ACM Award Winners

Kenny Chesney took home the top honor, Entertainer of the Year, at the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, May 18, in Las Vegas.

Kenny won the award for the fourth straight time. It was also a night for repeats for Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, who defended their respective titles as Top Male Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist. The surprise winner of the evening was Miranda Lambert, who won Album of the Year for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, a critically acclaimed record but one that did not produce a Top 10 hit. Highlights of the live telecast included a tribute to the late Eddy Arnold by Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, Garth Brooks performing a medley of his hits after winning the inaugural Crystal Milestone Award and a duet by Kenny Chesney and George Strait on the smash single “Shiftwork.”

Here’s the complete list of winners.

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Kenny Chesney

TOP MALE VOCALIST

Brad Paisley

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST

Carrie Underwood

TOP VOCAL GROUP

Rascal Flatts

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 Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] Miranda Lambert – Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Produced by Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke for Columbia Records

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR

[Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] Sugarland – “Stay”

Produced by Kristian Bush, Byron Gallimore, Jennifer Nettles for Mercury Records

SONG OF THE YEAR

[Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)] Sugarland – “Stay”

Written by Jennifer Nettles, Published by Jennifer Nettles Publishing (ASCAP)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR

[Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] Brad Paisley – “Online”

Produced by Frames Per Second, Directed by Jason Alexander

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

[Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] Tracy Lawrence with Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney – “Find Out Who Your Friends Are”

Produced by Julian King, Tracy Lawrence for Rocky Comfort/CO5

• published May 19, 2008