Dixie Chicks, Womack honored at country awards

The Dixie Chicks won three awards at the Academy of Country Music Awards, including entertainer of the year

LOS ANGELES, California -- The Dixie Chicks and Lee Ann Womack topped the list of honorees at the 36th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, each taking home three trophies.

The Chicks won entertainer of the year, vocal group and video, the latter for "Goodbye Earl," the group's bouncy tune about an abusive husband and the wife who gets even. Womack was honored for "I Hope You Dance," her hit celebrating hope and triumph, which picked up awards for vocal event, single record, and song. The latter category also honored songwriters Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sillers, to whom Womack paid tribute.

	WINNERS
Winners at the Academy of Country Music Awards

"With a stroke of the pen, they have changed my life forever," Womack said to reporters backstage.

Also picking up multiple awards was Toby Keith, who won for male vocalist and his album, "How Do You Like Me Now?!"

Still, the singer was disappointed that he didn't win the prizes for single and song for the album's title track, a popular radio hit.

"For it not to get its deserved credit ... that breaks my heart," he told reporters.

Country Down Under

The awards for both male and female newcomers went to natives of the Southern Hemisphere -- New Zealand native Keith Urban and Australian Jamie O'Neal.

"I think it just means that country is a global phenomenon," said Urban, who won over Billy Gilman. He discovered country music, he said, by listening to his parents' record collection.

O'Neal, who was raised in the United States, went to No. 1 with her debut single, "There Is No Arizona." She told reporters she hopes it isn't the last they'll hear of her.

Other notable awards went to Faith Hill, who picked up her third straight female vocalist nod; Brooks & Dunn, who won for duo; and Rascal Flatts, which won for new vocal duo or group.

Awards for two legends

Two notables from country music's past also picked up honors: Kenny Rogers and Barbara Mandrell.

Kenny Rogers picked up the Career Achievement Award

Rogers won the previously announced Career Achievement Award, which commends an artist for making a significant return to the music stage. Though the singer had some of his biggest hits in the '70s and '80s -- including "The Gambler," "Coward of the County," "Lady," and "Islands in the Stream" -- he recently topped the charts again with "Buy Me a Rose."

The 62-year-old is only the fourth person to be honored with the career award, after Johnny Paycheck, Carl Perkins and John Anderson.

"Kenny has been one of the most consistent and resilient voices in country music for the past quarter century," said Fran Boyd, the Hollywood academy's executive director, announcing the honor last month. "His list of achievements in the industry are overwhelming and we are pleased to present him this much-deserved Career Achievement Award."

Barbara Mandrell, another star of the '70s and '80s, was given the Pioneer Award for lifetime achievement. The honor caught her off guard -- she thought she had been invited to the event to present an award to producer Dick Clark.

She had words of encouragement to newcomers while talking with reporters later.

"Yes, you'll become discouraged, but don't you dare give up. ... If somebody is negative around you, get away. Be positive."

Comeback award for Kenny Rogers planned
April 25, 2001

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