Garth Brooks has been announced as Entertainer of the Year at the 2017 CMA Awards, defending his current title from 2016. The star received the prestigious award from Reba McEntire at the awards ceremony on Wednesday (Nov. 8) at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.

Garth has now won this prestigious award six times. And, for some fun country fan trivia, he's nabbed it in back-to-back years three times: 1991 and 1992, 1997 and 1999, and now 2016 and 2017.

McEntire, a past Entertainer of the Year herself, introduced the award as one going to an artist who "earned this honor on record and on the road." Cheers erupted as Brooks' name was called. He gave wife Trisha Yearwood a celebratory kiss, bounded onstage, and wrapped McEntire in a bear hug.

"Getting this presented to me by the entertainer of a lifetime -- I thank you," he told her.

"To all of us, Miranda [Lambert] said it best, Little Big Town said it best. We're family.  All you guys down in the front row -- we can agree about one thing," he stated, and began thanking the crew and band: "Let's all raise a toast to the most important people on the road, and that's the band and crew that takes us everywhere."

Brooks said he was talking to Kelsea Ballerini about how they're able to do country music for a living. He looked into the massive CMA Awards crowd, saying, "And the most important thing other than God himself are you, the people that allow us to be a part of country music. I love you. We are family."

Then, he ended it in the sweetest way possible. "Ms. Yearwood," he said, looking at his wife, "I am yours forever."

It's been a big year for Brooks after he released his newest studio album, Gunslinger, last November. In March, he shared "Ask Me How I Know" as the record's second single, following 2016's “Baby, Let’s Lay Down and Dance." And when it comes to touring, Brooks has had even more than a big year -- he's had three big years! His World Tour kicked off in September of 2014 and has been going strong since; his final North American tour stop will take place in Nashville in December.

The other nominees for Entertainer of the Year at the 2017 CMA Awards were Luke BryanEric ChurchChris Stapleton and Keith Urban.

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