Jason Aldean won six American Country Awards

American Country Awards celebrates new musicians Jason Aldean, Chris Young, Scotty McCreery and veteran singer Carrie Underwood

Country music's newest superstar Jason Aldean won six awards Monday in Las Vegas, including the night's top honors artist of the year and record of the year for "My Kinda Party."
It's true, 2010 has been a non-stop party for Aldean. More than a million fans turned out for his arena tour, his platinum album has spawned four hits so far and the awards are starting to pile up after years of being ignored.

Carrie Underwood's fans came through for her again at the fan-voted awards a year after she was the top winner on the inaugural show with six trophies. She picked up three awards this year, including female artist of the year and female single of the year for "Mama's Song."

As expected, the show's focus was mostly on country music's emerging stars. Thompson Square also won three trophies — blue Fender Telecasters with an embossed silhouette of the U.S. The husband-and-wife duo of Shawna and Kiefer Thompson rode their breakthrough single "Are You Going to Kiss Me Or Not?" to group single, new artist single and new artist video of the year awards.
Chris Young won two awards, breakthrough artist and single of the year for "Voices," "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery was named new artist of the year and Lady Antebellum won a second straight group of the year.

Along with the night's top two honors, Aldean also was named touring artist of the year and won male single of the year for "My Kinda Party" and vocal collaboration single of the year for "Don't You Wanna Stay" with Kelly Clarkson.

Alabama won a Greatest Hits Award and Toby Keith was named artist of the decade as the most-played country star on radio over the past 10 years.
Blake Shelton won video of the year for "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking." He dedicated the win to his father, Dick, who is in the hospital with pneumonia. He then appeared to tear up at the end of his performance of "God Gave Me You."
The Associated Press

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2012 Grammy Nominees in pictures(Gallery)

Adele landed nominations for Record and Song of the Year for "Rolling in the Deep" and Album of the Year for "21." (Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images)

Record of the Year
Adele - "Rolling in the Deep"
Bon Iver - "Holocene"
Bruno Mars - "Grenade"
Mumford & Sons - "The Cave"
Katy Perry - "Firework"
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Kanye West may get a chance to expand his already-huge collection of 14 Grammys as he picked up a leading seven nominations. (Randy Brooke/WireImage/Getty Images)

Song of the Year
Kanye West - “All of the Lights”
Mumford & Sons - “The Cave”
Bruno Mars - “Grenade”
Bon Iver - “Holocene”
Adele - “Rolling in the Deep”
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Notable Grammy snubs include Nicki Minaj --  Best New Artist nomination. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Best New Artist
The Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
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Rihanna along with Radiohead, Bon Iver, Drake and Mumford & Sons each received four nods. (The Image Gate/Getty Images)

Album of the Year
Adele - 21
The Foo Fighters - Wasting Light
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Bruno Mars - Doo-wops and Hooligans
Rihanna - Loud
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Bruno Mars got nods for Record and Song of the Year for "Grenade," and Album of the Year for Doo-Wops and Hooligans. (Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Best Pop Solo Performance
Adele - "Someone Like You"
Lady Gaga - "You and I"
Bruno Mars - "Grenade"
Katy Perry - "Firework"
Pink - "F***in' Perfect"
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Coldplay  arriving at the Q Awards 2008, the event was held at the Grosvenor House in Park Lane, London, UK. (October 6, 2008 - Photo by FlynetPictures.com)

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse - "Body and Soul"
The Black Keys - "Dearest"
Coldplay - "Paradise"
Foster the People - "Pumped Up Kicks"
Maroon 5 & Christina Aguilera - "Moves Like Jagger"
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Singer Cee Lo Green along with Melanie Fiona received a Best Traditional R&B Performance nomination for "Radio Message." (Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

Best Pop Vocal Album
Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
Rihanna - Loud
Bruno Mars - Doo Wops & Hooligans
Lady Gaga - Born This Way
Adele - 21
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DJ Deadmau5 performs at the Activision E3 2010 preview held at Staples Center on June 14, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (June 13, 2010 - Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images North America)

Best Dance Recording
Robyn - "Call Your Girlfriend"
Deadmau5 - "Raise Your Weapon"
Duck Sauce - "Barbara Streisand"
David Guetta - "Sunshine"
Skrillex - "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites"
Swedish House Mafia - "Save the World"
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Swedish singer, Robyn, takes the stage at Lovebox 2011 at Victoria park in a very animated performance.
(July 17, 2011 - Photo by Bauer Griffin)

