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Shallow Nation

May 19th, 2008 at 10:53 am

Video: Academy of Country Music Awards – ACM Award Winners 2008

Kenny Chesney ACM Entertainer of the Year 2008

Once again, Kenny Chesney was the Academy of Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year.

Kenny Chesney won the top prize at the annual Academy of Country Music Awards, held Sunday night (May 18) in Las Vegas. For the fourth-straight year, Chesney took home the entertainer of the year trophy, but he lost out to up-and-coming country star Miranda Lambert in the album of the year field.

Lambert, who last year at the ACMs took home the best new female artist prize, was recognized for her 2007 release, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.” The rock-leaning singer also performed the album’s “Gunpowder and Lead” on the telecast. It’s the second year running that a country woman won album of the year, as last year’s show saw the honors go to award-show staple Carrie Underwood.

Former American Idol Carrie Underwood ACM Top Female Vocalist 2008

Underwood, who opened the ACMs with her “Last Name,” giving it an amped-up production under neon lights, took home top female vocalist. Duo Sugarland also fared well, winning single record of the year and song of the year for heartbreak single “Stay.” The act performed new song “All I Wanna Do,” tipped as the first single from the its upcoming release.

Fast-rising star Taylor Swift, however, will probably walk away with the most talked-about moment on the show — certainly the most bizarre. While she won top new female vocalist, the award was overshadowed by her water-soaked rendition of “Should’ve Said No.” Toward the end of the cut, a makeshift waterfall was dumped on the star — a scene more fitting for Nickelodeon than the ACMs — and the singer did her best to maintain her composure.

Source: ACM Awards: Taylor Swift gets soaked, Kenny Chesney wins big (Visit the Web site for the live blogging of the CMA Awards 2008).

Taylor Swift wins at the ACM 2008

Taylor Swift – ACM 2008 Top New Female Vocalist

Kenny Chesney has publicly criticized the selection process for this year’s ACM Awards 2008.

Kenny Chesney won entertainer of the year for a fourth straight time Sunday, then promptly took issue with the way the Academy of Country music awarded the honor: through fan votes.

For the first time in the show’s 43 years, the top prize — traditionally decided by ACM members — was determined through online voting. With the win, Chesney ties Garth Brooks and trails only Alabama, which won five in a row.

Chesney said immediately backstage that he thought fans should be included, just not by voting for the show’s most important award.

“The entertainer of the year trophy is supposed to represent heart and passion and an amazing amount of sacrifice, commitment and focus,” he said. “That’s the way Garth won it four times, that’s the way I won it, that’s the way (George) Strait won it, Reba (McEntire), Alabama all those years. That’s what it’s supposed to represent.”

He said his complaint is directed at the industry, not the fans — and that the method amounted to “complete disrespect” of the artists, saying the academy turned the award “into a sweepstakes to see who can push people’s buttons the hardest on the Internet.”

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[Former American Idol] Carrie Underwood also took home her second consecutive female vocalist trophy.

“I know I don’t deserve it, but I’ll take it,” Underwood said. “Fans got me everything I have, and I owe everything to you.”

It was a night of repeats. Rascal Flatts’ top vocal group win was their sixth in a row, while Brooks & Dunn won their 13th straight award for top vocal duo.

“We’d like to give God all the thanks and all the glory for giving us a stage to stand on every night,” said Rascal Flatts singer LeVox. Bandmate Joe Don Rooney had other things on his mind. He glanced at his watch and said he had to get home. “I’ve got a baby coming any minute.”

LeVox disagreed with Chesney about the night’s top honor, saying he hoped the fans continued to choose.

“It’s about time,” he said, calling fans “the reason that all three of us have jobs.”

Dr. Phil presented Brooks & Dunn their award. “I’m glad Dr. Phil was here because we need therapy for this one,” Kix Brooks cracked.