CM LOS ANGELES - Taylor Swift won Song of the Year at the Country Music Awards (CMAs). The 27-year-old star and Little Big Town won the accolade for ‘Better Man’, which she penned, and the group collected the accolade from her friend Karlie Kloss at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Wednesday in the ‘Look What You Made Me Do’ hitmaker’s absence, and praised the blonde beauty.

Karen Fairchild told the audience: ‘’We didn’t write this. We’re really grateful that [bandmate] Philip [Sweet] checked his email one night and that song was in his email. We want to say thanks to Taylor Swift. She couldn’t be here tonight with us. ‘’Taylor, wherever you are, thank you for writing this beautiful song, and loving songs and loving Nashville. To the fans, to country radio, thanks for being so good to us.’’ Taylor was unable to make the ceremony because she was in New York City rehearsing for an upcoming ‘Saturday Night Live’ appearance, but she posted a video of herself watching the announcement on TV. She added the caption: ‘’In NYC for SNL rehearsals. I LOVE YOU @littlebigtown and CMAs.”

(sic)’’

Little Big Town - also made up of Kimberly Schlapman and Jimi Westbrook - were awarded the Vocal Group of the Year prize at the ceremony to take their tally to two accolades.

Other big winners on the night were Brothers Osborne, who won Vocal Duo of the Year and Music Video of the Year for ‘It Ain’t My Fault’, while Garth Brooks took home the Entertainer of the Year gong for a second consecutive year and a sixth time overall.

He said in his acceptance speech: ‘’Getting this presented to me by the entertainer of a lifetime, I thank you.

‘’Miranda [Lambert] said it best, Little Big Town said it best - we’re a family. All you guys down here on the front row: We can all agree on one thing. Let’s all raise a toast to the band and crew.

‘’I was talking to Kelsea [Ballerini] backstage about how we get to do this for a living. ... The most important thing other than God is you [the fans].

‘’I love you guys. We’re a family.’’

Keith Urban took home Single of the Year for ‘Blue Ain’t Your Colour’, and Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton were named Female and Male Vocalist of the Year respectively.