LAS VEGAS - Carrie Underwood made history at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night, becoming the first woman to win entertainer of the year twice.
Underwood won the show's top honor last year. This year, she beat out Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney, the Zac Brown Band, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, George Strait and Keith Urban.
"I think I just got makeup all over Brad Paisley," an excited Underwood said as she went onstage to accept her trophy. "Thank you, God. Praise the Lord."
Underwood also was recognized earlier in the evening with a special trophy for a "triple crown" of ACM wins - entertainer of the year, top female vocalist and top newcomer - in the course of her career.
Lady Antebellum, a top-selling country trio, was the dominant winner, though, grabbing five trophies. And the trio's good friend, Miranda Lambert, won three awards.
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Lady A, made up of Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, was the lead nominee, entering the show with seven. The group snapped Rascal Flatts' seven-year run as best vocal group and won song and single record of the year for the crossover hit "Need You Now" (The group members got two trophies for their single record of the year win because they also produced the record, and also got two trophies for their song of the year win because they composed it).
"It's just wild, man," Kelley said. "You never know where a song can take you, and tonight is probably the pinnacle of our career."
Adding to the emotion of the night for the group were wins by good friends Lambert and Luke Bryan. A stunned Lambert hugged Underwood as she made her way to the stage, then read off the names of the other nominees - Underwood, Swift, Reba McEntire and Lee Ann Womack.
"You've got to be kidding me," she said.
She also won album of the year for "Revolution," an award that Lady A openly lobbied for her to win, and video of the year for "White Liar."
Lambert also won top female vocalist, snapping Carrie Underwood's three-year run in that category.
Paisley, after a performance of his single "Water" where he fell backward into a pool of water on stage, won top male vocalist of the year for the fourth straight time.
The show was heavy on performances. It kicked off with Underwood and Lambert, joined on stage later by Paisley, Charlie Daniels and John Fogerty, who ripped through the rock 'n' roll of "Travelin' Band," a song recorded by Fogerty's '60s group, Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Swift, who won album of the year last year, was shut out this year, despite being nominated for five awards.
But she had a big performance: She began her rendition of "Change" while soaring over the crowd on a platform. She ripped off her white dress and revealed a black outfit underneath, made her way through the crowd and joined the Tritones, a college a cappella group, onstage for a spirited chorus. She then fell backward into a crowd of fans.
On StarNet: For more photos of the country music awards show, go to azstarnet.com/gallery
The winners
List of winners at the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards from Las Vegas:
• Entertainer of the year: Carrie Underwood
• Top male vocalist: Brad Paisley
• Top female vocalist: Miranda Lambert
• Top vocal group: Lady Antebellum
• Top vocal duo: Brooks and Dunn
• Top new artist: Luke Bryan
• Top new solo vocalist: Luke Bryan
• Top new vocal duo: Joey + Rory
• Top new vocal group: Gloriana
• Album of the year: "Revolution," Miranda Lambert
• Single record of the year: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
• Song of the year: "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum
• Video of the year: White Liar," Miranda Lambert
• Vocal event of the year: "Hillbilly Bone," Blake Shelton, featuring Trace Adkins
