CMAs: Blake Shelton laughs off Miranda Lambert breakup jokes

NASHVILLE, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Blake Shelton took jokes made at his and ex Miranda Lambert's expense in stride during the opening monologue of the Country Music Association Awards.

While both stars sat in the audience as the awards show aired Wednesday night on ABC, hosts Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley poked fun at how "cray cray" the year has been in terms of celebrity breakups.

After singling out Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's split, as well as Halle Berry's divorce from "what's his name?", the two inched closer to Shelton and Lambert's, injecting an unexpected joke beforehand.

"We can't ignore the breakup that really rocked our world," Underwood said. "The one that's on everyone's minds, two people who we all know and love. Splitsville." Instead of directly mentioning the ex-couple in question, the camera shot to Muppet characters Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog, who were sitting separately in the audience.

"We just want to let you know that we love you both and want you to be happy," Underwood told the recently split puppets. Immediately after, co-host Paisley finally called out The Voice coach Shelton.

"And on a completely unrelated note, Howdy Blake!" the country singer said as the camera switched to a smiling and waving Shelton sitting in the audience. "Have you heard the song Blake did with Ashley Madison?" Paisley added, purposely mistaking Ashley Monroe for the infidelity-fueled website hacked earlier this year.

Lambert, sporting pink hair, was declared Female Vocalist of the Year later in the ceremony. The headliner later performed her hit "Bathroom Sink."

Hours before the CMAs aired -- and while Shelton and Lambert were on the red carpet -- fellow The Voice coach Gwen Stefani's representatives confirmed she was indeed dating Shelton. "Gwen and Blake are longtime friends who have very recently started dating," the rep reported to Us Weekly.

Rumors of the new couple's romance began swirling after they spent most of Halloween weekend together. In an interview following various sightings of the two getting close, Stefani revealed she and her colleague are "trying to have fun."

After the ceremony, Shelton tweeted a happy message which read, "Awesome night tonight. So many great things happening in my life."