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Miranda Lambert wins four ACM awards; Luke Bryan named Entertainer of the Year

Thousands of fans enjoy the ACM Expo, Party for a Cause and Fremont Street Experience concerts

by Jason Rzucidlo

americajr@americajr.com

WATCH: Interviews with Country Music Fans along the Red Carpet at the ACM Awards

WATCH: Country Music Fans Pick the Winners of the ACM Awards in Las Vegas, NV

LAS VEGAS -- Luke Bryan took home the top prize--the Entertainer of the Year trophy--at the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards on Sunday, April 7. A new record of 1.1 million fans cast their vote for that award and the New Artist of the Year award. Meanwhile, Miranda Lambert was the most-awarded artist of the year as she took home four trophies. She won in the categories of Female Vocalist, Single Record and Song of the Year (as an artist and composer). Florida Georgia Line won the New Artist of the Year award as well as the New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year trophy. (Click here to view the complete list of ACM winners).

Fans started showing up along the red carpet as early as 4 a.m. to stake out their ideal spot for a chance to meet country music's biggest stars and get their autographs. Some of them were even lucky enough to get free tickets to attend the awards telecast. It was broadcast live on CBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Lori Skosich from Pontiac, Mich. and Frank Magiera from Eastpointe, Mich. both correctly guessed that Bryan would win the Entertainer of the Year award.

"This is my second year here," Skosich said. "I've been doing a lot of ACM stuff, pounding the strip, buffet of buffets. I plan on coming next year. We always say every year we're going to pack lighter, get up earlier and we don't do it, but it is what it is. We ended up getting tickets to the awards show."

Camie and Tonya Jennette from Laurel, Del. both correctly predicted that Little Big Town would take home the Vocal Group of the Year trophy.

"It is my first time here," said Tonya Jennette. We've been doing the casinos, we did Fremont Street last night and saw the free country concerts. We did them Friday and Saturday night and then we came here Sunday. It was packed, but we got through to VIP so we got right up on the stage. We're definitely coming back next year. We were just talking about it. They started lining up at 4 o'clock this morning so we're going to be here at 3 [a.m.] next year. We want signatures, we want autographs. We brought a hat and a t-shirt, but we didn't get them. This is the closest we can get, but we're satisfied."

Karen Wells from Las Vegas correctly guessed that Florida Georgia Line would win the New Artist of the Year award.

"This is my first time here and I'm ecstatic," Wells said. "I even got tickets to go in and I'm so excited. I've been working a lot and seeing different things that I didn't see when I used to vacation here. I love it here. It's a lot of fun things to do. Next year, I will get here earlier so I can get way up front. Everything comes as it comes and excitement comes everyday."

Michelle Chapple from Rigby, Idaho, correctly predicted that Little Big Town would take home the Vocal Group of the Year trophy.

"It is our first time and we haven't gotten tickets," she said. "If you have any free ones, we'll take them. We've just been hanging out trying to see celebs. We went to see Shania last night, which was awesome. It was a lot of fun. I will definitely come earlier next year and maybe stalk out a few more celebrities and get autographs."

Kay Wilson from Sauble Beach, Ont. and Pat Polzin from Pembine, Wis. both correctly guessed that Thompson Square would win the Vocal Duo of the Year trophy.

"This is my second time here," Wilson said. "I've been gambling, laying in the sun, shopping. Next year, I would get here a little earlier so we could get closer to the gate. I understand they handed out free tickets so if we got here early, maybe we could have gotten tickets. We're hoping to come next year, good lord willing, I'll be here."

Hundreds of fans attended the first-ever ACM Party for a Cause festival in the parking lot of The Orleans Hotel and Casino. Greg Bates, Cassadee Pope, Florida Georgia Line, Justin Moore, Brantley Gilbert and The Band Perry entertained audiences on Friday. Saturday saw performances by Dustin Lynch, Love and Theft, Kix Brooks, Lee Brice, Hunter Hayes, Eli Young Band and Dierks Bentley. Proceeds from ticket sales benefited Outnumber Hunger, the Folds of Honor Foundation, The Wounded Warrior Project and Nellis Air Force Base's Force Support Squadron.

Free concerts at the Fremont Street Experience were another highlight of the ACM weekend on Friday and Saturday. Fans we packed like sardines in front of the two stages on First Street and Third Street, which included performances by Sunny Sweeney, Joe Nichols, Kip Moore, Gary Allan, Chris Janson, Randy Houser, Jana Kramer and Jake Owen. In addition, fans were able to enjoy free concerts by some of country music's newcomers at the free ACM Expo in the parking lot of The Orleans on Friday and Saturday afternoon.

Sunday's ACM Awards telecast featured its biggest TV audience since 1998. Since the stars were already in Vegas, a concert special titled "ACM Presents: Tim McGraw's Superstar Summer Night" was taped on Monday, April 15. It featured performances by Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Taylor Swift, Ne-Yo and many others. Look for it to air on CBS on Sunday, May 19.