Singer Justin Moore poses backstage with his New Artist of the Year Award at the 49th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada April 6, 2014.
Justin Moore, despite the controversy, took home the New Artist of the Year award and his acceptance speech, bordering on tearful, made it clear how much the win meant to him.
The night's other big winners were:
- Vocal Event of the Year - "We Were Us" - Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert
- Vocal Duo of the Year - Florida Georgia Line (Presented by Taylor Swift)
- Single Record of the Year - "Momma's Broken Heart" - Miranda Lambert
- Song of the Year - "I Drive Your Truck" - Lee Brice
- Video of the Year - "Highway Don't Care" - Tim McGraw featuring Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
- Male Vocalist of the Year - Jason Aldean
- Vocal Group of the Year - The Band Perry
- Entertainer of the Year - George Strait
- Female Vocalist of the Year - Miranda Lambert
- Album of the Year - Same Trailor, Different Park - Kasey Musgraves
- Crystal Milestone Award - Merle Haggard
The biggest moments, however, didn't come from the acceptance speeches - they came from the moments and the performances. Prior to Garth Brooks presenting Merle Haggard with the Crystal Milestone Award, George Straight and Miranda Lambert got to pay tribute to the legend by singing two of his songs. For Miranda, this was a huge deal as she has long credited Haggard as being one of her biggest musical influences. As Merle started to come up to the stage to accept his award, Garth announced that it was his 77th birthday and he, George and Miranda sang an impromptu round of "Happy Birthday" with the entire audience joining in.
Lady Antebellum pairing up with Stevie Nicks for a performance of "Golden" was another moment maker and the constant banner between co-hosts Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton kept the time between songs and awards fun. When the two men started hunting for someone who was a "big enough star" to take a selfie with, their dismissal of Jason Aldean as "not famous enough" and Tim McGraw as "booor-ing" had the entire audience in stitches.
Unlike some of the other award's shows, there was no twerking, no politcal statements and no performances that had anyone getting up and leaving. Good clean family fun and great music ... the things country is known for!
