RUCKER EMOTIONAL IN HISTORICAL CMA WIN: 'To the fans, thank y'all for accepting me,' singer said in acceptance speech.

      "Wow, what a year!" the Hootie & the Blowfish frontman exclaimed while accepting his award. The singer has seen his debut country album, 'Learn to Live,' reach platinum status and spawn three back-to-back No. 1 singles this year.

       "Thank you to my wife and three kids who sacrifice everyday," Rucker continued in his acceptance speech. "Thank you, Mike Dungan [President, Capitol Records Nashville] -- everybody told you you were crazy and this wouldn't work. To the fans, thank y'all for accepting me. To country radio, you took a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, South Carolina, and God bless y'all for that!"

       Rucker is the second African-American artist to take home a CMA Award, following Charley Pride, who was named Entertainer of the Year and Male Vocalist back in 1971.