Best Dance/Electronica Album
Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites
David Guetta - Nothing But the Beat
Robyn - Body Talk, Pt. 3
Deadmau5 - 4x4=12
Cut Copy - Zonoscope
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Mumford & Sons at the 2011 BRIT Awards held at The O2 Arena.
(February 15, 2011 - Photo by Bauer Griffin)

 Best Rock Performance
Coldplay – “Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall”
The Decemberists – “Down By The Water”
Foo Fighters – “Walk”
Mumford & Sons – “The Cave”
Radiohead – “Lotus Flower”
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Musician Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters perform onstage during the 2011 MTV Movie Awards at Universal Studios' Gibson Amphitheatre on June 5, 2011 in Universal City, California.
(June 4, 2011 - Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images North America)

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance
Dream Theater – “On The Backs Of Angels”
Foo Fighters – “White Limo”
Mastodon – “Curl Of The Burl”
Megadeth – “Public Enemy No. 1″
Sum 41 – “Blood In My Eyes”
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Musician Thom Yorke of Radiohead performs during day 3 of the Coachella Valley Music & Art Festival 2010 held at The Empire Polo Club on April 18, 2010 in Indio, California.
(April 17, 2010 - Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images North America)

Best Rock Song
Mumford & Songs - "The Cave"
Coldplay - "Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"
The Decemberists - "Down by the Water"
Radiohead - "Lotus Flower"
Foo Fighters - "Walk"
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Musical group Kings of Leon arrives at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center on January 31, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
(January 30, 2010 - Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America)

Best Rock Album
Jeff Beck – Rock ‘N’ Roll Party Honoring Les Paul
Foo Fighters – Wasting Light
Kings Of Leon – Come Around Sundown
Red Hot Chili Peppers – I’m With You
Wilco – The Whole Love
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Musical group Foster the People arrives at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on August 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (August 27, 2011 - Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America)

Best Alternative Music Album
Bon Iver – Bon Iver
Death Cab For Cutie – Codes And Keys
Foster The People – Torches
My Morning Jacket – Circuital
Radiohead – The King Of Limbs
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Jay-Z & Kanye West at the 2011 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show - Performance.The Armory, New York, NY.November 9, 2011. (November 9, 2011 - Photo by Bauer Griffin)

Best Rap Performance
Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes – “Look At Me Now”
Jay-Z & Kanye West – “Otis”
Lupe Fiasco – “The Show Goes On”
Nicki Minaj & Drake – “Moment 4 Life”
Wiz Khalifa – “Black And Yellow”
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Whiz Khalifa performs at the BET Hip Hop Awards 2011 at Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center on October 1, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (September 30, 2011 - Photo by Chris McKay/Getty Images North America)

Best Rap Song
Kanye West - "All of the Lights"
Wiz Khalifa - "Black and Yellow"
Dr. Dre & Eminem - "I Need a Doctor"
Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes - “Look At Me Now”
Jay-Z & Kanye West - “Otis”
Lupe Fiasco - “The Show Goes On”
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Best Rap Album
Jay-Z & Kanye West – Watch The Throne
Lil Wayne – Tha Carter IV
Lupe Fiasco – Lasers
Nicki Minaj – Pink Friday
Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
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Singer Ledisi performs at the 33rd Annual UNCF An Evening Of Stars on August 14, 2011 in Pasadena, California.
(August 13, 2011 - Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images North America)

Best R&B Song
Cee Lo Green - "Fool For You"
Kelly Price - "Not My Daddy"
Charlie Wilson - "You Are"
Marsha Ambrosius - "Far Away"
Ledisi - "Pieces of Me"
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Singer R. Kelly performs at the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.
(February 11, 2011 - Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images North America)

Best R&B Album
Chris Brown - F.A.M.E.
El DeBarge - Second Chance
R. Kelly - Love Letter
Ledisi - Pieces of Me
Kelly Price - Kelly
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Best Country Song
Thompson Square - "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not"
Blake Shelton - "God Gave Me You"
Trace Adkins - "Just Fishin'"
Vince Gill - "Threaten Me with Heaven"
Kenny Chesney & Grace Potter - "You and Tequila"
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(L-R) Musicians Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott, and Dave Haywood from the musical group Lady Antebellum arrive at the 2010 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on November 21, 2010 in Los Angeles, California.
(November 20, 2010 - Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America)

