Ok country fans, it’s time for the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards recap! There were so many good performances during this years’ awards show, and I was singing along the whole time. Country music’s finest artists srsly showed up tonight and were on point. If you’re trying to find out if your favorite country band won, you may want to scroll down to the bottom to see the full list of nominees and winners. I won’t judge if you have to check out your fav category first. Check out the full 2016 American Country Countdown Awards recap of everything that happened below.
The 2016 American Country Countdown Awards Recap
The Full 2016 American Country Countdown Awards Performance Details
The 2016 American Country Countdown Awards aired live tonight May 1, 2016, at The Forum in Los Angeles. The awards ceremony showcased country music’s top artists today. I was pretty excited by the list of nominees for the ACC Awards. Here is the American Country Countdown Awards recap of what happened at the show, who performed, who presented, who won!
The show opens with an amazing performance from Martina McBride, Jennifer Nettles, and Cam. They performed McBride’s 2003 hit song This One’s For The Girls.
Carrie Underwood presents the award for Male Vocalist of the Year to Luke Bryan. I like Luke, although I do admit I wish Jason Aldean would have won, but Luke deserves it. He sang his newest hit Huntin’ Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day.
Sara Evans presents the Award for Group/Duo of the Year to Florida Georgia Line. OMG! I am so excited! Jesus Christ, I love them so much. During their acceptance speech, Tyler Hubbard said, “Wow, this is unreal. I want to say thank you again to the fans. Thank you to the ACAA, Jesus Christ, or allowing us to do what we love.” They took the stage to sing their new song HOLY, which was just released on Friday. Such a beautiful song, with Tyler Hubbard on piano. Love it!
Chris Lane and Canaan Smith take the stage to present the next performer: Cam, who sings her new hit Mayday. I am just not a huge fan of hers. I didn’t like her previous song Burning House and don’t like Mayday any better.
Chase Bryant and Michael Ray take the stage to present Cole Swindell, who sings You Should Be Here. This is such a beautiful song, brings tears to your eyes. Great job Cole!
Next, Chris Janson took the stage to sing Buy Me a Boat. I don’t know what it is about this song, but I just think it is so annoying! I know lots of people like it though.
Jennifer Nettles and Terry Crews take the stage to present the award for Breakthrough Male of the Year. Before they present the award though, they pay tribute to the late Prince, by having purple colors everywhere. Very beautiful! Anyways, the award goes to Sam Hunt, who then sings Make You Miss Me. He was also presented with the award for Digital Album of the Year for Montevallo. I like Sam Hunt, I think he will go far in the industry! During his acceptance speech, he said, “I want to thank all the folks who invested their talent in this record. Thank you for sticking to your guns and hanging in there with me till the end.”
Jana Kramer and Season 15 American Idol winner Trent Harmon present the award for Song of the Year to Thomas Rhett for Die a Happy Man, which he then sang onstage. Love that song!
Luke Wilson presents the award for Female Vocalist of the Year to Carrie Underwood. How can you not love her? I was kind of hoping Miranda Lambert would win but glad to see Carrie win. She performed her newest song Church Bells. Such a great song, but then again, I don’t think she has a bad song. During her acceptance speech, she said, “Thank you guys so much. I would like to thank the good Lord above for country music and that we are blessed to be a part of it.” Underwood dedicated the award to Isley Thibodeaux, a 10-year old fan who passed away last week, after being killed by a drunk driver on her way home from Carrie Underwood’s Lafayette, Louisiana.
Reba McIntire presents the Nash Icon Award to Brooks & Dunn. The award honors artists with tremendous talent who have been an influence to generations of musicians. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn were a country duo from 1991 till their retirement in 2010. Throughout their career, they racked up 50 singles, with 21 of them going to #1. The duo takes the stage to perform Red Dirt Road.
Scotty McCreery along with Maddie & Tae present the award for Breakthrough Female of the Year to Kelsea Ballerini. So excited for her. She is such a force to be reckon with. She performed her song Dibs. I thought she would have done her newest hit Peter Pan but I love Dibs, so not complaining. As part of her acceptance speech, she said, “Since I was a little girl, I always wondered what it would be like to hear my song on the radio, and the last two years Country radio has given me the gift of knowing and I will forever be grateful for that, so thank you Country radio.”
Country duo Dan & Shay perform their songs Nothin’ Like You and From the Ground Up. Not a big fan at all. I have never really liked any of their music.
From So You Think You Can Dance, Paula Abdul and Cat Deeley present the award for Album of the Year to Chris Stapleton for Traveller. He was not at the show because his is currently on tour, but did send an acceptance message for his win via video, saying, “We’re out on the road playing shows. But thank you to the fans. Thank you to everybody who bought this record and thank you to everybody who continues to show up to shows and thank you to the American Country Countdown.”
Martina McBride takes the stage to perform Reckless. What a great performance. I love her. She is so humble.
Dwight Yoakam presents the award for Artist of the Year to Luke Bryan. Again, I love Luke but Florida Georgia Line was nominated so I really wanted them to win. But congrats to Luke, well-deserved win.
