LAS VEGAS (AP) ― Everything went to script at the Academy of Country Music Awards until the end, when Luke Bryan pulled off an amazing upset and won entertainer of the year.
Bryan immediately overshadowed top winner Miranda Lambert’s big night by beating out some of country music’s top performers, including Lambert and her husband Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean and two-time entertainer of the year Taylor Swift in an upset that few would have predicted because of his relatively recent move into the spotlight.
The 36-year-old recently began headlining his first arena tour and was the co-host of this year’s show.
“I don’t know what to say guys,’’ Bryan said. `’Thank you so much fans for doing this to me. Thank you so much for making my life what it is. What I always wanted to be was just a country singer who got to ride on a tour bus and show up on a new stage and play music every night.’’
Bryan is the first male winner of the award since 2007 when Kenny Chesney won the first fan-voted award. Swift and Carrie Underwood have won two apiece since then.
Lambert won her fourth straight female vocalist award and picked up three trophies for her hit song “Over You’’ ― one for single record of the year and two for song of the year. She was performer of the song and co-wrote the song with Shelton.
“Over You,’’ written about Shelton’s late brother, won song of the year at the Country Music Association Awards last November as well.
