Country Awards Go to Veteran Artists

Familiar faces were the big winners at the 37th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Wednesday at the Universal Amphitheatre, where Alan Jackson and Brooks & Dunn both won three awards.

But the evening’s most moving moment came early in the show, when Jackson accepted the song of the year award for “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” his reflection on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“I’ve always felt uncomfortable about the attention this song has brought to me, and I guess I was always uncomfortable about what it was written about,” Jackson said, holding the hat-shaped trophy.

The usually soft-spoken Georgia native then dedicated the award to the victims of what he called “that cowardly and heartless attack on America and mankind.”

Jackson’s recording of the song was named the best single of the year, and the singer also won the male vocalist award.

Brooks & Dunn’s three awards--entertainer of the year, best duo and best video (“Only in America”)--brought their total to 16, moving them past Merle Haggard into first place on the career list.

The ACM awards, determined by more than 3,000 voting members of the Los Angeles-based organization, were presented at a time when country music remains in a commercial lull. The genre accounted for only 10.5% of U.S. record sales last year, according to the Recording Industry Assn. of America, an 8% decline from a decade ago.

Members of the industry are hoping that some of the field’s emerging artists will help restore that momentum, but such newcomer nominees as Kenny Chesney, Sara Evans and the Warren Brothers couldn’t unseat their veteran competitors.

Lonestar was named best vocal group, and Martina McBride took female vocalist honors. “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” continued its success by taking the album of the year award. One of its songs, “I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” was vocal event of the year.

Ronnie Milsap received the academy’s Pioneer Award during the three-hour show, which was hosted by Reba McEntire. The other winners: Carolyn Dawn Johnson, new female vocalist; Trick Pony, new vocal duo/group; Phil Vassar, new male vocalist.