Best Country Album
Eric Church - Chief
Lady Antebellum - Own the Night
Blake Shelton - Red River Blue
George Strait - Here for a Good Time
Jason Aldean - My Kinda Party
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Singers Akiva Schaffer, Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone of The Lonely Island perform onstage during the 63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 18, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (September 17, 2011 - Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images North America)

Best Comedy Album
Patton Oswalt - Finest Hour
The Lonely Island - Turtleneck & Chain
Kathy Griffin - 50 & Pregnant
Louis C.K. - Hilarious
"Weird Al" Yankovic - Alpocalypse
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Nicki Minaj named Billboard's "Rising Star"

Singer Nicki Minaj arrives at a party to celebrate the upcoming launch of the Versace for H&M collection in New York November 8, 2011. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

Singer and rapper Nicki Minaj was named Billboard's 2011 Rising Star on Wednesday, following her international success this year with her album, "Pink Friday."
Minaj, 28, who is signed to Lil Wayne's Young Money Entertainment, took the opportunity of Billboard's announcement to confirm her next album on Twitter.
Set for release on February 14, Valentine's day next year, Minaj's second album will be called "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded," after the rapper's alter ego, Roman Zolanski.

The New York native stormed the Billboard charts this year, becoming the first artist to have seven songs in the Hot 100 singles chart at the same time, including hits such as "Your Love," "Super Bass" and "Fly" featuring Rihanna, while "Pink Friday" reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart.
"Nicki Minaj has established herself as a force in hip-hop and pop music, and we're thrilled to recognize her accomplishments over the past year," said Billboard's editorial director Bill Werde on Billboard.com.
Minaj is the fourth recipient of the award, following Jazmine Sullivan in 2010, Lady Gaga in 2009 and Colbie Caillat in 2008, and will join country music star Taylor Swift, who was named Woman of the Year, to collect the award at the annual Billboard Women in Music event in New York on December 2.

(Reuters)  

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Taylor Swift wins Artist of the Year at 2011 American Music Awards

Taylor Swift was crowned Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards for a second time.

Singer/songwriter Taylor Swift, winner of Artist of the Year, Favorite Country Album and Favorite Country Female Artist Awards, poses in the press room at the 2011 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE on November 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. ( Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images North America)

"This is so crazy!" the country superstar said after beat such contenders as Adele, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to capture all three awards that she was nominated for at Sunday's ceremony, including artist of the year, the show's highest accolade that she previously claimed in 2009.

"I ended up writing the record by myself, so the fact that you would honor it this way, you have no idea what this means to me," said Swift after winning the trophy for favorite country album for Speak Now. She was also awarded the prize for favorite country female artist.
Nicki Minaj, the pink-loving hip-hop diva, won two awards on Sunday. She kicked off the 39th annual fan-favourite ceremony by sporting a pair of speakers on her much-talked about posterior and was later honored as favorite rap/hip-hop artist, besting a group that included mentor Lil Wayne, and won favorite rap/hip-hop album for Pink Friday.

"There's so much love in this room," beamed the pink-haired Minaj.
Adele had been the night's leading nominee with four nods, but didn't have much of a presence at the show: She was absent from the ceremony because she is recovering from recent throat surgery. Adele tied Swift with three awards: favorite pop/rock female artist, adult contemporary artist and pop/rock album for 21.
Other winners included Maroon 5 as favorite pop-rock band/duo/group, Blake Shelton as favorite country male artist, Lady Antebellum as favorite country band/duo/group, Beyonce as favorite soul/R&B female artist, Rihanna for favorite soul/R&B album for Loud and Hot Chelle Rae as new artist of the year.

The ceremony inside the Nokia Theatre in an unusually rainy Los Angeles was drenched with 17 musical performances.
Justin Bieber got in the holiday spirit among a forest of neon lights with Under the Mistletoe, and Kelly Clarkson, wearing a glittery red gown with her hair swept to the side, delivered a swinging rendition of her hit Mr. Know It All as back-up dancers dressed as 1930s-era photographers snapped the first-ever American Idol champion.

Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony shared custody of rapper Pitbull, who joined the former couple in a pair of separate performances.
Lopez performed essentially a live version of a car commercial starring the "Idol" judge set to "Papi" -- with the car onstage -- before launching into her hit On the Floor. Pitbull later returned to the stage and joined Anthony for Rain Over Me.

