Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes rule country awards

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. Brooks & Dunn were named entertainers ofthe year at the 32nd Academy of Country Music Awards on Wednesday,while teen sensation LeAnn Rimes was crowned country's best newsinger.

"There's a God, and country music is very much alive and well inAmerica," Ronnie Dunn said after he and Kix Brooks accepted theprize. They also won the prize for top duet.

But the night belonged to the 14-year-old Rimes. She wontrophies for new female singer, top single and best song for heryodeling rendition of "Blue.""I could really get used to this," Rymes said. "This isn't toobad."George Strait, a Texan who made a rare appearance without histrademark cowboy hat, won two trophies: top male singer and bestalbum for "Blue Clear Sky.""I knew that hat was bad luck," Strait said.Patty Loveless won her second consecutive female singer award."I truly didn't expect this to happen again, but I'm glad itdid," the Kentucky-born songstress said. Loveless said she felt sureRimes "was going to take it this year. I'm shocked."Ricochet, known for the hits "Daddy's Money" and "The Truth Is ILied," was the new group winner, and the dance band Sawyer Brown gotthe best group trophy.Trace Atkins was named best new male vocalist and Collin Rayegot the top video trophy for "I Think About You."Garth Brooks provided the Universal Amphitheatre's rousingopening with a laser-framed rendition of his rock-tinged party hit"Fever," including a fiddle solo by Charlie Daniels.Roy Clark was presented the academy's Pioneer Award inrecognition of outstanding and unprecedented achievements in thefield country music.Instrumental winners were Glenn Worf, bass; Eddie Bayers, drums;Stuart Duncan, fiddle; Brent Mason, guitar; Matt Rollings, keyboard;Terry McMillan, specialty instrument (harmonica, percussion, cowbells), and Paul Franklin, steel guitar.