It's hard to believe how many times Brooks & Dunn have won Duo of the Year at the Country Music Association Awards. 

The Hillbilly Deluxe artists, who also hosted the ceremony Monday night at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, took home their 14th trophy in that category, along with three other statuettes, at the 40th Annual CMAs, making them the evening's top winners. 

Their gospel-inspired tune "Believe," cowritten by Ronnie Dunn, scored them Song, Single and Music Video of the Year honors. 

"I'm sincerely shocked the voters haven't gotten tired of seeing us walk up there," Kix Brooks told reporters backstage.

"This has been another huge year for country music," Brooks said at the beginning of the show, acknowledging the fact that theirs is one of the few music genres to have experienced an increase in sales this past year. "Tonight, we're here together to show off what it's really all about, and that's the greatest music on the face of the earth." 

It may be the greatest music on earth, but some of those heart-piercing lyrics have a crazy way of reflecting real life. 

For instance, an absent Keith Urban won Male Vocalist of the Year. Last month—a little less than four months after tying the knot with Nicole Kidman—the Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing singer announced that he was checking into rehab to battle a drinking problem, canceling his scheduled CMA appearance in the process. 

When Urban's name was called, Dunn read a letter prepared by the New Zealand-born artist that thanked his friends, family and Kidman for their love and support.

"I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing you all soon," Urban wrote. 

Again proving it wasn't just an American Idol thing, Carrie Underwood won Female Vocalist of the Year and the CMA's Horizon Award, which honors those who are new to the scene.

"Two years ago I was sitting at home watching these very awards and watching all these other people win and having the best night of their life, and this is the best year of my life," the "Jesus Take the Wheel" singer said.

Also betraying a hint of surprise—or was she?—country superstar Faith Hill was spotted backstage when Underwood was named the year's top songstress mouthing the word "what" and looking peeved. 

In response to the immediate speculation that she's a sore loser, Hill said in a statement Tuesday that "the idea that [she] would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to [her].

"For this to become a focus of attention given the talent gathered is utterly ridiculous," said the Fireflies singer, whose Soul2Soul II tour with hubby Tim McGraw became the highest grossing country tour ever this year. "Carrie is a talented and deserving Female Vocalist of the Year."

"She was being playful while the nominations were being read and playful after,” Hill's manager, Gary Borman, added. "I've worked with Faith for many years now and the idea that she would ever undermine another artist, let alone another human being's success is absoutely preposterous. Those who know her know that she's incapable of such actions."

And speaking of having a huge year, Rascal Flatts was named top vocal group after boasting the top-selling album of 2006, Me and My Gang. 

"I thank God for giving us a stage to stand on and perform on every night," frontman Gary LeVox said during the band's acceptance speech. The trio also performed the single "My Wish." 

Brooks & Dunn kicked off the evening's performance lineup with "Building Bridges," aided in their efforts by guest vocalists Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow.   

Also taking the stage to revel in country rhythms were Hill, Martina McBride, Gretchen Wilson, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and, most notably perhaps, Sara Evans. 

Evans showed up to sing "A Real Fine Place to Start," apparently figuring that the CMAs were as good a place as any to get back into the groove after starting divorce proceedings last month against her husband of 13 years, Craig Schelske. 

Paisley's Time Well Wasted again contradicted its title, winning him Album of the Year, an honor he also picked up at the Academy of Country Music Awards in May. The West Virginian singer also won for Musical Event of the Year for his duet with Dolly Parton on "When I Get Where I'm Going."

Chesney matched his ACMA success, as well, getting dubbed Entertainer of the Year for the second time in '06. 

"This year has in ways been the most emotionally satisfying year and also the most emotionally draining year of my life," Renée Zellweger's ex told the audience. "There have been so many ups and downs, it's been like a huge emotional roller coaster ride."

Actor-Highwayman Kris Kristofferson was on hand to induct George Strait into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Strait, who's been producing hits for more than two decades, performed his latest number-one tune, "Give It Away." 

Here's a complete list of this year's winners:

• Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney
• Album of the Year: Time Well Wasted, Brad Paisley
• Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
• Male Vocalist: Keith Urban
• Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts
• Vocal Duo: Brooks & Dunn
• Horizon Award: Carrie Underwood
• Single of the Year: "Believe," Brooks & Dunn
• Song of the Year: "Believe," Brooks & Dunn
• Musical Event: "When I Get Where I'm Going," Brad Paisley (Featuring Dolly Parton)
  Music Video of the Year: "Believe," Brooks & Dunn
• Musician of the Year: Randy Scruggs
• Hall of Fame Award: George Strait

(Originally published Nov. 6 at 8:33 p.m. PT.)