ACM Winners
May 15
Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney | "" When I first started playing music, I was in college, and I would go rent all my equipment and put it in the back of a pickup truck. The only thing I wanted to do was to cut a record as good as Keith Whitley did. I listened to that music over and over again. And then I moved to Nashville and several years later, I got to go out on the road for a couple of years with my friend and hero, George Strait. ... I saw what it was like to really connect with an audience for the first time. I want to thank him for that. ... My family back home, my band and crew, the fans, radio, everybody ... God bless y’all." ---- Kenny Chesney |
Top Female Vocalist
Carrie Underwood | "I’d like to thank God for giving me so much that I do not deserve. ... My friends, my family. Fans, thank you. God bless you. And, of course, the place that started it all. ... I would not be here if it weren’t for American Idol." -- Carrie Underwood |
Top Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn | "We still love what we’re doing, and y’all are awesome. Fans out there and radio, thanks for supporting us. It’s still as much fun as it’s ever been. We’re gonna keep doing it." -- Kix Brooks |
Top Vocal Group
Rascal Flatts | "We’d just like to thank God and our families ... the Academy, country radio for playing our music." -- Gary LeVox |
Top Male Vocalist
Brad Paisley | "I put a song out about two people drinking themselves to death, you buy it. I put a love song out, you buy that. I put song out about the stupid bugs, you buy that. I really appreciate everything you guys have given me. God bless you." -- Brad Paisley |
Vocal Event of the Year
"Building Bridges" Artists: Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow Producers: Tony Brown, Ronnie Dunn and Kix Brooks Record Label: Arista Nashville | "Anybody can look good if you're singing on a record with Vince Gill and Sheryl Crow, with [label chief] Joe Galante over there pushing the buttons and [producer] Tony Brown making the phone calls. Thank you!" -- Ronnie Dunn |
Video of the Year
"Before He Cheats" Artists: Carrie Underwood Director: Roman White | "Revolution Pictures was amazing to work with ... everybody at the label who helped us out. We had a lot of fun making this video!" -- Carrie Underwood |
Song of the Year
Give It Away" Artists: George Strait Songwriters: Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/ Mr. Bubba Music, Inc. (BMI), Run Slow Music (ASCAP) and EMI Blackwood Music Inc. (BMI) | "Let me just say how much this means to me personally. I’m old enough to be Carrie Underwood’s grandfather. And for y’all to still let Bill Anderson be a part of the country music business is wonderful. Thanks to George Strait, [Strait’s manager] Erv Woolsey, [producer] Tony Brown, [Universal Music Group executive] Luke Lewis, [co-writer] Buddy Cannon and [co-writer] Jamey Johnson." -- Bill Anderson |
Album of the Year
Some Hearts Artist: Carrie Underwood Producers: Mark Bright, Dann Huff Record Label: Arista Records | "This is such an honor. First off, thank you, God, for giving me this wonderful opportunity to make some great music and meet some great people. Everything that led us here tonight ... thank you very much." -- Carrie Underwood |
Top New Male Vocalist
Rodney Atkins | "Thank the good Lord, thank my wife, my family ... the fans for listening with all your hearts. God bless you all. Country radio, thank y’all very much." -- Rodney Atkins |
Top New Duo or Vocal Group
Little Big Town | "We want to say thanks to all the artists that inspire us every day. We love country music. Thanks to country radio, and to the country fans, you guys gave us a career. God bless y’all." -- Karen Fairchild |
Top New Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert | "Thank you, guys. My family ... my band and crew, I love you guys. You make it worth it. ... God and, most of all, the fans. Thank you so much." -- Miranda Lambert |
The ACM/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award
Brooks & Dunn | "Anyone out there could have won this. You’re all deserving. Everyone works for the community. Most of the artists we know, everyone’s involved in lots of things." -- Ronnie Dunn
Single Record of the Year |
Give It Away" Artist: George Strait Producers: Tony Brown and George Strait Record Label: MCA Nashville | "First of all, I have to thank the songwriters -- Bill Anderson, Jamey Johnson and Buddy Cannon -- for writing such a great song for me. ... Tony Brown for producing it. Thank you, fans and radio, for playing it." -- George Strait |
