The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was the place to be on Sunday night (April 5) for all things country, as the 44th Annual Academy of Country music Awards arrived.
Hosted by Reba McEntire, the big shindig kicked off with an ensemble performance by Brooks & Dunn, featuring Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts. McEntire exclaimed, “What an opening! Now that’s what I call a stimulus package!”
The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was the place to be on Sunday night (April 5) for all things country, as the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards arrived. Hosted by Reba McEntire, the big shindig kicked off with an ensemble performance by Brooks & Dunn, featuring Taylor Swift, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts. McEntire exclaimed, "What an opening! Now that's what I call a stimulus package!"
The 44th Academy of Country Music Awards swing political, personal, playful and patriotic on Sunday and ultimately opned for popular in bestowing its top honor on "American Idol" winner Ccarriearrie Underwood, naming her entertainer of the year over veteran male performers George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban.Julianne Hough
"I've had a lot of good moments in the past four years," the Oklahoma-born Underwood said at the climax of the three-hour event at the MGM Grand Arena, "but this one takes the cake."
The award was determined for the second year by popular vote during the show at CBS.com instead of being determined as it had been in past years by the performer who sold the most concert tickets during the previous 12 months, which would have given a fifth title to Chesney.
But the ACM, in striving to boost ratings and make the event more interactive for fans, opened the voting for entertainer and new artist to the public. That helped TV-friendly faces such as Underwood and former "Dancing With the Stars"-turned-coIt was a big night as well for Internet-savvy teen phenom Taylor Swift, who sold more albums in 2008 than any other artist in any genre, passing 5 million. Her overwhelming success contributed to her sophomore album, "Fearless," which has topped 3 million since its release in November, being named album of the yearuntry singer JuliannIt was a big night as well for Internet-savvy teen phenom Taylor Swift, who sold more albums in 2008 than any other artist in any genre, passing 5 million. Her overwhelming success contributed to her sophomore album, "Fearless," which has topped 3 million since its release in November, being named album of the yeare Hough, who took home the new artIt was a big night as well for Internet-savvy teen phenom Taylor Swift, who sold more albums in 2008 than any other artist in any genre, passing 5 million. Her overwhelming success contributed to her sophomore album, "Fearless," which has topped 3 million since its release in November, being named album of the year.ist trophy.
Taylor Swift
It was a big night as well for Internet-savvy teen phenom Taylor Swift, who sold more albums in 2008 than any other artist in any genre, passing 5 million. Her overwhelming success contributed to her sophomore album, "Fearless," which has topped 3 million since its release in November, being named album of the year.
Carrie Takes ACM’s Biggest Prize
Carrie Underwood scored a major career milestone when she became the first female act since 2000 to win the ACM Entertainer of the Year at The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, April 5.
"I’ve had a lot of good moments in the last four years," Carrie said after winning the ACM's top prize. "This one takes the cake." The Dixie Chicks were the last female performers to win Entertainer of the Year. Carrie, who was also named Top Female Vocalist, also broke the four-year hold that Kenny Chesney had on the award. Other marks were set by Rascal Flatts, who won their seventh straight Top Vocal Group award, breaking a record held by Alabama, and Sugarland, who ended the 15-year reign of Brooks & Dunn as Top Vocal Duo. Brad Paisley won Top Male Vocalist for the third consecutive year. Julianne Hough, who was earlier named Top New Female Artist, won in a new category, Artist of the Year, over Jake Owen, the Top New Male Artist, and the Zac Brown Band, winner of Top New Vocal Duo or Group. The Home Depot Humanitarian Award went to LeAnn Rimes.
The show featured plenty of live performances, including Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Carrie, who sang her version of the Randy Travis hit, "I Told You So." Here is the complete list of winners for The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Bill Anderson Receives ACM Award
The Academy of Country Music presented its inaugural Poet’s Award to Bill Anderson and the late Fred Rose during the Academy of Country Music Honors gala, Sept. 17, at the Musicians Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville.
“Being given the Poet’s Award is truly a great honor,” Bill noted. He jokingly added, “But I secretly suspect I got the first onebecause they're doing it in alphabetical order!” Paying tribute to three of Bill’s hits were Joe Nichols, who performed “I’ll Wait for You,” Connie Smith with her breakthrough song, “Once a Day”; and Jon Randall singing "Whiskey Lullaby". Brenda Lee, the Oak Ridge Boys and the late singers Conway Twitty and Porter Wagoner were honored as recipients of the Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award. The Honors event also recognized musicians and other non-televised category winners from the ACM Awards show this past May.
Entertainer of the Year: Carrie Underwood
Album of the Year: Fearless, Taylor Swift
Top Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley
Top Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
Top Vocal Group:Rascal Flatts
Top Vocal Duo: Sugarland
Top New Male Vocalist: Jake Owen
Top New Female Vocalist: Julianne Hough
Top New Vocal Duo or Group: Zac Brown Band
Single Record of the Year: "You're Gonna Miss This", Trace Adkins
Song of the Year: "In Color", Jamey Johnson
Video of the Year: "Waitin' on a Woman", Brad Paisley
Vocal Event of the Year: "Start a Band", Brad Paisley with Keith Urban
Winner: Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Keith Urban
Top Male Vocalist
Rodney Atkins
Kenny Chesney
Winner: Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban
Top Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
LeAnn Rimes
Taylor Swift
Winner: Carrie Underwood
Top Vocal Group
Diamond Rio
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Little Big Town
Winner: Rascal Flatts
Top Vocal Duo
Big & Rich
Winner: Brooks & Dunn
Halfway To Hazard
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
Top New Male Vocalist
Luke Bryan
Winner: Jack Ingram
Jake Owen
Top New Female Vocalist
Sarah Buxton
Kellie Pickler
Winner: Taylor Swift
Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Carolina Rain
Winner: Lady Antebellum
The Wreckers
Album of the Year
5th Gear - Brad Paisley
Winner: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend - Miranda Lambert
Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates - Kenny Chesney
If You’re Going Through Hell - Rodney Atkins
Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift
Single Record of the Year
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney
Famous In A Small Town - Miranda Lambert
Lost In This Moment - Big & Rich
Winner: Stay - Sugarland
Watching Airplanes - Gary Allan
Song of the Year
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney
Lost In This Moment - Big & Rich
Moments - Emerson Drive
Watching You - Rodney Atkins
Winner: Stay - Sugarland
Video of the Year
Don’t Blink - Kenny Chesney
Lost In This Moment - Big & Rich
Winner: Online - Brad Paisley
Stay - Sugarland
Watching You - Rodney Atkins
Vocal Event of the Year
Because Of You - Reba McEntire Duet With Kelly Clarkson
Winner: Find Out Who Your Friends Are - Tracy Lawrence With Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney
Shiftwork - Kenny Chesney Duet With George Strait
Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore - Bon Jovi Featuring LeAnn Rimes
What You Give Away - Vince Gill With Sheryl Crow
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