WENN

While her pal Taylor Swift may have won the top prize at Monday night’s CMT Music Awards, it was actually former American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler who carried off the most trophies of the evening with wins for her song “I Wonder” in three different categories: Breakthrough Video of the Year, Tearjerker Video and Awards Performance of the Year.

“This is the first time I’ve ever won an award,” the singer, who was unable to attend last night’s ceremony in Nashville, said in a post-show conference call. “I just want to go run laps around this whole building but people would think I was crazy so I’m not going to do that… I’m definitely probably not going to be able to sleep tonight for sure.”

Kellie also talked about the close bond between her, Taylor and their fellow country superstar Carrie Underwood. “They’re like my sisters in country music,” she explained. “Taylor and I toured together all year last year… She and I have probably gotten the closest to sisters. It’s really, really amazing to have her present that award to me because it was a special moment for both of us. I guess you can call Taylor and Carrie and me the Three Musketeers. Us blondes, we’ve gotta stick together. Boom!”

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WENN

Kellie Pickler has enjoyed continued success as a country artist since her run on American Idol. But the success did have a price, Pickler says.

“Going through that whole process and literally overnight you’re on 30-40 million television sets ever week — it’s not necessarily you that changes but it’s the people around you that change,” Pickler says.

Her advice to the new crop of of contestants in the top 24?

“Stay away from mean people! Of course that’s with any profession,” she says, noting that it’s important to “surround yourself with people that support you and pray for you.”

Since leaving her job as a Sonic Burger waitress in Albemarle, N.C., to pursue her dreams, “I lost so many people. No one that I was close with before am I even remotely close to now. I have maybe three people in my life now that have been amazing through the whole process.”

One of the people Pickler is proud to count as her friends is fellow Idol contestant Katharine McPhee. Pickler was “honored” to have been a bridesmaid at McPhee’s Feb. 2nd wedding to producer Nick Cokas.

“Kat and I were roommates (on Idol) and built a bond that I was not able to build with anyone else on the show,” says Pickler. “She instantly became like a big sister to me and Nick became like a big brother. I’m so blessed to have them in my life.”

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Here are all the ladies from last night!

• The gorgeous Carrie Underwood
• Jewell & boyfriend Ty Murray
• Keith Urban & Nicole Kidman
• Kellie Pickler
• Kate Walsh
• Leann Rimes
• Sheryl Crow

HUGE ARTICLE AFTER THE JUMP… (more…)