LAS VEGAS, NV. (Top40 Charts/ Academy Of Country Music) - Winners have been announced for the 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded ceremony broadcast LIVE Sunday night on the CBS Television Network from MGM GRAND in Las Vegas. More than a half million fans voted in the Entertainer of the Year category, and they named
Kenny Chesney for the evening's biggest honor-his fourth consecutive win.
This was the first year in the Academy of Country Music history that fans chose the winner of that category. Chesney is one of only four artists to win this honor three or more consecutive times, joining Alabama (who has won five consecutively), Garth Brooks (has won four consecutively) and Hank Williams Jr. (has one 3 consecutively).
Brad Paisley won Top Male Vocalist and Carrie Underwood won Top Female Vocalist, both for the second consecutive year in a row; Brooks & Dunn won Top Vocal Duo, marking their 25th ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD. Rascal Flatts win for Top Vocal Group topped Alabama's record for the most consecutive wins in this category - with six years running.
The Academy of Country Music also honored Garth Brooks with the first-ever Crystal Milestone Award. The award is given to an artist or industry leader to commemorate a specific, remarkable achievement. With 128 million unit sales, Brooks has been certified the top-selling solo recording artist in U.S. history. He is the only solo artist in RIAA history to have six albums top the 10 million sales mark.
Also this evening, Rascal Flatts was honored with the 7th annual ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC / The Home Depot 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.
Rascal Flatts was selected by a special blue-ribbon committee comprised of executives in the country music industry as well as local and national philanthropic leaders for his ongoing community service and charitable giving of his time and talent.
As the award's winner, Rascal Flatts will have a community playground built in a city of its choice through the efforts of The Home Depot and KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America.
Following is the list of winners in the 13 categories voted on by the membership:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
KENNY CHESNEY
TOP MALE VOCALIST
BRAD PAISLEY
TOP FEMALE VOCALIST
CARRIE UNDERWOOD
TOP VOCAL GROUP
RASCAL FLATTS
TOP VOCAL DUO
BROOKS & DUNN
TOP NEW MALE VOCALIST
JACK INGRAM
TOP NEW FEMALE VOCALIST
TAYLOR SWIFT
TOP NEW DUO OR VOCAL GROUP
LADY ANTEBELLUM
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/ Artist(s)/ Record Company]
CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND
MIRANDA LAMBERT
PRODUCERS: FRANK LIDDELL, MIKE WRUCKE
COLUMBIA RECORDS
SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/ Producer(s)/ Record Company]
STAY
SUGARLAND
PRODUCER: KRISTIAN BUSH, BYRON GALLIMORE, JENNIFER NETTLES
MERCURY
SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/ Publisher(s)/ Artist(s)]
STAY
WRITERS: JENNIFER NETTLES
JENNIFER NETTLES PUBLISHING (ASCAP)
SUGARLAND
VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
ONLINE
PRODUCER: FRAMES PER SECOND
DIRECTOR: JASON ALEXANDER
ARTISTS: BRAD PAISLEY
VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
FIND OUT WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE
TRACY LAWRENCE WITH TIM MCGRAW AND KENNY CHESNEY
PRODUCERS: JULIAN KING, TRACY LAWRENCE
ROCKY COMFORT/CO5
FAST FACTS ON THIS YEAR'S AWARDS:
- Lady Antebellum, Jack Ingram and Jason Alexander each won their first-ever ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS tonight. Lady Antebellum won for Top New Duo or Vocal Group; Ingram won for Top New Male Vocalist; Alexander won for Video of the Year (for Brad Paisley's "Online")
- Brooks & Dunn hold the most awards in the Top Vocal Duo category with a total of 15 wins. Rascal Flatts win for Top Vocal Group topping Alabama's record for the most consecutive wins in this category - with six years running.
- First time in Academy of Country Music history that fans chose the winner of the Academy's highest honor, selecting Kenny Chesney as Entertainer of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. Brad Paisley won Top Male Vocalist and Carrie Underwood won Top Female Vocalist, both for the second consecutive year.
- Sugarland, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Kenny Chesney each won two Academy Country Music Awards tonight: Sugarland for Single Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Stay"; Paisley for Top Male Vocalist and Video of the Year; Rascal Flatts for Top Vocal Group and Academy Of Country Music / The Home Depot Humanitarian Award; Chesney for Entertainer of the Year and Vocal Event of the Year (with Tracy Lawrence and Tim McGraw).
