Brooks & Dunn, Jackson top ACM Awards

LOS ANGELES, May 23 (UPI) -- Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson each took home three Academy of Country Music awards but it was an extra special night for Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn -- who surpassed the legendary Merle Haggard with a record 16 ACM awards.

The duo won Wednesday night for entertainer of the year, top vocal duo and best video, "Only in America."

"Playing for y'all is reward enough, but this is incredible," said Brooks during an acceptance speech. Speaking with reporters backstage, he said it was "sacrilegious to even compare what we do with Merle Haggard."

Haggard has 15 ACM awards.

Jackson won male vocalist, and single and song of the year for his post-Sept. 11 song, "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)."

He dedicated those awards to victims of the terrorist attacks and their families.

"I don't feel like I can accept the award for this song without sharing it and dedicating it to the thousands of people -- men, women and children -- who died and suffered and are still suffering all because of that cowardly and heartless attack on America and mankind," Jackson said.

Martina McBride won for top female vocalist, and dedicated her award to the host of the 37th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, Reba McEntire. McBride said McEntire "set the standard for all of females in country music."

The soundtrack from the Coen Brothers film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" won album of the year honors. The bluegrass album also won a Grammy earlier this year.

Lonestar was named group of the year. Phil Vassar and Carolyn Dawn Johnson won for new male vocalist and new female vocalist. Trick Pony won for new duo or group.

The soundtrack from "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" added two more items to its trophy case, winning for album of the year and vocal event of the year, for "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" by the Soggy Bottom Boys.

KPLX in Dallas was named radio station of the year, and Stu Evans of KMLE, Phoenix was named disc jockey of the year.

The featured a tribute to Waylon Jennings, who died in February.

Other highlights included the presentation of the ACM Pioneer Award to Ronnie Milsap and the first-ever Home Depot Humanitarian Award to McEntire.