Chesney after ACM win: Fan votes shouldn't decide

LAS VEGAS -- Kenny Chesney won entertainer of the year for afourth straight time Sunday, then promptly took issue with the waythe Academy of Country music awarded the honor: through fan votes.

For the first time in the show's 43 years, the top prize --traditionally decided by ACM members -- was determined throughonline voting. With the win, Chesney ties Garth Brooks and trailsonly Alabama, which won five in a row.

Chesney said immediately backstage that he thought fans should beincluded, just not by voting for the show's most important award.

"The entertainer of the year trophy is supposed to representheart and passion and an amazing amount of sacrifice, commitment andfocus," he said. "That's the way Garth won it four times, that's theway I won it, that's the way (George) Strait won it, Reba(McEntire), Alabama all those years. That's what it's supposed torepresent."

He said his complaint is directed at the industry, not the fans -- and that the method amounted to "complete disrespect" of theartists, saying the academy turned the award "into a sweepstakes tosee who can push people's buttons the hardest on the Internet."

Messages left for officials with the Academy of Country MusicAwards were not immediately returned Sunday night.

Chesney was the night's leading nominee with 11, and ended upwinning twice. His other win was for vocal event of the year for hiswork on the Tracy Lawrence hit "Find Out Who Your Friends Are."

Brad Paisley won top male vocalist, his second in a row.

"I really want to say the reason I'm in country music is becausemy grandfather would make me listen to Buck Owens when I was like 4years old, and I think Buck was the first male vocalist for thisorganization. I'm so honored to carry the torch for another year,"Paisley said.

Carrie Underwood also took home her second consecutive femalevocalist trophy.

"I know I don't deserve it, but I'll take it," Underwood said."Fans got me everything I have, and I owe everything to you."

It was a night of repeats. Rascal Flatts' top vocal group win wastheir sixth in a row, while Brooks & Dunn won their 13th straightaward for top vocal duo.

"We'd like to give God all the thanks and all the glory forgiving us a stage to stand on every night," said Rascal Flattssinger LeVox. Bandmate Joe Don Rooney had other things on his mind.He glanced at his watch and said he had to get home. "I've got ababy coming any minute."

LeVox disagreed with Chesney about the night's top honor, sayinghe hoped the fans continued to choose.

"It's about time," he said, calling fans "the reason that allthree of us have jobs."

Dr. Phil presented Brooks & Dunn their award. "I'm glad Dr. Philwas here because we need therapy for this one," Kix Brooks cracked.

Miranda Lambert won album of the year, and Sugarland took singlerecord and song of the year honors for their mellow hit "Stay."

"I'm sitting right behind Kenny Chesney and I just don't feelright taking this," said Lambert, who won for her sophomore outing,"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." "I'm a songwriter, and I poured my heart andsoul into this album. Thank you for appreciating it."

The win was big for Lambert, who beat out superstars Chesney andPaisley, as well as hot new acts Taylor Swift and Rodney Atkins.

Jack Ingram won top new male vocalist. The 37-year-old Texanreleased his first album in 1992 and bounced around a number ofrecord labels before his career took off.

"Sometimes it takes a long time and that's my story," Ingram saidbackstage. "I put in a lot of hard miles, and I'm thankful."

Lady Antebellum took home top new duo or vocal group. "Does thismean we get to hang out with Kenny Chesney now?" the trio's CharlesKelley joked.

Swift won top new female vocalist. The 18-year-old thanked hermother for going on the road with her beginning when she was 16,leaving behind a comfortable life to sleep in rental cars and onairplanes so her teenage daughter could pursue her dream.

"Mom, thank you so much," she said as she fought back tears. "Ilove you. This is for you."

Earlier, Brad Paisley's "Online" won video of the year. It wasdirected by former "Seinfeld" star Jason Alexander, who also co-starred and made an onstage appearance Sunday night, joking that hedidn't believe the stereotype of country stars and fans beingreligious -- seeing as he hadn't spotted any of them at synagogue.

Tracy Lawrence won vocal event of the year for "Find Out Who YourFriends Are" with Tim McGraw and Chesney.

"This is absolutely awesome," Lawrence said. "We moved a bigmountain pulling this off."

Underwood opened the show, which aired live from the MGM Grand,with her rocker, "I Don't Even Know His Last Name." Strait, who wascelebrating his 56th birthday, performed his 56th No. 1 hit: "I SawGod Today." Swift did "It Should Have Been Me" and ended it bygetting drenched in a cascade of water.

Brooks received the ACM's Crystal Milestone Award and did amedley of his hits that included "The Thunder Rolls," "Friends inLow Places" and "More Than a Memory."

Paisley and Underwood performed a stripped-down version of EddyArnold's classic "Make the World Go Away." Arnold died May 8, daysshort of his 90th birthday.

McEntire hosted the show for the 10th time.