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It’s time again, after just a month away from an Award show, country music is dialing it up again, this time on the 2nd Annual American Country Awards telecast, an award show that describes itself as The Show For The Next Generation of Country Fans. The show gives out Fender Stratocaster guitars as the award, a completely usable item instead of ‘just another piece of mantle hardware.’
The categories are broken down into many ‘non-traditional’ categories and present many artists with chance to get multiple award nominations. Completely voted on by the fans, the awards also recognize, touring and Grammy-like (until this year) performances for singles from male/female/duo or group/breakthrough artist categories. Without further adieu, here is our predictions for the second annual American Country Awards show:
Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band
Fans vote for this award and it has the longest opening of any award here (voting just ended Friday). Look for this award to go to Taylor Swift for she sells the most albums, has the young fans who vote, and, well, she has won almost every award fans vote for thus far into her career so why would that change now? The only other artist here with any shot is Jason Aldean.
Will Win: Taylor Swift
Should Win: Jason Aldean
Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Each artist that’s nominated here has a shot with Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean the front-runners because each artist has enough crazy-loyal fans to give this award (and Blake Shelton won this award category last year). That being said, 2011 has been Aldean’s year even moreso than Blake’s so it’s hard not to see fans give Jason the award. We think Luke’s got a shot here simply because he’s got loyal younger fans who like to vote and vote often.
Will & Should Win: Jason Aldean
Artist of the Year: Female
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
If not for the presence of Taylor Swift, we’d pin this award on Carrie’s shoulders. She’s got nearly as many young fans as Taylor does – if not more passionate ones - so we think she’ll give Taylor a run for her money but like “Artist of the Year” main category, we think Taylor walks home with the award here, unless Miranda fans somehow sneak Mrs. Shelton in (thus making Carrie AND Taylor fans mad at her!).
Will & should win: Taylor Swift
Artist of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band
If we’re going by the big “Artist of the Year” category, this award should go to Zac Brown Band or Lady Antebellum. However, with The Band Perry being rightfully included in a group category, we have a feeling that the same fan that votes for Taylor Swift will also be voting for the Band Perry, making it very likely they take home this award.
Will win: The Band Perry
Should Win: Zac Brown Band
Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Eric Church
Eli Young Band
Chris Young
Justin Moore
Jake Owen
Each artist here really did have a breakthrough year this year and isn’t it refreshing for the ‘breakthrough’ to be separated from “New Artist,” unlike other award shows? With that said, We think that this is a case of where each artist has devoted fans with Chris Young, Eric Church and Justin Moore having the largest group fans (both in sales and viewers of Roughstock content), we have a feeling the award will go to one of these three dudes with Church being our favorite of the lot.
Will win: Eric Church
Should win: Eric Church
Artist of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry
Scotty McCreery
Jerrod Niemann
The Pistol Annies
Thompson Square
This award must go to acts who are on their first CD (in other words, NEW). And Each of the acts here are very good and very new. Thompson Square’s up for many awards at this shindig and is likely to take home at least one of them. The Band Perry’s up for a lot too and Scotty McCreery has a few nominations. I have a feeling, though, that Scotty or the Band Perry take this home and if Fox had their way, it’d be their boy Scotty. In the end I think The Band Perry takes it.
Will and should win: The Band Perry
Album of the Year
Jason Aldean, 'My Kinda Party'
Kenny Chesney, 'Hemingway's Whiskey'
Brad Paisley, 'This Is Country Music'
Taylor Swift, 'Speak Now'
Keith Urban, 'Get Closer'
Zac Brown Band, 'You Get What You Give'
All successful albums released in the past year. In fact, only Paisley’s This is Country Music wasn’t released in 2010. But that album’s likely to not have a chance here. Much like any category with Taylor Swift nominated, I don’t think anyone outside of maybe Aldean really stands a chance to win this fan-voted award.
