Keith Tops ACMs; Chicks Booed

The Academy of Country Music Awards, one of Nashville's top honors, held naturally in, um, Las Vegas, featured the usual lineup of winners and requisite amount of flag-waving--all at the expense of the Dixie Chicks.

Apparently not willing to forgive and forget, the boot-strapping set in attendance booed the Texas trio lustily at the mere mention of their names. Trying to defuse some of the lingering controversy surrounding singer Natalie Maines' anti-Bush statements, the band decided not to attend the show, instead beaming in a live performance via satellite from their home base in Austin. But that didn't stop the rowdies.

Things got so bad that presenter Vince Gill actually admonished the audience. "Stop it, stop it," Gill said from the podium. "You know who gets blessed when you forgive--you."

Host Reba McEntire tried to make light of the brouhaha, cracking wise at the opening of the show.

"Everybody here loves to gamble! They're backstage right now checking the latest odds on the Dixie Chicks playing the Bush family reunion," the singer joked.

Ultimately, if not surprisingly, the Chicks went 0-for-3 when it came to the trophies, dubbed the Hats.

McEntire later said backstage that the Chicks were greeted with a "a pretty big negative response."

With all the Chick-bashing, you'd think one of their most outspoken opponents would stick around to suck it in, but Toby Keith was out the door by the time he was named recipient of the top Hat for Entertertainer of the Year.

Perhaps the "Angry American," whose terrorist-bashing anthem "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry American)" has gotten a second life following the invasion of Iraq, didn't want to suffer the same humiliation as last year, when he was completely shut out despite leading the nominations. This year, he again had a field-best eight nods going into the night, but had been 0-for-7 until the final Hat was handed out. Earlier in the evening Keith took to the stage and performed with Willie Nelson.

Aside from the Chicks' snub and Keith's early exit, it was otherwise the same-old, same-old. Literally.

Last year's big winner, Alan Jackson, captured another two trophies, Album of the Year and Video of the Year. That brings his career ACM total to 11. Perennial winners Brooks & Dunn were named Best Vocal Duo, extending their record ACM haul to 17. Also repeating from last year: Martina McBride nabbed the Female Vocalist prize

Another big winner was Kenny Chesney, who took home Record of the Year for his tune "The Good Stuff," and Top Male Vocalist. Top New Male and Female Vocalists props went to Joe Nichols and Kellie Coffey, respectively.

With the Dixie Chicks out of favor, Top Vocal Group and Song of the Year went to Rascal Flatts, while the Canadian contingent Emerson Drive was named Top New Duo or Group. This year's Humanitarian Award, voted on by country music fans, was given to Lonestar.

Helmed by Dick Clark and voted on by some 5,000 music-biz types, the ACMs are the only major country honors not handed out in Nashville. Traditionally handed out in Los Angeles, this year's festivities were moved to Sin City's Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (which just happened to win an award for Best Casino) for this year's 38th edition.

Here's a complete rundown of the winners from last night's ACMs.

Entertainer of the Year: Toby Keith Male Vocalist: Kenny Chesney Female Vocalist: Martina McBride Duo: Brooks & Dunn Group: Rascal Flatts New Male Vocalist: Joe Nichols New Female Vocalist: Kellie Coffey New Duo or Group: Emerson Drive Album: Drive, Alan Jackson Single: "The Good Stuff," Kenny Chesney Song: "I'm Movin' On," Rascal Flatts Vocal Event of the Year: "Mendocino Countyline," Willie Nelson with Lee Ann Womack Video: "Drive (For Daddy Jean)," Alan Jackson Radio Station: WIVK, Knoxville, Tennessee Disc Jockey: Tony & Kris, KSON, San Diego Nightclub: Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville, Tennessee Casino: Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas