Carrie Underwood certainly is country music's darling. And fans who voted for the American Country Awards made sure that the former American Idol took home the night's biggest prize, Artist of the Year, at the first-ever ACAs on Monday night.
Underwood also won Album of the Year for Play On and Tour of the Year.
"We have had the most amazing year out on the road but we wouldn't be doing anything if there weren't people out there sitting in that audience," Underwood said when she accepted her award. "So to everybody that came out to see us [or] anybody else out here, you guys are awesome for supporting us like you do. God bless the fans."
Lady Antebellum took home four prizes at the show, which took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, including Single of the Year for their crossover smash "Need You Now," and Artist of the Year, Duo or Group. Other winners included Brad Paisley, who was voted Male Artist of the Year, as well host Trace Adkins and Blake Shelton, who won Music Video of the Year.
While the night was full of performances from stars like Rascal Flatts, Alan Jackson, Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, and Toby Keith, Keith Urban, Reba McEntire, Josh Turner, and the Band Perry, it was Trace Adkins' Lady Gaga meat dress joke that kicked off the night.
Wearing meat chaps in a pre-taped sketch, the night's host joked, "It's a live show. What are they going to do? They can't fire me right in the middle of it, right?"