Kane Brown Dedicated His Award To His Drummer Kenny Dixon

Kane Brown gave an emotional speech at last night's CMT Artists of the Year event. The country star dedicated his award to his drummer Kenny Dixon, who tragically died in a car accident on October 12.

"I wanna dedicate this to my drummer Kenny," Brown began, in tears. "He started with me coming out of Chattanooga off of Facebook. People didn't think we would make it. He was with me the whole time. He was so supportive to me.

dixon was touring with Kane Brown when he died in a car accident this past weekend. Kane Brown was one of last night's honorees and he cried as he dedicated the award to his 27-year-old drummer.

The day after Dixon died, Brown had posted a similar message on social media, writing: "You started all of this with me from the start in 2015 when no body else believed we would make it out of Chattanooga playing for 500 people. And your last show was in a Fn Stadium."

"I love you and I miss you. The band misses you," he continued, holding his award up in the air. "I wanna thank my management and CMT. You've all been so good to me, since I've been here. Thank you all so much for this award. My fans, everybody that's helped me get to where I'm at. Love to everybody. Country music, all the people I talk to, and I don't talk to, just know that I love you guys. I love the country community. God bless you guys."

Sitting in the audience, Artist of a Lifetime recipient  Reba McEntire  was moved to tears. During the commercial break, she stopped TR as he walked past her, voicing her respect for what he did.

Brown spent most of the year on the road with Jason Aldean, on Aldean's Ride All Night Tour. Dixon was killed on Oct. 12, one day after the tour ended. He leaves behind a fiancée and a 3-year-old son.

Kane Brown was one of five winners at the 2019 CMT Artists of the Year event, alongside Carrie Underwood, Dan + Shay, Thomas Rhett and Luke Combs.