Carrie, Chris and Keith steal the show at the Country Music Awards

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Female Vocalist of The Year winner - Carrie Underwood. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

(Reuters) - Chris Stapleton was the big winner but Carrie Underwood and her unborn baby stole the limelight at the Country Music Association (CMA) awards on Wednesday.

A heavily pregnant Underwood, one of country music's biggest celebrities, chose the live televised show in Nashville to reveal for the first time that the second child she is expecting is a boy.

Underwood, who co-hosted the show with singer Brad Paisley, won female vocalist of the year for the fifth time and brought the house down with an emotional performance of her single about bringing people together, "Love Wins."

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Female Vocalist of The Year winner - Carrie Underwood. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

"Thank you God. I have been blessed with so much in my life," Underwood said.

Stapleton won three awards - male vocalist of the year, single and song of the year for "Broken Halos."

But in a surprise result, he lost the night's biggest prize - entertainer of the year - to Keith Urban, the former "American Idol" judge and husband of actress Nicole Kidman.

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Male Vocalist of the Year winner - Chris Stapleton. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

"I am shocked beyond shocked," a tearful Urban said. "I feel very grateful that I get to do what I do. God bless country music."

Garth Brooks opened the show with a minute of silence for the 12 people shot dead last week at a bar in Southern California that was popular for country line dancing. The gunman, a former U.S. Marine, died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot.

"Tonight, let's celebrate their lives," Brooks said. "Let the music unite us with love in their enduring memory."

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Male Vocalist of the Year winner - Chris Stapleton. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

On a male-dominated night, Kacey Musgraves, 30, won her first big CMA prize, taking home album of the year for "Golden Hour." No women were among the five nominees this year for entertainer of the year.

"2018 has been a huge year for men in country music," quipped Paisley as he opened the three-hour show with Underwood.

"Finally!" Underwood retorted.

52nd Country Music Association Awards – Photo Room – Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018. Thomas Rhett, winner of Music Video of the Year for "Marry Me", holds his award. REUTERS/Jamie Gilliam

The oldest and youngest stars were among the most-talked about performers.

Veteran bluegrass musician Ricky Skaggs, 64, got an extended showcase, playing with Paisley and Urban, while Brooks, a country staple for 30 years, debuted an acoustic ballad, "Stronger Than Me," dedicated to his wife, Trisha Yearwood.

On the younger end, Kelsea Ballerini, 25, performed her defiant dance-pop ode to female empowerment, "Miss Me More."

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Female Vocalist of The Year winner - Carrie Underwood receives award from Trisha Yearwood. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

Other winners on Wednesday included Old Dominion, Brothers Osborne, Thomas Rhett, and best new artist Luke Combs.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Darren Schuettler)

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Entertainer of the Year winner - Keith Urban accepts award from Lionel Richie. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Pistol Annies performs. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Entertainer of the Year winner - Keith Urban. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards – Photo Room – Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018. Vocal Duo of the Year winner Brothers Osborne hold their awards. REUTERS/Jamie Gilliam

52nd Country Music Association Awards – Photo Room – Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018. Performer Ricky Skaggs gestures. REUTERS/Jamie Gilliam

52nd Country Music Association Awards – Photo Room – Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018. Vocal Group of the Year winners Old Dominion hold their awards. REUTERS/Jamie Gilliam

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Ricky Skaggs performs. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Album of the Year winner - "Golden Hour" - Kacey Musgraves. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Garth Brooks performs. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Eric Church performs. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Maren Morris and Mavis Staples perform. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Kasey Musgraves performs. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Chris Stapleton, Maren Morris and Mavis Staples perform. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Brad Paisley performs. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Brad Paisley performs. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary

52nd Country Music Association Awards - Show - Nashville, Tennessee, U.S., 14/11/2018 - Hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. REUTERS/Harrison Mcclary