Patriotic tributes and flag-waving dominated one of country music's biggest awards ceremonies of the year in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Veteran singer Alan Jackson and duo Brooks and Dunn were the big winners at the annual Academy of Country Music Awards, with three prizes each.

Alan Jackson was named best male vocalist

Songs about the United States and 11 September did well, and their performances at the ceremony were met by a sea of small stars and stripes flags in the 6,200-strong crowd.

Patriotism is "the hip new thing" according to Ronnie Dunn, one half of Brooks and Dunn, who won the best country video prize for Only In America.

Its lyrics sing the praises of a nation "where we all get a chance, everybody gets to dance".

They also won one of the top awards, for entertainer of the year, for the third time in their careers, and were named best vocal duo for the second year in a row.

Jackson's Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning), written after 11 September, was named song of the year and single of the year.

Hank Williams Jr performed a tribute to the late Waylon Jennings

He dedicated his first award to the people who "died and suffered and are still suffering all because of that cowardly and heartless attack on America and mankind".

He was also given the award for best male vocalist.

The best female vocalist prize was given to Martina McBride, while Lonestar were named best group.

The soundtrack to film O Brother Where Art Thou? continued its surprise success, being given the album of the year prize.

Its most famous song, I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow, by the Soggy Bottom Boys - the group George Clooney was in in the film - was given the award for vocal event of the year.

The soundtrack had won four Grammy Awards in February.

The ceremony also saw Hank Williams Jr perform a duet with hip-hop rocker Kid Rock, while performers also paid tribute to the singer Waylon Jennings, who died in February.