ACM Awards: Kenny Chesney Earns Three-Peat as Entertainer of the Year

For the third consecutive year Kenny Chesney picked up the hardware for Entertainer of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

Chesney was humbled by the award but even more so by a pair of fellow musicians as he took the time to pay tribute to Keith Whitley and George Strait. During his acceptance speech Chesney noted “When I first started playing music, I was in college and I would go rent all my equipment and put it in the back of a pickup truck. The only thing I wanted to do was cut a record as good as Keith Whitley did, and I listened to that music over and over again.”

Nominees for the Entertainer of the Year included Brooks & Dunn, Tim McGraw, Rascal Flatts and George Strait.

The ACM has a history of favoring Chesney when it comes time for awards night. In 1997 he was presented with the New Male Vocalist of the Year and in 2002 he was named Top Male Vocalist of the Year.

A list of other winners from the 42 Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

Entertainer: Kenny Chesney.

Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley.

Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood.

Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts.

Vocal Duo: Brooks & Dunn.

New Male Vocalist: Rodney Atkins.

New Female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert.

New Duo or Vocal Group: Little Big Town.

Album: “Some Hearts,” Carrie Underwood.

Single record: “Give It Away,” George Strait.

Song of the Year: “Give It Away,” George Strait.