Stars Shine Bright at the ACM Awards

The "43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" rocked the house! The country-palooza featured performances by GARTH BROOKS, BRAD PAISLEY, KELLIE PICKLER, SUGARLAND, CARRIE UNDERWOOD and more, and was hosted for an unprecedented 10th time by legendary REBA McENTIRE, who joked that when she started with the show, "Underwood was a typewriter, Sugarland was a doughnut shop and a 'pickler' was someone who made pickles!"

Speaking of Sugarland, the duo won Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year for "Stay," while Brad Paisley took Video of the Year for "Online." Taylor Swift walked away with Top New Female Vocalist and thanked her "mom" and Carrie Underwood thanked the fans ("Duh!") for Top Female Vocalist. A shocked MIRANDA LAMBERT beat out KENNY CHESNEY for Album of the Year and said, "I was right behind Kenny and I just don't feel right taking this!" She needn't have felt bad, because Kenny came back with a win for Entertainer of the Year, his fourth consecutive win.

Joining in country music's biggest party of the year were also TRACE ADKINS, BROOKS & DUNN, TOBY KEITH, TRISHA YEARWOOD and DR. PHIL and ROBIN McGRAW, among others.

Highlights of the night included teenage Taylor Swift's sexy performance in a synthetic rainstorm, a medley by Crystal Milestone Award recipient Garth Brooks and Kenny and GEORGE STRAIT's duet of "Shift Work." (It was George's 56th birthday!) Carrie and Brad also performed a special tribute to country music legend EDDY ARNOLD, who passed away on May 8.

"The 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards" aired live from the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

Published 5/19/08 by