NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Blake Shelton learned a valuable lesson at the CMT Music Awards: Don't bet against Blake Shelton.
"The Voice" star bet against himself in the male video category Wednesday night, wagering that Luke Bryan would win the category. Shelton won for "Doin' What She Likes," and now he'll be doing what Bryan likes.
"I owe Luke an expensive dinner, but that's OK," Shelton joked.
Bryan was a constant fixture early in the awards. He kicked off the show with Florida Georgia Line, Jason Derulo and ZZ Top — who mashed up their songs "This Is How We Roll," ''Talk Dirty" and "La Grange." He took a shot from host Kristen Bell about falling off the stage last week — while wrapped in yellow warning tape.
And he and FGL helped Bell with her monologue, taping a segment poking fun at the Jay Z-Solange Knowles elevator dustup, complete with black-and-white security footage.
He returned to the stage later after winning CMT performance of the year with Lionel Richie for their performance of "Oh No" and "All Night Long" from "2013 CMT Artists of the Year."
"The fact that I have won an award with you is just amazing, buddy," Bryan said from the stage.
"All I can say is, if I'm having this much fun, let's do it again," Richie responded.
He added another trophy, winning best collaboration with FGL for "This Is How We Roll" — giving both acts a total of two through two-thirds of the show — and returned to sing his own hit "Play It Again" while he strolled through the audience.
The Bryan-FGL-Derulo-ZZ Top mega-mashup wasn't the only superfriends teamup. John Legend, Jennifer Nettles and Hunter Hayes teamed up on a countrified version of Legend's hit "All of Me." Eric Church and Lzzy Hale of hard rockers Halestorm turned the volume up to 11 on a version of "That's Damn Rock & Roll" that featured power vocals from Hale and a rap from Church.
Kacey Musgraves and Lee Ann Womack teamed up to salute Alan Jackson with a duet of his song "Livin' on Love" after he was awarded with the first CMT Impact Award. Jackson is celebrating the 25th year of his career.
After a typically reserved thank you from Jackson, Bell reappeared dressed like Jackson in cowboy hat, plaid shirt and fabulously bushy mustache. She quickly looked around and realized she was the only one not dressing like the traditional country superstar.
"It was in the email. Seriously, did no one dress up like Alan Jackson?" Bell protested. "Forget it, I just wish I didn't super-glue this thing to my face. Let us proceed as if I'm not wearing a lip rug."
Keith Urban performed "Cop Car" in a spot-on recreation of Nashville's legendary The Bluebird Cafe that was surprisingly lifted into the rafters as Urban wrapped up the song.
The Band Perry won group of the year for "Done" and Cassadee Pop took breakthrough video for "Wasting All These Tears."
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Follow AP Music Writer Chris Talbott: http://twitter.com/Chris_Talbott.
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