Winners have been announced for the 48th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded ceremony broadcast LIVE tonight on the CBS Television Network from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Fans named Luke Bryan, Entertainer of the Year, the evening’s biggest honor and his first win in that category. This year marked a record breaking year with 1.1 million fans casting their vote for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year categories, combined.
Bryan co-hosted the ACM Awards for the first time ever tonight with Blake Shelton. Prior to the telecast, Bryan won for Vocal Event of the Year with Jason Aldean and Eric Church, for “The Only Way I Know,” a trophy he accepted on the GAC live red carpet pre-show. The Entertainer of the Year Award and Vocal Event of the Year mark his fourth ACM Award wins. He previously won in 2009 for both New Solo Vocalist of the Year and for New Artist of the Year.
Miranda Lambert won for the fourth consecutive year as Female Vocalist of the Year and she also took the prize for Single Record of the Year as artist, and Song of the Year, as artist and composer, for “Over You,” an award she shares with husband and co-composer Blake Shelton. She is the leading winner of the night, with a total of four trophies in three categories. She joins Reba and Loretta Lynn as the only other artists to win Female Vocalist of the Year four or more times.
Jason Aldean won Male Vocalist of the Year, his first win in the category. Aldean also won for Vocal Event of the Year, with Luke Bryan and Eric Church, for “The Only Way I Know.” This is his second consecutive win in that category; he won last year with Kelly Clarkson for “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” In 2005, he won for New Male Vocalist of the Year.
Little Big Town won Vocal Group of the Year and, prior to the telecast, they were also awarded the trophy for Video of the Year for “Tornado.” This is their first win in both categories. In 2006, they won for New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year.
Thompson Square won Vocal Duo of the Year, their second consecutive ACM Award win in that category.
Eric Church won Album of the Year for Chief. He also won for Vocal Event of the Year, with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, for “The Only Way I Know.” This is his first win in both categories, and his third ACM Award overall. He won for New Solo Vocalist of the Year in 2010.
Artists Florida Georgia Line received their first time Academy of Country Music Award tonight for New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl’s Department Stores, a fan-voted category. They previously won in the New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year category, giving them a total of two wins for this year.
Take a look below at the list of winners and let us know which ones you agree with: