The 2016 American Country Countdown Awards brought some of country music’s biggest names to Inglewood, California, on May 1, which saw Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Sam Hunt all walk away winners.
Luke Bryan, who led the pack with seven American Country Countdown Awards nominations at the 2016 ceremony, tied with Sam Hunt as the biggest winner of the night after taking home awards for Artist of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.
Bryan gave a heartfelt speech after his Artist of the Year win, which came just one year after his brother-in-law, Ben Lee Cheshire, passed away. The country superstar thanked his fans in his emotional American Country Countdown speech, telling the country crowd that he was grateful for their prayers during his family’s tumultuous time.
“You know, everybody in my world that makes this happen – you know, my wife, my kids, my label, my management – my people that make me look kind of okay in front of you guys out there on the road, thank you so much for this night, and this will be certainly cherished,” Bryan told fans at the country award show, according to E! News .
Underwood followed suit by taking home the American Country Countdown award for Female Vocalist, in which she touchingly honored a young fan during her emotional acceptance speech.
Carrie took her time in the spotlight on the country award show stage to dedicate her latest award to late 10-year-old fan Isley Thibodaux, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver after leaving the country star’s concert in Louisiana last week.
“Thank you guys so much, it’s been so much fun seeing you guys on the road this year and we’ve just been having fun together so, thank you,” the American Idol winner told fans at the big country show on May 1. “And one fan in particular, Isley Thibodeaux, this is for you.”
Sam Hunt also took home two awards at the American Country Countdown Awards, winning the prestigious country music award for Breakthrough Male of the Year and Digital Album of the Year for his 2015 release, Montevello .
Here are all the big country stars who took home an award at the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards.
American Country Countdown Artist of the Year Blake Shelton Florida Georgia Line Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Sam Hunt
American Country Countdown Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton Jason Aldean Luke Bryan Sam Hunt Thomas Rhett
American Country Countdown Female Vocalist of the Year Cam Carrie Underwood Jana Kramer Kelsea Ballerini Miranda Lambert
Group/Duo of the Year A Thousand Horses Dan + Shay Florida Georgia Line Old Dominion Zac Brown Band
Breakthrough Male of the Year Chris Janson Michael Ray Sam Hunt
Breakthrough Female of the Year Cam Jana Kramer Kelsea Ballerini
Breakthrough Group/Duo of the Year A Thousand Horses Dan + Shay Old Dominion
Country Song of the Year Brothers Osborne – “Stay a Little Longer” Luke Bryan featuring Karen Fairchild – “Home Alone Tonight” Luke Bryan – “Strip It Down” Thomas Rhett – “Die a Happy Man” Zac Brown Band – “Homegrown”
Album of the Year Carrie Underwood – Storyteller Chris Stapleton – Traveller Luke Bryan – Kill the Lights Sam Hunt – Montevallo Zac Brown Band – Jekyll + Hyde
Digital Song of the Year Little Big Town – “Girl Crush” Luke Bryan – “Kick the Dust Up” Thomas Rhett – “Die a Happy Man”
Digital Album of the Year Florida Georgia Line – Anything Goes Sam Hunt – Montevallo Thomas Rhett – Tangled Up
Touring Artist of the Year Garth Brooks Kenny Chesney Luke Bryan Shania Twain Zac Brown Band Nash Icon Award Brooks & Dunn
What do you think of the list of winners from the 2016 American Country Countdown Awards? What do you think of Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood’s emotional acceptance speeches?
[Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images for dcp]
