Nominations Are Out For The ACA’s
The American Country Awards is the new kid on the block as far as award shows go. I think a lot of people had their doubts when it debuted last year, but it has made it back for a second year. While other award shows have fallen short of, well...awards, the ACA's have no shortage of them. They've gone as far as doubling the number of categories of the heritage award shows like the CMA's and ACM's. I have been very vocal about the lack of focus on the award presentations at both last year's CMA's and agin at this year's ACM's. Why do we have to leave awards off TV when you have 10 categories and a 3 hour show? Anyway, I'm sure some of the ACA's awards will be left off TV, but only because by my count, they are offering up 19 categories, all voted on by the fans.
The ACA's have split up male, female, and group awards into their own categories for artist, single, and video, as well as an overall award for all. I don't have a huge problem with that, but I do think it can get redundant at times, because the overall winner will most likely also win for either Male, Female, or Group.
The best change I see are the creation of two categories for career growth. The CMA's have changed their "Horizon Award" for career growth (in name only) to "Best New Artist." The problem is, the "Horizon Award" meant an artist who experienced great growth in their career, but hadn't yet won the "big one." The criteria is still the same, but now we call it "New Artist" and have folks like Eric Church and Luke Bryan in there, who have been around for years. The ACA's are offering two categories: "Breakthrough Artist" and "New Artist." I love this, because we can still recognize the steps a guy like Chris Young has taken in the last year, while still showcasing legitimate new talent like Thompson Square. There's even categories for Single and Video from a New Artist. The other top shows should take note.
Finally, one more dislike is the guitars they give as awards. Come on guys, a trophy works just fine. This isn't the Teen Choice Awards with a surfboard for a prize...oh wait, it's produced by the same people. Well, that makes sense.
Anyway, without further ado, is the long list of nominees for this year's American Country Awards to be held December 5th on Fox from Las Vegas with hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth.
ARTISTS
Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band
Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Artist of the Year: Female
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Artist of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band
Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Eric Church
Eli Young Band
Chris Young
Justin Moore
Jake Owen
Artist of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry
Scotty McCreery
Jerrod Niemann
The Pistol Annies
Thompson Square
ALBUMS
Album of the Year
Jason Aldean, "My Kinda Party
Kenny Chesney, "Hemingway's Whiskey"
Brad Paisley, "This Is Country Music"
Taylor Swift, "Speak Now"
Keith Urban, "Get Closer"
Zac Brown Band, "You Get What You Give"
SINGLES
Single of the Year
Billy Currington, "Let Me Down Easy"
Tim McGraw, "Felt Good On My Lips"
Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not"
Chris Young, "Voices"
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, "As She's Walking Away"
Single of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean, "My Kinda Party"
Luke Bryan, "Someone Else Calling You Baby"
Billy Currington, "Let Me Down Easy"
Tim McGraw, "Felt Good On My Lips"
Chris Young, "Voices"
Single of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, "A Little Bit Stronger"
Miranda Lambert, "Heart Like Mine"
Reba, "Turn On The Radio"
Taylor Swift, "Mean"
Carrie Underwood, "Mama's Song"
Single of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry, "You Lie"
Rascal Flatts, "Why Wait?"
Sugarland, "Stuck Like Glue"
Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?"
Zac Brown Band, "Colder Weather"
Single of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry, "You Lie"
Craig Campbell, "Family Man"
The Jane Dear Girls, "Wildflower"
Jerrod Neimann, "What Do You Want?"
Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?"
Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, "Don't You Wanna Stay?"
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, "You and Tequila"
Brad Paisley with Alabama, "Old Alabama"
Zac Brown Band with Jimmy Buffet, "Knee Deep"
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, "As She's Walking Away"
TOURING
Touring Headline Package of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
VIDEOS
Music Video of the Year
Sara Evans, "A Little Bit Stronger"
Jerrod Niemann, "What Do You Want?"
Blake Shelton, "Who Are you When I'm Not Looking?"
Thompson Square, "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?"
Josh Turner, "I Wouldn't Be A Man"
Music Video: Male
Jason Aldean "My Kinda Party"
Jerrod Niemann "What Do You Want?"
Blake Shelton "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking?"
Josh Turner "I Wouldn't Be A Man"
Keith Urban "Put You In A Song"
Music Video: Female
Sara Evans, "A Little Bit Stronger"
Reba, "Turn On The Radio"
Ashton Shepherd, "Look It Up"
Taylor Swift, "Back To December"
Carrie Underwood, "Mama's Song"
Music Video: Duo, Group or Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson "Don't You Wanna Stay?"
The Band Perry "You Lie"
Lady Antebellum "Hello World"
Thompson Square "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?"
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson "As She's Walking Away"
Music Video: New Artist
The Band Perry "You Lie"
Craig Campbell "Family Man"
Brett Eldredge "Raymond"
Jerrod Niemann "What Do You Want?"
Thompson Square "Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?"