Academy of Country Music Awards 2011
Las Vegas. Taylor Swift might not be able to count on the men in her life, but her fans have yet to let her down. And on Sunday, they rewarded her with one of the biggest prizes in country music: The Academy of Country Music’s entertainer of the year award.
A record of nearly 600,000 voters participated in selecting this year’s winner of the academy’s most prestigious award, the only major award determined by fans. Swift’s crew came through for her on a night when the industry and her peers rewarded firecracker Miranda Lambert with four trophies.
“I feel like of all that has happened to me in my life, that’s the best thing I’ve ever gotten to have” – the 21-year-old Swift said after the show. “My relationship with them is everything to me.”
Fans could vote during the show and her spirited performance of ‘Mean,’ a rebuke to her critics on which she played banjo and nailed the vocal performance, probably led to a spike in voting. Swift, known for detailing her broken romances and the men who have wronged her, credited a quartet of men who have done her right. She thanked Brad Paisley and Keith Urban (who were among the five other nominees in the category) along with four-time winner Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw for taking her on the road before she became an international sensation and showed her how to do it.
“I see those people when I think of entertainers” – Swift said.
- Academy of Country Music Awards.
Steven Tyler got a little bit country and Carrie Underwood got a little bit rock n’ roll at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday in Las Vegas. The ‘American Idol’ stars new and old joined for a crowd-pleasing performance.
Carrie started off solo, but the Aerosmith frontman soon joined for ‘Undo It.’ Just when you thought it was over, they kicked the energy right back up with the rock anthem ‘Walk this Way.’ It was once upon a mattress for the ‘California King Bed’ duet between the red-hot Rihanna and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles.
ET’s very own Nancy O’Dell presented the Single Record of the Year award to Miranda Lambert for ‘The House That Built Me.’ She also won Top Female Vocalist, Song of the Year, and Video of the Year.
Taylor Swift was elected Entertainer of the Year after fans cast their ballots. A shocked Taylor said in her acceptance speech: “The fact that this is from the fans makes it so beautiful.” After touring overseas recently, she continued: “Thank you for this wonderful welcome home gift.”
The ACMs aired Sunday night on CBS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI7Yzg3IodM
It was a night of jaw-dropping collaborations, surprises and new music at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
“Alright Mandalay Bay, ready to see a little music history?” – Sugarland’s Kristian Bush asked the audience before bandmate Jennifer Nettles and R&B/pop sensation Rihanna took to the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino stage.
And music history it was. Rihanna appeared alone in a knock-out white dress, singing the first verse of her new single, “California King Bed” as Jennifer’s vocals could be heard in the background. Soon, Jennifer appeared side stage and the two alternated singing lead and harmonizing throughout the remainder of the track. The vulnerable ballad showcased each artist’s incredibly powerful vocals and was just one of the many unexpected collaborations of the night.
Brad Paisley kicked off the night of collaborations at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino with his current single, “Old Alabama.” Wearing blue jeans, a black Alabama concert t-shirt and his classic white cowboy hat, Brad wowed the crowd with his guitar skills for his tribute to the iconic country band before they came out and joined him mid-song. Alabama walked onstage with their guitars in hand to screams and helped Brad close the song with a fast-paced guitar jam.
Throughout the night, performances alternated between the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino and Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino.