Since the origins of country music, males have been a dominant staple of the genre. At last night’s Academy of Country Music Awards, three young blondes changed all that. Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift and Julianne Hough took home top awards and cemented their durability in the industry. 

Taylor Swift accepted album of the year and a teary Julianne Hough won top new artist. But the night’s most coveted honor, entertainer of the year, was snagged by Carrie Underwood in a win that broke Kenny Chesney’s four year win-streak. The award has only been awarded to a woman seven times in the category’s 39-year history. The Dixie Chicks were the last women to capture the award in 2000. 

Underwood expressed the immensity of winning on behalf of the women of country music. ”I can’t wait for the day, which I hope is in the very near future, where having females in the category is no big deal whatsoever.”

Other winners were Trace Adkins, Brad Paisley and newcomer Jamey Johnson in respective categories. Performers also included Adkins, John Rich and the indulgent Miley Cyrus.