American Country Awards
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 Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 6, 2010 and December 5, 2011.[2][2][3][3] 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 ratings for ACCA dropped dramatically compared to the 2013 American Country Awards. According to TV By The Numbers, 18-49 Ratings/Share dropped from 1.4/4 to 0.9/3 and viewership dropped from 5.14 million to 3.39 million. Due to the drop in viewers, the ACA's were discontinued after its fourth show in 2013 and replaced with American Country Countdown Awards.
| American Country Awards | |
|---|---|
 Awards show logo | |
| Awarded for | Achievements in the Country music industry. |
| Country | United States |
| Presented 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 |
History
Nominees for the first inaugural awards show were announced on Monday October 18, 2010.[4] 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.[5] Voting continued through November 8, except for Artist of the Year; which closed on December 4.[5] Trace Adkins was the host of the awards show.[6] Winners in each category received a custom-made Fender guitar in lieu of trophies.[6] 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.[6] Rascal Flatts received the Decade Award, Toby Keith received the Visionary Artist award and Alan Jackson received the Greatest Hits Artist award.[6] 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 7 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).
On December 31, 2011, Fox aired a country music-themed New Year's Eve special co-branded with the awards show, known as American Country New Year's Eve Live, hosted by Rodney Carrington. The special differentiated itself from competing programs through an emphasis on country music instead of popular music, with performances by Joe Nichols and Toby Keith. The special was not reprised in subsequent years, and subsequent episodes of New Year's Eve Live have reverted to pop music.
The 2014 version will be rebranded as the American Country Countdown Awards, named after the radio series of the same name, and be hosted by Kix Brooks. Nash FM and Dick Clark Productions will join the production.[7]
2010
| Category | Winner[6] | Nominations[4] |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
2011
| Category | Winner[6] | Nominations[4] |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
2012
| Category | Winner[6] | Nominations[4] |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
2013
| Category | Winner [8] | 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 |
Most wins
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.
- Carrie Underwood (12)
- Luke Bryan (10)
- Lady Antebellum (9)
- Jason Aldean (8)
- Blake Shelton (8)
- Taylor Swift (4)
- Miranda Lambert (2)
References
- Trace Adkins and Danica Patrick to Co-Host the 'American Country Awards' Tuesday, December 10 on FOX
- Roughstock Staff (2010-09-02). "Fox Creates New "American Country Awards" Show". roughstock.com. Archived from the original on 2010-12-28. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
- Serpe, Gina (2010-09-18). "American Country Awards: New Show, Same Old Nominees - E! Online". E!. Archived from the original on 21 October 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
- Sasha Pearl-Raver (2010-10-18). "Introducing the American Country Awards: Meet the ACA nominees". sheknows.com. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
- Caulfield, Keith (2010-10-18). "Lady Antebellum, Easton Corbin Lead ACA Nominations". Associated Press. Billboard. Archived from the original on 22 October 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-22.
- "American Country Awards Winners - The Boot". The Boot. 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
- Cumulus, Fox, Dick Clark Productions To Debut ‘American Country Countdown Awards’
- "2013 American Country Awards Winners - Full List". tasteofcountry.com.
External links
- theacas.com - official homepage