The 49th annual Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards show took place on Sunday, April 6, 2014. As always, the ACM Awards were full of energy thanks to lively hosts Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan and amazing live performances by artists like The Band Perry and Miranda Lambert. Of course, the night pitted the biggest names in country music against each other, and the stakes were high for many when the winners were announced.

It is time for this Clarion writer and country music fan to reflect on his predictions for the big night made the Clarion article “2014 Academy of Country Music Awards Predictions.”

The most coveted award that headlines the show, Entertainer of the Year, went to King of Country, George Strait. Although I predicted Luke Bryan as the winner, Strait proved that history and fan loyalty make a winning combination.

Repeat nominees  Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert won the other big awards of the night, Male and Female Vocalist of the Year. During his award speech, Aldean is quoted saying, “It shocked me last year to win this. Winning two years in a row just leaves me speechless.” Lambert, who has won Female Vocalist of the Year five years running, made sure to thank her loyal fans and record label for the honor. It is clear that history likes to repeat itself, and Aldean and Lambert have some true fans, as my prediction of Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood taking home these awards was a flop.

However, I proved to know my country music when it came to the Vocal Duo of the Year award. Florida Georgia Line, who was my pick for the win, took home the award, thanking their fans and God for believing in them. They also put on a fantastic performance of their hit “Stay” during the awards show.

Unfortunately, you can’t win them all, and my prediction for Vocal Group of the Year, Zac Brown Band, fell short this award season, and the award went to The Band Perry. During their acceptance speech, they called this award their “mountaintop moment.”

I also struck out with my prediction of Brett Eldredge winning for New Artist of the Year. Justin Moore, who became choked up when accepting his trophy, took home the ACM Award, saying, “Thank you to you fans and everyone for believing me and thank you to my beautiful wife.”

Kacey Musgrave took home Album of the Year award for Same Trailer Different Park, leaving my prediction of Tim McGraw winning for Two Lanes of Freedom in the dust. Miranda Lambert once again took the stage to accept the award for Single Record of the Year for “Mama’s Broken Heart,” leaving my prediction of Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift single “Highway Don’t Care” broken hearted. However, Lambert didn’t leave her fans heart broken. After she won this award, she then went on to perform her hit song “Automatic.”

The last of my predications for the Song of the Year award proves I know what country fans like – trucks. Although my pick of the song “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker didn’t go home with the award, “I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice did. Brice, who performed earlier in the night, simply said when accepting his award, “This comes from the writers not me, congratulate them.”

This year’s ACM Awards seemed to be one of the most rowdy and entertaining in recent years. The performances were over-the-top and the competition was fierce. Although I may not have aced my predictions or even passed the test for that matter, I did have one prediction 100 percent correct: The 2014 ACM Awards was another unbelievable night for country music.