Chesney, Brooks & Dunn Win at ACM Awards

By Stephen M. Silverman

05/24/2006 at 08:00 AM EDT

Kenny Chesney was named entertainer of the year at the 41st annual Academy of Country Music Awards for the second year running on Tuesday, while Brooks & Dunn set an ACM record by picking up their 20th and 21st trophies.

During the three-hour ceremony at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Keith Urban and Sara Evans nabbed the top male and female vocalist honors.

Urban – who did not thank fiancée Nicole Kidman during his acceptance speech – won the same award last year.

Last year's American Idol champ, Carrie Underwood, was named top new female vocalist and won single of the year honor for "Jesus Take the Wheel."

"I wouldn't be here if God hadn't opened all the doors to me," she said.

Host Reba McEntire took a dig at the Dixie Chicks, whose singer, Natalie Maines, recently told Time magazine, "I don't feel (President Bush) is owed any respect whatsoever."

"I don't know why I was so nervous about hosting this show this year," McEntire said. "If the Dixie Chicks can sing with their foot in their mouths, surely I can host this sucker." Her comments earned her enthusiastic applause from the audience.