LAS VEGAS: Newlywed Kenny Chesney took home entertainer of the year honours at the 40th annual Academy of Country Music Awards.
Chesney's win over leading nominee Tim McGraw came just eight days after his surprise marriage to actress Renee Zellweger, but he focused his speech on the fans, not his new wife.
Zellweger was not at the show because she was working on a new movie, Chesney said. But his earnest performance of Anything But Mine during the show evoked his Caribbean island wedding, at which the couple was photographed barefoot on the beach. The song includes the line “she has to feel the sand beneath her feet.â€
McGraw took top single and song honours for his hit Live Like You Were Dying. Most of his six nominations came from the song about living life to its fullest. It has special meaning for the singer because his father, former New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Tug McGraw, died of cancer last year.
Newcomer Gretchen Wilson, who had the breakout hit of the year with Redneck Woman, took home honours for top new artist and female vocalist.
Veterans Brooks & Dunn beat out several newcomers for top vocal duo, their record 19th career award.
Another veteran Faith Hill ended a five-year hiatus from the awards show with a performance of Mississippi Girl.
Retired superstar Garth Brooks was greeted by more than 20 seconds of applause as he walked onstage to honour his friend Chris LeDoux, who died on March 9 of liver cancer.
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