Minutes after singing a knockout version of “Desperado,” Carrie Underwood beat out James Blunt and others to take the best new artist award presented by Natalie Cole and Orenette Coleman. Underwood ran up to the stage and said, “This is absolutely unbelievable. I love country music!” She thanked her mom, she thanked her dad, she thanked “American Idol” producer Simon Fuller as well as producer Clive Davis and “anybody that had anything to do with this album and the blessed year I’ve had. Thank you so much.”