On this throwback Thursday, we are going to take you back to a time when the mood was a bit somber, yet, intensely patriotic.

The date was Nov 7, 2001. It was just five weeks after the terrorist attacks on the United States and everyone, including the country music community, was trying to get back to normal.

The greatest musicians of country music gathered at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville to celebrate country music, the United States and our efforts to persevere

Vince Gill hosted the 35th CMA Awards and the performances definitely had a patriotic slant. Let's go back 15 years and check out some of the memorable performances of the night.

The highlight of the night was when Alan Jackson stepped out on stage and sang a song he wrote right after 911. It was the fiist time to world heard "Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning". The song eventually went #1 and was a song that is considered to be a part of the healing for millions of Americans.

Brooks and Dunn opened up the show with their upbeat patriotic anthem "Only In America"

Reba hit the stage with the appropriately tiled song "I'm A Survivor"

The big winners that night were:

Entertainer of the Year: Tim McGraw

Male Vocalist of the Year: Toby Keith

Female Vocalist of the Year:  Lee Ann Womack

Horizon Award:  Keith Urban

Vocal Group of the Year:  Lonestar

Vocal Duo of the Year:  Brooks & Dunn

This year, the CMA's turn 50 and you can be in Nashville, to see it all.

 

 

 

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