Matthew McConaughey introduces Toby Keith’s performance. Toby is paying tribute to the late Merle Haggard, who passed away on his 79th birthday on April 2, 2016 due to complications from pneumonia. Toby sang a medley of Haggard’s songs, along with Haggard’s band The Strangers, including Mama Tried, Today I Started Loving You Again, I Think I’ll Just Stay Here and Drink, Workin’ Man Blues, Silver Wings and Okie from Muskogee.
The Winners! 2016 American Country Countdown Awards Recap
Artist of the Year
Blake Shelton
Florida Georgia Line- These are my boys! Some of my family might say I am a bit obsessed with them. Hey, just because I know every word to every one of their songs, doesn’t mean I am obsessed does it?
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan- WINNER
Sam Hunt
Male Vocalist of the Year
Blake Shelton
Jason Aldean- Ouch, putting Shelton, Aldean and Bryan in the same category makes it a tough choice for anyone. But, I have to do with Jason Aldean on this one. With his songs Tonight Looks Good in You and Lights Come On, it doesn’t get better than Aldean.
Luke Bryan- WINNER
Sam Hunt
Thomas Rhett
Female Vocalist of the Year
Cam
Carrie Underwood- WINNER
Jana Kramer
Kelsea Ballerini
Miranda Lambert- Little Red Wagon. Automatic. Need I say more?
Group/Duo of the Year
A Thousand Horses
Dan + Shay
Florida Georgia Line- MY BOYS!!!- WINNER
Old Dominion
Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Male of the Year
Chris Janson
Michael Ray
Sam Hunt- From the first time I heard his voice, I fell in love. Take Your Time, House Party and Break Up in a Small Town are all amazing songs. WINNER
Breakthrough Female of the Year
Cam
Jana Kramer
Kelsea Ballerini- Again, love her! WINNER
Breakthrough Album of the Year
“Untamed”- Cam
“Thirty-One”- Jana Kramer- I love the song I Got the Boy from this album.
“The First Time”- Kelsea Ballerini- WINNER
Breakthrough Group/Duo of the Year
A Thousand Horses
Dan & Shay- Honestly, I am not a big fan of any of these nominees but if I had to choose, I would go with Dan & Shay.
Old Dominion- WINNER
Song of the Year
“Stay A Little Longer” – Brothers Osborne
“Home Alone Tonight” – Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild
“Strip It Down” – Luke Bryan- I love this song. It is so sensual, romantic and emotional. And of course Luke Bryan sings it, so it’s got to be great.
“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett- WINNER
“Homegrown” – Zac Brown Band
Album of the Year
“Storyteller” – Carrie Underwood- So many great songs to come out of this album: Church Bells, Heartbeat, Smoke Break, Renegade Runaway and Mexico.
“Traveller” – Chris Stapleton- WINNER
“Kill The Lights” – Luke Bryan
“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt
“Jekyll + Hyde” – Zac Brown Band
Digital Song of the Year
“Girl Crush” – Little Big Town- One of my favorite country songs. It is such a smoky, flowing song with sweet lyrics. WINNER
“Kick The Dust Up” – Luke Bryan
“Die A Happy Man” – Thomas Rhett
Digital Album of the Year
“Anything Goes” – Florida Georgia Line- Yes, my boys are nominated yet again! So excited! So, which are my favorite songs? Well, all of them! Seriously though, Sun Daze, Dirt, Confession and Every Night are my favorites.
“Montevallo” – Sam Hunt- WINNER
“Tangled Up” – Thomas Rhett
Touring Artist of the Year
Garth Brooks- WINNER
Kenny Chesney
Luke Bryan
Shania Twain- While all these nominees are amazing, Shania Twain and her Rock This Country Tour were simply the best.
Zac Brown Band
I missed the show, so thank you so much for the recap. I feel like I was there.
I do not watch regular television that often and missed the show. You did a wonderful job telling your readers what they missed!!!
It’s nice to see the fashion at the country award shows has improved over the years. I remember some of the outfits from the 80s, and wow were they bad. Carrie Underwood always looks stunning.
I love country music – but only from the 80’s and 90’s and early 2000’s. I never really watch the awards, but after reading this post, I think I will! Thanks!
Sounds like it was a fun filled night for them. Carrie Underwood have always liked a lot so I’m glad that she won last night.
Country isn’t my genre of choice but this looks like it was a lot of fun.
Great recap! I don’t normally watch this awards show so it’s nice to know who won. I have to check out some of the bands I didn’t know about.
It sounds like an eventful night. I wouldn’t say I’m a huge fun but it’s nice to listen to country music from time to time. I hope the fans are happy with how everything turned out!
Sounds like a fun night, so many talented performers! I don’t listen to a lot of country, but will always love Reba!
Great recap for those country fans! Imagine being there during the awards, how exciting.
nice to know this! carrie underwood is love like forever! darn she looks amazing!
It’s nice to see who won. I don’t know most of them now, I’m so out of the loop!
I love country music. Thanks for sharing this awards recap. Good to know!