Country star Kenny Chesney received the Country Music Association’s top honor Wednesday night, the prestigious entertainer of the year award, for the third consecutive time, while Shania Twain made a surprise appearance.

Kenny Chesney took the entertainer of the year award for the fourth time in five years at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday at the Sommet Center in Nashville. Chesney’s prize was the cherry on the cake last night, as the person presenting him with the trophy was none other than country star Shania Twain, who made a surprise guest appearance.

Chesney, 40, told the crowd he felt “humbled” to be standing on the stage for the fourth time. His most recent album, “Lucky Old Sun,” released in mid-October, opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The singer had been nominated seven times but had to console himself with only winning the awards show’s top honor.

Shania Twain last attended the CMAs in 2004 and was welcomed warmly by the crowd and fellow artists. This was her first public appearance since announcing her separation from husband Mutt Lange in May. She last released an album of original material in 2002, “Up!” and a Greatest Hits collection in 2004.

The ceremony’s hosts, Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, also took home awards, Underwood receiving the female vocalist of the year award, for the third consecutive time, and Paisley the male counterpart, for the second year in a row. Paisley also won music video of the year for “Waitin’ on a Woman,” featuring Andy Griffith. The hosts both performed.

The King of Country, George Strait, won album of the year for his 2008 effort “Troubadour” and also delighted the audience with the single “River of Love.” He was handed the single of the year trophy for “I Saw God Today” by Hollywood stars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman. Kidman’s husband, Keith Urban, had been nominated in the entertainer of the year category.

Reese Witherspoon, a native of Nashville, also provided Hollywood glamour, taking the stage to hand Paisley the male vocalist of the year honor.

Other performances came from Kellie Pickler and Miranda Lambert, while Kenny Chesney was joined by reggae band the Wailers, of Bob Marley fame, to perform the reggae legend’s 1977 hit “Three Little Birds.”

Kid Rock teamed up with Lil Wayne to perform his hit “All Summer Long” while the Eagles offered the audience and the viewers at home “Busy Being Fabulous,” from their 2007 album “Long Road out of Eden,” the band’s first studio album since 1979.

Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, who recorded the album “Raising Sand,” received the musical event of the year award.

The three-hour show was broadcast by ABC.