New stars rise at US country music awards
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American country music crowned a pair of new queens late Sunday, barraging Miranda Lambert with four major honors for her hit "The House That Built Me" while the public voted superstar Taylor Swift as the Entertainer of the Year.
Swift's triumph at the 46th annual Academy of Country Music Awards was somewhat expected given her enormous popularity and lengthy list of prior honors, but it nonetheless left the 21-year-old in evident shock.
"This is the first time I've ever won this, and I'm just losing my mind," said an emotional Swift at the climax of the three-hour ceremony at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"The fact that this is from the fans makes it so beautiful. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me. Ever. Thank you so much."
While Swift grabbed the evening's top prize, 27-year-old Lambert pulled in her second straight Female Vocalist of the Year honor as well as collecting the song, video and single of the year trophies for "The House That Built Me."
The melancholic tune about a nostalgic visit to one's childhood home was penned by Allen Shamblin and Tom Douglas.
Lambert had been up for Entertainer of the Year, too, along with Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley and Keith Urban.
Paisley won his fifth consecutive Top Male Vocalist Award.
The show was co-hosted by Reba McEntire and Lambert's fiance, Blake Shelton.
In the other fan-voted honor, the sibling trio The Band Perry grabbed the New Artist Award.
The new group, emerging last year out of the US state of Mississippi, also won Top New Vocal Duo or Group as well as single of the year for "If I Die Young."
"Thank you so much for lending us your ears and your hard-earned dollars," said singer Kimberly Perry as she accepted the first honor alongside her brothers, Neil and Reid.
"We believe that country music is the people's music and it's our greatest desire to be their band."
Lady Antebellum, the Nashville band whose megahit "Need You Now" was last year's song and single of the year, won the Top Vocal Group honor for the second consecutive year as well as Album of the Year for their "Need You Now" record.
