LAS VEGAS - George Strait now has coordinating entertainer of the year trophies from what he's said will be the last year of his touring career.
A surprised 61-year-old Strait accepted the night's top honor at the CMA Awards in November and was bestowed the title again Sunday night during the 49th annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas.
The difference?
This time it was fan-voted. It is his second win from the ACM in the category and his 14th nomination.
"Wow," the Country Music Hall of Famer said from the stage. "Thank you so much. You know what, I've always said I have the best fans in the world and I heard this was a fan-voted thing, so I rest my case. It's been such an amazing last 30 years."
An evening's top winner, Miranda Lambert, earned trophies for female vocalist of the year, single of year for "Mama's Broken Heart" and vocal event of the year for her duet with Keith Urban "We Were Us."
George Strait was named Entertainer of the Year on Sunday at the 49th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.(Photo: Larry McCormack / The Tennessean)
"I cannot believe this," Lambert said while accepting her fifth consecutive trophy for female vocalist of the year. "I really didn't expect this ... I'm so grateful and thankful and humble."
Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton co-hosted the show for a second time from Las Vegas' MGM Grand's Garden Arena. It will be the last time the awards show is held in Sin City for at least a year. At the top of the program, Shelton and Bryan announced that the ACM Awards will take place in the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in 2015 in honor of the program's 50th anniversary. Lots of laughs
The hosts delivered laugh-out-loud skits on topics ranging from Daft Punk to Ellen DeGeneres' famous Oscar's selfie with a host of actors. And, they sang multiple times. Shelton performed with fellow "The Voice" coach Shakira on "Medicine" and with former "The Voice" contestant Gwen Sebastian on his new single "My Eyes." Bryan incorporated a rotating stage that looked like a vinyl record into his live version of "Play It Again." He also sang with Florida Georgia Line on the duo's current hip-hop-flavored good-time country anthem "This Is How We Roll."
The duo, Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard, hosted the 4th annual ACM Fan Jam at Mandalay Bay during the awards show. Scenes and performances from their event at Mandalay Bay also figured heavily into Sunday's telecast. The Fan Jam was host to new artist of the year nominees Kip Moore, Justin Moore and Brett Eldredge, who all had the chance to sing abbreviated versions of their hits.
When Florida Georgia Line announced Justin Moore as this year's winner of the fan-voted award, he dropped his head, accepted congratulations from Kip Moore and made it to the stage, where he teared up. (The entertainer and new artist awards are the show's only fan-voted categories.)
"I've had six wonderful years in this industry," a red-eyed Justin Moore said backstage. "For whatever reason, (winning an award) has eluded us for the same six years. I would have taken female vocalist if they had given it to me."
"Cruise" duo Florida Georgia Line also walked away winners, taking home the duo of the year trophy.
The Band Perry's much hyped show-opening number "Chainsaw" grabbed the audience's attention with rocked-up full-band choreography and kept audience members hooked with confetti explosions, pyrotechnics and amped-up family harmonies.
Later in the show, the sibling trio accepted its first award for vocal group of the year.
"This is a mountain-top moment in The Band Perry and we appreciate it so much because we started at the bottom of the mountain 15 years ago," Kimberly Perry said. Backstage she added: "Awards are special things because they are validation from our peers and country music is a family and tonight we feel like part of the family."
Fleetwood Mac singer Stevie Nicks joined Lady Antebellum for a mash-up of their song "Golden" and Fleetwood Mac's "Rhiannon." Other memorable moments came courtesy of Keith Urban, who turned in a lively, guitar-driven version of "Even the Stars Fall 4 U" from his album "Fuse."
Faith Hill joined husband Tim McGraw for his song "Meanwhile Back at Mama's," and Lambert sang her single "Automatic" with George Strait in honor of Merle Haggard.
Haggard was honored with the ACM's Crystal Milestone Award for his career longevity and contributions to the country music genre.
"Thank you very much," Haggard said. "Country music has been great to me all of my life and it's been great to me tonight."
Jason Aldean won male vocalist of the year for the second year in a row - news he called "really unexpected."
"It was a shock last year and an even bigger shock this year," said the stadium headliner. "It's been one hell of a ride, and I hope it doesn't end any time soon."
Winners at the 49th annual Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year
George Strait Male Vocalist of the Year
Jason Aldean Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert Vocal Duo of the Year
Florida Georgia Line Vocal Group of the Year
The Band Perry New Artist of the Year
Justin Moore Album of the Year
[Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Company-Label(s)]
"Same Trailer Different Park" - Kacey Musgraves; Producers: Luke Laird, Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves; Record Label: Mercury Records Single Record of the Year
[Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Company-Label(s)]
"Mama's Broken Heart" - Miranda Lambert; Producers: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf; Record Label: RCA Nashville Song of the Year
[Awarded to Songwriter(s) / Publisher(s) / Artist(s)]
"I Drive Your Truck" - Lee Brice; Songwriters: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, Jimmy Yeary; Publishers: Beattyville Music (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Great Day At This Music (BMI), Happy Tears Music (ASCAP), Vistaville Music (ASCAP), Watch This Girl Publishing (BMI) Video of the Year
[Awarded to Producer(s) / Director(s) / Artist(s)]
"Highway Don't Care" - Tim McGraw, featuring Taylor Swift & Keith Urban; Producers: Tameron Hedge, Chandra LaPlume; Director: Shane Drake Vocal Event of the Year
[Awarded to Artist(s) / Producer(s) / Record Company-Label(s)]
"We Were Us"- Keith Urban And Miranda Lambert; Producers: Nathan Chapman, Keith Urban; Record Labels: Capitol Records Nashville, Hit Red Records, RCA Nashville
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