It was a great night for Country Music, as CMT Honored the Artists of the Year, Breakthrough Artist of the Year and a special tribute to Shania Twain!

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This was the 7th annual CMT Artists of the Year where Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett and Chris Stapleton were honored. Kelsea Ballerini was presented with the Breakthrough Artist of the Year and Twain the Artist of a Lifetime award!

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Our favorite Fiddle player and vocalist, Caitlin Evanson also performed during the tribute which highlighted 3 of Twain’s hit songs; “You’re Still the One,” “Any Man of Mine” and “Man! I Feel Like a Woman.” Twain also promised a new album that will be out soon!!!

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Evanson told Variety Beat what it was like to honor such a legendary artist as she played fiddle, mandolin and sung background vocals for the tribute!

Most people aren’t an instant fan of the unfamiliar. Shania Twain had a whole new spin on country music that was so bold and unconventional. One of the things I’ve learned in my life is just how hard it is to stay true to your own voice when the world wants you to be…well, familiar. Shania had the guts to follow through on being Shania and inspire country music to take some risks and grow in incredible new ways.  I was 19 years old, in Vancouver BC, watching those fiddle players that made me want to move to Nashville and follow that kind of dream too.

I wanted the mile-long ponytail, the attitude, and the smarts to write songs like that…so…yeah. Playing her songs at CMT’s Artist Of The Year show….In front of HER, was a little intimidating! But it was an honor i will never forget!

 

Evanson also performed a house concert Thursday night with Strings of Thought. You can watch the performance below!

 

Be sure to stay tuned for more exciting things to come from our favorite fiddle player and vocalist as she has exciting projects coming up with her new duo The Red Weddings.

 

Video of the tribute can be seen here.

More photos from the CMT Performance:

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