2009 Academy of Country Music Award Winners
Country Singer Carrie Underwood Scores Entertainer of the Year
Apr 7, 2009
Former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood made country-music history April 5, 2009, during the 44th Academy of Country Music Awards when she became only the seventh female ever to win the academy's Entertainer of the Year.
A native of Oklahoma, Underwood was the lone female in the running for the ACM's top prize, competing against category nominees Kenny Chesney, who won last year's Entertainer prize, as well as hot-ticket Brad Paisley, recent first-time Grammy winner George Strait and New Zealand-born Keith Urban.
Underwood, however, managed to walk away with the honor, thanks to fans who voted online to choose the category's winner. Prior to Underwood, the women of country who earned the coveted trophy include Loretta Lynn (1975), Dolly Parton (1977), Barbara Mandrell (1980), Reba McEntire (1994), Shania Twain (1999) and Dixie Chicks (2000).
During the ACM event, which was broadcast live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and hosted by Reba McEntire, some awards were determined by academy voting, while others were chosen by online fan voting leading up to the awards ceremony.
Country Singer Brad Paisley Wins Three ACM Awards
During this year's ceremony, recent Grammy-winner Brad Paisley, who was nominated for six prizes, yielded three of the awards he was in the running for, including Male Vocalist of the Year. In winning, he bested contenders Kenny Chesney, Toby Keith, George Strait and Keith Urban.
Paisley-who thanked fans via satellite following each win announcement, because he and his wife are expecting their second child any day now-also took an ACM in the Vocal Event of the Year contest for "Start A Band," a duet by Brad Paisley and Keith Urban, as well the Video of the Year Award for the music clip in honor of his "Waitin' On A Woman" single.
ACM Award for Top Female Vocalist
Prior to taking the "cherry" Entertainer trophy, the always best-dressed Underwood scored her first of two 2009 ACMs; this time, for Top Female Vocalist. To win, the blond artist beat out Texans Lee Ann Womack and Miranda Lambert, as well as Taylor Swift and Heidi Newfield.
No Surprises Here: Top Vocal Duo and Top Vocal Group
The Top Vocal Duo trophy was scored by Sugarland, as this writer expected. Those competing this year for the honor were Big & Rich, old pros Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry and Joey + Rory, who were first-time nominees.
Country group Rascal Flatts, for the seventh time, took home the Top Vocal Group prize, with competition from a talented pool of country artists that included Little Big Town, the Randy Rogers Band, The Lost Trailers and trio Lady Antebellum, the latter of whom won their first-ever ACM in 2008,
ACM Top New Artist: Country Singer Julianne Hough
This year's Top New Artist honor, which was a fan-voted prize, went to dancer-turned-country singer Julianne Hough, who nabbed more votes than category contenders Jake Owen and Zac Brown Band to win the overall best country-music newcomer honor.
Top New Female Vocalist, Top New Male Vocalist & Top New Vocal Group or Duo
Hough, who many may know best from her world-class dancing prowess on TV's Dancing with the Stars, also won this year's ACM for Top New Female Artist, again garnering more votes than her competitors, newcomers Ashton Shepherd and Sarah Buxton, in this category.
Jake Owen, meanwhile, notched the Top New Male Vocalist win. His competition for this particular ACM was strong, Jamey Johnson and James Otto, but Owen was the winner when all the fan votes were counted.
Similarly, newcomers the Zac Brown Band became the fan-chosen Top New Vocal Duo or Group, besting the Texas-based Eli Young Band and the Lost Trailers.
Country Single Record of the Year & Country Song of the Year
Single Record of the Year, an honor that goes to the artist, producer and record company of the winning single, was awarded toYou're Gonna Miss This by Trace Adkins (Capitol Nashville), produced by Frank Rogers.
As for the 2009 Song of the Year prize, "In Color" by Jamey Johnson was the winner, as were the tune's songwriters, Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto.
Country Album of the Year: Fearless by Taylor Swift
The '09 Album of the Year went to the record-breaking Fearless CD by Taylor Swift, a smash sophomore release by the teen that she co-produced with the able aid of industry veterans Scott Borchetta and Nathan Chapman.
For more information about who won other ACM categories, such as various studio musician prizes, the top venue prize, producer of the year honors and more, please click here.
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