Jason Aldean, FGL, Miranda Lambert score big at ACM Awards


Florida Georgia Line, joined by the Backstreet Boys, got the Academy of Country Music Awards audience dancing on its feet at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday night, but Jason Aldean won the top award, entertainer of the year, for the second year in a row. Unlike Keith Urban — seven nominations, zero wins — FGL did not go home empty-handed, though: The group won single of the year for their song "H.O.L.Y." and music event of the year. Miranda Lambert also won two awards: album of the year (The Weight of These Wings) and female vocalist of the year. Male vocalists of the year award went to Thomas Rhett, who also won song of the year for "Die a Happy Man," while Little Big Town won vocal group of the year.
The music video of the year did not go to a single artist or song but to the video "Forever Country," a glossy medley featuring many of the award's performers plus Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and other country luminaries old and young to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Country Music Association Awards. It starts out with "Country Roads," by folk-pop star John Denver:
The ACM Awards also had a tribute to Chuck Berry, the rock 'n' roll legend who died last month, "for the man that influenced every form of music, including country," as Luke Bryan said before he, Dierks Bentley, and Joe Walsh performed "Johnny B. Goode."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Why the catastrophe bond market is growing
The Explainer The bonds pay for climate change disaster damages
-
How is the Trump bill changing 529 plans?
The Explainer The new bill provides a boost for people pursuing trades and vocational careers or seeking professional licenses and certifications
-
Destination unknown: the exciting ins and outs of mystery travel
The Week Recommends Surprise yourself the next time you vacation
-
Samsung to make Tesla chips in $16.5B deal
Speed Read Tesla has signed a deal to get its next-generation chips from Samsung
-
FCC greenlights $8B Paramount-Skydance merger
Speed Read The Federal Communications Commission will allow Paramount to merge with the Hollywood studio Skydance
-
Tesla reports plummeting profits
Speed Read The company may soon face more problems with the expiration of federal electric vehicle tax credits
-
Dollar faces historic slump as stocks hit new high
Speed Read While stocks have recovered post-Trump tariffs, the dollar has weakened more than 10% this year
-
Economists fear US inflation data less reliable
speed read The Labor Department is collecting less data for its consumer price index due to staffing shortages
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement