FGL, Lambert earn CMA prizes

While Justin Timberlake had a show-stopping moment alongside Chris Stapleton at the 2015 Country Music Association Awards, it was the Backstreet Boys who shone brightly at the 2017 Academy of Country Music Awards.

The boy band had the night’s liveliest moment Sunday in Las Vegas: the fivesome brought the party vibe to life while singing their classic Everybody (Backstreet Back) along with duo Florida Georgia Line.

Before that moment, FGL sang their duet with the boy band, God, Your Mama and Me. It was the duo’s third performance at the three-hour show, which aired live on CBS.

Though they won two awards, FGL lost the top prize — entertainer of the year — to Jason Aldean, who also won the honour last year.

“Man, one of the Eagles just gave me an award,” Aldean said, looking to Joe Walsh.

“I am so thankful. You guys don’t know how much I love getting up and doing what I do every day.”

Keith Urban, who had success with his genre-bending, Grammy-nominated album Ripcord, was the top nominee with seven, though he walked away empty-handed.

Miranda Lambert won album of the year for her double disc, The Weight of These Wings, and female vocalist of the year, besting Reba McEntire’s record for most wins in the category.

The night featured comedy, including a play off the Academy Awards mishap during the best picture winner announcement in February.

“This is odd. David?” asked Entertainment Tonight host Nancy O’Dell while holding the card with the name of the song of the year winner.

“Emma Stone, La La Land,” David Copperfield announced, as the audience laughed.

The real winner was Thomas Rhett for Die a Happy Man.

Rhett also won male vocalist of the year, beating out Urban, Aldean, Bentley and Chris Stapleton.