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. 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. The first two ceremonies took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 6, 2010, and December 5, 2011.
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.
History Nominees for the first inaugural awards show were announced on Monday October 18, 2010. 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. Voting continued through November 8, except for Artist of the Year; which closed on December 4. Trace Adkins was the host of the awards show. Winners in each category received a custom-made Fender guitar in lieu of trophies. 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. Rascal Flatts received the Decade Award, Toby Keith received the Visionary Artist award and Alan Jackson received the Greatest Hits Artist award. 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.
2010 CategoryWinnerNominationsArtist of the YearCarrie UnderwoodMale Artist of the YearBrad PaisleyFemale Artist of the YearCarrie UnderwoodDuo or Group of the YearLady AntebellumBreakthrough Artist of the YearEaston CorbinAlbum of the YearPlay On – Carrie UnderwoodSingle of the Year"Need You Now"– Lady AntebellumMale Artist Single of the Year"Why Don't We Just Dance" – Josh TurnerFemale Artist Single of the Year"Cowboy Casanova" – Carrie UnderwoodDuo or Group Single of the Year"Need You Now" – Lady AntebellumBreakthrough Artist Single of the Year"A Little More Country Than That" – Easton CorbinTouring Headline Package of the YearPlay On Tour – Carrie UnderwoodMusic Video of the Year"Hillbilly Bone" – Blake Shelton ft. Trace AdkinsMale Music Video"Hillbilly Bone" – Blake Shelton ft. Trace AdkinsFemale Music Video"Cowboy Casanova" – Carrie UnderwoodDuo or Group Music Video"Need You Now" – Lady AntebellumBreakthrough Artist Music Video"A Little More Country Than That" – Easton Corbin
2011 CategoryWinnerNominationsArtist of the YearJason AldeanMale Artist of the YearBrad PaisleyFemale Artist of the YearCarrie UnderwoodDuo/Group Artist of the YearLady AntebellumBreakthrough Artist of the Year Chris YoungNew Artist of the YearScotty McCreeryAlbum of the YearMy Kinda Party, Jason AldeanSingle of the Year"Voices", Chris YoungSingle by a Male Artist"My Kinda Party", Jason AldeanSingle by a Female Artist"Mama's Song", Carrie UnderwoodSingle by a Duo/Group"Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson SquareSingle by a Breakthrough Artist"Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson SquareSingle by a Vocal Collaboration"Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean feat. Kelly ClarksonMusic Video of the Year"Who Are You When I'm Not Looking", Blake SheltonMusic Video by a Male Artist"Who Are You When I'm Not Looking", Blake SheltonMusic Video by a Female Artist"Mama's Song", Carrie UnderwoodMusic Video by a Duo/Group/Collaboration"Don't You Wanna Stay", Jason Aldean feat. Kelly ClarksonMusic Video by a New Artist"Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not", Thompson SquareTouring Artist of the YearJason Aldean
2012 CategoryWinnerNominationsArtist of the YearLuke BryanMale Artist of the YearLuke BryanFemale Artist of the YearCarrie UnderwoodDuo/Group of the YearLady AntebellumBreakthrough Artist of the YearJake OwenNew Artist of the YearLauren AlainaAlbum of the YearTailgates & Tanlines, Luke BryanSingle of the Year"I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke BryanSingle by a Male "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke BryanSingle by a Female "Over You", Miranda LambertSingle by a Duo/Group"We Owned the Night", Lady AntebellumSingle by a Breakthrough"You Don't Know Her Like I Do", Brantley GilbertSingle by a New Artist"Wanted", Hunter HayesSingle 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 BryanMusic Video by a Male "I Don't Want This Night to End", Luke BryanMusic Video by a Female "Over You", Miranda LambertMusic Video by a Duo/Group/Collaboration"Pontoon", Little Big TownMusic Video by a New Artist"Wanted", Hunter HayesSong of the Year"Springsteen", (Eric Church, Jeff Hyde & Ryan Tyndell) - Eric ChurchTouring Artist of the YearJason Aldean
2013 CategoryWinner NomineesArtist of the YearLuke BryanMale Artist of the YearLuke BryanFemale Artist of the YearMiranda LambertDuo/Group of the YearLady AntebellumBreakthrough Artist of the YearScotty McCreeryNew Artist of the YearFlorida Georgia LineAlbum of the YearBased on a True Story..., Blake SheltonSingle of the Year"Cruise", Florida Georgia LineSingle by a Male "Sure Be Cool If You Did", Blake SheltonSingle by a Female "Mama's Broken Heart", Miranda LambertSingle by a Duo/Group"Downtown", Lady AntebellumSingle by a Breakthrough"I Drive Your Truck", Lee BriceSingle by a New Artist"Cruise, Florida Georgia LineSingle by a Vocal Collaboration"Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw feat Taylor Swift and Keith UrbanGreat American Country - Music Video of the Year"Sure Be Cool If You Did", Blake SheltonMusic Video by a Male "Sure Be Cool If You Did, Blake SheltonMusic Video by a Female Artist"Blown Away", Carrie UnderwoodMusic Video by a Duo/Group/Collaboration"Highway Don't Care", Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith UrbanMusic Video by a New Artist"Cruise", Florida Georgia LineSong of the Year"Highway Don't Care", (Mark Irwin, Josh Kear, Brad Warren & Brett Warren) - Tim McGraw feat. Taylor Swift and Keith UrbanTouring Artist of the YearLuke BryanWorldwide ArtistTaylor 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
External links theacas.com - official homepage