Will win: Taylor Swift
Should win: Zac Brown Band
Single of the Year
Billy Currington, 'Let Me Down Easy'
Tim McGraw, 'Felt Good On My Lips'
Thompson Square, 'Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not'
Chris Young, 'Voices'
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, 'As She's Walking Away'
Interesting lot of single choices here. Chris Young’s got a boatload of engaged fans so he may sneak in and win this award but we think this is where Thompson Square takes home their very first major award and it’s a well-deserved award too. This is to say nothing of the lyrically great “As She’s Walking Away,” a brilliant song. Still, it’s fan voted and the fans will pick who they like the most, not necessarily who really ‘earned’ the award.
Will win: Thompson Square
Should win: Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson
Single of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean, 'My Kinda Party'
Luke Bryan, 'Someone Else Calling You Baby'
Billy Currington, 'Let Me Down Easy'
Tim McGraw, 'Felt Good On My Lips'
Chris Young, 'Voices'
Once again Chris Young is in competition with Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. McGraw and Currington had strong singles but when accounting the fans, how can you not go with the ones selling ridiculously well at retail and digitally. That means this one’s Aldean’s to lose with Luke and CY right behind.
Will Win: Jason Aldean
Should Win: Chris Young
Single of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, 'A Little Bit Stronger'
Miranda Lambert, 'Heart Like Mine'
Reba, 'Turn On the Radio'
Taylor Swift, 'Mean'
Carrie Underwood, Mama's Song'
Once again we have the three blondes and the two veteran also-rans in Reba and Sara Evans. Some fans of Sara may be vocal enough to get her into the competition but we have a feeling that this is Taylor or Carrie or Miranda’s to lose. Carrie fans will revolt if she doesn’t win and will call it ‘rigged for Taylor’ if Taylor beats her at everything they’re nominated against. That being said, we think Taylor has this locked down again. Her fans are just very, very active.
Will win: Taylor Swift
Should Win: Sara Evans
Single of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry, 'You Lie'
Rascal Flatts, 'Why Wait?'
Sugarland, 'Stuck Like Glue'
Thompson Square, 'Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?'
Zac Brown Band, 'Colder Weather'
“Colder Weather” is clearly – clearly – the best single of the lot here. In a perfect world, it’d be the winner. But this isn’t a perfect world and while each song here was a big ole radio hit, we think that The Band Perry has too many active fans voting to see them lose this award to anyone but Thompson Square.
Will win: The Band Perry
Should Win: The Zac Brown Band
Single of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry, 'You Lie'
Craig Campbell, 'Family Man'
Jane Dear Girls, 'Wildflower'
Jerrod Neimann, 'What Do You Want?'
Thompson Square, 'Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?'
This one will come down to The Band Perry and Thompson Square but, as we learned when Craig’s “Family Man” beat out T2 to win a Music Video Madness contest on our site this past March, Craig Campbell is not somebody to count out. He has loyal fans and with him not having many categories to vote on like the other artists here, I think he might give TBP and T2 a run for their money. In fact, I’m calling an upset here.
Will Win: Craig Campbell
Should Win: Thompson Square
Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, 'Don't You Wanna Stay?'
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, 'You and Tequila'
Brad Paisley with Alabama, 'Old Alabama'
Zac Brown Band with Jimmy Buffet, 'Knee Deep'
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, 'As She's Walking Away'
This single of the Year category for vocal collaboration is an interesting one but Really, I think this is one where ZBB will split votes and there just aren’t enough Chesney or Paisley fans active enough to displace Aldean or Clarkson.
Will and Should win: “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”
Touring Headline Package of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Ten nominees. That’s a boat load of people. Is this the Oscar “Best Picture” category? We don’t think so. Still, it’s great to see artists with strong headline touring stats get acknowledged for their tours. We still think this will come down to Swift, Underwood and Aldean but with Toby and Strait not having any other category mentions, it’s hard not to see them in the action as well but in the end, This will likely go to Taylor and she will continue to be ‘wonderstruck’ about her fortune when really, we get it already, you’re surprised but you shouldn’t be, you’re the best-selling artist in the country (not named Adele).
