Tears and Cheers Compete at Country Music Ceremony : Awards: Garth Brooks wins a record six trophies, but tragedies befalling the Judds, Reba McEntire share the spotlight.

This is country music’s Year of Tears.

Less than five minutes into the 26th annual Academy of Country Music awards ceremony Wednesday night at the Universal Amphitheatre, the Judds were at the podium, tearfully accepting the mother and daughter team’s seventh straight--and presumably final--Hat award as the year’s top country duo.

“When I’m alone at my farm in the years to come my memory of you will be of some beautiful choir, some invisible choir, singing the most beautiful love song of all,” said mother Naomi Judd, who plans to retire from active performing and recording following a summer tour with daughter Wynonna. The elder Judd, 45, suffers from chronic hepatitis.

It was one of several poignant moments in an emotional evening that also saw Reba McEntire--who lost eight members of her band and road team in a plane crash near San Diego on March 16--named the top female vocalist for the fifth time in seven years.

“This is for my eight buddies,” the veteran singer said, tears also flowing, as she received a standing ovation. “I know they’re grinnin’ up there knowing that they had so many friends on Earth.”

You can imagine there will be more tears shed, both by performers and fans, as the Judds continue on their farewell tour--which includes a June 23 date at the Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa--and as McEntire moves around the country with her new band.

But it wasn’t all tears of sorrow at the Amphitheatre.

Garth Brooks’ eyes watered as he accepted the entertainer of the year trophy, giving him a record total of six awards--including top male singer, album and single--in the competition based on a vote of the nearly 3,000 members of the Los Angeles-based academy.

The victories capped a remarkable year for the shy, soft-spoken Oklahoma native who, through a series of record hits--including “The Dance” and “Friends in Low Places”--and a lively, disarming stage show, has suddenly become the hottest property in country music.

“I’m happy, I’m scared and I’m embarrassed,” Brooks said backstage, hugging his awards and prefacing every response with a painfully polite “yes ma’am” or “yes sir.” “I’m scared by the thought of not being remembered next year.”

Not likely. Past winners George Strait and Clint Black, though shutout in Wednesday’s competition, still elicited plenty of squeals from the fans in the Universal audience. And Brooks has backed his popular appeal with considerable critical acclaim.

It was so much Brooks’ night that his only loss was to himself when one of his hits (“The Dance,” written by Tony Arata) defeated another of his hits--”Friends in Low Places,” written by Dewayne Blackwell and Earl Bud Lee--in the best song category. (Awards for song go to both recording artist and composers.)

Awards were also given to Alan Jackson, male newcomer; Shelby Lynne, female newcomer; Pirates of the Mississippi, new group; Shenandoah, vocal group, and Johnny Cash, a career Pioneer Award.

Backstage, the Judds were the most emotional.

“I sincerely believe that the reason I am in chemical remission . . . the reason I’m alive and doing so well is my faith in the Lord and support of my fans,” Naomi said, next to her daughter.

After performing “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” in a patriotic segment introduced by a videotaped President Bush, a resolute McEntire said backstage that she considered quitting after the crash.

“The day of the accident I wanted to quit, but the next morning I woke up and said (her late road manager) Jim Hammon would kick my butt if I did,” she said.