Luke Bryan scores 9 American Country Awards
LAS VEGAS — On the red carpet before the American Country Awards in Las Vegas on Monday night, Trace Adkins swore he wouldn't tote his tiny, Tony Award-winning co-host Kristin Chenoweth onto the stage in a Baby Bjorn like last year. He brought her out in a hot-pink baby sling instead.
The co-hosts kept the mood playful in Sin City — handing the sling over to Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott, who just announced she is expecting her first child — while Luke Bryan took nine awards, the most of the evening.
Other big winners at the live show from Mandalay Bay Events Center included Miranda Lambert with three awards including Female Single of the Year for Over You. She thanked husband Blake Shelton for co-writing the song, and she said she's Tivo-ing him on The Voice and hoped he was also Tivo-ing her as they were featured in competing television time slots Monday night.
"Honey, we won an award and I'm really excited," she shouted out to him via television. "Fans, thank you so much."
Carrie Underwood set a record by receiving her 11th ACA during the show's three-year history. This year, Underwood took home the award for female artist of the year.
"It's fan-voted, so it really means a lot," she said of the American Country Awards, the only country music awards show that allows fans to vote for their favorite artists in various categories. "I already know I have awesome fans, but when they do something like this for me, it's really awesome."
Underwood also alluded to the hockey lockout as holiday time is coming up with family and husband Mike Fisher.
"We can actually plan something now," she said.
Crowd-pleasing live performances included Little Big Town's confetti-swirled performance of Tornado and Adkins on stage with Lynyrd Skynyrd for the band's hit What's Your Name. It had many of the stars on their feet, including Jason Aldean, who had just accepted his award for top touring act, and Keith Urban, who flashed the rock hand signal to the stage.
This is the third year for the American Country Awards. The nominees for each award category were determined by four media measurement companies: BigChampagne (record sales and media consumption); Great American Country (video airplay); Mediabase (radio airplay); Pollstar (touring data); and Nashville Songwriters Association International.
2012 American Country Awards winners
ARTISTS
Artist of the Year
Luke Bryan
Artist of the Year: Male
Luke Bryan
Artist of the Year: Female
Carrie Underwood
Artist of the Year: Group
Lady Antebellum
Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Jake Owen
Artist of the Year: New Artist
Lauren Alaina
ALBUM
Album of the Year
Luke Bryan, tailgates & tanlines
SINGLES
Single of the Year
Luke Bryan, I Don't Want This Night To End
Single of the Year: Male
Luke Bryan, I Don't Want This Night To End
Single of the Year: Female
Miranda Lambert, Over You
Single of the Year: Group
Lady Antebellum, We Owned The Night
Single of the Year: New Artist
Hunter Hayes, Wanted
Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Brantley Gilbert, You Don't Know Her Like I Do
Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Brad Paisley (Duet with Carrie Underwood), Remind Me
TOURING
Touring Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
VIDEOS
Music Video of the Year
Luke Bryan, I Don't Want This Night To End
Music Video of the Year: Male
Luke Bryan, I Don't Want This Night to End
Music Video of the Year: Female
Miranda Lambert, Over You
Music Video of the Year: Group or Collaboration
Little Big Town, Pontoon
Music Video of the Year: New Artist
Hunter Hayes, Wanted
Song of the Year
Eric Church, Springsteen (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde and Ryan Tyndell)
MOST PLAYED RADIO TRACK
Awards determined by Mediabase, were announced during Monday's telecast:
Most Played Radio Track
Luke Bryan, I Don't Want This Night to End
Most Played Radio Track: Male
Luke Bryan, I Don't Want This Night to End
Most Played Radio Track: Female
Miranda Lambert, Over You
Most Played Radio Track: Group
Zac Brown Band, Keep Me In Mind
Most Played Radio Track: New Artist
Kip Moore, Somethin' 'Bout A Truck