Exclusive! Backstage at the ACM Awards

See your favorite country stars (Kellie! Carrie!) smile for the PEOPLE camera at the 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards

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BRAD PAISLEY

To win the male vocalist award a second year in a row was validating, the singer said. "All of us as artists are a bit insecure," he admitted, "and you wonder if you’d stand up to the competition when they look back."