Country Music's Big Night Follow Up!

Brad Paisley had the world at his feet and he gave it a good kick. Opening the 41st Academy of Country Music Awards with his hit "The World," Paisley sent a few inflatable globes flying from the MGM Grand Arena stage, grinning like a kid past curfew.

It was a moment that encapsulated the evening, with Paisley roaring through a tune about making someone small feel big. That's what this show was all about as well: taking something with humble origins and making it larger than life.
 
In a way, ritzy, glitzy awards shows like this are counterintuitive to a genre like country, which has long prided itself on its down-to-earth appeal.

"I like country music because it's little music," "Late Late Show" host Craig Ferguson said backstage after presenting the award for top male vocalist. "There's no allegory ... If someone sings 'I am the walrus,' they're really a walrus."

But while country music may have been born in denim, it was sporting plenty of gold lame on this night.

And you knew that Nashville had really met Las Vegas when the showgirls starting grinding into Trace Adkins' hips, clinging to the towering crooner like he was protecting them from some imminent danger as he rumbled through his heavy-breathing hit "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk."

"This is a good job," Adkins leered midway through the tune.

Adkins wasn't the only performer who added a little extra juice to his tunes. Toby Keith performed "A Little Too Late" backed by a full orchestra; Brooks and Dunn enlisted a gospel choir for their rendition of the smash "Believe"; Rascal Flatts played outside the MGM Grand near the street, dry ice pouring up through a small stage before rushing back into the venue, where the band performed a duet with Kelly Clarkson on "What Hurts the Most."

Host Reba McEntire attempted to maintain the loose mood. "This next artist has a new album called 'White Trash With Money' and it's not Anna Nicole Smith," McEntire quipped while introducing Keith.

Of course, the evening had its share of straight-faced moments.

Big & Rich played a stirring version of the soldier's lament "8th Of November" as war veterans took to the stage, some of them in wheelchairs. Montgomery Gentry performed "Something To Be Proud Of" with images of combat helicopters projected behind them.

Later, the mood was leavened by some sharp performances by new faces. Little Big Town recalled the Mamas and the Papas with their gleaming, four-part harmonies; Sugarland tore through their hit "Down in Mississippi" with frontlady Jennifer Nettles shaking her fists and her blonde hair, stomping on the stage like she was trying to put out a fire.

Sugarland was one of the surprise winners of the evening, upsetting Big & Rich to take home the trophy for top new duo or group. Other big winners: Carrie Underwood won for top new female vocalist and single record the year; Jason Aldean earned the top new male vocalist trophy; Keith Urban was saluted as top male vocalist; Sara Evans was named best female vocalist; Rascal Flatts was honored as the top vocal group; Brooks and Dunn won for top vocal duo and song of the year; Paisley took home awards for album of the year, vocal event of the year and video of the year, while Kenny Chesney earned top honors as entertainer of the year for the second year in a row.

The highlight of the evening came with a star-studded tribute to deceased great Buck Owens. Dwight Yoakam wrapped his hound dog vocals around Owens' dusty tunes, backed by Paisley, ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons, former Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker, Byrds bassist/guitarist Chris Hillman, original Buck Owens band member Tom Brumley and Owens' son Buddy Alan.

"It's crying time again," Gibbons sang in his wheezy rasp, mining all the working-class pathos inherent in Owens' simple, yet resonant repertoire.

It brought the evening full circle, dispensing with all the glamour in favor of blue-collar grit.

Finally, a moment that shined just as brightly as all those glittery dresses.