The American Country Awards (ACA) was an annual country music awards show, entirely voted on by fans online. Created in 2010 by Fox, the awards honor country music artists for singles, albums, music videos and touring categories.[2] In 2012, "Song of the Year" was added with the nominations coming from the Nashville Songwriters International Association. In addition to the CMA Awards, the ACM Awards, and the CMT Music Awards, it is the fourth major-awards show completely dedicated to the country music industry.[3] The first two ceremonies took place at the MGM Grand Garden ArenainLas Vegas, Nevada on December 6, 2010, and December 5, 2011.[2][3]
| American Country Awards | |
|---|---|
Awards show logo
| |
| Awarded for | Achievements in the Country music industry. |
| Country | United States |
| Hosted by | Nancy O'Dell (2010) Trace Adkins (2010-2013) Kristin Chenoweth (2011-12) Danica Patrick (2013)[1] |
| First awarded | 2010 |
| Website | http://www.theacas.com/ |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | Fox |
The 2012 ceremony took place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, on December 10. Luke Bryan won nine awards, including artist and album of the year, while Miranda Lambert won three. Carrie Underwood won female artist of the year and Lauren Alaina won new artist of the year. The show was executive produced by Bob Bain, produced by Paul Flattery, Tisha Fein, Kelly Brock and Fletcher Foster and directed by Michael Dempsey.
The ceremony was discontinued after 2013; in 2014, Fox announced that it would air a different country music award ceremony, the American Country Countdown Awards—which were produced by Dick Clark Productions in partnership with Cumulus Media and its syndicated radio show American Country Countdown.[4]
Nominees for the first inaugural awards show were announced on Monday October 18, 2010.[5] Lady Antebellum and Easton Corbin led the field with seven nominations each, followed by Carrie Underwood with six nominations, and Miranda Lambert and Josh Turner each had five nominations.[6] Voting continued through November 8, except for Artist of the Year; which closed on December 4.[6] Trace Adkins was the host of the awards show.[7] Winners in each category received a custom-made Fender guitar in lieu of trophies.[7] In 2010, the guitar was the Stratocaster model, in 2011 it was the Telecaster. At the 2010 ceremonies, Carrie Underwood was the top winner with 6 awards, including the first-ever Artist of the Year.[7] Rascal Flatts received the Decade Award, Toby Keith received the Visionary Artist award and Alan Jackson received the Greatest Hits Artist award.[7] In 2011, Jason Aldean was the big winner with 6 Awards, including Artist of the year. In 2012, Luke Bryan was the big winner with seven awards, including Artist of the year. Alabama received the Greatest Hits Artist award and Toby Keith was Artist of the Decade. The artist who has won the most ACAs is Carrie Underwood with 12 (6 in 2010, 3 in 2011, 2 in 2012, 1 in 2013) Luke Bryan has the most for a Male artist with 10 (7 in 2012, 3 in 2013) and Lady Antebellum has the most for a group with 9 (4 in 2010, 1 in 2011, 2 in 2012, 2 in 2013).
Fox co-branded its New Year's Eve Live special for 2011–12 with the American Country Awards as American Country New Year's Eve Live, which featured performances by Rodney Atkins, American Idol season 10 runner-up Lauren Alaina, the Eli Young Band, Joe Nichols, and Toby Keith.[8][9]
| Category | Winner[7] | Nominations[5] |
|---|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Carrie Underwood |
|
| Male Artist of the Year | Brad Paisley |
|
| Female Artist of the Year | Carrie Underwood |
|
| Duo or Group of the Year | Lady Antebellum |
|
| Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Easton Corbin |
|
| Album of the Year | Play On – Carrie Underwood |
|
| Single of the Year | "Need You Now"– Lady Antebellum |
|
| Male Artist Single of the Year | "Why Don't We Just Dance" – Josh Turner |
|
| Female Artist Single of the Year | "Cowboy Casanova" – Carrie Underwood |
|
| Duo or Group Single of the Year | "Need You Now" – Lady Antebellum |
|
| Breakthrough Artist Single of the Year | "A Little More Country Than That" – Easton Corbin |
|
| Touring Headline Package of the Year | Play On Tour – Carrie Underwood |
|
| Music Video of the Year | "Hillbilly Bone" – Blake Shelton ft. Trace Adkins |
|
| Male Music Video | "Hillbilly Bone" – Blake Shelton ft. Trace Adkins |
|
| Female Music Video | "Cowboy Casanova" – Carrie Underwood |
|
| Duo or Group Music Video | "Need You Now" – Lady Antebellum |
|
| Breakthrough Artist Music Video | "A Little More Country Than That" – Easton Corbin |
|
| Category | Winner[7] | Nominations[5] |
|---|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Jason Aldean |
|
| Male Artist of the Year | Brad Paisley |
|
