Chris Stapleton, Luke Bryan, Lambert set for ACM Awards

At the Academy of Country Music Awards, Eric Church paid tribute to rock icons like David Bowie, The Eagles’ Glenn Frey and other late stars during his performance. Stapleton took home six awards, including album, song, male vocalist and new male vocalist of the year (he won twice for album and song of the year as the artist and songwriter-producer).

Florida Georgia Line won the Vocal Duo of the Year while Little Big Town won Vocal Group of the Year.

The critical recognition led to a surge of interest in “Traveller”, which soared to the top of the mainstream USA album chart and was also nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammys, the most prestigious U.S. music industry prize.

Kiefer Sutherland, who is working on a country album, presented female vocalist of the year.

Kelsea Ballerini arrives at the 51st annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 3, 2016, in Las Vegas. Parton wore a 2016 sparkly version of the famous coat she said “represents a very special time in my life” and was part of last year’s NBC TV-movie about her childhood, “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors”.

Little Big Town’s Karen Fairchild was also spotted on the red carpet wearing a pair of must-have Dior thigh-high patent boots, and Miranda Lambert wowed in a pair of hot pink heels called “Come and Take It” by Texas-based designer Joyce Echols. That was the most country moment in a night filled largely with male performers – a reflection of current country radio playlists from which women have been shrinking in recent years, leading many female artists to charge programmers with sexism.

Kimberly Schlapman of Little Big Town later pretty much played right into the theme of the night when she and her “Girl Crush” cohorts took the stage to accept vocal group honors.

Oh well – if you were curious what you would get if your phone auto corrected your Internet search to “Sam Hunt pianist”, this is it! Ha!

Stapleton later performed “Fire Away” with wife Morgane. Because that category was one of the few Chris didn’t win last night.

For entertainer of the year, reigning champ Bryan will battle Garth Brooks, Aldean, Church and Lambert. It was Aldean’s first Entertainer of the Year win, and he thanked his wife, Brittany Kerr, who looked teary as she watched from the audience.