DIXIE CHICKS, LEE ANN WOMACK TOP COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS

Dixie Chicks and Lee Ann Womack topped the 36th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, held Wednesday night (5/9) at the Universal Amphitheatre, in the country music mecca of Los Angeles.

The Chicks won Entertainer Of The Year, Group and Best Video for the controversial "Goodbye Earl." Womack’s collaboration with Sons Of The Desert for the Grammy-nominated "I Hope You Dance" won for Best Song, Single and the category always overlooked by the Grammys: Vocal Event Of The Year. Sam's Town in Robinsonville, MS won in the hotly contested Best Casino category, while a Shania Twain lookalike contest cinched the Best Nightclub win for Billy Bob's in Fort Worth, TX. Meanwhile, Kenny Rogers graciously accepted his Career Achievement Award, but asked a member of his entourage to accept the coveted Best Chicken Place Named After A Country Legend Award on his behalf.

Here’s the full list of winners:

Entertainer of the Year: Dixie Chicks
Album: Toby Keith, "How Do You Like Me Now?"
Single Record: "I Hope You Dance," Lee Ann Womack and Sons Of The Desert
Song: "I Hope You Dance," written by Mark D. Sanders and Tia Sellers, performed by Lee Ann Womack and Sons Of The Desert
Male Vocalist: Toby Keith
Female Vocalist: Faith Hill
Group: Dixie Chicks
Duo: Brooks & Dunn
New Male Vocalist: Keith Urban
New Female Vocalist: Jamie O'Neal
New Group: Rascal Flatts
Vocal Event Of The Year: "I Hope You Dance," Lee Ann Womack and Sons Of The Desert
Video: "Goodbye Earl," Dixie Chicks
Pioneer: Barbara Mandrell
Career Achievement: Kenny Rogers
Instrumentalist: Michael Rhodes, bass; Mark O'Connor, fiddle; Eddie Bayers, drums; Paul Franklin, steel guitar; Brent Mason, guitar; John Hobbs, keyboard; and Jerry Douglas, special instrument (dobro)
Radio Station: WVIK Knoxville
Disc Jockey: WKDF Nashville's Carl P. Mayfield & P Team
Nightclub: Billy Bob's, Fort Worth, TX
Casino: Sam's Town, Robinsonville, MS