Luke Bryan wins ACM Entertainer of Year, Cole Swindell top New Artist | PHOTO GALLERY

ARLINGTON, Texas — Southwest Georgia had impressive representation at the 50th annual Academy of Country Music Awards, with Leesburg native Luke Bryan claiming the top prize, Entertainer of the Year, and Cole Swindell of Bronwood winning New Artist of the Year.

Bryan, also the reigning Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year, not only snared the top ACM Award, one that is determined by votes from country music fans, he hauled in a pass from Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo earlier in the program after donning his “sticky gloves.”

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The show was broadcast live from AT&T Stadium, with Bryan and co-host Blake Shelton noting the event, held in front of a packed audience in the home of the Cowboys, had made the Guinness Book of World Records and history. “Tonight,” Bryan said, “We are the most attended live awards show of all time.” The crowd was reported to be more than 70,000.

In winning Entertainer of the Year, Bryan was selected over Male Vocalist of the Year Jason Aldean (Bryan was a nominee in that category, too), Garth Brooks, Female Vocalist of the Year Miranda Lambert, and Vocal Duo of the Year Florida Georgia Line.

Lambert had another big night, also garnering Album of the Year for “Platinum” and Song of the Year for “Automatic.” Bryan was nominated in the latter category for “Drink a Beer.”

Swindell, who was wearing his signature baseball cap, competed with Sam Hunt and Thomas Rett for the New Artist of the Year title, an ACM Award Bryan won in 2010. Swindell took to the stage Sunday night to perform “Ain’t Worth the Whiskey,” and Rett performed “Make Me Wanna.”

Other winners were Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town, and Lee Brice, who claimed Single Record of the Year for “I Don’t Dance.”

Four-time ACM Entertainer of the Year George Strait performed one of his best-known works, “All My Exes Live in Texas” before debuting his new single, “Let It Go.” Shelton and Bryan presented him with the Academy’s Milestone Award early in the 3 1/3-hour broadcast.

“You have earned this award,” Bryan said as he handed the award to Strait. “It is an honor to give ot to you. You have earned it, Mr. George.”

Veteran country singer Reba McEntire also received one of the 50th anniversary Milestone awards, being honored as the most awarded ACM female vocalist of the year. Kelly Clarkson then introduced her to the stage to perform “Going Out Like That.”

The audience really hyped up, however when one of country’s biggest stars at the moment, Aldean, took the stage for a four-song medley, starting with “Tonight Looks Good on Your” and going into a mix-up of “My Kinda Party,” “Hicktown” and “She’s Country.”

Not to be outdone by his co-host Bryan, Shelton took the stage to perform his hit “Sangria” while wife Lambert danced in the audience. Christina Aguilera made her first appearance at the show to join Rascal Flatts in singing “Riot.”

Brooks, who also won a Milestone award at the show, was armed with a red, white and blue guitar as he performed “All-American Kid.” Soldiers walked down the aisles and stood on stage during the performance, earning a standing ovation from the audience.

In an emotional moment of the night, Taylor Swift’s mother, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, presented the songstress with one of the Milestone awards. Swift took the opportunity to thank the country community for their support after she announced her first official pop album, the chart-topping “1989.”

“To the country music community, when I told you that I had made a pop album and that I wanted to go explore other genres, you showed me who you are with the grace that you accepted that with,” she said. “I will never forget it.”

Kenny Chesney performed his hits “Young” and “Wild Child” before accepting his milestone award, presented by Church, who told him, “Thank you for loving music and loving life and for giving all of us up here a great life.”

Vocal group of the year nominee Lady Antebellum perked up the audience with their set, performing “Long Stretch of Love,” before the show took a turn for the pop. Nick Jonas appeared on stage to sing his hits “Jealous” and “Chains” with vocal duo of the year nominee Dan + Shay.

Alan Jackson brought it back to another emotional note, singing “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” on the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. He also performed the song at the 2001 awards, after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Reuters News Service contributed to this report.