Winners Announced for the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

LAS VEGAS, April 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Winners have been announced for the 48^th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, a star-studded ceremony broadcast LIVE tonight on the CBS Television Network from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.  Fans named Luke Bryan, Entertainer of the Year, the evening's biggest honor and his first win in that category. This year marked a record breaking year with 1.1 million fans casting their vote for Entertainer of the Year and New Artist of the Year categories, combined. 

Bryan co-hosted the ACM Awards for the first time ever tonight with Blake Shelton. Prior to the telecast, Bryan won for Vocal Event of the Year with Jason Aldean and Eric Church, for "The Only Way I Know," a trophy he accepted on the GAC live red carpet pre-show. The Entertainer of the Year Award and Vocal Event of the Year mark his fourth ACM Award wins. He previously won in 2009 for both New Solo Vocalist of the Year and for New Artist of the Year.

Miranda Lambert won for the fourth consecutive year as Female Vocalist of the Year and she also took the prize for Single Record of the Year as artist, and Song of the Year, as artist and composer, for "Over You," an award she shares with husband and co-composer Blake Shelton.  She is the leading winner of the night, with a total of four trophies in three categories.  She joins Reba and Loretta Lynn as the only other artists to win Female Vocalist of the Year four or more times.

Jason Aldean won Male Vocalist of the Year, his first win in the category.  Aldean also won for Vocal Event of the Year, with Luke Bryan and Eric Church, for "The Only Way I Know."  This is his second consecutive win in that category; he won last year with Kelly Clarkson for "Don't You Wanna Stay."  In 2005, he won for New Male Vocalist of the Year.

Little Big Town won Vocal Group of the Year and, prior to the telecast, they were also awarded the trophy for Video of the Year for "Tornado." This is their first win in both categories.  In 2006, they won for New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year.

Thompson Square won Vocal Duo of the Year, their second consecutive ACM Award win in that category.

Eric Church won Album of the Year for Chief. He also won for Vocal Event of the Year, with Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan, for "The Only Way I Know." This is his first win in both categories, and his third ACM Award overall. He won for New Solo Vocalist of the Year in 2010.

Artists Florida Georgia Line received their first time Academy of Country Music Award tonight for New Artist of the Year Presented by Kohl's Department Stores, a fan-voted category.  They previously won in the New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year category, giving them a total of two wins for this year.

Tonight, the Academy of Country Music sold-out two of the largest arenas in Las Vegas, the MGM Grand Garden Arena for the 48^th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards hosted by Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan, and the Orleans Arena for the 3^nd Annual ACM Fan Jam, headlined by Brad Paisley.

Following is the list of winners in the 11 categories voted on by the membership (excluding the Entertainer of the Year and New Artist categories, which were voted on by a combination of professional ACM members and fans):

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Luke Bryan

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Jason Aldean

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

• Miranda Lambert

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR *(Off Camera Award)

• Thompson Square

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

• Little Big Town

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY KOHL'S

• Florida Georgia Line

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

• Chief – Eric Church (EMI-Nashville)

Produced by:  Jay Joyce

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

• Over You – Miranda Lambert (RCA)

Produced by: Chuck Ainlay, Frank Liddell, Glenn Worf

SONG OF THE YEAR [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• Over You – Miranda Lambert

Composers: Miranda Lambert, Blake Shelton

Publishers:  Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony ATV/Tree Publishing (BMI)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] *(Off Camera Award)

• Tornado – Little Big Town

Producer: Iris Baker

Director: Shane Drake

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] *(Off Camera Award)

• The Only Way I Know – Jason Aldean With Luke Bryan & Eric Church (Broken Bow)

Produced by:  Michael Knox

NEW MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (previously announced)

• Brantley Gilbert

NEW FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR (previously announced)

• Jana Kramer

NEW VOCAL DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR (previously announced)

• Florida Georgia Line

For a complete list of past and present wins and nominations, please visit www.acmcountry.com and search the ACM Awards Database located on the Homepage.

Getty Images is the official photographer for the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS and photos can be accessed at www.gettyimages.com.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards

The 48^th Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry.  The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Sunday, April 7, 2013 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.  Allen Shapiro, Orly Adelson and R.A. Clark are executive producers.  Barry Adelman is producer, and Bob Bardo is the executive in charge of production. Bob Romeo is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music. 

CONTACT: Joanna Cichocki / Christina Canseco, 310-854-4800, [email protected], [email protected]

SOURCE Academy of Country Music