Hot! Cma Awards 2011

Hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley speak at the 45th annual CMA Awards on Nov. 9, 2011, in Nashville, Tenn.

(Credit: AP)

(CBS/AP) NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Updated 10:04 p.m. ET

Country music's biggest stars have aligned in Nashville for the 2011 Country Music Association Awards.

Entertainer of the year nominee Blake Shelton kicked off show on Wednesday night alongside Kenny Loggins with a performance of "Footloose," but Hank Williams Jr. stole the show.

Pictures: CMA Awards 2011 red carpet Pictures: CMA Awards highlights Special section: Awards season

Williams appeared during the opening skit Wednesday night with co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, who lampooned his recent troubles with ESPN and his "Monday Night Football" theme song.

Paisley brought out an acoustic guitar and began his own version of "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight."

"Are you ready for an awards show . This is rockin' Bradcephus," Paisley sang before Underwood warned him he might draw Williams' ire.

As they spoke, Williams quietly walked up behind the hosts to the roar from the crowd. Asked if he wanted to say something, Williams said, "No," to the delight of the crowd.

Underwood and Paisley also poked fun at Justin Bieber's recent baby drama and Kim Kardashian's short-lived marriage.

Jason Aldean won his first major awards at the CMAs, taking album of the year for his platinum-selling "My Kinda Party." That album included "Don't You Wanna Stay," his duet with Kelly Clarkson, which won musical event of the year.

The Band Perry won single and song of the year for their surprise breakthrough "If I Die Young," and also picked up the best new artist award.

"It's just always felt like a song that was meant to be here," Kimberly Perry said as she was flanked by brothers and bandmates Reid and Neil Perry. "I was so excited to have a pen and paper in hand when it was ready to come to Earth."

Sugarland won the award for vocal duo of the year, and Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter won video of the year for their steamy "You and Tequila."

Shelton will compete for entertainer of the year with Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Aldean and Paisley, who won the award last year.

All five entertainer nominees will perform on a show that promises to be eclectic. Lionel Richie made his first appearance at the awards since 1986, singing selections from his new country duets album with Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker and Little Big Town.

Faith Hill will debut a new single, "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery will take to the stage in front of millions of viewers again and Potter and Chesney will perform "You and Tequila."

Swift, Aldean, Paisley and Shelton are the top nominees with five apiece.