Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni/Landov
Carrie Underwoodbecame the first woman since 2001 to be named ACM entertainer of the year – and only the seventh female to win the Academy of Country Music’s top honor since it was first handed out in 1970.
Underwood also took home the award for top female vocalist, a repeat of last year’s win.
Earlier at the Las Vegas show, which aired on CBS, fellow young blonde phenomTaylor Swiftbeat out George Strait, Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry and Underwood for album of the year forFearless.“I think a lot of people who know me know that if I talk to you for more than five minutes, I’m probably going to write a song about you, so that being said I’d like to thank all the characters in my songs: Abigail, Hey Stephen, Tim McGraw and Romeo, the 19-year-old said.
Brad Paisleyalso had something to celebrate. For the third year in a row, the singer accepted the honor of top male vocalist, this time from his home in Tennessee, where he and wife Kimberly Williams-Paisleywere expecting their second child, due any day.
Night of Firsts
Dancing with the StarschampJulianne Houghtook home her first singing award, nabbing top new artist honors – a fan-voted award this year – and earning a standing ovation from her peers. Clutching the back of her gold column gown, she took to the podium joking, “It’s a good thing my dress ripped – now I have something else to think about!” Hough, whose boyfriend andDWTSpartner Chuck Wicks beamed from the audience, wiped away tears and tried to catch her breath as she spoke.
Sugarland became the first duo in 14 years to best powerhouse pair Brooks & Dunn for the top vocal duo ACM, and the band’s Jennifer Nettles thanked the crowd with a curtsey.
Rascal Flatts and Jamey Johnson took home the night’s first big prizes: Flatts for top vocal group, and Johnson for song of the year with “In Color.”
The Music
Single of the Year winner (for “You’re Gonna Miss This”) Trace Adkins provided the most moving moment of the show, performing “Til the Last Shot’s Fired” with the West Point Glee Club, bringing many in the audience (includingNicole Kidman, seated next to husbandKeith Urban) to tears.
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source: people.com
