Faith Hill Speaks Out on CMA Freakout

By Stephen M. Silverman

11/07/2006 at 12:20 PM EST

Faith Hill and her manager are responding to comments about the sour note she appeared to have struck during Monday night's Country Music Association awards, during the female vocalist of the year award presentation.

When Carrie Underwood's name was announced as the winner, Hill, who was nominated in the category, was caught by the ABC camera flailing her arms and apparently shouting "What?" before walking out of camera range.

Hill said Tuesday in a statement released by her publicist: "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. For this to become a focus of attention given the talent gathered is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving female vocalist of the year."

Added Hill's manager, Gary Borman: "I've worked with Faith for many years now and the idea that she would ever insult or undermine another artist, let alone another human being's success is absolutely preposterous. Those who know her know that she's incapable of such actions. She was being playful while the nominations were being read and playful after."

The other nominees were Sara Evans, Martina McBride and Gretchen Wilson.

Accepting her award onstage, a tearful Underwood said that two years ago she was just somebody who stayed home and watched the ceremony. Backstage, she told reporters she didn't anticipate winning, and even turned down the offer of her date, Anthony Fedrov, to hold her purse should she win, reports ABC News.