Duo take 14th country honor

Kenny Chesney collected his third consecutive entertainer of the year trophy Tuesday as the Academy of Country Music also honored veteran George Strait, newcomer Carrie Underwood and gave an unprecedented 14th vocal duo award to Brooks & Dunn.

The duo had some stiff competition from Sugarland, Montgomery Gentry, Big & Rich and The Wreckers, and Ronnie Dunn fretted before the show that the pair had to lose “sooner or later.”

“Not this year,” an exuberant Kix Brooks said as the duo claimed the trophy. “It’s still as much fun as it’s ever been, and we’re going to keep doing it.”

Strait, who came into the competition with a leading eight nominations, claimed the first award of the night, winning song of the year for “Give It Away.”

Veteran singer-songwriter Bill Anderson, who joined Strait in collecting the trophy, seemed touched that older artists were honored. “I’m old enough to be Carrie Underwood’s grandfather,” the 69-year-old said of the 24-year-old singer.

Underwood, the 2005 “American Idol” winner, won album of the year for her debut CD, “Some Hearts.”