Even HE was shocked! That pretty much says it all. No one in the room expected Luke Bryan to be named ACM Entertainer of the Year. He was up against Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and two-time winner Taylor Swift. He just began his first headline tour a few months ago. But with a series of hit singles, a top selling album, and an extremely passionate fan base, Luke Bryan pulled off the upset. “The is the defining moment in my life, and it means the world to me.”
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.
After the show, Luke spoke with the media and “Being in the category for the first time, and winning it, with the fans bestowing it upon you, the appreciation for it is at a whole different level. I can honestly say that I’ve always loved this business and the fact that they know I love it and they want to vote and make me an Entertainer of the Year is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.”
One of the other artists in the Entertainer category was Jason Aldean, who said this about his friend: “Luke is one of my best friends, I’ve been on the road with him for two of the last four years, I’ve watched his show come a long way in the last few years, he’s put a lot of work in it, and become a great entertainer, I don’t think there was anyone more shocked in the room. That’s part of what I love about him. He’s reached that point in his career, he had a huge year, he blew up, doing his first headline tour, and he’s killing it out there. I’m happy for him and I’m proud of him.”
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.
Tonight, the Academy of Country Music sold-out two of the largest arenas in Las Vegas, the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, and the Orleans Arena for the 3nd Annual ACM Fan Jam, headlined by Brad Paisley.
Following is the list of winners in the 11 categories voted on by the membership (excluding the Entertainer of the Year and New Artist categories, which were voted on by a combination of professional ACM members and fans):
Entertainer of the Year
·Luke Bryan
Male Vocalist of the year
·Jason Aldean
Female Vocalist of the year
·Miranda Lambert
Vocal Duo of the year *(Off Camera Award)
·Thompson Square
Vocal Group OF THE YEAR
·Little Big Town
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL’S
·Florida Georgia Line
ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
·Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)
Produced by: Jay Joyce
Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
·Over You – Miranda Lambert (RCA)
Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf
Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
·Over You – Miranda Lambert
Composers: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton
Publishers:Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)
Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)
·Tornado – Little Big Town
Producer: Iris Baker
Director: Shane Drake
Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)
·The Only Way I Know – Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church (Broken Bow)
Produced by:Michael Knox
NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (previously announced)
·Brantley Gilbert
NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (previously announced)
·Jana Kramer
NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR(previously announced)
·Florida Georgia Line
Tags: acm
Category: NEWS
Even HE was shocked! That pretty much says it all. No one in the room expected Luke Bryan to be named ACM Entertainer of the Year. He was up against Jason Aldean, Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton, and two-time winner Taylor Swift. He just began his first headline tour a few months ago. But with a series of hit singles, a top selling album, and an extremely passionate fan base, Luke Bryan pulled off the upset. “The is the defining moment in my life, and it means the world to me.”
