2016's CMT Awards Went Beyond Country With Special Guests

(Radio.com) When CMT's 2016 Music Awards aired Wednesday night, at first viewers weren't sure what kind of program they were watching. While the show was filled with country music's top names it also featured artists not usually associated with the genre, including Pharrell Williams and Cheap Trick.

The show kicked off with Keith Urban, Brett Eldredge and Maren Morris in Bridgestone Arena in Nashville performing his single 'Wasted Time" , then threw to an outdoor performance by an Elvis-flavored Billy Ray Cyrus along with Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Cheap Trick.

JJ Watt and Erin Andrews attempted to segue the audience between the stages and venues. Main stage attractions were Luke Bryan, who got the crowd involved with his performance of 'Huntin', Fishin' Lovin' Every Day," Florida Georgia Line with their new single "H.O.L.Y," and Jason Aldean's "Lights Come On."

Arguably the most "country" moment of the night came when Blake Shelton sang his song "Doin' It to Country Songs" with The Oak Ridge Boys, and then they closed with latter's hit "Elvira."

When Blake won CMT's Social Superstar award he said, "That's not what I was going for, but what the hell! I have a few drinks and get on Twitter once in a while. I didn't know you could get paid for that, but damn!"

Dierks Bentley and Elle King were perfection in their performance of "Different With Girls." Read more and see the winner list here.

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Copyright Radio.com/CBS Local - Excerpted here with permission.

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