If my AfterEllen pseudonym doesn’t give it away, I’m a southern girl through and through who’s spent all her life in Carolina and Tennessee. Thus, it is probably no surprise to you that in addition to being a pop culture addict, I am an avid country music fan. So to say my level of anticipation for Sunday night’s Academy of Country Music Awards was high would be an incredible understatement.

The event, held in Las Vegas, was hosted for the tenth time by Reba McEntire.

Though Carrie Underwood opened the show performing her newest single, “Last Name,” her time to shine came later in the show. In a very poignant tribute to the recently passed Eddy Arnold, she and the winner for Video of the Year and Top Male Vocalist, Brad Paisley, sang Arnold’s 1965 hit “Make the World Go Away.” Though the standing ovation that followed was clearly for the fallen legend, I can’t help but wonder if they would have garnered the same reaction regardless. The two of them sounded absolutely fantastic together — and she didn’t look too terrible, either.

Oh, and did I mention that Ms. Underwood also walked away with Top Female Vocalist honors? Yeah, I told you she had a big end to the night.

But this wasn’t just The Carrie Underwood Show. On the contrary, there were actually many surprises on the night, each resulting in a win for the ladies. … continue reading