LAS VEGAS (AP) - April 18, 2010
"We're living our dream right now. We've waited our whole lives for this," Lady A's Charles Kelley said after group's second win.
Lambert didn't get to say much of anything after her victory; she started to speak, then tried to bring up her producer. However, when he came up and started speaking, music started to drown him out and the camera panned away, to the boos of the crowd, who wanted to hear him speak.
Lady A was nominated for a leading seven awards. Going into Sunday, they had lost one; Lambert's "White Liar" beat out "Need You Now" for video of the year on Saturday night, when some of the ACMs were presented.
But they each had two apiece midway through Sunday's show. Lady A could also celebrate the win one of the night's other winner, Luke Bryan, who nabbed top new artist. Lady A's Kelley and Dave Haywood helped write his hit, "Do I."
The show, held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, kicked off with Carrie Underwood and Lambert, joined on stage later by Brad Paisley, Charlie Daniels and John Fogerty, who ripped through a rendition of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Travelin' Band."
"That's how you start a television show, son!" Daniels, who recently recovered from a stroke, shouted.
The show was heavy on performances, including those by Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift, who performed her song "Change" backed by a choir.
The Zac Brown Band - one of eight nominees for entertainer of the year - wasn't able to make a show because of a USO tour in the Middle East. But the band sent video of a performance of "Chicken Fried" from overseas that included altered lyrics aimed at the military.
Toby Keith hit an emotional note with a performance of "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)," dedicated to his late friend, jazz artist and former basketball star Wayman Tisdale, who died last May.
The show also had it's share of non-country celebrities, including LL Cool J, Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn and Las Vegas staple Cher, who goofed when she announced that Blake Shelton had already won a CMA Award - instead of an ACM - the previous evening.
Though Lady A is the top nominated act, Underwood was poised to make history. She had the chance to be the first woman to win two entertainer of the year awards; She won the coveted award last year.
Also up for the fan-voted award is Swift, the 20-year-old sensation who helped bring country music to a huge mainstream audience, making her one of pop music's biggest stars.
Men have long dominated the award. But ACM host Reba McEntire says while most of Sunday's awards are still voted on by members of the music industry, technology may give Underwood and Swift an advantage over the guys.
Also up for the award are Chesney, Keith, Paisley, George Strait, Keith Urban and the Zac Brown Band.
