Last year I started out my CMA recap saying, It was a night full of country stars, country music, lots of excitement, and of course the "Chicks." This year, I'd have to sum it up into three words, "Year of the Woman."

While the Dixie Chicks did take three of their four awards, and well-deserved they were, the big winner of the night had to be Shania Twain. After being nominated many times, her first win was the big trophy of Entertainer of the Year. What a way to start. And, as Vince Gill said after she completed her acceptance speech, "Well Shania, that ought 'ta shut up up. You did it baby."

And so she did. But lets go over all the award winners, and performances of the night.

The show started out with the Dixie Chicks singing their latest single, "Ready To Run." The performance included the girls in short tartan skirts, and an assortment of extras on stilts, and wires flying and seemingly floating while running in the air. If you've seen their video for this song, you'll remember at the end they hold hands and go skip around in a circle, then collapse on the ground. At the end of this number, three little girls dressed in tartan just like each of the chicks held hands and skipped around in a circle, then collapsed on the ground. Let me say, I was impressed with the effects as well as the idea for this number. What a start!

Marty Stuart presented the first award, Song of the Year.