Country Music Awards

Country star John Rich says there's no need to pick sides in the Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert divorce ... he's just stoked Gwen Stefani is now in the picture.

The Big & Rich singer was leaving Legends Corner after the CMA Awards Wednesday, when our photog asked about the turn of events now that Blake is dating Gwen.

Carrie Underwood may not be your classic country s**t-kicker, but she's definitely a s**t-stirrer ... because she got the CMA crowd all riled up Wednesday night by taking a shot at the Prez.

Carrie and Brad Paisley got all political with a reference to Taylor Swift, whom they suggested has abandoned country music.

There's a tiny bit of room for interpretation ... whether the audience is going wild over the fact that the Democrats lost the Senate, or whether Obama is so unpopular he derailed his own party.

It's the second time in 2 years Obama's been skewered at the Country Music Awards.

Oh, and Brad took a shot at TMZ, too. We'll take that as a challenge.

Nelly, Darius Rucker, and Cowboy Troy hit up the CMT Awards ... on purpose -- proving country music is going the way of baseball, basketball, golf, and even hockey!

Ok, maybe not hockey. Yet.

Country singer Cowboy Troy (42), Hootie frontman Darius Rucker (47) and rapper Nelly (38) represented the African American community while walking the red carpet at the 2013 CMT Music Awards last night.