For the sixth year in a row, the twang of Nashville's country-music industry overtook the neon and glitter of Las Vegas, the gambling mecca of the world, when the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hit town April 18, 2010.
The West Coast-based ACM's star-studded ceremony, which featured both fan-voted and academy-determined winners, was broadcast live on CBS-TV from the MGM Grand, with the aid of country superstar-turned-actress Reba McEntire, who marked her 12th consecutive year as the show's host.
Carrie Underwood Makes Country Music History
Country music history was made during the ACM event when Oklahoma-born Carrie Underwood became the first female to ever win the ACM’s fan-voted Entertainer of the Year trophy twice. The award, which is the ACM’s biggest honor, was determined by votes from nearly a half-million fans who voted online and via text messaging to determine this category’s winner.
In 2009, Underwood became only the seventh female to take this award in the 40-year history of the Entertainer category. Prior to the blond artist’s 2009-2010 reign, previous female Entertainer winners have included Loretta Lynn in 1975, Dolly Parton in 1977, Barbara Mandrell in 1980, Reba McEntire in 1994, Shania Twain in 1999 and The Dixie Chicks in 2000.
The newly engaged Underwood also received the Triple Crown Award, thanks to her past wins for the categories of Entertainer of the Year, Top Female Vocalist and Top New Female Vocalist. This trophy has been won only by one other female artist, Barbara Mandrell, in 2004.
ACM Awards Present Top Male Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist Honors
In the Top Male Vocalist category, Brad Praisley took home the trophy, marking his fourth consecutive won in this ACM category. Meanwhile, platinum-selling country starlet Miranda Lambert was crowned with her first-ever ACM trophy for Top Female Vocalist.
Miranda Lambert Earns Album of the Year, Video of the Year Trophies
The Texas-born Lambert, who’s known for her tomboy attitude and pink guitar, went on to collect two additional ACM Awards; namely the ceremony’s Album of the Year prize for her latest CD, Revolution, and this year’s Video of the Year trophy, which was presented off-camera for her music video in White Liar, the first single and video from her Revolution album.
Country Singers Blake Shelton, Trace Adkins’ Earn ACM Award
Speaking of Lambert, the blond singer-songwriter’s longtime beau, country artist Blake Shelton, also collected an ACM trophy this go around, thanks to his Hillbilly Bone collaboration with fellow country star Trace Adkins. The recent hit single was chosen as the recipient of the ACM’s Vocal Event of the Year, a prize that also was presented off-camera during the event.
Country Music’s Lady Antebellum Yields Five AMC Trophies
Top Vocal Group of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year trophies went to Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, collectively known as the country trio Lady Antebellum. This year’s Top Vocal Group signified the act’s first victory in this particular ACM category.
The Nashville-based players, in addition to collecting ACM trophies for being the recording artists for their Need You Now crossover-country hit, also garnered ACM honors for writing and producing the song. Thus, when all Lady A’s awards were tallied, the trio walked away with the most wins of the evening, five ACM Awards.
Brooks & Dunn Yield Duo’s Final ACM Award
Brooks & Dunn, who announced they will disband later this year, won their final Top Vocal Duo during the 45th Annual ACM Awards. Additionally, players Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks also played their My Maria hit live during the broadcast after online voting by fans selected this song as the one country enthusiasts most wanted to see performed by the pair.
New Country Acts Score First-Ever ACM Awards
Another duo, Joey + Rory, were fan favorites in this year’s Top New Vocal Duo of the Year category. The Tennessee-based pair, who came to national recognition via their status as semifinalists on the Can You Duet TV show, managed to turn their cable-show fame into a bona-fide recording career after their traditional-country sounds won over legions of fans.
Country fans, via early voting, also selected country act Gloriana as winners of Top New Vocal Group of the Year. To win the quartet beat out fellow nominees Eli Young Band and The Lost Trailers.
Country Fans Give Luke Bryan Pair of Country Awards
Also in the newcomers’ category, Georgia native Luke Bryan, who first made his foray on the country scene as a songwriter, made a full segue to solo stardom by landing not one, but two fan-voted ACM Awards, his first-ever industry accolades as a recording artist.
In a dreams-come-true moment, Bryan first captured the ACM’s Top New Solo Vocalist of the Year, a prize that was determined by early fan voting just prior to the April 18 telecast. Then, during the live-show awards, Bryan—again thanks to fan voting—was named as the winner of the ACM’s Top New Artist Award for 2010.
Last but not not least, country duo Montgomery Gentry was presented with the with the 9th annual ACM/ The Home Depot-sponsored Humanitarian Award, which salutes an artist or group in the country music industry who is committed to serving others, has a generosity of spirit and a dedication to helping build the dreams of those in need.
Recent Grand Ole Opry inductees Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry devote their time and energy into making the needs of others a priority by actively participating in many charitable organizations. Together, they have strongly served and supported the U.S. military and numerous charitable organizations.
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
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