Co-host Luke Bryan was named Entertainer of the Year and Miranda Lambert snagged three honors at the ACM Awards Sunday night.
Bryan hosted the show with Voice judge Blake Shelton and beat out Blake, Miranda, Taylor Swift and Jason Alden for the night’s top honor, calling it “the defining moment of my life.”
Luke Bryan celebrates with co-host Blake Shelton after receiving the Entertainer of the Year Award at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Miranda won best female vocalist, song of the year and single of the year honors. The latter two awards were for “Over You,” a song co-written with her husband, Blake.
Best male vocalist honors went to Jason Aldean.
Among former Idols, Carrie Underwood and Kelly Clarkson performed during the show, singing “Two Black Cadillacs” and “Don’t Rush,” respectively.
But they missed out on the awards for which they were nominated.
Carrie, a two-time Entertainer of the Year winner, was nominated for album of the year for “Blown Away;” the award went to Eric Church for “Chief.” And she was nominated for female vocalist of the year, one of the categories Miranda won.
Kelly’s duet with Vince Gill on the song “Don’t Rush” was nominated as vocal event of the year. That award went to Jason Aldean, Eric Church and Luke Bryan for “The Only Way I Knew.”
As for other Idol connections to the show, season 10 winner Scotty McCreery presented one award; Idol judge Keith Urban another. Keith was introduced as the “no-fly zone” between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj.
“No-fly zone,” Keith quipped. “I like that.”
Then there was another Idol connection lots of fans likely missed. The Child Hunger Ends Here song performed by Jewel was written by Tori Kelly (photo below). Tori nearly made the Idol semifinals in Season 9 but was cut in favor of country singer Haeley Vaughn (which I hailed as a big mistake at the time).
To find out how to help in the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, head here.
Now, here are photos from the show. I’ll be adding more as they become available.
Carrie Underwood performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Carrie Underwood performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Carrie Underwood performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Kelly Clarkson performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Kelly Clarkson performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Kelly Clarkson performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Luke Bryan and co-host Blake Shelton after Bryan received the Entertainer of the Year Award Sunday night at the ACM Awards. (AP Photo)
Miranda Lambert reacts to being named female vocalist of the year at the ACM Awards. (AP Photo)
Keith Urban presents the female vocalist of the year award to Miranda Lambert. (AP Photo)
Keith Urban prepares to present the award for female vocalist of the year Sunday night at the ACM Awards. (AP Photo)
Jason Aldean accepts male vocalist of the year honors at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Hunter Hayes with Stevie Wonder at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Hunter Hayes performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
George Strait and Garth Brooks perform at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
The Band Perry perform at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
The Band Perry perform at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Kimberly Perry performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert accept the award for song of the year at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Eric Church wins the award for album of the year at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Little Big Town wins the award for vocal group of the year at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Miranda Lambert performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton co-host at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow and Luke Bryan perform at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Angaleena Presley, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton perform at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Kenny Chesney performs
at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
George Strait performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Eric Church performs at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Carrie Underwood arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Carrie Underwood arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Shania Twain, Carrie Underwood, Faith Hill arrive at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Keith Urban arrives at the ACM Awards. (AP Photo)
Kelly Clarkson in the audience at the ACM Awards. (AP Photo)
Scotty McCreery arrives for the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Scotty McCreery arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Taylor Swift arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Taylor Swift arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Jewel arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Tori Kelly arrives at the ACM Awards. (AP Photo)
Kimberly Perry arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Neil Perry, Kimberly Perry, Reid Perry of The Band Perry arrive at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Dave Haywood, Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley arrive at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Hillary Scott arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Brian Kelley, Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line arrive at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Big Kenny, John Rich of Big & Rich arrrive at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Hunter Hayes arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Jake Owen, Lacey Buchanan arrive at the ACM Awards. (AP Photo)
Jason Aldean arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
LL Cool J arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Caroline Bryan, Luke Bryan arrive at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Sheryl Crow arrives at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
Shawna Thompson, Keifer Thompson arrive at the ACM Awards Sunday night. (AP Photo)
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