It’s time again, after just a month away from an Award show, country music is dialing it up again, this time on the 2nd Annual American Country Awards telecast, an award show that describes itself as The Show For The Next Generation of Country Fans. The show gives out Fender Stratocaster guitars as the award, a completely usable item instead of ‘just another piece of mantle hardware.’
The categories are broken down into many ‘non-traditional’ categories and present many artists with chance to get multiple award nominations. Completely voted on by the fans, the awards also recognize, touring and Grammy-like (until this year) performances for singles from male/female/duo or group/breakthrough artist categories. Without further adieu, here is our predictions for the second annual American Country Awards show:
Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band
Fans vote for this award and it has the longest opening of any award here (voting just ended Friday). Look for this award to go to Taylor Swift for she sells the most albums, has the young fans who vote, and, well, she has won almost every award fans vote for thus far into her career so why would that change now? The only other artist here with any shot is Jason Aldean.
Will Win: Taylor Swift
Should Win: Jason Aldean
Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
Each artist that’s nominated here has a shot with Blake Shelton, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean the front-runners because each artist has enough crazy-loyal fans to give this award (and Blake Shelton won this award category last year). That being said, 2011 has been Aldean’s year even moreso than Blake’s so it’s hard not to see fans give Jason the award. We think Luke’s got a shot here simply because he’s got loyal younger fans who like to vote and vote often.
Will & Should Win: Jason Aldean
Artist of the Year: Female
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
If not for the presence of Taylor Swift, we’d pin this award on Carrie’s shoulders. She’s got nearly as many young fans as Taylor does – if not more passionate ones - so we think she’ll give Taylor a run for her money but like “Artist of the Year” main category, we think Taylor walks home with the award here, unless Miranda fans somehow sneak Mrs. Shelton in (thus making Carrie AND Taylor fans mad at her!).
Will & should win: Taylor Swift
Artist of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band
If we’re going by the big “Artist of the Year” category, this award should go to Zac Brown Band or Lady Antebellum. However, with The Band Perry being rightfully included in a group category, we have a feeling that the same fan that votes for Taylor Swift will also be voting for the Band Perry, making it very likely they take home this award.
Will win: The Band Perry
Should Win: Zac Brown Band
Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Eric Church
Eli Young Band
Chris Young
Justin Moore
Jake Owen
Each artist here really did have a breakthrough year this year and isn’t it refreshing for the ‘breakthrough’ to be separated from “New Artist,” unlike other award shows? With that said, We think that this is a case of where each artist has devoted fans with Chris Young, Eric Church and Justin Moore having the largest group fans (both in sales and viewers of Roughstock content), we have a feeling the award will go to one of these three dudes with Church being our favorite of the lot.
Will win: Eric Church
Should win: Eric Church
Artist of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry
Scotty McCreery
Jerrod Niemann
The Pistol Annies
Thompson Square
This award must go to acts who are on their first CD (in other words, NEW). And Each of the acts here are very good and very new. Thompson Square’s up for many awards at this shindig and is likely to take home at least one of them. The Band Perry’s up for a lot too and Scotty McCreery has a few nominations. I have a feeling, though, that Scotty or the Band Perry take this home and if Fox had their way, it’d be their boy Scotty. In the end I think The Band Perry takes it.
Will and should win: The Band Perry
Album of the Year
Jason Aldean, 'My Kinda Party'
Kenny Chesney, 'Hemingway's Whiskey'
Brad Paisley, 'This Is Country Music'
Taylor Swift, 'Speak Now'
Keith Urban, 'Get Closer'
Zac Brown Band, 'You Get What You Give'
All successful albums released in the past year. In fact, only Paisley’s This is Country Music wasn’t released in 2010. But that album’s likely to not have a chance here. Much like any category with Taylor Swift nominated, I don’t think anyone outside of maybe Aldean really stands a chance to win this fan-voted award.
