Idol Chatter & Voice Views

For most of Sunday evening, it looked like Carrie Underwood would be shut out at the Academy of County Music Awards.

But when the show ended with the most prestigious honor of them all — the fan-voted Entertainer of the Year Award — Carrie was back on stage, celebrating another triumph.

She earned the honor for the second straight year and, in doing so, became the first female to accomplish the feat twice.

Prior to accepting Entertainer of the Year honors, Carrie had been to the winner’s podium just once on Sunday, to accept a Triple Crown Award for past ACM honors.

The award is presented to performers who have earned Best New Artist, Best Vocalist and Entertainer of the Year honors over the course of their career. Carrie completed her triple crown by winning Entertainer of the Year in 2009, and becoming the first female since 2000 to do so.

Other big winners Sunday included Lady Antebellum, which won the award for best vocal group, record of the year and song of the year; Miranda Lambert, who won for album of the year and best female vocalist of the year; Brad Paisley, named male vocalist of the year; and Luke Bryan, named best new artist of the year.

Carrie was nominated in both categories in which Miranda Lambert prevailed. In fact, American Idol’s season four winner entered Sunday night having been named Best Female Vocalist three straight years.

Carrie’s “Cowboy Casanova” was nominated for song of the year (“Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum won) and for musical event of the year for her “I Told You So” duet with Randy Travis (Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins won for “Hillbilly Bone.”)

Carrie also took the stage twice as a performer Sunday night, kicking things off with a duet with Miranda Lambert, then returning to sing her current single, “Temporary Home.”

Here are photos from Sunday night’s show. Keep checking back. I’ll add more as they become available.