Miranda Lambert makes bold outing with new beau at ACM Awards

Singer Miranda Lambert and her new boyfriend Anderson East made their red carpet debut at the Academy of Country Music Awards on Sunday (03Apr16).

The 32-year-old Little Red Wagon hitmaker struck up a romance with the 27-year-old musician in December, 2015 and after several months of dating, the pair finally decided to go public with its relationship by posing for photographers together at the awards show.

A source tells ET Online that in addition to showing affection for each other on the red carpet, they also engaged in doting behaviour backstage at the event, which took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lambert's sweet appearance with East is her first such outing since divorcing from fellow country singer Blake Shelton in July, 2015 after four years of marriage.

Ahead of this weekend's ACM Awards, reports surfaced suggesting Lambert had been busy preparing herself for an awkward run-in with ex Blake and his new girlfriend Gwen Stefani at the ceremony, but it seems this potential encounter was entirely avoided.

According to Romper.com, it appears Stefani decided to allow beau Shelton to go solo on the night, as she is still in New York City after performing on American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live on Saturday (02Apr16).

Although Stefani wasn't in the audience, Blake paid tribute to his new love by opening the show with a performance of his song Came Here To Forget - a tune thought to be about the beginning of his romance with the No Doubt singer.

It's unknown how Lambert felt about her ex's emotional show - a reaction shot of her sat in the audience while he performed was not captured or shown during the awards show's television broadcast.