Lopez expressed surprise when she won the favorite Latin music artist award.
"It's been up and down and just exciting and overwhelming and so many things," Lopez said of the last year.
Several artists delivered stripped-down performances: The Band Perry crooned an emotional If I Die Young, a pink-haired Perry accompanied herself on guitar for The One That Got Away and a platinum-blonde Chris Brown simply sang "All Back" before being joined by a troop of helmet-clad back-up dancers for a flashy interpretation of Say It With Me.

There were collaborations, too. Lopez joined a glowing-in-the-dark will.i.am for his new single Hard.
Christina Aguilera dueted with Maroon 5 on their Moves Like Jagger, and then Maroon 5 lead singer Adam Levine teamed with Gym Class Heroes for their hit Stereo Hearts.
Bieber joined LMFAO in animal-print pants for the show's finale, which ended with everyone on stage -- including David Hasselhoff -- stripping down to smiley-face underwear.

© Associated Press
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Taylor Swift is country music's entertainer of year

Taylor Swift performs Ours during the 45th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday. She was later named entertainer of the year. (Mark Humphrey/Associated Press)

Taylor Swift is the Country Music Association's entertainer of the year.
Swift leaped from her seat with her arms in the air and jumped up and down before hugging her mother and good friend Tim McGraw at the awards ceremony in Nashville, Tenn.
Swift won the award for the second time. The international crossover sensation who has sold more than 20 million albums by the age of 21 also won the CMA's top honor in 2009.
Swift becomes the second woman to win entertainer of the year twice at the CMAs, joining Barbara Mandrell.
Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry scoops the awards for single of the year, song of the year, and new artist of the year at the 45th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville. 

Kimberly Perry of The Band Perry

Earlier, a melancholy song about dying young helped the rising star siblings who make up The Band Perry to three trophies.
Country music's biggest night Wednesday started with unexpected appearances by Hank Williams Jr., Barbie dolls of Tim McGraw and Faith Hill and plenty of crossover appeal. But it was Kimberly Perry's poignant song "If I Die Young" that was everyone's focus. The trio won song and single of the year and best new artist.
"It's just always felt like a song that was meant to be here," Perry said as she was flanked by brothers and bandmates Reid and Neil Perry. "I was so excited to have a pen and paper in hand when it was ready to come to Earth."
Aldean won his first major CMA award, taking album of the year for "My Kinda Party," his platinum-selling album. The CD also included "Don't You Wanna Stay," his duet with Kelly Clarkson, which won musical event of the year.
Blake Shelton and Kenny Loggins opened the show with a high-energy version of Loggins' hit "Footloose," quickly establishing a crossover theme for what is a very eclectic night.
Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter continued that trend when they won video of the year for their steamy "You and Tequila." And Lady Antebellum took its third straight vocal group of the year award.

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Adele scoops UK music video prize

Adele has won the best pop video at this year's UK Music Video Awards, while JLS picked up the people's choice plaudit.

Adele triumphed with Rolling in the Deep, while JLS were honoured for Eyes Wide Shut featuring Tinie Tempah.
In her video, Adele is featured in a derelict house surrounded by hundreds of glasses and broken crockery.
The 23-year-old singer is currently recovering after an operation on her throat.
She was forced to cancel tour dates in America in October, as well as six gigs in the UK, after suffering a vocal cord haemorrhage. Doctors say she is expected to make a full recovery.

The fourth UK Music Video Awards ceremony took place in London's Leicester Square.
Tinie Tempah also won best live music coverage for Ibiza Rocks.
Manchester Orchestra picked up two prizes for video of the year and best international indie/rock video for their track Simple Math.
Depeche Mode won best alternative video for a remix of their hit, Personal Jesus.

Wiley won best UK urban video with Numbers in Action, while Jay-Z and Kanye West picked up the international equivalent for Otis, directed by Spike Jonze.
Jonze was also behind the best alternative international video - Arcade Fire's The Suburbs.
Duran Duran presented the icon award to Jonas Akerlund, who has directed videos such as Music and Ray of Light by Madonna, Lady Gaga's Paparazzi and Telephone, also featuring Beyonce.

David Knight, director of the awards, said there has been "a resurgence of the medium as a creative force".
"Great creative achievements by individuals, usually working on very challenging budgets, have been rewarded at the MVAs tonight," he added.

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