Lambert matches last year's win total at ACMs (AP)

By CHRIS TALBOTT, AP Entertainment Writer Chris Talbott, Ap
Entertainment Writer – 25 mins ago

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LAS VEGAS – "The House That Built Me" helped Miranda Lambert quickly
match her win total from last year's Academy of Country Music awards
on Sunday night, while Lady Antebellum took home three trophies,
including as artist and producer on album of the year "Need You Now."

The two acts, who are the best of friends, celebrated on stage after
Lambert, winner of last year's album of the year award for
"Revolution," announced the winner.

"Thank you, Miranda Lambert, for winning this last year and not being
in the category this year," Lady A's Charles Kelley said.

They were named vocal group of the year a few moments later.

"The House That Built Me," written by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas,
won song, single record and video of the year Sunday night. It mirrors
a difficult time in Lambert's life, but those times are over and the
song has helped Lambert's star rise to new heights. It helped her win
the Grammy for best female country performance and it also won Country
Music Association's song of the year award as well.

"Allen and Tom," Lambert said after winning single record, "thank you
for writing the song of the year."

Brad Paisley claimed his fifth straight top male vocalist of the year award.

"This is way too many for me," Paisley said before joking, "I don't
know who got paid what. No, I'm kidding, kidding. It's all very fair."

Sugarland won vocal duo of the year for the second time.

The Band Perry claimed the best new artist award moments after singing
their hit "If I Die Young." It was the trio of two brothers and one
sister's second win after taking home top new vocal duo or group
before the awards. They were competing with Eric Church for top new
artist.

"We believe that country music is the peeple's music," Kimberly Perry
said. "And it is our greatest desire to be their band."

Zac Brown Band, up for five awards, took home vocal event of the year
with Alan Jackson for their collaboration on "As She's Walking Away."

Paisley kicked off the ACMs with a little help from friends: Three
members of the iconic group Alabama joined Paisley on his new song
"Old Alabama," bringing the crowd at the MGM Grand to its feet Sunday
night. It was one of several big collaborations during the show.
Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood rocked out to "Undo It" then segued
to the Aerosmith classic "Walk This Way," and later, Rihanna, sporting
a flaming orange pixie haircut, performed her song "California King
Bed" with Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles.

The show opened with co-host Blake Shelton singing a slow song to what
appeared to Lambert, his fiance. But as the camera panned in on a
blonde draped over a couch, it revealed the show's other co-host, Reba
McEntire in a blonde wig.

"All right, Blake," she said, "that's enough rehearsing for your
wedding night. We've got a show to do. Focus!"

Lambert was the night's top solo nominee with seven. She was still up
for entertainer of the year, the most prestigious award, and with fans
voting for it, it's especially hard to predict. Neither Carrie
Underwood nor Kenny Chesney — winners of the last six entertainer
awards — are nominated this year. And only Toby Keith, a nominee and
two-time winner, has taken home the ACM's top award. Paisley, Taylor
Swift and Keith Urban have won the competing Country Music Association
artist of the year awards, but have yet to breakthrough in Sin City.
Jason Aldean, like Lambert a rising star, also is a first-time
nominee.

___

Online:

http://www.acmcountry.com

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