Will win: Taylor Swift
Should win: Zac Brown Band
Single of the Year
Billy Currington, 'Let Me Down Easy'
Tim McGraw, 'Felt Good On My Lips'
Thompson Square, 'Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not'
Chris Young, 'Voices'
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, 'As She's Walking Away'
Interesting lot of single choices here. Chris Young’s got a boatload of engaged fans so he may sneak in and win this award but we think this is where Thompson Square takes home their very first major award and it’s a well-deserved award too. This is to say nothing of the lyrically great “As She’s Walking Away,” a brilliant song. Still, it’s fan voted and the fans will pick who they like the most, not necessarily who really ‘earned’ the award.
Will win: Thompson Square
Should win: Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson
Single of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean, 'My Kinda Party'
Luke Bryan, 'Someone Else Calling You Baby'
Billy Currington, 'Let Me Down Easy'
Tim McGraw, 'Felt Good On My Lips'
Chris Young, 'Voices'
Once again Chris Young is in competition with Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. McGraw and Currington had strong singles but when accounting the fans, how can you not go with the ones selling ridiculously well at retail and digitally. That means this one’s Aldean’s to lose with Luke and CY right behind.
Will Win: Jason Aldean
Should Win: Chris Young
Single of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, 'A Little Bit Stronger'
Miranda Lambert, 'Heart Like Mine'
Reba, 'Turn On the Radio'
Taylor Swift, 'Mean'
Carrie Underwood, Mama's Song'
Once again we have the three blondes and the two veteran also-rans in Reba and Sara Evans. Some fans of Sara may be vocal enough to get her into the competition but we have a feeling that this is Taylor or Carrie or Miranda’s to lose. Carrie fans will revolt if she doesn’t win and will call it ‘rigged for Taylor’ if Taylor beats her at everything they’re nominated against. That being said, we think Taylor has this locked down again. Her fans are just very, very active.
Will win: Taylor Swift
Should Win: Sara Evans
Single of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry, 'You Lie'
Rascal Flatts, 'Why Wait?'
Sugarland, 'Stuck Like Glue'
Thompson Square, 'Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?'
Zac Brown Band, 'Colder Weather'
“Colder Weather” is clearly – clearly – the best single of the lot here. In a perfect world, it’d be the winner. But this isn’t a perfect world and while each song here was a big ole radio hit, we think that The Band Perry has too many active fans voting to see them lose this award to anyone but Thompson Square.
Will win: The Band Perry
Should Win: The Zac Brown Band
Single of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry, 'You Lie'
Craig Campbell, 'Family Man'
Jane Dear Girls, 'Wildflower'
Jerrod Neimann, 'What Do You Want?'
Thompson Square, 'Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not?'
This one will come down to The Band Perry and Thompson Square but, as we learned when Craig’s “Family Man” beat out T2 to win a Music Video Madness contest on our site this past March, Craig Campbell is not somebody to count out. He has loyal fans and with him not having many categories to vote on like the other artists here, I think he might give TBP and T2 a run for their money. In fact, I’m calling an upset here.
Will Win: Craig Campbell
Should Win: Thompson Square
Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, 'Don't You Wanna Stay?'
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, 'You and Tequila'
Brad Paisley with Alabama, 'Old Alabama'
Zac Brown Band with Jimmy Buffet, 'Knee Deep'
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, 'As She's Walking Away'
This single of the Year category for vocal collaboration is an interesting one but Really, I think this is one where ZBB will split votes and there just aren’t enough Chesney or Paisley fans active enough to displace Aldean or Clarkson.
Will and Should win: “Don’t You Wanna Stay.”
Touring Headline Package of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
Ten nominees. That’s a boat load of people. Is this the Oscar “Best Picture” category? We don’t think so. Still, it’s great to see artists with strong headline touring stats get acknowledged for their tours. We still think this will come down to Swift, Underwood and Aldean but with Toby and Strait not having any other category mentions, it’s hard not to see them in the action as well but in the end, This will likely go to Taylor and she will continue to be ‘wonderstruck’ about her fortune when really, we get it already, you’re surprised but you shouldn’t be, you’re the best-selling artist in the country (not named Adele).
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