Taylor Swift Crowned Entertainer Of The Year At ACM Awards

Robbie Daw | April 2, 2012 7:37 am

During last night’s Academy Of Country Music Awards, Taylor Swift beat out all the male nominees — that would be Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley and Blake Shelton — for the Entertainer Of The Year statue. It’s the second consecutive win in that category for Swift, who said the following during her acceptance speech at the Las Vegas event: “My date tonight was supposed to be a high school football player, Kevin McGuire, and he’s not here. But I promised him I’d give him a shout out.” Watch Taylor’s triumphant moment, and view all the ACM 2012 winners, below. Carrie Underwood opens ACMs with “Good Girl”

McGuire is an 18-year-old New Jersey student battling leukemia. In February, he invited Swift to his prom. The “Safe & Sound” songstress was unable to attend, but made up for it by inviting Kevin to be her date to the ACMs at the MGM Grand in Vegas. Unfortunately, the student was hospitalized on Friday.

Taylor Swift wins Entertainer Of The Year

Kevin’s sister Victoria posted the following on Facebook on Saturday:

“I am so sorry to announce this devastating news, but Kevin was admitted to the hospital last night, and is unable to attend the Academy of Country Music Awards with Taylor Swift. As we should all live by the moto ‘live for today’ a cancer patient feels the impact of these words far too hard. We appreciate everything you have done for us, and we know you are all hurt from this too. … As for Taylor, she is just as depressed as all of us to miss out on this date, and we are so thankful for the opportunity she has given us.”

Married couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert have a pair of his and hers trophies to display at home now, as they won Top Male Vocalist and Top Female Vocalist, respectively. Lambert also snagged the Album Of The Year award for Four The Record. Elsewhere, 2011 American Idol winner Scotty McCreery wound up being named Best New Artist.

Meanwhile, despite a loss in the Entertainer Of The Year category, Jason Alden and duet partner Kelly Clarkson scored trophies for Single Record Of The Year and Vocal Event Of The Year for their ballad “Don’t You Wanna Stay”.

On a final note, Kenny Chesney was left singing the blues after the awards shindig. He went into the ACMs with the most nominations (nine), but walked away empty-handed.

2012 ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARD WINNERS

Entertainer Of The Year: Taylor Swift Top Male Vocalist: Blake Shelton Top Female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert Top Vocal Group: Lady Antebellum Top New Artist: Scotty McCreery Album Of The Year: Four The Record, Miranda Lambert Single Record Of The Year: “Don’t You Wanna Stay” — Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson Song Of The Year: “Crazy Girl” — Eli Young Band Video Of The Year: “Red Solo Cup” — Toby Keith Vocal Event Of The Year: “Don’t You Wanna Stay” — Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson