American Country Awards Winners

"This is some of the best singing I've ever seen on an awards show," said Lady Antebellum's Charles Kelley upon accepting Artist of the Year: Duo or group honors at the first-ever American Country Awards in Las Vegas. And that certainly was the focus of the night: live performances. The ACAs motto is "boasting more music per minute than any other awards show," according to Trace Adkins, who hosted the inaugural event. The live FOX broadcast Monday night concentrated on music, music, music, giving most winners only a few seconds for acceptance speeches after they performed, and only handing out honors for about half of the categories on the two-hour broadcast.

Carrie Underwood was the ACA's top winner with six wins, including the night's biggest honor, Artist of the Year. "Thank God for giving these artists the biggest love for the best music in the world, country music," Carrie gushed after receiving a custom-made Fender guitar, given to the winners in lieu of trophies. "We have had the most amazing year out on the road. For anyone who came out to see us, you guys are awesome ...God bless, thanks so much guys!"

Lady Antebellum follow Carrie with four wins, including Single of the Year for 'Need You Now.' Newcomer Easton Corbin walks away a three-time ACA winner, including the honors of ACA Breakthrough Artist of the Year. All ACA categories were fan-voted in an online poll. See the full list of winners and nominees below.

Double ACA winner Blake Shelton kicked off the show's performances in high gear with 'Kiss My Country Ass.' (And no, FOX didn't bleep the 'ass' out of the chorus!) Recipients of the first-ever ACA Decade Award, Rascal Flatts were up next singing a melody of their classic hits, including 'These Days,' 'Bless the Broken Road,' 'What Hurts the Most,' 'Fast Cars and Freedom' and 'Life Is a Highway,' met with a standing ovation.

The Band Perry's spine-tinging performance of their chart-topping hit, 'If I Die Young,' was followed by ACA Video Visionary Award winner, Toby Keith, who sang 'Bullets in the Gun' after a montage of some of the funniest music videos from his illustrious career.

Another living legend rocked the stage next, as Reba sang her big hit, 'Turn on the Radio.' She was followed by country crossover Uncle Kracker with 'It Feels Good to Me,' and Keith Urban, performing 'Put You in a Song' live via satellite from Dallas, Texas. Steel Magnolia were up next, channeling their best Sandy and Danny from 'Grease,' as they sang their breakthrough hit, 'Keep On Loving You.'

Another superstar medley came from the ACA Greatest Hits award winner Alan Jackson, who performed some of his most beloved tunes including 'Wanted,' 'Chasin' That Neon Rainbow,' 'Don't Rock the Jukebox,' 'Drive,' 'Remember When,' 'It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere,' 'Good Time,' 'Chattahoochie' and Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning.' "I love America, and country music has always been America's music," said Alan after his rousing performance.

Jason Aldean called tourmate Luke Bryan out for a duet on his hit, 'My Kinda Party.' And show host Trace Adkins closed the show with 'This Ain't No Love Song,' wrapping up a night of star-studded, non-stop country music.

2010 American Country Awards Nominees -- Winners in *bold

Artist of the Year

Lady Antebellum

Miranda Lambert

Taylor Swift

*Carrie Underwood

Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Male

Jason Aldean

Luke Bryan

Kenny Chesney

*Brad Paisley

Keith Urban

Artist of the Year: Female

Jewel

Miranda Lambert

Reba McEntire

Taylor Swift

*Carrie Underwood

Artist of the Year: Duo or Group

*Lady Antebellum

Rascal Flatts

Sugarland

The Band Perry

Zac Brown Band

Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist

*Easton Corbin

Danny Gokey

Jaron and The Long Road To Love

Jerrod Niemann

The Band Perry

Album of the Year

'Doin' My Thing,' Luke Bryan

'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum

'Revolution,' Miranda Lambert

'Haywire,' Josh Turner

*'Play On,' Carrie Underwood

Single of the Year

'Do I,' Luke Bryan

'A Little More Country Than That,' Easton Corbin

*'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum

'Gimme That Girl,' Joe Nichols

'Why Don't We Just Dance,' Josh Turner

Single of the Year: Male

'Do I,' Luke Bryan

'Little More Country Than That,' Easton Corbin

'That's How Country Boys Roll,' Billy Currington

'Gimme That Girl,' Joe Nichols

*'Why Don't We Just Dance,' Josh Turner

Single of the Year: Female

'White Liar,' Miranda Lambert

'Wrong Baby Wrong,' Martina McBride

'Consider Me Gone,' Reba McEntire

'Didn't Know How Much I Loved You,' Kellie Pickler

*'Cowboy Casanova,' Carrie Underwood

Single of the Year: Duo or Group

*'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum

'Little White Church,' Little Big Town

'Unstoppable,' Rascal Flatts

'Keep on Lovin' You,' Steel Magnolia

'Toes,' Zac Brown Band

Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist



*'A Little More Country Than That,' Easton Corbin

'Pray for You,' Jaron and The Long Road To Love

'Lover, Lover,' Jerrod Niemann

'Keep on Lovin' You,' Steel Magnolia

'Beer on the Table,' Josh Thompson

Touring Headline Package of the Year

Brooks & Dunn

Toby Keith

Martina McBride and Trace Adkins

Tim McGraw

Brad Paisley

Rascal Flatts

George Strait and Reba McEntire

Sugarland

Taylor Swift

*Carrie Underwood

Music Video of the Year

'A Little More Country Than That,' Easton Corbin

'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum

*'Hillbilly Bone,' Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins

'Why Don't We Just Dance,' Josh Turner

'The Man I Want to Be,' Chris Young

Music Video: Male

'A Little More Country Than That,' Easton Corbin

'Southern Voice,' Tim McGraw

*'Hillbilly Bone,' Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins

'Why Don't We Just Dance,' Josh Turner

'The Man I Want To Be,' Chris Young

Music Video: Female

'White Liar,' Miranda Lambert

'Consider Me Gone,' Reba McEntire

'Didn't Know How Much I Loved You,' Kellie Pickler

*'Cowboy Casanova,' Carrie Underwood

'Work Hard, Play Harder,' Gretchen Wilson

Music Video: Duo or Group

*'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum

'Little White Church,' Little Big Town

'Unstoppable,' Rascal Flatts

'Keep on Lovin' You,' Steel Magnolia

'Highway 20 Ride,' Zac Brown Band

Music Video: Breakthrough Artist

'Giddy on Up,' Laura Bell Bundy

*'A Little More Country Than That,' Easton Corbin

'Lover, Lover,' Jerrod Niemann

'Keep on Lovin' You,' Steel Magnolia

'If I Die Young,' The Band Perry

*Decade Award: Rascal Flatts

*Video Visionary Award: Toby Keith

*Greatest Hits Award: Alan Jackson

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