Even after death, Cash still honored

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Johnny Cash won the Country Music Association's album of the year, single of the year and video of the year awards Wednesday — capturing his first CMA awards since 1969 and tying Alan Jackson for most wins during the night.

Cash, who died Sept. 12 at age 71 of complications from diabetes, was nominated for four awards and won all but one: vocal event of the year.

"It's amazing my father had such a life that he could expose himself and still never lose his dignity and his charm," said Cash's son John Carter Cash, who accepted the awards with Cash's daughter, Kathy Cash.

CMA voters — about 5,000 industry insiders who belong to the association — nominated him before his death for best single and video for "Hurt," a song about drug addiction written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

Cash also was nominated for best album ("American IV: The Man Comes Around") and vocal event of the year for "Tears in the Holston River" with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.

Cash has now won nine CMA awards, the last coming in 1969 when he won a then-record five awards. Since then that record has been tied by Vince Gill and Jackson.

"I don't believe it's a token recognition," John Carter Cash said. "This is about a great impact in the history of music."

The Cash family has suffered a tragic year. June Carter Cash, Cash's wife and John Carter Cash's mother, died in May after complications from heart surgery. Cash died in September. And last month, Rosey Nix Adams, June Carter Cash's daughter and Cash's stepdaughter, was found dead in a camper bus from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

"It's been a pretty tough year, pretty intense," John Carter Cash said. "But coming here tonight is almost like a beginning for my father in a lot of ways."

Jackson won three awards, including vocal event of the year for his hit duet with Jimmy Buffett, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere." Jackson also won male vocalist of the year and entertainer of the year — giving him 16 career CMA awards. Gill, who hosted Wednesday's show, holds the record with 18.

"Thank you, Alan Jackson — I'm glad I can help your struggling career," Buffett joked. "It was about 31 years ago I came to this town to pursue my musical madness. I never won anything for anything and it's great to do it here."

Jackson said, "Thank you, Jimmy. No problem."