Carrie Underwood Tops First American Country Awards

AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS: Carrie Underwood is the Artist of the Year at the AMERICAN COUNTRY AWARDS at the MGM Grand Garden Arena live in Las Vegas, airing Monday, Dec. 6 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. © 2010 FOX BROADCASTING. CR: Mark Davis/FOX.

What happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay in Vegas.

Carrie Underwood won six times at the inaugural American Country Awards Monday night as victors took home Fender guitars instead of the traditional mantle pieces collected at most ceremonies. Carrie picked up the night’s biggest honor, Artist of the Year, in the waning moments of the two-hour FOX show, and like the rest of the evening’s speakers, she made a point of thanking the fans, who voted on the honors.  View the ACA photo gallery »

“We have had the most amazing year out on the road,” she said. “Of course, we wouldn’t be doing anything if there wasn’t people out there sitting in that audience.”

Only a portion of the total awards were presented on camera as producers concentrated on performances, offering “more music per minute,” show host Trace Adkins claimed, “than any other awards show.”

Acceptance speeches often received a quirky treatment with winners such as Josh Turner and Easton Corbin receiving the news, then performing one of their songs before a Nancy O’Dell interview edged them into the proverbial speech. Alan Jackson crammed at least nine former singles into a medley as he received the Greatest Hits Award, Rascal Flatts stuffed five hits into another medley before accepting a Decade Award, and Toby Keith ran through “Bullets In The Gun” as he was given the Video Visionary Award.

Blake Shelton, Uncle Kracker, Steel Magnolia, Reba McEntire and The Band Perry all sang live. Luke Bryan joined Jason Aldean for a revved-up version of “My Kinda Party” and Keith Urban tossed in an outdoor performance of “Put You In A Song.” It appeared to be the song he pre-taped in Dallas on Thanksgiving Eve.

Lady Antebellum also won four times, though just one of those victories, Group of the Year, came during the telecast.

“A huge thankyou from the bottom of our heart to the fans,” Hillary Scott said, showering more love on music consumers. “This has been the most amazing year of our lives, and y’all have made it happen.”

Here’s a complete recap of the American Country Awards winners:

ARTISTS

Artist of the Year: Carrie Underwood

Male Artist of the Year: Brad Paisley

Female Artist of the Year: Carrie Underwood

Duo or Group Artist of the Year: Lady Antebellum

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Easton Corbin

ALBUMS

Album of the Year: “Play On,” Carrie Underwood

SINGLES

Single of the Year: “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

Male Single of the Year: “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” Josh Turner

Female Single of the Year: “Cowboy Casanova,” Carrie Underwood

Duo or Group Single of the Year: “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

Breakthrough Artist Single of the Year: “Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin

TOURING

Touring Headline Package of the Year: Carrie Underwood

VIDEOS

Music Video of the Year: “Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins

Male Music Video: “Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins

Female Music Video: “Cowboy Casanova,” Carrie Underwood

Duo or Group Music Video: “Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum

Breakthrough Artist Music Video: “A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin

GREATEST HITS AWARD

Alan Jackson

DECADE AWARD

Rascal Flatts

VIDEO VISIONARY AWARD

Toby Keith

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