There's nothing small about Carrie Underwood these days.

No longer a newcomer, the 24-year-old Oklahoman staked her claim with the big girls Wednesday at the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards, beating out veterans Reba McEntire, Alison Krauss and Martina McBride in notching her second straight win for Female Vocalist of the Year.

If anyone had informed Underwood a few years ago that she'd be beating out her idols for CMA honors, "I would have called you absolutely insane," the American Idol winner turned full-fledged country star said.

And although she performed "So Small" from her sophomore album Carnival Ride, it was the feisty "Before He Cheats" from her multiplatinum-selling debut Some Hearts that continued to intimidate the competition, snagging Single of the Year honors.

Then it was déjà vu all over again when Underwood, last year's Horizon Award winner, got to pass the title along to fellow bright-eyed blonde Taylor Swift.

"This is definitely the highlight of my senior year," the teary-eyed 17-year-old said.

And perhaps 2008 will be the year for top female vocalist nominee and Nashville Star finalist Miranda Lambert, who turns 24 on Saturday. Same goes for Horizon Award nominee and avowed foie gras hater Kellie Pickler, whose emotions were on full display during her performance of "I Wonder," which is about the Idol finalist's estranged mother.

George Strait also continued to make it look easy, collecting two more CMA Awards, including his sixth for Album of the Year for the fittingly titled It Just Comes Natural, to bring his grand total to bagillion.

"When we made this album it was incredible," Strait said backstage. "We had great material and just kept knocking them out. We ended up with 15 songs and never intended to put 15 songs on the record, but when I started going through the songs there was none I could take off."

A sentiment obviously shared by Vince Gill, whose four-disc, 43-track These Days was also nominated for best album, a category that only featured male artists this year, for whatever reason. Also an all-boys club was the field for Entertainer of the Year. Hmmph.

Breaking out of the latter pack was Kenny Chesney, for the second year in a row.

"I guess I should thank Brad Paisley 'cause he thanked me…I want to thank George Strait for paying for dinner last night," The Good Stuff singer offered up along with his more heartfelt appreciations to friends, family and colleagues. 

"I love country music and I love doing what I do. Thank you," Chesney said.

On his way up to the stage Chesney hugged fellow nominee Keith Urban, whose stint in rehab conflicted with last year's CMAs but who was in fine form Wednesday, cuddling up to wife Nicole Kidman in the audience and rocking the house with "Everybody," off of Love, Pain & the whole crazy thing.

Along with the usual suspects, the 2007 installment of the CMA's performance-heavy kudos fest offered up the usual mixture of multigenerational hitmakers who are either just starting out, like Swift, or are still doin' it after all of these years, like the Eagles.

Don Henley, Joe Walsh, Glenn Frey and Timothy Schmidt—purveyors of the biggest-selling album in U.S. history but performing for the first time ever at an awards show—showed up to sing "How Long" from their first full studio album in 28 years, Long Road Out of Eden, which has proven to have plenty of country-rock crossover appeal.

Thanks to a last-minute rule change allowing for (nearly) one-stop shopping, the Eagles' latest debuted this week at the top of the Billboard 200 after selling 711,000 copies exclusively through big-box retailers Wal-Mart and Sam's Club and the band's Website.

Expanding upon the crossover theme was Jamie Foxx (an Oscar winner for playing a gent with massive crossover appeal), who joined Rascal Flatts for a soulful rendition of "She Goes All the Way."

Along with country fixtures Sara Evans, Dwight Yoakam, LeAnn Rimes ("13 years in the business, one marriage, no arrests!" she announced triumphantly) and Vince Gill, the CMA also called upon Desperate Housewives' James Denton, Private Practice's Kate Walsh and According to Jim's Kimberly Williams-Paisley (Brad's missus) to share hosting and presenting duties during this year's three-hour broadcast on ABC.

There's a connection there somewhere.

"I want to thank my wife—'cause she's right over there, actually," Brad Paisley said upon accepting the award for Male Vocalist of the Year. The erstwhile Horizon Award winner (circa 2000) also shared Music Video of the Year honors with director Jason Alexander—yes, that Jason Alexander—for the tune "Online."

The props and shout-outs were many, as a slideshow of country greats flashed behind Top Vocal Group Rascal Flatts as they opened the show with "Still Feels Good," Big & Rich dedicated their rendition of "Loud" to Porter Wagoner, the Grand Ole Opry fixture who passed away on Oct. 28, and Jason Aldean poured his heart into "Johnny Cash."

"I have to say, too, that if we're standing up here and we have this lofty view, it's because we're standing on the shoulders of giants before us," Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles said in accepting the award for Top Vocal Duo along with Kristian Bush, thereby putting an end to 14-time honoree Brooks & Dunn's six-year winning streak.

They'll just have to wait until next year to collect number 15. 

Here's the complete list of winners from the 41st Annual Country Music Association Awards:

• Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney
• Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
• Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley
• Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts
• Vocal Duo: Sugarland
• Horizon Award: Taylor Swift
• Album of the Year: It Just Comes Natural, George Strait (Strait, Tony Brown, producers)
• Song of the Year: "Give It Away," George Strait (Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon, Jamey Johnson, writers)
• Single of the Year: "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood (Mark Bright, producer)
• Musical Event: "Find Out Who Your Friends Are," Tracy Lawrence, featuring Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney
• Music Video of the Year: "Online," Brad Paisley (Jason Alexander, director—yes, that Jason Alexander)
• Musician: Jerry Douglas, Dobro