Paisley grabbed his guitar and started singing and Underwood would follow in parody. Of course, it wouldn’t be a bona-fide awards show without a jab at rapper and microphone-hog Kanye West.

“Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be Kanye. Let them be cowboys ’cuz cowboys have manners and don’t interrupt,” the duo chirped to Paisley’s acoustic guitar. They panned swine flu, the Brooks & Dunn d-i-v-o-r-c-e, Kid Rock’s distinctive “whiskey and waffle house” odor and Kanye West (again).

Taylor Swift kicked off the program, performing “Forever & Always,” dressed in black leather pants and sequined kimono top, throwing her blond locks around like a metal goddess strung out on country heartache.

There were few surprises. No, Paisley didn’t sweep the seven categories he was nominated in. Yes, Underwood had more costume changes than she’s had No. 1 hits. Surprise: Former “American Idol” contestant Kellie Pickler changed her trademark hair color from Nashville Blonde to Reba Red.

Big surprise: “Well, slap the dog and spit on the fire,” said Naomi Judd as mother-daughter duo the Judds reunited onstage, marking the 25th anniversary of their first CMA appearance. The Judds gave the night’s best new artist award to Darius Rucker, of Hootie & the Blowfish fame.

Bigger surprise, perhaps: Youngblood Taylor Swift won the album of the year award for “Fearless.”

As far as live performances went, old-school and outlaw country also took a back-seat to a rocket ride of contemporary, cross-genre, country-rock collaborations. Dave Matthews and Kenny Chesney performed “I’m Alive”; Okie homeboy Vince Gill and Daughtry performed “Tennessee Line”; Brooks & Dunn paired with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons on “Honky Tonk Stomp”; Kid Rock and Jamey Johnson paired for “Between Jennings and Jones.”

The Zac Brown Band plowed into a southern rock-rebel version of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and a very Jack Black “Tribute”-like moment when band members raced onto a catwalk for an ultimate battle of fiddle-versus-guitar. Hands and fingers raced as the musicians marched in a circle around each other.

Tribute, indeed. Their cover of the Charlie Daniels Band classic earned a standing ovation from the star-studded audience.

Underwood’s performance of her newest hit, “Cowboy Cassanova,” was also a show-stopper, but for a completely different reason. She wore silver hot pants, mile-high heels and a pink silk, slip-inspired dress as she warned in her sultry tone, “You better run for your life.” Burlesque-inspired dancers spun around her.

The night’s tempo raced with a string of hit song performances. Jason Aldean moved the crowd with his hit “Big Green Tractor.” Paisley embraced his single “Welcome to the Future.” He also introduced the “always great George Strait,” who performed his new tune, “Twang.” Sugarland tempered the bombast with “Love on the Inside.”

Tim McGraw performed “Southern Voice;” Lady Antebellum balladeered “Need You Now;” Darius Rucker performed “Alright” and actually entered the crowd, hoisting his ostrich boots over a waist-high barrier to sway and sing with women in black evening dresses.

The Veteran’s Day holiday wasn’t forgotten, either. Paisley waxed about World War II in his performance, singing “Every day is a revolution.” Presenters and recipients alike acknowledged the recent bloody rampage at Fort Hood, American troops fighting overseas and the ever-elusive American Dream. From the stage, Underwood thanked them, too.

Blonde bombshell and Oklahoma transplant Miranda Lambert sang “White Liar,” introduced by host Underwood as “my good friend.”