Altho I’m not a Country Music fan by any means, the 2009 Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV last night attracted their fair share of non-Country Music folks to get my attention … and also clued me into the fact that the amazing Carrie Underwood (my Oklahoma homegirl) had herself a pretty spectacular night at this year’s ACMs (as did Taylor Swift, whose talent also impresses me). Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals last night (you will note that LeAnn Rimes showed up all by herself as her hubby was nowhere to be seen … Miley Cyrus was also flying solo, leaving manfriend Justin Gaston at home) along with a couple photos of Carrie and Taylor proudly hoisting up their two ACM awards in the press room last night:

The 44th Academy of Country Music Awards swung political, personal, playful and patriotic on Sunday and ultimately opted for popular in bestowing its top honor on “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood, naming her entertainer of the year over veteran male performers George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Keith Urban. “I’ve had a lot of good moments in the past four years,” the Oklahoma-born Underwood said at the climax of the three-hour event at the MGM Grand Arena, “but this one takes the cake.” The award was determined for the second year by popular vote during the show at CBS.com instead of being determined as it had been in past years by the performer who sold the most concert tickets during the previous 12 months, which would have given a fifth title to Chesney. But the ACM, in striving to boost ratings and make the event more interactive for fans, opened the voting for entertainer and new artist to the public. That helped TV-friendly faces such as Underwood and former “Dancing With the Stars”-turned-country singer Julianne Hough, who took home the new artist trophy. It was a big night as well for Internet-savvy teen phenom Taylor Swift, who sold more albums in 2008 than any other artist in any genre, passing 5 million. Her overwhelming success contributed to her sophomore album, “Fearless,” which has topped 3 million since its release in November, being named album of the year. The giddy singer and songwriter from Pennsylvania clapped her hands over her mouth and danced in her signature cowgirl boots upon learning she’d been chosen by the academy’s 4,000 voting members over Strait, Underwood, duo Montgomery Gentry and newcomer Jamey Johnson … The CBS telecast also looked to give more fans … to latch on to with a performance by Miley Cyrus, timed to plug the new “Hannah Montana” movie, even though the daughter of country singer and actor Billy Ray Cyrus wasn’t nominated for any awards. Tough economic times coupled with strong sentiment over the war in Iraq figured into two of the night’s most powerful musical performances. John Rich, half of the duo Big & Rich, sang a solo version of his new single “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” that elicited cheers several times from the 11,000 fans in the MGM Grand Arena as he railed against federal bailouts to troubled corporations while family farms continue to fail by the thousands. U.S. troops got a salute from Trace Adkins as he was joined by the West Point Glee Club with a new song recognizing what soldiers have sacrificed from the Civil War through the ongoing fighting in Afghanistan. The ACM announced that proceeds from the downloadable version of the performance will go to Wounded Warrior, a Florida-based organization the helps injured troops once they return home. Jamey Johnson’s “In Color,” an homage to those who weathered the Depression, fought in World War II and sustained long-term marriages, was named song of the year. Johnson’s album “That Lonesome Song,” which has drawn comparisons to the work of Waylon Jennings and others of the ’70s country Outlaw movement, had been chosen 2008’s best by a poll of country music critics. Reba McEntire hosted the show for the 11th year.

While I do not consider myself a Country Music fan per se, I still have a small place in my heart for the genre due to my years spent living in Oklahoma. Down there, you can’t escape Country Music so it’s best to just enjoy it for what it is — emotionally driven, heartfelt songs that have a pretty good way of tearing at heartstrings in order to illicit a response. I’m not ashamed to admit that I have my fave songs. I am prolly Carrie Underwood’s biggest fan who doesn’t own any of her albums. I have a few tracks but I’m most impressed with her singing abilities overall. She is truly the best thing to come from American Idol since Kelly Clarkson. I’m so happy that she continues to enjoy so much success. She’s a woman who works hard for what she has, it’s great to see her being successful. Taylor Swift, as well, strikes me as a very talented girl. The thing that I prolly like most about Country Music is that it is a genre that’s really driven by talent. Many of the biggest Country Music stars can play instruments … which cannot be said for a lot of pop/rock or rap musicians.

While all eyes were on the Country Music stars on the red carpet, there were quite a few celebs who showed up at the awards that have nothing at all really to do with Country Music as a craft. As you can see above, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves were in attendance and I understand that comedian Carrot Top was there as well. Additionally, new celeb couple Jennifer Love Hewitt and Jamie Kennedy chose the ACM Awards as their official coming out party as a couple:

I find it curious that they were both wearing all white … could they be trying to tell us something? The night wasn’t without it’s own drama as well … Tim McGraw ended up pulling out of performing on the show at the very last minute due to reported “problems” with production. See, even Country Music has their own divas. In any event, much congrats goes out to all the winners at this year’s ACM Awards!

