Garth Brooks, who last year returned to music after a 13-year break, won entertainer of the year at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday, where Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks' surprise duet performance was met with love and hate.

Brooks beat out Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Keith Urban and last year's top-prize winner, Luke Bryan.

“We are so damn lucky to part of this thing called country music,” Brooks yelled loudly at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

Beyonce, performing at the country awards show for the first time, sang her twangy song “Daddy Lessons” on a night celebrating the CMA Awards' 50th anniversary. The performance also marked a return for the Dixie Chicks to the show after a long absence.

Beyonce and the trio's appearance, though, wasn't cheered by everyone: On social media some fans tweeted angrily about the performance; some country music fans have disliked Dixie Chicks since band member Natalie Maines criticized former U.S. President George W. Bush over a decade ago.

Dolly Parton, who earned the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, was honored by Reba, Underwood, Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles and Kacey Musgraves, who all sang a rousing rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”

— Associated Press