Toby Keith Dominates Country Music Awards

LAS VEGAS —  Toby Keith was a quadruple winner at Wednesday night’s annual Academy of Country Music awards as entertainer of the year and male vocalist, and for his album “Shock ‘n Y’All” and the video “Beer for My Horses” with Willie Nelson.

“I always kept hoping this night would come,” he said as he picked up the night’s biggest award.

Keith, who had won three times before, was named entertainer of the year in 2003.

Brooks & Dunn added to their long list of Academy of Country Music awards, beating Montgomery Gentry and three other groups for the top vocal duo award.

Alan Jackson won single record of the year and vocal event -- his 12th and 13th career ACM awards -- for “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere,” with Jimmy Buffett.

“Thanks to the academy and of course all the fans that made this such a fun song to hear on the radio,” said Jackson, who entered the program with a leading eight bids among the male-dominated nominations -- two of them in the best single category.

Martina McBride won top female vocalist for the third straight year. She also won humanitarian of the year.

“I’m just really grateful that I get to live this life and I get to share it with so many wonderful people,” McBride said. “I think this is a really exciting time for country music, and I’m just proud to be, you know, here.”

The group of the year award went to Rascal Flatts for a second straight year.

Randy Travis was a longshot winner for song of the year with “Three Wooden Crosses,” beating out two Jackson entries, Brooks & Dunn and Kenny Chesney.

“It’s been quite awhile since I’ve been nominated for anything,” he said.

Dierks Bentley was voted top new artist.

“This is awesome. I want to thank God for all my blessings, as always,” he said. “He’s given me so much this year and I’m going to go ahead and ask him for forgiveness in advance ‘cause I’m going to raise a little bit of hell tonight for winning this.”

Trophies were presented in only 11 categories, allowing the CBS-TV broadcast to focus as much on performances as on awards. Reba McEntire hosted the presentations.

The academy merged its male, female and group or duo new artist categories into a single top new artist class this year, producing five nominees -- all male.

Fans were allowed to vote for the first time this year in two categories -- video and humanitarian. The voting on the latter continued until showtime, when McBride won over Brad Paisley and Charlie Daniels.