Marti Seidel of the Dixie Chicks

"I want to thank country radio. Thank you, thank you, thank you for playing that song so many times," she said.

Nominees and winners are selected by nearly 3,000 voting members of the academy.

Toby Keith won two awards, including album of the year for How Do You Like Me Now?! He also won for best male vocalist.

Academy favourite Faith Hill won for female vocalist, her seventh win. As she accepted her award, she said: "Thank you, God, for putting music in all our hearts."

Rimes retaliates

Singer LeAnn Rimes, who has already notched up two Grammys, three Academy of Country Music awards and four Billboard Music gongs, hosted the show which was broadcast from the Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California.

Rimes, 18, is currently involved in legal wrangles with her father and record company over a contract she signed as a child.

LeAnn Rimes makes light of recent troubles

But she made light of her recent legal problems and salacious tabloid stories with a light-hearted reworking of Kenny Rogers' sorrowful song of lost love, Lucille, with different lyrics.

Rogers himself was presented with the Career Achievement Award, which is specially reserved for artists who have made a comeback after losing popularity with country music aficionados.

The award has been presented only three times in the history of the show.

Rogers' comeback was heralded with the 22nd No. 1 single of his career, Buy Me a Rose.