American Country Awards Recap

American Country Awards

December 11, 2013

Mandalay Bay Events Center

Quite a memorable evening last night, attending our first-ever live national TV awards show. The ACAs were a top-notch affair, featuring a wide array of best-selling artists in two hours of amazing performances. In no particular order, Brad paisley blew the roof off the joint, LeAnn Rimes performed a heartfelt tribute to the late Patsy Cline, and Sheryl Crow joined Darius Rucker for a medley that included his hit "Wagon Wheel". In short, holy #*@#....

Danica Patrick & Trace Adkins 

In a bit of a twist, and I'm not sure this even made it to air, the warm-up hosts were HGTV's Property Guys (not pictured above, nor below), a taste of Canada in the heart of the American award show. I do believe they were having a lot of fun getting the audience prepped for the festivities. 

Represent, Canada!

Luke Bryan

If you're a fan of country music, you'll recognize all the folks in these pictures. If not, that's why I've added in captions. I have another 100 or more that I'll try posting and linking back to here in the near future. I wish I would have had my better quality camera with me, but even with a point & click, some of these worked out pretty darned good, I must say.

Jake Owen & Billy Gibbons

From where we were seated, many of the performers and hosts came out to walk through the audience. Lady Antebellum, Sara Evans and a few more - but those pictures were too dark to use. It is uncanny how thin all these artists are - TV does not do any of them justice! 

Florida Georgia Line

What else? Florida Georgia Line were among the evening's big winners, and mercifully did not perform "Cruise" - but they did rock the stage when their time came though. 

Jake Owen and Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top had to be another highlight - did I mention Lady A opened?? Perhaps that should have run a little closer to the top of this recap.... 

Kellie Pickler

OK, I'm admittedly all over the place here. Typically I take notes to do my reviews, but that was kind of difficult, what with alternating between shooting pictures as best as I could, then trying to live tweet in between, all while being blown away by the depth of talent onstage. 

Sheryl Crow

One thing I have to say, it is waaaay better live. Watching this on TV (PVR) when we get home will be a great way to relive the experience, but being smack-dab in the middle of the action as everyone was scrambling to keep things on time and script was simply amazing. 

Darius Rucker & Sheryl Crow

Never mind feeling the thunder of live music shaking you right out of your seats :-)

Dwight Yoakum

Hey, Dwight Yoakum! He presented a video award to Brad Paisley, who rocked out "Mona Lisa" in typical fine fashion...

Brad Paisley

I'm running out of things to say, and there's still so many pictures...

Did I mention Randy Houser blew the barn doors out with "How Country Feels"??

Lady Antebellum

Say, that Danica Patrick is sure easy on the eyes (not pictured below, nor above)....

LeAnnRimes

We would do this again in a heartbeat - what an incredible event - well done ACAs!!! 

Trace Adkins

Later....