| Female Artist of the Year | Carrie Underwood |
|
| Duo/Group Artist of the Year | Lady Antebellum |
|
| Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Chris Young |
|
| New Artist of the Year | Scotty McCreery |
|
| Album of the Year | My Kinda Party, Jason Aldean |
|
| Single of the Year | "Voices", Chris Young |
|
| Single by a Male Artist | "My Kinda Party", Jason Aldean |
|
| Single by a Female Artist | "Mama's Song", Carrie Underwood |
|
| Single by a Duo/Group | "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson Square |
|
| Single by a Breakthrough Artist | "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson Square |
|
| Single by a Vocal Collaboration | "Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean feat. Kelly Clarkson |
|
| Music Video of the Year | "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking", Blake Shelton |
|
| Music Video by a Male Artist | "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking", Blake Shelton |
|
| Music Video by a Female Artist | "Mama's Song", Carrie Underwood |
|
| Music Video by a Duo/Group/Collaboration | "Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean feat. Kelly Clarkson |
|
| Music Video by a New Artist | "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson Square |
|
| Touring Artist of the Year | Jason Aldean |
|
| Category | Winner[7] | Nominations[5] |
|---|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Luke Bryan |
|
| Male Artist of the Year | Luke Bryan |
|
| Female Artist of the Year | Carrie Underwood |
|
| Duo/Group of the Year | Lady Antebellum |
|
| Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Jake Owen |
|
| New Artist of the Year | Lauren Alaina |
|
| Album of the Year | Tailgates & Tanlines, Luke Bryan |
|
| Single of the Year | "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke Bryan |
|
| Single by a Male | "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke Bryan |
|
| Single by a Female | "Over You", Miranda Lambert |
|
| Single by a Duo/Group | "We Owned the Night", Lady Antebellum |
|
| Single by a Breakthrough | "You Don't Know Her Like I Do", Brantley Gilbert |
|
| Single by a New Artist | "Wanted", Hunter Hayes |
|
| Single by a Vocal Collaboration | "Remind Me", Brad Paisley (Duet with Carrie Underwood) |
|
| Music Video of the Year | "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke Bryan |
|
| Music Video by a Male | "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke Bryan |
|
| Music Video by a Female | "Over You", Miranda Lambert |
|
| Music Video by a Duo/Group/Collaboration | "Pontoon", Little Big Town |
|
| Music Video by a New Artist | "Wanted", Hunter Hayes |
|
| Song of the Year | "Springsteen", (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde & Ryan Tyndell) - Eric Church |
|
| Touring Artist of the Year | Jason Aldean |
|
| Category | Winner [10] | Nominees |
|---|---|---|
| Artist of the Year | Luke Bryan |
|
| Male Artist of the Year | Luke Bryan |
|
| Female Artist of the Year | Miranda Lambert |
|
| Duo/Group of the Year | Lady Antebellum |
|
| Breakthrough Artist of the Year | Scotty McCreery |
|
| New Artist of the Year | Florida Georgia Line |
|
| Album of the Year | Based on a True Story..., Blake Shelton |
|
| Single of the Year | "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line |
|
| Single by a Male | "Sure Be Cool If You Did", Blake Shelton |
|
| Single by a Female | "Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda Lambert |
|
| Single by a Duo/Group | "Downtown", Lady Antebellum |
|
| Single by a Breakthrough | "I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice |
|
| Single by a New Artist | "Cruise, Florida Georgia Line |
|
| Single by a Vocal Collaboration | "Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw feat Taylor Swift and Keith Urban |
|
| Great American Country - Music Video of the Year | "Sure Be Cool If You Did", Blake Shelton |
|
| Music Video by a Male | "Sure Be Cool If You Did, Blake Shelton |
|
| Music Video by a Female Artist | "Blown Away", Carrie Underwood |
|
| Music Video by a Duo/Group/Collaboration | "Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban |
|
| Music Video by a New Artist | "Cruise", Florida Georgia Line |
|
| Song of the Year | "Highway Don't Care", (Mark Irwin, Josh Kear, Brad Warren & Brett Warren) - Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith Urban |
|
| Touring Artist of the Year | Luke Bryan |
|
| Worldwide Artist | Taylor Swift |
The artist who has won the most ACAs is Carrie Underwood with 12 (6 in 2010, 3 in 2011, 2 in 2012, 1 in 2013). Luke Bryan has the most for a Male artist with 10 (7 in 2012, 3 in 2013). Lady Antebellum has the most for a group with 9 (4 in 2010, 1 in 2011, 2 in 2012, 2 in 2013). In 2012, Luke Bryan won 7 Awards, including Artist of the year, the most wins in a single ceremony. He passed Jason Aldean with 7.