December 11th, 2012 
ACA 2012 hosts, Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins.
(Photo Credit: Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Last night the biggest names in country music gathered at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas for the 2012 American Country Awards. Hosted by the über-cute Kristin Chenoweth and country-crooner Trace Adkins, the awards are deemed the “country music awards for the next generation.” Different than their country counterparts, they’re fan-voted awards where fans can not only vote for their favorite artists and songs, but also for their favorite touring bands.
Nine time American Country Award nominee Luke Bryan not only opened the show, but swept the third annual awards ceremony. Bryan took home nine awards, including Male Artist, Single and Music Video of the Year for “I Don’t Want This Night to End,” Album for “Tailgates and Tanlines” and Artist of the Year.
Singer Luke Bryan with his many awards.
(Photo Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
It was also a big night for American Idol alum and country darling, Carrie Underwood, who set a record by receiving her 11th ACA during the show’s three-year history when she scored Female Artist of the Year, and “Remind Me,” her hit duet with Brad Paisley was named Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration.
Beating out some pretty heavy hitters players: the CMA Awards New Artist of the Year, Hunter Hayes, Pistol Annies, Kip Moore and Jana Kramer, the most heart-warming, emotional win of the night went to another Idol alum, Lauren Alaina. The newcomer was positively joyful when she won New Artist of the Year. ”When they said my name, I stopped breathing,” she gushed afterward in the pressroom. ”I can’t wait to get on Twitter tonight,” she glowed. “I’m 18; it’s what we do.”
Notable performances throughout the show were given by Dierks Bentley (“Country and Cold Cans“), Rascal Flatts (“Hot in Here“), Kip Moore (“Beer Money” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck“), Jake Owen (“The One That Got Away“), Jason Aldean (“The Only Way I Know“), and Little Big Town (“Tornado“).
Little Big Town onstage during the 2012 American Country Awards.
(Photo Credit: Mark Davis/Getty Image)
The two-hour event also featured appearances by Eli Young Band, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Carmen Electra, Florida Georgia Line, Gloriana, Love and Theft, Penn & Teller, Natasha Bedingfield, Scotty McCreery, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Brice, Jana Kramer, Dustin Lynch, Ron White and Chris Young, among other stars.
List of 2012 ACA winners:
Artist of the Year - Luke Bryan
Artist of the Year: Male - Luke Bryan
Artist of the Year: Female - Carrie Underwood
Lauren Alaina’s memorable acceptance speech.
(Photo Credit: Mark Davis/Getty Images)
Artist of the Year: Group - Lady Antebellum
Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist - Jake Owen
Artist of the Year: New Artist - Lauren Alaina
Album of the Year - Luke Bryan, “Tailgates and Tanlines”
Single of the Year: Breakthrough Artist - Brantley Gilbert, “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do”
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 with Carrie Underwood, “Remind Me”
Lady Antebellum performs “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Single of the Year: New Artist - Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
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 or Collaboration - Little Big Town, “Pontoon”
Music Video of the Year: New Artist - Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
Touring Artist of the Year - Jason Aldean
Song of the Year - Eric Church, “Springsteen”
Carrier Underwood remains Female Artist of the Year
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
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: Female - Miranda Lambert, “Over You”
Most Played Radio Track: Group - Zac Brown Band, “Keep Me In Mind”
Most Played Radio Track: New Artist - Kip Moore, “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Truck”
