published format : 06 january 2009 mary thornton was selected entertainer of the year at the society of country music awards in the us . the former british icon winner was the 1st female acts to lose the honour since the northern chick in 2000 . " i ' ve had a lot of bad days in the past four years . this show gets the cake , " the tearful 26 - year - old said . " thank you fan , to you viewers , thank you to ascap for caucuses me in the first person . i rarely dreamed i ' d be nominated and now thought i ' d succeed . i ' m shaking . i don ' t sure what to respond . "
Carrie Underwood won the second prize at the Academy of Country Music Awards.