Blake Shelton Honored With CMT's 2015 Artists of the Year Award: ''This Has Been a Crazy Year''

"This is a great way to end it for me. Thank you so much," the country singer says

By Bruna Nessif Dec 03, 2015 1:20 AMTags
Blake SheltonAlberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

What a year for Blake Shelton!

The country singer has had his ups and his downs in 2015, from his highly publicized divorce from wife Miranda Lambert to his new budding romance with Voice co-judge Gwen Stefani, and tonight marked yet another memorable event for the star.

Shelton was awarded with one of CMT's Artists of the Year awards for 2015 in the sixth year of the prestigious special's running, which was held from Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center, and got an especially wonderful introduction from fellow country crooner Trace Adkins, who couldn't help but poke fun at Shelton's love life this year.

"I've known Blake personally and professionally for 15 years or so. And his rise to fame has really been incredible to watch," Adkins began. "He has been named the CMA Male Vocalist of the Year five times. He has had four albums reach the top of the chart...15 No. 1 singles in a row...On top of all that, he has still got his day job on The Voice. Not a whole lot this guy can't do, other that keep his love life private."

OOOOOOOOH. "There's no doubt about that. I didn't write that, by the way. Oh, yeah, I know, man. Shut up. Let's take a look back at Blake's incredible year." LOL!

Once Blake hit the stage, he couldn't help but acknowledge his roller coaster year. "This is awesome, I've never gotten one of these from CMT before and been jealous over the last few years. First of all, thank you to CMT for including me on this. So cool. I don't even know, like, I don't have anything prepared.

"So let me just say that I want to thank my label and thank my entire team. There's too many people to stand up here and name, but more importantly, I want to say that this has been a crazy year, from the way it started to how it's ending so awesome for me. So thank y'all. This is a great way to end it for me. Thank you so much."

Shelton won't be the only country star to receive the award tonight.

In addition to the 39-year-old, fellow top country stars including Little Big Town and Sam Hunt will be honored for the first time, along with returning recipients Luke Bryan and Florida Georgia Line.

In years past, the telecast has featured star-studded performances including Adele and Darius Rucker covering Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now," Lionel Richie and Bryan collaborating in a mashup of "Oh No" and "All Night Long," and Maroon 5s rendition of Taylor Swift's "Mine."

Previous recipients of the top honor include Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood, Swift and Shelton's ex, Lambert, who was recognized on the CMT stage just last year.