The Academy of Country Music Awards (ACM) are among the most prestigious and coveted honors in the country music industry. They are reserved solely for the very best of the best. Tonight's ceremony marks the 60th anniversary of those accolades. It will be marked by a gala ceremony filled with country's top superstars. Fans and industry insiders alike are looking forward to another 60+ years of celebrating country's foremost achievers. It's also a good time to look back and reflect upon ACM Awards moments that have stood out over the years. There have been many, but we have narrowed the field down to four special ones.
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Kenny Chesney Feels Fans' Love In 2008
Chesney notched a key first several years back. Per The Boot, fan voting counted in choosing the Entertainer of the Year between 2008 and 2015. In 2008, Chesney got the "first fan-voted Entertainer of the Year Award." He edged out some pretty stiff competition, including George Strait, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, and Keith Urban.
Roy Clark Achieved Something Never Done Before In 1974
Clark became the "first artist to win the ACM's entertainer of the year trophy a second time," per billboard.com. He also took home the trophy the year prior. Clark gained fame on the TV show Hee Haw, and was also a distinguished guitarist, member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Grammy recipient.
1976 Was Loretta Lynn's Big Year At The ACM Awards
The same year that America marked its bicentennial was also a big milestone for Loretta Lynn, the beloved coal miner's daughter. She "made history as the first woman to win the ACM's entertainer of the year," per the outlet. Lynn also had to make room on her mantel for a few more ACM honors in 1976. She earned three additional ACM accolades in that landmark year. They were Top Vocal Group for her pairing with frequent duet partner Conway Twitty, Album of the Year for a record she did with Twitty called Feelins, and Top Female Vocalist of the Year.
Miranda Lambert And Blake Shelton Landed Two ACM Awards In 2013 For A Deeply Personal And Heartfelt Song
Shelton and Lambert, who were at that time married, scored two ACM Awards in 2013 for a song called "Over You." Per The Boot, "The tune was inspired by a tragic, life-changing event in Shelton's life: He was 14 years old when his 24-year-old brother Richie died." It earned both Single of the Year and Song of the Year.
Shelton expressed his gratitude to Lambert when they made the Song of the Year acceptance speech. "I'll tell you something, I've learned so much from this human being standing next to me, a lot of things about myself. She blows me away. I used to think I was a decent songwriter until I started hanging out with her, and she really taught me how to write a good song, and this is proof of it. Thank you so much baby, I love you." Two years later, they were divorced.
