ACM Award Winners

Last night Carrie Underwood became only the seventh woman to be named ACM Entertainer of the Year since the show began in 1970.

The last time a woman won the award was eight years ago when the Dixie Chicks picked up the 2001 honor.

“I’ve had a lot of good moments in the last four years. This one takes the cake!” Underwood said through tears onstage at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. “I don’t know what to say! I got nothing. Mike, baby, I wish you were here!” she smiled, giving a very major shout-out to her usually undercova lova, her boyfriend, Ottawa Senators hockey player Mike Fisher.

Carrie was also named Top Female Vocalist, which she won last year as well. “I feel like I just won American Idol all over again,” she beamed.

Continuing the reign of the women, Taylor Swift won Top Album of the Year while Julianne Hough was named Top New Artist and Top New Female Artist.

Brad Paisley was named Top Male Vocalist for the third year in a row but was unable to make the trip to Las Vegas for the show.

His wife, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, is extremely pregnant so he decided to stay at their home in Tennessee. “I didn’t want to take the chance of missing the birth of our next child,” he explained in his acceptance speech.

Sugarland became the first duo in 14 years to upset Brooks & Dunn for the Top Vocal Duo award and Rascal Flatts was named Top Vocal Group.

Congratulations to all the night’s winners.

—Sasha Perl-Raver