By Kat Giantis
Special to MSN Entertainment

Reese Is the Word: For anyone who thought the red carpet at the Country Music Association Awards was wall-to-wall denim, sequins and gargantuan cowboy hats, or, more specifically, gargantuan denim cowboy hats covered in sequins, Reese Witherspoon is here to show you the light. The actress, who won a well-deserved Oscar for channeling June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line," returns to her hometown of Nashville, Tenn., to present at the ceremony, and she uses the occasion to take a few steps outside of her fashion comfort zone with a knockout black Marchesa gown with décolletage to spare. This being Reese, her one-shouldered, peekaboo lace bodice manages to show just enough skin to stay on the classy side of sexy and prevent her from looking like she's about to break into a tango on "Dancing With the Stars." Witherspoon ensures her showy couture takes center stage by nixing any competing accessories (like, say, squeeze Jake Gyllenhaal), opting for only matching candy apple red lips and nails, chunky diamond earrings and a suitably countrified tousled coif.

(Retna Digital)