Jason Aldean beat Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert for entertainer of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards -- a first for the singer after earning nominations for the top prize for years -- while Chris Stapleton won in four other categories.
Aldean also won over Garth Brooks and Eric Church on Sunday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
"I was just starting to think this one wasn't in the cards for me," Aldean said onstage. "This is one of the best nights of my professional career."
Stapleton had an even better night. It was a repeat of the recent Grammy Awards and last year's Country Music Association Awards. Stapleton took home album, song, male vocalist and new male vocalist of the year trophies. He also shined with an impressive performance of the song, "Fire Away." His special guest was his wife, Morgane.
The critically acclaimed singer-songwriter was humbled and shocked as he won the most awards of the night.
"You got to be kidding me. I thought for sure we were going to be girl-crushed on this one," Stapleton said after winning song of the year for "Nobody to Blame" and beating Little Big Town's "Girl Crush."
Other top moments from the show included Dolly Parton joining Katy Perry for "Coat of Many Colors" and "Jolene."
"Y'all finally got me in a pair of boots," Perry said onstage, sporting a bright pink and yellow country-flavored outfit. Parton wore a 2016 sparkly version of the famous coat she said "represents a very special time in my life" and was part of last year's NBC movie about her childhood, Dolly Parton's Coat of Many Colors. She won the Tex Ritter Award for films that honor country music.
Church also had a special moment when he paid tribute to rock icons David Bowie, The Eagles' Glenn Frey, Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead and former Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland, who all died in the past few months. Bryan introduced Church and said the performer was a big fan of vinyl records and was set to pay tribute to "four of his musical heroes." Church performed the track, "Record Year," and intertwined the late performers' songs into his performance.
Tim McGraw's performance of "Humble & Kind" featured a diverse group of people, from children to adults of every race, some dressed in clothes representing their backgrounds or occupation.
Other performers included Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Little Big Town with Trombone Shorty, Kelsea Ballerini and pop singer Nick Jonas.
Carrie Underwood earned loud applause after singing "Church Bells." She was nominated for female vocalist of the year but lost to Lambert, who won the honor for the seventh time.
"Carrie you just killed it. ... She is literally the perfect singer," Lambert said onstage. "I love to see here tonight a bunch of new country girls up here shining and singing their great songs that they wrote themselves. I'm really excited for women in country music, and I'm glad to be here as one of them."
Other winners included Thomas Rhett (single record of the year for "Die a Happy Man"), Little Big Town (vocal group of the year) and Florida Georgia Line (vocal duo of the year).
Blake Shelton, who previously co-hosted the show with Bryan, joined his former co-host to open the show with a performance, taking the spot of new co-host Dierks Bentley.
Shelton joined Bryan, who also played guitar, to perform "Huntin', Fishin' and Lovin' Every Day." Bentley was waiting backstage to jump into the performance before Shelton took his microphone.
The Voice coach followed the collaborative performance with his own, of his recent single "Came Here to Forget."
After the performance, the hosts told a string of jokes, including one about country singers in the audience taking credit for the breakthrough career of leading nominee Stapleton, who has written hits for dozens of country stars.
Stapleton had seven nominations.
Presenters included Kiefer Sutherland, who is working on a country album; British actor Tom Hiddleston, who portrays Hank Williams in I Saw the Light; Miss America Betty Cantrell; and singers Kacey Musgraves, Darius Rucker, Martina McBride and Jake Owen.
A Section on 04/04/2016