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The 44th Academy of Country Music Awards swung political, personal, playful and patriotic on Sunday and ultimately opted for popular in bestowing its top honor on "American Idol" winner Carrie Underwood, naming her entertainer of the year over veteran male performers George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban.
"I've had a lot of good moments in the past four years," the Oklahoma-born Underwood said at the climax of the three-hour event at the MGM Grand Arena, "but this one takes the cake."
The award was determined for the second year by popular vote during the show at CBS.com instead of being determined as it had been in past years by the performer who sold the most concert tickets during the previous 12 months, which would have given a fifth title to Chesney.

But the ACM, in striving to boost ratings and make the event more interactive for fans, opened the voting for entertainer and new artist to the public. That helped TV-friendly faces such as Underwood and former "Dancing With the Stars"-turned-country singer Julianne Hough, who took home the new artist trophy.
It was a big night as well for Internet-savvy teen phenom Taylor Swift, who sold more albums in 2008 than any other artist in any genre, passing 5 million. Her overwhelming success contributed to her sophomore album, "Fearless," which has topped 3 million since its release in November, being named album of the year.

The giddy singer and songwriter from Pennsylvania clapped her hands over her mouth and danced in her signature cowgirl boots upon learning she'd been chosen by the academy's 4,000 voting members over Strait, Underwood, duo Montgomery Gentry and newcomer Jamey Johnson.

Outside the arena just after the show ended, 11-year-old Josei Molasky beamed a broad smile at her role model's win. Molasky not only patterned her gold lamé dress and cowgirl boots after Swift's look, she said she's been learning to play Swift's hit "Our Song" and starting to write songs of her own.
It's exactly the kind of fan motivation Nashville is looking for these days as it wrestles with declining music sales like every other corner of the music business. But the problem is trickier in country music because fans are much less likely to get music over the Internet, according to a recent market survey conducted at the behest of the annual Country Radio Seminar that took place in March.

That's given the country music capital something of a quandary over how to continue serving a CD-buying fan base at a time when the rest of the music business is moving away from the format in favor of digital music distribution.

The CBS telecast also looked to give more fans such as Molasky to latch on to with a performance by Miley Cyrus, timed to plug the new "Hannah Montana" movie, even though the daughter of country singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus wasn't nominated for any awards.

Tough economic times coupled with strong sentiment over the war in Iraq figured into two of the night's most powerful musical performances. John Rich, half of the duo Big & Rich, sang a solo version of his new single "Shuttin' Detroit Down" that elicited cheers several times from the 11,000 fans in the MGM Grand Arena as he railed against federal bailouts to troubled corporations while family farms continue to fail by the thousands.

U.S. troops got a salute from Trace Adkins as he was joined by the West Point Glee Club with a new song recognizing what soldiers have sacrificed from the Civil War through the ongoing fighting in Afghanistan. The ACM announced that proceeds from the downloadable version of the performance will go to Wounded Warrior, a Florida-based organization the helps injured troops once they return home.
Jamey Johnson's "In Color," an homage to those who weathered the Depression, fought in World War II and sustained long-term marriages, was named song of the year. Johnson's album "That Lonesome Song," which has drawn comparisons to the work of Waylon Jennings and others of the '70s country Outlaw movement, had been chosen 2008's best by a poll of country music critics.

Complete Result

Nominees and winners at the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards, held April 5 in Las Vegas. Winners are in bold italics.

Entertainer of the Year

Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban

Top Male Vocalist

Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist

Miranda Lambert
Heidi Newfield
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack

Top Vocal Group

Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
Randy Rogers Band
The Lost Trailers

Top Vocal Duo

Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland

Top New Artist
Zac Brown Band
Julianne Hough
Jake Owen

Top New Male Vocalist

Jamey Johnson
James Otto
Jake Owen

Top New Female Vocalist

Sarah Buxton
Julianne Hough
Ashton Shepherd

Top New Vocal Duo or Group

Eli Young Band
The Lost Trailers
Zac Brown Band

Album of the Year
"Back When I Knew It All" – Montgomery Gentry (Columbia)
Produced by: Blake Chancey
"Carnival Ride" – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville)
Produced by:  Mark Bright
"Fearless" – Taylor Swift (Big Machine)
Produced by: Scott Borchetta, Nathan Chapman, Taylor Swift
"That Lonesome Song"– Jamey Johnson (Mercury)
Produced by: The Kent Hardly Playboys
"Troubadour" – George Strait (MCA)
Produced by: Tony Brown and George Strait

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

"Gunpowder & Lead"
Miranda Lambert; produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
Columbia

"In Color"
Jamey Johnson; produced by The Ken Hardley Playboys
Mercury

"Johnny & June"
Heidi Newfield; produced by Tony Brown
Asylum-Curb

"Waitin' on a Woman"
Brad Paisley; produced by Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville

"You're Gonna Miss This"
Trace Adkins; produced by Frank Rogers
Capitol Nashville

Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

"I Saw God Today"
George Strait
Composers: Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby
Publishers:  Big Red Toe Music (BMI), Blind Mule Music (BMI), Extremely Loud Music (BMI), Steel Wheels Music (BMI)

"In Color"
Jamey Johnson
Composers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
Publishers: Big Gassed Hitties (BMI), Eldorotto Music Publishing (BMI), EMI Blackwood Music, Inc., Lucky Thumb Music (BMI), New Song of Sea Gayle (BMI), Noah's Little Boat Music (BMI)

"Johnny & June"
Heidi Newfield
Composers: Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield, Stephony Smith
Publishers: Amylase Music (ASCAP), Big Hit Makers Music (BMI), Rainy Graham Publishing LLC (BMI), Souljet Music Tell Texas Tune III (ASCAP)

"Waitin' on a Woman"
Brad Paisley
Composers: Don Sampson, Wynn Varble
Publishers: EMI April Music, Inc. (ASCAP), Sea Gayle Music LLC (ASCAP), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)

"You're Gonna Miss This"
Trace Adkins
Composers: Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller
Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI), Music of Windswept (ASCAP), Noah's Little Boat Music (BMI), Song of Combustion (ASCAP), Songs of Sea Gayle (BMI)

Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

"Johnny & June" -- Heidi Newfield
Producer: Karen Martin
Director: Eric Welch

"Just A Dream" -- Carrie Underwood
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White

"Love Story"  -- Taylor Swift
Producer:  Trent Hardville
Director:  Trey Fanjoy

"Troubadour" -- George Strait
Producer: Dominic Cancilla
Director: Trey Fanjoy

"Waitin' on a Woman" -- Brad Paisley
Producer: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea
Director: Jim Shea, Peter Tilden

Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

"Another Try" -- Josh Turner Featuring Trisha Yearwood
Produced by: Frank Rogers
MCA Nashville

"Cowgirls Don't Cry" -- Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
Produced by: Kix Brooks, Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn
Arista Nashville

"Down The Road" -- Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney
Blue Chair/BNA

"Life In A Northern Town" -- Sugarland featuring Little Big Town & Jake Owen
Produced by: Not listed
Mercury

"Start A Band" -- Brad Paisley duet with Keith Urban
Produced by: Frank Rogers
Arista Nashville