NASHVILLE
– Country Music Hall of Fame member and musical icon Willie Nelson was presented with
the inaugural CMA Lifetime Achievement Award Thursday during “The 46th Annual CMA Awards.”
On receiving
the two-foot tall Award from Brad Paisley, Nelson smiled and
said, “Wow. You could do push-ups with this. This is a great honor. Thank you to the CMA.”
“Willie
is an iconic musical legend and innovator,” said Steve Moore, CMA Chief Executive
Officer. “Even as he approaches his 80th birthday, Willie continues to be a lasting
and meaningful influence on our music and artists. There is no one more deserving
of this honor than Mr. Willie Nelson.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award was created
and meant to be presented to an iconic artist who has attained the highest degree
of recognition in Country Music. The award recognizes an artist who has achieved
both national and international prominence and stature through concert performances,
humanitarian efforts, philanthropy, record sales, and public representation at the highest level.
In creating
the award, the CMA Board of Directors determined that the artists receiving this
award must have positively impacted and contributed to the growth of the genre
throughout a course of years that have proven to have an unprecedented and provides
historical impact on fans and industry alike.
The Award was approved by the CMA Board
in July. And now that it has been presented to Nelson, it will be renamed
the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
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