Carrie Takes ACM’s Biggest Prize

Carrie Underwood scored a major career milestone when she became the first female act since 2000 to win the ACM Entertainer of the Year at The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, April 5.

"I’ve had a lot of good moments in the last four years," Carrie said after winning the ACM's top prize. "This one takes the cake." The Dixie Chicks were the last female performers to win Entertainer of the Year. Carrie, who was also named Top Female Vocalist, also broke the four-year hold that Kenny Chesney had on the award. Other marks were set by Rascal Flatts, who won their seventh straight Top Vocal Group award, breaking a record held by Alabama, and Sugarland, who ended the 15-year reign of Brooks & Dunn as Top Vocal Duo. Brad Paisley won Top Male Vocalist for the third consecutive year. Julianne Hough, who was earlier named Top New Female Artist,  won in a new category, Artist of the Year, over Jake Owen, the Top New Male Artist, and the Zac Brown Band, winner of Top New Vocal Duo or Group. The Home Depot Humanitarian Award went to LeAnn Rimes.

The show featured plenty of live performances, including Keith Urban, Taylor Swift, Sugarland and Carrie, who sang her version of the Randy Travis hit, "I Told You So."

Here is the complete list of winners for The 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Entertainer of the Year

Carrie Underwood

Top Male Vocalist

Brad Paisley

Top Female Vocalist

Carrie Underwood

Album of the Year

Fearless Taylor Swift

Top Vocal Group

Rascal Flatts

Top Vocal Duo

Sugarland

Top New Artist

Julianne Hough

Single Record of the Year

Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company “You’re Gonna Miss This”: Trace Adkins

Produced by Frank Rogers; Capitol Nashville

Song of the Year

Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s) “In Color”: Jamey Johnson

Composers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto; Publishers: Big Gassed Hitties (BMI), Eldorotto Music Publishing (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc., Lucky Thumb Music (BMI), New Song of Sea Gayle (BMI), Noah’s Little Boat Music (BMI)

Video of the Year

Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s) “Waitin’ on a Woman”: Brad Paisley

Producer: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea; Director: Jim Shea, Peter Tilden

Vocal Event of the Year

Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company “Start a Band”: Brad Paisley Duet With Keith Urban

Produced by: Frank Rogers; Arista Nashville
 

See Photos from the 2009 ACMs ACM Awards Feature

• published April 6, 2009