Carrie Underwood with her awards for Entertainer of the Year and Top Female Vocalist backstage at the 44th Annual ACM Awards on April 5, 2009. Photo © Sara de Boer / Retna Ltd.
April 6, 2009 — For the first time in eight years, a woman is now the Academy of Country Music’s Entertainer of the Year.
Carrie Underwood took the final honor of the evening during Sunday’s telecast of the "44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" from Las Vegas, ending Kenny Chesney’s four-year command of the prestigious category. Kenny was gracious in the process. He gave Carrie, who previously toured as his opening act, a kiss on the cheek on her way up to the podium to make her second acceptance speech of the night.
"I’ve had a lot of good moments in the past four years; this one takes the cake," Carrie said, alternately laughing and crying. "Thank you, ACMs, for nominating me in the first place. I never thought I’d be nominated, and I never thought I would win."
The Dixie Chicks were the last women to claim the Entertainer award in 2001. The previous year, Shania Twain was the last solo female to take it.
Elsewhere during the night, Carrie was just one of numerous repeat winners. She took Top Female for the third time in a row, while Brad Paisley won the third straight Top Male trophy. Rascal Flatts usurped Alabama in taking the Top Vocal Group award for the seventh consecutive year. Sugarland repeated as Top Vocal Duo, and Jamey Johnson won Song of the Year for the second time in three years with "In Color."
Brad, who stayed in Nashville with his pregnant wife, earned a total of three trophies, though two of them were announced in advance: He shared Vocal Event with Keith Urban for their collaboration on "Start A Band," while "Waitin’ On A Woman" took Video of the Year.
Julianne Hough won the New Artist of the Year award, voted by fans via GACTV.com.
Following are all the winners for 44th annual ACM Awards:
• Entertainer of the Year: Carrie Underwood
• Top Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley
• Top Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
• Top Vocal Duo: Sugarland
• Top Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts
• Top New Male Vocalist: Jake Owen
• Top New Female Vocalist: Julianne Hough
• Top New Duo or Group: Zac Brown Band
• Top New Artist: Julianne Hough
• Album of the Year: Fearless, Taylor Swift, producer: Nathan Chapman
• Single of the Year: "You’re Gonna Miss This," Trace Adkins, producer: Frank Rogers
• Song of the Year: "In Color," writers: Jamey Johnson, James Otto, Lee Thomas Miller
• Video of the Year: "Waitin’ On A Woman," Brad Paisley
• Vocal Event of the Year: "Start A Band," Brad Paisley Duet with Keith Urban
Click here to see photos from rehearsals, the Orange Carpet & the show!