The 2011 Academy of Country Music (ACM) awards, co-hosted by Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton, took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Country singer Miranda Lambert emerged as the night's biggest winner and Taylor Swift was named "Entertainer of the Year."
From her seven nominations, Lambert swept four categories including "Single Record" and "Song of the Year" for her heartfelt song "The House That Built Me," co-written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin, as well as the "Top Female Vocalist" honor. She also won "Video of the Year," however that was handed out prior to the live telecast.
Lambert Reclaims "Female Vocalist" Throne
Reese Witherspoon, who had won the Academy Award for portraying country legend June Carter Cash, and Robert Pattinson were co-presenters of the coveted "Top Female Vocalist" category. For the second consecutive year Lambert reigned triumphant, besting out fellow nominees Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Reba and Lee Ann Womack.
With the exception of Womack, all nominated country songstresses performed on the ACM stage: Underwood sang "Undo It" and collaborated with Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler on the "Walk This Way" duet, and Swift sang her newest up-tempo single "Mean," accompanying herself on banjo.
Dressed in an elegant pink skirt, Lambert performed her latest single "Heart Like Mine," which currently sits at #8 on the Billboard Country Charts. A former "Album of the Year" recipient, Lambert also presented this year's award to country band Lady Antebellum for their hit record "Need You Now."
Swift Named ACM "Entertainer of the Year"
This year's "Entertainer of the Year" prize was fan-voted, in which millions of fans casted their votes for their favorite artists. American Idol host Ryan Seacrest served as presenter and revealed the nominated singers that were in the running.
Out of six nominees, which featured some of the biggest names in country, such as Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban, Seacrest declared Taylor Swift as the winner. This marks Swift's first win in this prestigious ACM category. In November of 2009, at the age of nineteen, she had won the Country Music Association (CMA) award for "Entertainer of the Year," making her the youngest female recipient of that accolade.
In her live acceptance speech, ever-humble Swift noted that she was touched, especially since it came from the fans. She went on to thank everybody wholeheartedly for voting for her, as well as for not forgetting about her, since she had just returned from an international tour in Europe and Asia; moreover, she found this to be a "wonderful welcome home gift." Swift concluded her speech with the following statement for her fans: "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, ever!"
For a complete list of this year's ACM winners, please visit the Academy of Country Music's official website.
Markos Papadatos - Markos Papadatos holds over six years journalism experience, authoring over 700 articles, many of which are feature profile interviews.
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