The 2003 Country Music Association Awards, 37th Ceremony, was held on November 5, 2003 at the Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, Tennessee, and hosted by CMA Award Winner, Vince Gill.
Background On September 12, Johnny Cash died from complications of diabetes. His children John Carter Cash and Kathy Cash accepted his awards on his behalf during the ceremony, with "standing ovations" for each win.
Winners and Nominees Entertainer of the YearAlbum of the Year Alan Jackson Brooks & Dunn Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Tim McGrawAmerican IV: The Man Comes Around — Johnny Cash† Home — Dixie Chicks Man With a Memory — Joe Nichols Tim McGraw and the Dancehall Doctors — Tim McGraw Unleashed — Toby KeithMale Vocalist of the YearFemale Vocalist of the Year Alan Jackson Kenny Chesney Toby Keith Tim McGraw Brad Paisley George Strait Martina McBride Terri Clark Alison Krauss Patty Loveless Dolly PartonVocal Group of the YearVocal Duo of the Year Rascal Flatts Alabama Diamond Rio Dixie Chicks Lonestar Brooks & Dunn Bellamy Brothers Montgomery Gentry Sons of the Desert The Warren BrothersSingle of the YearSong of the Year "Hurt" — Johnny Cash† "Beer For My Horses" — Toby Keith and Willie Nelson "Celebrity" — Brad Paisley "Have You Forgotten?" — Darryl Worley "Three Wooden Crosses" — Randy Travis "Three Wooden Crosses" — Doug Johnson and Kim Williams "Beer For My Horses" — Toby Keith and Scotty Emerick "Celebrity" — Brad Paisley "Have You Forgotten?" — Darryl Worley and Wynn Varble "Red Dirt Road" — Kix Brooks and Ronnie DunnHorizon AwardMusician of the Year Joe Nichols Gary Allan Buddy Jewell Blake Shelton Darryl Worley Randy Scruggs, Guitar Jerry Douglas, Dobro Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar Aubrie Haynie, Fiddle/Mandolin Brent Mason, GuitarMusic Video of the YearMusic Event of the Year "Hurt" — Johnny Cash† "Beer For My Horses" — Toby Keith and Willie Nelson "Celebrity" — Brad Paisley "Concrete Angel" — Martina McBride "Red Dirt Road" — Brooks & Dunn "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"— Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett "Beer For My Horses" — Toby Keith and Willie Nelson "Picture" — Kid Rock (feat. Sheryl Crow) "Tears in the Holston River" — Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Johnny Cash "The Truth About Men" — Tracy Byrd, Andy Griggs, Montgomery Gentry and Blake Shelton
Performances
Martina McBride — "In My Daughters Eyes" Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson — Tribute to Johnny Cash: "Folsom Prison Blues" and "I Walk The Line" Travis Tritt and Sheryl Crow — Tribute to Johnny Cash: "Jackson" Hank Williams Jr — Tribute to Johnny Cash: "Ring of Fire" Brooks & Dunn — "You Can't Take The Honky Tonk Out of the Girl" Rascal Flatts — "I Melt" Joe Nichols — "Brokenheartsville" Dolly Parton and Norah Jones — "The Grass Is Blue" Tim McGraw — "Red Ragtop" Kenny Chesney — "There Goes My Life" Toby Keith — "I Love This Bar" Terri Clark — "I Wanna Do It All" Patty Loveless — "Lovin' All Night" Buddy Jewell — "Help Pour out the Rain" Blake Shelton — "The Baby" Gary Allan — "Songs About Rain" Darryl Worley — "I Will Stand My Ground" George Strait — "Honk If You Honky Tonk" Shania Twain — "She's Not Just a Pretty Face" Alison Krauss — "Everytime You Say Goodbye" Brad Paisley — "Celebrity" Dierk Bentley — "What Was I Thinkin'" Vince Gill — "Young Man's Town"
References