Luke Bryan Wins Big at Monday Night’s American Country Awards
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Frazer Harrison/Getty Images via ABC(LAS VEGAS) — Luke Bryan took home nine fan-voted American Country Awards Monday night in Las Vegas including Artist of the Year. He thanked God for giving him the ability to do what he does every night on the road playing for the fans.
Luke’s other awards included Male Artist, Album of the Year for tailgates & tanlines, and his song “I Don’t Want This Night to End” was named Single of the Year, Single of the Year by a Male Artist, Music Video of the Year, Music Video of the Year by a Male Artist, Most Played Radio Track and Most Played Radio Track by a Male Artist. Luke also kicked the show off with “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” and Carrie Underwood was spotted in the audience singing along to every word.
Miranda Lambert presented the first electric guitar trophy of the night for Group of the Year to Lady Antebellum. They also won Single of the Year, Group for “We Owned the Night” and thanked their fans for giving them these wins. Lady Antebellum closed out the show with a “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” from their holiday album, On This Winter’s Night.
Miranda also picked up Single of the Year by a Female Artist, Video of the Year by a Female Artist and Most Played Radio Track by a Female Artist for “Over You.” She thanked her husband Blake Shelton, who co-wrote the song. He was busy appearing on NBC’s The Voice Monday night, and Miranda admitted she was nervous to get home and watch it on her DVR.
Lee Brice, Casey James and Jana Kramer presented the Touring Artist of the Year award to Jason Aldean, whose My Kinda Party tour sold 1.9 million tickets in the past two years. Jason used his performance slot to sing a solo version of his latest hit, “The Only Way I Know.” The album version includes his buddies Luke Bryan and Eric Church.
Carrie Underwood extended her American Country Awards wins to a record 11 total, taking Female Artist of the Year and Single of the Year, Vocal Collaboration with Brad Paisley with “Remind Me.”
Little Big Town took Music Video of the Year by a Group for “Pontoon.” They returned to perform their edgy new single “Tornado” with wind machines blowing paper debris all around them to create a stormy effect.
Dierks Bentley sang his ode to good times, “Country and Cold Cans,” and Rascal Flatts performed “Hot in Here” from their latest album, Changed.
Keith Urban teamed up with student musicians from the Grammy Awards camp to perform the blues classic “Crossroads.” The performance included plenty of room for guitar solos exchanged between Keith and the students.
Last year’s New Artist of the Year, Scotty McCreery, presented the trophy to his very emotional American Idol runner-up Lauren Alaina. She held back tears as she thanked God, her family, fans and record label staff.
Jake Owen picked up the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award just two weeks after becoming a first-time dad to daughter Pearl.He then took the stage to sing his latest chart-topper “The One That Got Away.”
Kip Moore worked the crowd during his debut awards show performance singing a medley of “Beer Money” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck.” The latter hit was also recognized as the ACA’s Most Played Radio Track by a New Artist.
Co-hosts Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins made light of their considerable height difference again this year with Trace carrying Kristin onstage in a baby sling for the opening monologue. They presented the sling to Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott, who is expecting her first child next year.
Trace later teamed up with Lynyrd Skynyrd to perform the group’s classic hit “What’s Your Name,” and earned a standing ovation from Dierks Bentley. Kristin sang her campy ode to Dolly Parton, “What Would Dolly Do (W-W-Double-D).”
Here are the American Country Awards winners that were announced on camera:
Artist of the Year
Luke Bryan
Touring Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Male Artist of the Year
Luke Bryan
Female Artist of the Year
Carrie Underwood
Album of the Year
Luke Bryan, tailgates & tanlines
Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
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, Vocal Collaboration
Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, “Remind Me”
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 by a New Artist
Kip Moore, “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck”
Most Played Radio Track by a Female Artist
Miranda Lambert, “Over You”
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
Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
New Artist of the Year
Lauren Alaina
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Jake Owen
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