Beech Tree News Network

The 48th ACM Awards emanated from Las Vegas Sunday night, April 7.  Co-hosts Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan kicked off the show by performing Blake’s hit “Boys Round Here”, joined by Pistol Annies and Sheryl Crowe with Brad Paisley on guitar. Blake and Luke traded some good barbs with each other in the cold open.  The co-hosts then introduced Kenny Chesney performing “Pirate Flag”, complete with the audience waving pirate flags I’m sure given to them as they entered the arena. 
Blake and Luke moved to Fan Jam at nearby Orleans Arena to introduce Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley and Hunter Hayes’ performance of Brad’s new hit “Outstanding in our Field”. Eli Young Band introduced the great George Strait to perform “Give It All We Got Tonight”. Gary Allan introduced a great Eric Church acoustic performance of “Like Jesus Does”. I found it very cool that the performance was in black and white.  The first award of the night, Vocal Duo, was presented 46 minutes into the show to Thompson Square.  I’ve discovered that you know who the industry is pushing at the moment, as their competition is usually artists who haven’t had hits in years (Big and Rich was in the category this year).
We then veer back to performances with Carrie Underwood’s “Two Black Cadillac’s”.  She would go home empty handed, as would Taylor Swift.  Legendary John Fogerty joined Miranda Lambert to present Eric Church’s “Chief” as Album of the Year.  It is indeed a fantastic album.   Luke Bryan introduced an acoustic performance by Blake Shelton of “Sure Be Cool If You Did”, his latest and a great single.  Blake then introduced Band Perry to perform their new and catchy hit “Done”.  After viewing this high octane performance, I think Kimberly Perry has a little Natalie Maines in her, dance-wise.
Scotty McCreary presented Florida Georgia Line with Best New Artist.  Blake and Luke introduced Jason Aldean performing his song “1994”.  Odd that he pays tribute to Joe Diffie(major artist in the day) all through the song but they couldn’t get Diffie to appear. That was an epic fail on the part of someone.
Kaley Cuoco and Jake Owen presented Little Big Town with Vocal Group of the Year.  Blake Shelton introduced his wife Miranda Lambert, who gave a spastic performance of her new hit “Mamas Broken Heart”.  She then picked up the Song of the Year and Single of the Year trophies for her emotional hit “Over You”.  After an odd Little Big Town performance complete with acrobats in a bed in the sky (I’m not kidding), Faith Hill introduced a Tim McGraw-Taylor Swift-Keith Urban performance. 
LL Cool J introduced two of my guitar heroes, John Mayer and Brad Paisley performing Brad’s song “Beat This Summer”.  Luke Bryan performed “Crash My Party”.  I was wondering when would be the next award.  I’d have to wait out a Kelly Clarkson performance.  The Duck Dynasty crew presented Jason Aldean with Male Artist of the Year.  That was a bit of a surprise, at least to me.  Reba introduced Garth Brooks to sing “The Dance” followed by George Strait doing “The Cowboy Rides Away” as tribute to the late Dick Clark.  George and Garth actually sang duet on “Cowboy Rides Away”, which was cool. 
Keith Urban presented Miranda Lambert with Female Vocalist of the Year. Blake Shelton introduced Hunter Hayes, or as I call him, the lost member of Rascal Flatts, to perform.  After doing his own song, it was odd collaboration time, as he and Stevie Wonder sang “Sir Duke”.
Shania Twain presented the final award of the night, Entertainer of the Year, to a stunned Luke Bryan! He was visibly shaken during his acceptance speech.  Blake joked that it was great that Luke won Entertainer of the Year in his first, and last, year of co-hosting! Stevie Wonder (I’m still scratching my head over this inclusion, but it’s cool) closed the show with his 1970 hit “Signed, Sealed, Delivered”. 
I was thoroughly entertained by the ACM’s this year.  And I didn’t have much argument over the winners.
Hello, my name is Andy Sullivan. I received my bachelor’s degree in business from Mid-Continent University in May 2009. I began writing for Beech Tree News in July 2009.  I enjoy playing guitar, the occasional Wii game, writing, and listening to music. I write a sports blog that can be found at http://andyuk79.tumblr.com
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