances.

• Little Richard honored Mary Chapin Carpenter's request to "Shut Up and Kiss Me." He also performed with Tanya Tucker.

• Lyle Lovett and then-wife, Julia Roberts, attended. Lovett performed with Asleep At The Wheel.

• Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Merle Haggard was saluted with a star-studded performance of "Workin' Man Blues."

• The CMA Awards was the highest-rated entertainment special on CBS, ranking seventh out of 107 entertainment specials overall.

Alan Jackson Photo Courtesy of Arista Records

• First-time CMA Award nominee Alison Krauss won all four Awards for which she was nominated, including the Horizon Award and Female Vocalist of the Year.

• Vince Gill, who hosted the live broadcast from the Grand Ole Opry House, took home a record fifth consecutive Male Vocalist of the Year Award. With 15 CMA Awards to his credit, the MCA singer retained his title as the leading CMA Award winner of all time, an accomplishment that continues through 2003.

• The late Roger Miller and former CMA Executive Director Jo Walker-Meador were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• Once again the CMA Awards won the night in the ratings.

• Alison Krauss, a first-time CMA Award nominee, won all four Awards she was nominated for including Female Vocalist and Horizon.

• Alan Jackson won his first Entertainer of the Year Award.

George Strait photo courtesy of MCA Records

• "The 30th Annual CMA Awards" was the second highest rated special out of 212 aired during the 1996-1997 television season, ranking only behind the Oscars.

• The broadcast earned CBS Television its highest-rated Wednesday night in two years, propelling CBS to a first-place rating for the night and for the week.

• Brooks & Dunn become the first duo in history to win Entertainer of the Year.

• George Strait won Male Vocalist of the Year, an honor he last received 10 years prior. He also took home Awards for Album and Single of the Year.

• Patsy Montana, Buck Owens and Ray Price were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• Hosted by Vince Gill, the broadcast was opened by newcomer LeAnn Rimes with her breakout hit "Blue."

• Wynonna was joined by pop star Michael Bolton for a duet.

• For the first time, a retail campaign was launched in the UK, and the CMA Awards were broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.

1997

• "The 31st Annual CMA Awards" marked the sixth consecutive time that Vince Gill charmed the audience as host.

• Going head-to-head against premiere night on NBC and ABC, the CMA Awards placed first for the night in households, viewers and all adult demographics.

• Harlan Howard, Brenda Lee and Cindy Walker were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

• Shania Twain made her first public performance with her new single "Love Gets Me Everytime;" Clint Black and Martina McBride came together for their first televised performance of "Still Holdin' On;" and Rock star Sting and Toby Keith teamed up for the Stingpenned "I'm So Happy I Can't Stop Crying."

• For the first time, a CMA Awards Collection CD was offered to readers of Radio Times, the UK's largest TV/radio and entertainment listings magazine with a circulation of 1.4 million.

• Garth Brooks won his third Entertainer of the Year Award.