American Country Countdown Awards Winners [Updated]

Pictured (L-R): Miranda Lambert, Reba, and Kelly Clarkson. Photo: ACCA/Getty

Jason Aldean took home the evening’s biggest prize, Artist of the Year, last night (Dec. 15) during the inaugural American Country Countdown Awards, which aired live on FOX. The honor was sweet for the Georgia native, who told the Nashville audience that “never in a million years” did he dream he would make a living performing for fans in stadiums across the country and hearing his songs on country radio. The win was a full-circle moment for Aldean, who recalled listening to the American Country Countdown radio show each weekend as a child.

“The American Country Countdown was the one avenue I had in Nashville to keep up with what was going on,” he said. “Thank you for allowing me to have a career doing something I truly, truly love.”

Lady Antebellum perform during the American Country Countdown Awards. Photo: ACCA/Getty

Luke Bryan and the evening’s hosts Florida Georgia Line earned the most trophies during the awards show, with three apiece. Bryan took home Male Vocalist of the Year honors, while Florida Georgia Line was honored as Group/Duo of the Year. Bryan and FGL’s collaboration “This Is How We Roll” earned trophies for Collaboration of the Year and Digital Song of the Year.

“The crazy thing is Tyler and I started this thing in my Chevy Tahoe with a dream and prayer of playing country music and all of this is thanks to you guys,” FGL member Brian Kelley said.

After winning Album of the Year for his project The Outsiders, Eric Church gave one of the most endearing speeches of the evening. “The coolest thing we get to do is play our songs live for the fans,” Church said. “There’s a lot of people who think albums are a thing of the past … but albums matter more now than ever.” He also treated the crowd to current single “Talladega.”

Eric Church accepts Album of the Year honors for ‘The Outsiders.’ Photo: ACCA/Getty

American Country Countdown radio host and entertainer Kix Brooks was on hand to toast friend and fellow performer Reba with the American Country Countdown Awards’ Nash Icon award, honoring more than four decades of success in country music. Brooks took the time to remind the audience of Reba’s career highlights, including selling more than 56 million albums and notching 35 No. 1 songs. A multi-faceted entertainer, Reba has had success in two television sitcoms and on Broadway, where she starred in Annie Get Your Gun.

ACCA Female Vocalist of the Year winner Miranda Lambert and Kelly Clarkson performed a tribute to Reba, including the McEntire hits “How Blue,” “Take It Back,” and “Fancy.” The Country Music Hall of Fame member joined Clarkson and Lambert on “Fancy,” to the delight of artists watching in the audience. The cameras caught Bryan, Sara Evans and Carrie Underwood singing along.

“It sure means the world to be thought of as a valued member of our country music family,” McEntire said in accepting the Nash Icon honor. “In music as it is in life, it’s all about connecting with people and I feel very blessed to have made such a deep and lasting connection with all of you.”

Kenny Chesney was also the recipient of a special honor, the Groundbreaker Award, for his success in touring and music. After performing current single, “Til It’s Gone,” Chesney humbly accepted saying, “God gave me an incredible gift and that gift was he put a song in my heart and that song has taken me to places that I never dreamed it would.”

Brett Eldredge and Kip Moore also heard their names called as winners during the two-hour event. Eldredge’s ear-candy single “Beat of the Music” earned Song of the Year, while Moore was named Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

Brett Eldredge performs during the American Country Countdown awards. Photo: ACCA/Getty

The show launched with Underwood performing a medley of some of her biggest hits, in promotion of Carrie Underwood: Greatest Hits: Decade #1. The performance was fitting, given that Underwood got her start on another FOX program, American Idol.

ACCA finalists are determined by statistics and radio airplay charts from Nov. 1, 2013 through Oct. 31, 2014. Finalists for Album of the Year are based on album sales information from Soundscan, while finalists for Artist of the Year are based on a combination of Mediabase airplay, digital data from Big Champagne and tour information from Pollstar. The other award categories are based on the largest audience reach according to Mediabase. The only fan-voted category is Breakthrough Artist of the Year.

American Country Countdown Awards Winners:

Winners bolded and in red.