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Luke Bryan Cleans House At American Country Awards
He cleaned up during the fan-voted show, winning everything he was nominated for, including artist and album of the year. His smash hit “I Don’t Want This Night To End” was named single and music video of the year.
“Mama, daddy, (Jason) Aldean, thank you for a great year, baby,” he said as he accepted artist of the year at the end of the show. “They’re saying wrap (up), but I don’t want to wrap.”
Bryan won a total of nine awards, including two non-fan-voted radio awards. He hit the road on Aldean’s “My Kinda Party” arena tour this year, adding fuel to an already hot ticket. Aldean was named touring artist of the year.
Miranda Lambert took home the second-most guitar trophies, with three. She won female single and female video of the year for the song she wrote with husband Blake Shelton, “Over You.” It was also named most played female radio track.
The ACAs were full of baby talk. Pregnant Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum mentioned her unborn baby in an acceptance speech for group of the year. She also got an oversized baby sling from co-hosts Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth. New dad Jake Owen took home the guitar for breakthrough artist of the year.
“I just had the most beautiful baby girl two weeks ago, and just when you think stuff’s not going to get any better, it just, it’s rolling along,” he said onstage.
Carrie Underwood won female artist of the year, and a tearful Lauren Alaina won new artist of the year.
Bryan, Aldean, Keith Urban, Lady Antebellum, and Adkins with Lynyrd Skynyrd were among the high-energy performances.
The third annual ACAs were held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Monday night. They were aired live on Fox TV.