Wallen took home the Album of the Year Award for 'Dangerous: The Double Album.'
. Radio stations, including those owned by iHeartMedia, Entercom and Cumulus Media, removed Wallen's music from their playlists.
Wallen shared his gratitude for being given the honor in his acceptance speech, thanking the songwriters, producers and musicians that played on the album, as well as his family and his fans for showing him"grace along the way" as he worked to overcome the controversy. "I'd also like to thank my good lord and savior Jesus Christ, my family, my friends, my team in Nashville, country radio and everyone who has shown me grace along the way," Wallen said."Most importantly, I have to address my fans personally and directly: thank you, thank you, thank you!"After Monday's show, ET's Cassie DiLaura spoke to another big winner and Wallen's best friend, HARDY, who took home the Songwriter of the Year Award.
"Me and my fiancé cried I think, more over that award than this one," HARDY said of Wallen's big win."It means a lot for him. We all know what happened. It means a lot. He works very hard. He deserves that award." "For those that don't know, your peers, our coworkers vote for who should win this award," he continued."To know that the entire country music industry voted for him to win that, means that people have his back again. And that's very important. Everybody deserves a second chance, deserves a chance to fight for themselves and that's exactly what's happened. So this was bigger than that award for him. It meant a lot and I am very proud of him.