Awards crown Luke Bryan king of country music
Luke Bryan is aww-shucks incarnate, country music’s resident good guy, a Ken doll with a record deal.
Dads want him to marry their daughters; moms just want him, period.
And now Nashville’s Prince Charming has been crowned king.
At the American Country Music Awards on Monday at the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Bryan didn’t just open the show; it was his show, as he led all artists with seven nominations.
"Give it up for country’s newest superstar," the event’s announcer boomed by way of introducing the genial singer, who got things started with a performance of his hit "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye," a mild come-on flecked by touches of lap steel guitar.
Bryan sang the tune with a smile.
It most likely lasted the rest of the night, as Bryan was later named artist of the year – the evening’s top award – while also winning for male artist of the year, album of the year, single of the year, single of the year by a male artist and music video of the year by a male artist.
Other big winners were Lady Antebellum (group of the year), Jason Aldean (touring artist of the year), Miranda Lambert (single of the year by a female artist) and Carrie Underwood (female artist of the year).
A positively giddy Lauren Alaina was named best new artist.
"When they said my name, I stopped breathing," she gushed afterward in the pressroom, noting that she didn’t even remember walking on stage to accept her award. "It’s like somebody hit me in the head with a baseball bat."
Still, Alaina was eager to savor the moment.
"I can’t wait to get on Twitter tonight," she beamed. "I’m 18; it’s what we do."
All the winners were selected by the public, who voted online in the days before the event. This is what producers focus on to distinguish their event from other country awards shows.
And it was a fan-friendly event, with a standing crowd consisting largely of women singing along at the edge of the stage when artists performed.
The awards pointedly lack the pomp and pageantry of other shows of this nature, with winners receiving a guitar instead of a traditional trophy upon accepting their awards (only a handful were even presented) and co-hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth leaving no size joke unspoken (he’s really tall; she’s really short; hilarity ensues).
The night’s leading man, Bryan, may be country’s wholesome male ideal, but rowdy types were represented here as well, like Dierks Bentley, who performed "Cold Cans and Country" (hint: the cans aren’t filled with Pepsi), a song about getting buzzed and listening to Merle Haggard.
Country’s venerated old guard frequently gets name-checked in contemporary artists’ songs, but times have clearly changed.
"I remember when country music was George Jones and Dolly Parton," comedian Ron White reminisced, flanked by his mother, as they presented the breakthrough artist of the year award, which went to Jake Owen.
"Yeah," mama sighed. "Now it’s the cast of ‘Glee’ with cowboy hats."
Maybe so, but the older dudes had their moments as well, like when Adkins took the stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd, jamming on the band’s "What’s Your Name," the most notable aspect of the performance being the stone-faced Adkins actually smiling, an act that occurs with the frequency of a Halley’s Comet sighting.
Just as hard-edged was Aldean’s forceful rendition of "The Only Thing I Know," a song about growing up in a small town. "You don’t get nothing that you don’t earn," he sang. "Humble pride that I grew up on / You find out just how bad you want it."
His message was a pointed one on this night. Country may have gone Hollywood, but it hasn’t gone soft.
Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.
