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Image: Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood
Josh Anderson  /  AP
“Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be Kanye,” sang Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, at the opening of the 43rd Annual Country Music Awards in Nashville on Nov. 11.
Access Hollywood
updated 11/11/2009 10:19:51 PM ET 2009-11-12T03:19:51

Country music took a swipe at Kanye West’s infamous September interruption of Taylor Swift at the MTV VMAs at Wednesday night’s CMA awards in Nashville.

Following Taylor Swift’s opening number — a performance of “Forever and Always,” which included a cameo by Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell — CMA co-hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley took the stage and ripped the rapper.

Singing the country standard “Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys,” the hosts took a swipe at the rapper, who stormed the VMA stage during Taylor Swift’s Best Female Video acceptance speech to champion Beyonce’s “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” video.

“Mamas don’t let your babies grow up to be Kanye,” they sang. “Let them pick guitars and drive them old trucks, ‘cause cowboys have manners, they don’t interrupt.”

As the hosts' opening monologue continued, Paisley noted their show was full of audience members who appreciate and respect each other.

“That’s what I love about the CMAs — we get along on this show. We’re like one big slightly dysfunctional family. We’re like George Straight Plus 8,” Paisley said.

And West’s stage interruption was referenced again later on in the show.

An hour and a half into the event, Underwood told Paisley that “Welcome To The Future” was “one of my favorite videos of all time.”

As Paisley  began to thank his video team, 88-year-old country legend Little Jimmy Dickens walked out on stage to stop the speech.

“Excuse me! Excuse me sir ... I’ll let you finish later. Now Brad Paisley, I know you had a nice video and all that, but Taylor Swift made the best video of all time,” Dickens said as the camera panned to Swift, cracking up in the audience. “You go girl.”

Later, as Swift accepted the award for Best Female Vocalist, she also took a swipe at West’s expense.

“I want to thank every single person in this room tonight for not running up on this stage during this speech,” she said. “Thank you.”

Copyright 2013 by NBC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Photos: 43rd annual Country Music Association Awards

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  1. Little bit country

    Singers Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood host the 43rd annual Country Music Awards in Nashville, Tenn. on Wednesday, Nov. 11. In their opening remarks, the duo couldn't resist a couple of joking remarks aimed at Kanye West, who famously interrupted country superstar Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 13. Paisley also went on to claim the award for best male vocalist. (Josh Anderson / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  2. Family affair

    Married megastars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill arrive at the awards. Numerous jokes were aimed at McGraw because of his new men's cologne, McGraw. (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  3. Does Australia have country music?

    Singer Keith Urban and his Academy Award-winning wife Nicole Kidman have had plenty of practice walking red carpets. (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  4. Back in black

    Singer Taylor Swift opens the award show with a performance of her song "Forever and Always." Swift became the youngest person to win entertainer of the year and the first solo female to win it in a decade. (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  5. The chair goes over there

    Swift hoists a prop during her opening performance at the awards. She began her song by sitting in a chair for a mock interview, which quickly turned to music. (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  6. The man's 'Alright'

    Singer Darius Rucker performs "Alright" at the awards. Rucker, former frontman of Hootie and the Blowfish, has sold more than 1 million copies of his first country album, "Learn to Live." (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  7. On the 'Run'

    Members of the group Lady Antebellum accept the single of the year award for their song, "I Run to You." They also won for best vocal group. (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  8. Off 'Color' joker

    James Otto, Jamey Johnson and Lee Thomas Miller accept the song of the year award for "In Color." Joked country bad boy Johnson, "I never thought you guys would even let me come to things like this." (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  9. Once an 'Idol,' always an 'Idol'

    Carrie Underwood has come a long way from her fourth-season victory on "American Idol." The singer and CMA co-host is now a multi-platinum selling recording artist. She underwent numerous costume changes throughout the award show. (Mark Humphery / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  10. Enjoying the moment

    Darius Rucker became the first African-American artist to win the new artist of the year award. In his acceptance speech, he thanked fans and country radio stations for taking a chance on him. (Josh Anderson / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  11. True 'Nashville Star'

    Country artist Miranda Lambert, who gained fame on "Nashville Star" in 2003, performs at the awards. (Mark Humphrey / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  12. Looking for a soul to steal

    The Zac Brown Band thrilled the audience with their high-rev version of Charlie Daniels’ “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  13. New champion

    Members of the group Lady Antebellum perform "Need You Now" at the awards. The group won both vocal group and single of the year honors, with the win in vocal group ending Rascal Flatts' six-year winning streak in that category. (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  14. Winding things up

    Kix Brooks, left, and Ronnie Dunn of Brooks & Dunn perform at the awards. The duo announced in August that they will part ways after a final tour in 2010. (Mark Humphery / AP) Back to slideshow navigation
  15. Honoring the troops

    Members of the U.S. military in the audience stand as they are introduced during a Veterans Day salute. The crowd gave the military men and women a standing ovation for their service. (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  16. Classic country

    Hall of Fame inductee Barbara Mandrell speaks as singers Martina McBride and George Strait look on. Mandrell sang her signature song, "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool." (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  17. Teenage superstar

    Presenters Lee Ann Womack and Kris Kristofferson look on as Taylor Swift accepts her history-making entertainer of the year award, becoming the youngest person to ever do so. The tearful 19-year-old — who also was the evening’s top winner with four total awards — cried as she accepted her trophy and said: “I will never forget this moment.” (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
  18. Thanking the band

    Swift called the members of her band up on stage to celebrate her historic award with her. (Tami Chappell / Reuters) Back to slideshow navigation
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