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Host Reba McEntire, marking a record 16th time
in the job, wasted no time in addressing one of the evening's
touchy subjects - the lack of women nominees in some top
categories.
Noting recent snow in Las Vegas, where the awards were held in a
live, performance-heavy broadcast, McEntire quipped "it was so
cold it froze us women out of entertainer of the year."
Grammy award album of the year winner Kacey Musgraves was
glaringly absent from the all-male nominees top category.
The honor went to Keith Urban, whose wife actress Nicole Kidman
appeared genuinely shocked at his win.
But Musgraves took home both the album of the year and female
artist of the year awards.
Accepting the latter, Musgraves said "I'm so thankful for the
chance to share my political perspective," dedicating the award
to women who felt pressure to silence themselves.
And women ruled the MGM Grand Garden Arena stage as Chrissy
Metz, of hit NBC show "This Is Us," made her live TV performance
debut, alongside country stars Lauren Alaina, Mickey Guyton and
Maddie & Tae for a stirring rendition of “I’m Standing With
You.”
Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line opened the show with a
rousing performance of "Can't Hide Red," but some on social
media took offense to Tyler Hubbard's American flag suit,
branding it a "disgrace" besmirching a sacrosanct national
symbol.
Dan + Shay scored three straight early wins, for song of the
year and single of the year for "Tequila," also winning duo of
the year.
Male artist of the year went to Thomas Rhett.
The star-laden three-hour show marked an upbeat return to
celebrating country music after last year's awards assumed a
somber note following the October 2017 mass shooting, also in
Las Vegas, that killed 58 people at a country music festival.
Aldean, who was performing when shooting broke out, received the
ACM artist of the decade award.
Other A-list country stars performing included Blake Shelton,
Luke Bryan, Chris Stapleton, Urban, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda
Lambert, McEntire and George Strait.
(Editing by Michael Perry)
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