"Country music has always lifted people up in tough times, and we hope to do that tonight," said co-host Carrie Underwood.
The country world paid tribute to singer and songwriter Willie Nelson, 79, and his storied career, presenting him with the inaugural Willie Nelson lifetime achievement award.
Nelson performed his signature 1980 song "On the Road Again," while Lady Antebellum, Shelton, Keith Urban, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw did the honors with a medley of his hits "Crazy," "Whiskey River" and "Good Hearted Woman."
"How many push-ups can you do with that one?" joked Nelson as he accepted the huge trophy. "Thank you all out there. Appreciate it."
Alabama quartet Little Big Town scooped up two awards, winning vocal group of the year, and single of the year for the group's hit record "Pontoon."
The band, which started out in 1998 but did not begin to make an impact until 2005, was ecstatic. "This has been a 13-year journey. Nashville, you have made us your band," said singer Kimberley Schlapman.
The show also saw performances by Swift, debuting her new single, Dierks Bentley, The Band Perry, Aldean, the Zac Brown Band and Kelly Clarkson.
Husband-and-wife team Thompson Square took home the prize for best vocal duo, and Louisiana native Hunter Hayes, 21, was named best new artist.
"Can you believe we were singing for tips for eight years down on Broadway and now we've won this award? It's one of the most wonderful nights of our lives so far," Keifer Thompson of Thompson Square told reporters backstage.
