ACM Honors Revealed, Womack To Host

Lee Ann Womack will host the 2nd Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will take place on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 in Nashville at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Those being honored include Special Award recipients, as well as winners of the MBI (musician, bandleader, instrumentalist) and Industry categories. Merle Haggard, Harlan Howard, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr., David Young and the film Beer For My Horses are among the honorees.

Special Awards (voted on by the ACM Board of Directors)
Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr.
Jim Reeves International Award – Dolly Parton
Mae Boren Axton Award – David Young
Poet’s Award – Merle Haggard, Harlan Howard
Tex Ritter Award – Beer For My Horses

MBI Awards (member voted)
Audio Engineer of the Year – Chuck Ainlay
Producer of the Year – Tony Brown
Top Bass Player of the Year – Glenn Worf
Top Fiddle Player of the Year – Aubrey Haynie
Top Guitarist of the Year – Tom Bukovac
Top Percussionist/Drummer of the Year – Greg Morrow
Top Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year – Gordon Mote
Top Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year – Eric Darken, Jelly Roll Johnson (Tied)
Top Steel Guitar Player of the Year – Dan Dugmore

Industry Awards (member voted)
Casino of the Year – Turning Stone Casino (Verona, NY)
Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year – Fran Romeo, Romeo Entertainment
Nightclub of the Year – Joe’s Bar (Chicago, IL)
Promoter of the Year – Louis Messina, The Messina Group
Venue of the Year – The Ryman Auditorium (Nashville, TN)