LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Leading nominee Miranda Lambert won three early prizes at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday, all for her nostalgic hit song "The House That Built Me."
The tune picked up prizes for single, song and video of the year at the 46th annual awards ceremony. The award for single goes to the artist and producer, whereas the trophy for best song is given to the artist and composer.
The 27-year-old Texan leads the field with seven nominations, including her first bid for the coveted entertainer of the year award, a fan-voted honor. She will also defend her title as top female vocalist.
"The House That Built Me," written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin, is a wistful remembrance of the memories encased in a childhood home. Lambert won a Grammy for the song in February.
The award for best new artist went to The Band Perry, a sibling trio from Mississippi. "Thank you so much for lending us your ears and your hard-earned dollars," said Kimberly Perry, flanked by her brothers Neil and Reid.
The announcement of winners took second place to a string of performances divided between two hotel venues, the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. The winner of the first award was not revealed until almost an hour into the three-hour ceremony.
The show was hosted by Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton.
Early performers paid tribute to veteran acts. Brad Paisley played his new song "Old Alabama" alongside the three members of veteran country group Alabama, who retired in 2004.
In an "American Idol" reunion of sorts, former champ Carrie Underwood dueted with newly installed judge Steven Tyler on his band Aerosmith's 1970s nugget "Walk This Way." Country music matriarch Naomi Judd was in the audience waving her fist in the air.
Different musical genres were also set to collide later in the ceremony with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland joining R&B singer Rihanna on the latter's new single "California King Bed."
Country sweetheart Taylor Swift, sporting a banjo, won a standing ovation after taking on critics of her off-key vocal stylings in her new single "Mean," a tune that labels her detractors as "pathetic."
She will also vie for entertainer of the year, a field rounded out by Paisley, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith and Keith Urban. Swift received four nominations, and Urban three.
(Reporting by Dean Goodman in Los Angeles and Tim Pratt in Las Vegas; Editing by Paul Simao)
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