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin, Wireimage; Source]

Here are a couple of cute pics of Camila Alves carting around her son with Matthew McConaughey as she shopped in the flower district of LA this past Saturday. By the look on little Levi Alves’s face, he didn’t seem to mind all that much:

I love that the scope of human invention figured out a way for mothers to be able to carry around their infants without having to do any of the actual carrying around. Personally, I’m more a fan of the back-pack baby carrier device. You can just sling your baby onto your back and go about your biz without having to worry about anything … except for the fact that you cannot watch your baby at all times. Little Levi is a total doll … whether he’s in a sling or not, he’s a really cute little kid.

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

Matthew McConaughey and his beautiful babymama Camila Alves were spotted taking their baby boy Levi Alves out for a stroll in Malibu, CA this week and very curiously, Camila was wearing a very interesting piece of jewelry on her left ring finger:

Could the sudden appearance of that fairly sizable rock on her left ring finger mean that the couple are ready to be wed? To be honest, I never felt that Matthew McConaughey was the kind of guy to settle down with one woman but since the birth of his son Levi, he’s really become a changed man. He no longer runs around all of Southern California shirtless, we don’t see him out on the party scene every night … in fact, when we do see him out and about he’s either with Camila, with his son or with the family dog out for a walk. Matthew has settled down considerably … maybe he is ready to say I Do to the mother of his child. This ring, to me, says that the couple are prolly planning to get hitched. And if so, I can’t wait to see what their wedding will be like … Matthew is a surfer dude at heart … so I’m thinking beach wedding. I suppose time will tell … but I’m gonna guess Summer beach wedding this year.

[Photo credit: X17]

Matthew McConaughey packed up the babymama and the baby boy (and brought along some friends) for a trip to the beach in Malibu, CA this weekend to get his son Levi Alves acclimated to dad’s affinity for surfing. Altho the weather wasn’t quite as sunny as he may have liked and the water was deffo not warm enough to enjoy without a rubber suit, it still looks like Matty and co. had themselves a fine time at the beach … behold:

As you may recall, Matthew didn’t waste any time bringing his son to the beach after he was born last Summer but back then the little guy had to be kept secure in a sack. This time, Levi is a bit bigger and can prolly appreciate the outing more than he did before. I’m sure that Matthew will have his boy out and riding the waves with him in no time. Ah, these little buggers grow up so fast … I’m sure it wont’ be long before we see little Levi all growed up and surfing right alongside his hawt dad … possibly showing him up. But, for now, the little tyke is still too small to get his feet wet … but, you’ll see, it won’t be long now.

[Photo credit: X17]

Yesterday we saw a few photos of a very shirtless Matthew McConaughey gettin’ his sweat on on the beaches of Brazil where he and his babymama Camila Alves popped up this week on holiday. It turns out that the couple, along with a few other celebs, have trekked down to Rio de Janeiro to partake of the Carnival Street Fair going on there this week. Here are a couple pics of Matty and Camila taking in the sights:

While I would much prefer some nekkidness in these new photos, I guess I don’t mind that the couple appears to be enjoying themselves immensely. They really do make a nice couple and since Camila is from the region, they now have reason to fly down to South America whenever they get in the mood. But these two aren’t the only celebs who were spotted enjoying the Carnival festivities yesterday. After the jump, see which other celebs were also partying with the Brazilians in Rio de Janeiro …

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Here are a couple supercute photos of Levi Alves McConaughey out for a little shopping trip with his moms Camila Alves in SoCal yesterday afternoon. The pair were spotted doing a bit of shopping at Fred Segal and paused to pose for some photos on their way out:

As you can see, little Levi is getting to be a big little boy … and he’s gettin’ cuter every day. He looks a lot like his beautiful mother, don’t you think? He is going to grow up to be a stunner, you just wait and see. Altho it’s very warm her in SoCal these days, I don’t expect that daddy Matthew McConaughey will be taking his little man for surfing lessons any time soon … but come Summer, I bet we’ll see father and sun in the water on a semi-regular basis. Sooo cute!

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

When last we saw Matthew McConaughey, his babymama Camila Alves and his baby boy Levi Alves, the family had made their way down to Brazil for a little R&R family vacay time … but it looks like the holiday is over. Here are new pics of the family as they made their way out of a local grocery store here in SoCal yesterday afternoon:

I cannot believe that Levi has grown so much already! It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago but Levi was born 5 months ago … so I guess enough time has passed for him to get so big. I think he looks a lot like his mommy … she’s a little doll. There are so many new celeb babies out there, it’s almost impossible to keep them all straight. Something tells me that little Levi is not going to be a party animal, hellion like his father … methinks he’s likely to take after his mother. He’s a cutie … glad to have the entire family back home in LA.

[Photo credit: Splash News]