LeAnn on ACA Breakdown: I Was Thinking About Sex

LeAnn Rimes made headlines when she broke down during Monday's American Country Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada, while paying tribute to the late Patsy Cline with a medley of her most famous songs including Crazy and Sweet Dreams of You, but the country crooner told ET backstage that she was actually thinking about something very different during the performance -- sex.

"It was intense. ... And about halfway through Crazy, you see people start to cry and then you're like, 'oh my God,'" Rimes explained about her much-talked about performance. "My guitar player, he's always giving me the tricks that work -- always think about sex when you start to cry -- and I was thinking about sex a lot throughout the whole thing. ... By the end of it, it was just such an emotional moment for me."

Pics: Look Back at the Big Hair and Bold Fashions of the ACM Awards

Another artist impressed with Rimes' emotional tribute?

Luke Bryan, who won Artist of the Year at the popular awards show.

"I think LeAnn Rimes did an amazing job on the Patsy Cline medley," he said, before reflecting on his own recent amazing success. "It's been an amazing year. This has been a defining year in my life -- a defining moment in my life -- and to be considered Artist of the Year is very, very special for me, and I can't thank my fans enough. Thank you."

Video: LeAnn Rimes Breaks Down During Patsy Cline Tribute

Click the video to hear Florida Georgia Line reflect on their whopping six wins, as well as American Idol winner Scotty McCreery, who picked up the Best New Artist award.