Las Vegas, NV (Top40 Charts/ Academy Of Country Music) Winners have been announced for the 49th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded ceremony broadcast LIVE tonight on the CBS Television Network from the MGM Grand Garden
Arena in Las Vegas. Fans named
George Strait the Entertainer of the Year, the evening's biggest honor and the second win of his career in that category. This year marked another record-breaking year with 1.5 million fan votes cast for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year categories combined, and also marked the first time online fan voting for these categories were open to fans in Australia and Canada.
The king of country music and newly crowned Entertainer of the Year,
George Strait, also participated in a special moment with Owner, President and General Manager of the Dallas Cowboys, Jerry Jones during the telecast announcing the 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS to be broadcast LIVE from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. It was also announced that
Blake Shelton and
Luke Bryan will return to co-host the show.
Merle Haggard was honored with the Crystal
Milestone Award, which was presented by
Garth Brooks and celebrated with a tribute performance featuring
Miranda Lambert and
George Strait.
Jason Aldean won Male Vocalist of the Year, his second consecutive win in this category. He has won an overall total of 7 ACM Awards.
Miranda Lambert won for the fifth consecutive year as Female Vocalist of the Year, and is now the record holder for the most consecutive wins in that category. She is the leading female winner of the night, with a total of three trophies. Lambert also took the prize for Single Record of the Year for "Mama's Broken Heart," and Vocal Event of the Year for "
We Were Us" with Keith Urban.
The
Band Perry won their first Vocal Group of the Year award. This marks their third overall ACM win; they won the New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year award and New Artist of the Year in 2010.
Artists
Florida Georgia Line won Vocal Duo of the Year. This is their first win in this category, and third overall ACM Award win.
Justin Moore received his first-ever Academy of Country
Music Award tonight for New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl's Department Stores, a fan-voted category.
Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year as the artist and producer for Same Trailer Different Park. This award marks her first-ever ACM Award win.
Keith Urban is the leading male winner of the night with a total of three trophies in two categories. Prior to the telecast, Urban took the prize for Video of the Year as artist for "
Highway Don't Care" with
Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift. He also won Vocal Event of the Year as artist and producer for "
We Were Us" with
Miranda Lambert. Both awards were presented off-camera.
Following is the list of winners in the 11 categories voted on by the membership (excluding the Entertainer of the Year and New Artist categories, which were voted on by a combination of professional ACM members and fans):
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 PRESENTED BY KOHL'S
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)] *(Off Camera Award)
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)]*(Off Camera Award)
We Were Us -
Keith Urban And
Miranda Lambert
Producers: Nathan Chapman, Keith Urban
Record Labels: Capitol Records Nashville, Hit Red Records, RCA Nashville
For a complete list of past and present wins and nominations, please visit www.acmcountry.com and search the ACM Awards Database located on the Homepage.
Getty Images is the official photographer for the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and photos can be accessed at www.gettyimages.com.
