AWARDS ENDORSE NEW/OLD DIRECTION : COUNTRY MUSIC SHOWING ITS ROOTS

The Hagler-Leonard fight wasn’t the only big upset this week. Crossover country-pop quartet Alabama was KO’d by roots-oriented country artists at the 22nd annual Academy of Country Music Awards.

Alabama, which voters had named entertainer of the year and top vocal group for five years straight, was shut out Monday in its three nominated categories. Instead, the academy gave its endorsement to country’s return-to-the-roots movement through awards to such “new traditionalists” as Randy Travis, the Judds, Reba McEntire, the Forester Sisters and Dwight Yoakam.

Country maverick Hank Williams Jr., who has recorded more than 50 albums in the last 25 years, was elated over his first major music industry award--entertainer of the year.

“This is a great starting place, isn’t it?” Williams said backstage. “I mean, it sure beats video of the year, or most promising new artist, which I won in 1964, and again in 1982.”

The vocal group award went to the four Forester Sisters from Lookout Mountain, Ga., only the second time during the ‘80s that the award did not have Alabama’s name on it.

But it was newcomer Randy Travis, last year’s best new male vocalist award winner, who seemed the most overwhelmed after sweeping all four categories in which he was nominated: male vocalist, best song and single (both for “On the Other Hand”), and best album for “Storms of Life.”

Travis’ vocal style has been compared to those of country greats including George Jones and Merle Haggard. So after winning over, among others, Jones, the Judds and Alabama, Travis, 28, said: “It’s really hard to believe, being up against all those people. That (traditional) kind of music has grown a lot in the past five years. I’m just glad to see it happening.”

The awards ceremony, televised nationally on NBC from Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, is second in terms of longevity and prestige to the Nashville-based Country Music Assn.’s awards show.