Underwood again is ACM entertainer of the year

By CHRIS TALBOTT/AP entertainment writer

LAS VEGAS - Carrie Underwood made history at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday night, becoming the first woman to win entertainer of the year twice.

Underwood won the show's top honor last year. This year, she beat out Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and the Zac Brown Band, among others.

Top-selling trio Lady Antebellum won song and single record of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards for their crossover hit "Need You Now," while friend Miranda Lambert won album of the year for her critically acclaimed CD, "Revolution."

"We're living our dream right now. We've waited our whole lives for this," Lady A's Charles Kelley said after group's second win.

Lambert didn't get to say much of anything after her victory; she started to speak, then tried to bring up her producer. However, when he came up and started speaking, music started to drown him out and the camera panned away, to the boos of the crowd, who wanted to hear him speak.

Lady A was nominated for a leading seven awards and won five.

Luke Bryan, who nabbed top new artist. Lady A's Kelley and Dave Haywood helped write his hit, "Do I."

The show, held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, kicked off with Carrie Underwood and Lambert, joined on stage later by Brad Paisley, Charlie Daniels and John Fogerty.

The show was heavy on performances, including those by Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift, who performed her song "Change" backed by a choir.

The Zac Brown Band - one of eight nominees for entertainer of the year - wasn't able to make a show because of a USO tour in the Middle East.