The Associated Press
One year after a disgruntled Toby Keith walked out of the Academy of Country Music awards before being named entertainer of the year, he won the top honor again, and then some.
Keith also took home trophies Wednesday as 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 only three times before, was named entertainer of the year in 2003, but he left the venue after being snubbed for other awards.
Brooks & Dunn added to their record 17 Academy of Country Music awards, beating out Montgomery Gentry and three others 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," said McBride.
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."
"It's been quite awhile since I've been nominated for anything," he said.
Dierks Bentley was voted top new artist.
Trophies were presented in only 11 categories, allowing the CBS broadcast to focus as much on performances as on awards. Reba McEntire hosted the show in Las Vegas.
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 on two categories - video and humanitarian this year. The voting on the latter continued until showtime, when McBride won over Brad Paisley and Charlie Daniels.
"I don't really see this as a competition. I know that Brad and Charlie work just as hard as I do or harder," she said. "It's a responsibility and a privilege to get to use our celebrity, if that's what you want to call it, to make the world a better place."
TEMPO
UC wins
choral collection
Highlights
of the collection
Capping off an accomplishment
Brood X celebrated in a song
The
Insatiable Shopper
Watch
for signs of depression in your teenager
PEOPLE
Country
awards help brighten Keith's mood
Parker
new spokeswoman for Gap ads
Simmons
assault charge dropped
Exams
kept best actor from Cannes
Birthdays
PLANNING AHEAD
Get
to it: A guide to help make your day
On
the fridge
TV's
Best Bets