“American Idol” finalists were nominated for seven trophies at the 2011 American Country Awards. When the night ended, they had racked up six wins. Not a bad night for the home team.
The 2nd Annual (2011) American Country Awards, broadcast live on Fox Television from Las Vegas, not only saw Jason Aldean win six Telecaster trophies on the night, but Fox Television’s own “American Idol” saw three of its alumni pull in six awards as well.
A pretty good showing considering they were nominated for seven and saw their only loss go to the guy who took home Artist of the Year and Album of the Year.
Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood kept up her winning ways, picking up where she left off last year (she won six trophies at last year’s first-ever American Country Awards).
She won two of the blue guitar awards for “Mama’s Song” (Music Video: Female and Single of the Year: Female) and Artist of the Year: Female.
Kelly Clarkson, who won the first season of “American Idol,” was part of the Jason Aldean celebration.
She shared the nominations for Music Video: Duo, Group or Collaboration and Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration for “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” the No. 1 smash hit that she was featured on.
In a small way, you could say that Clarkson also partially shared in Aldean’s win for Album of the Year as well — “Don’t You Wanna Stay” was the first No. 1 hit off the album (of two — “Dirt Road Anthem” was the follow-up).
The sixth award won by an “Idol” winner went to the latest Idol, Season 10 winner Scotty McCreery. McCreery won in the Artist of the Year: New Artist category.
And the only loss of the night? Carrie Underwood was also nominated in the Touring Headline Act of the Year award. As noted, Jason Aldean won that award as well.
It’s the second consecutive year that “American Idol” has had a finalist (actually a winner) win six of the Telecaster trophies.
At the ceremony’s inaugural event in 2010, two other “Idol” finalists scored three award nominations.
Season 8’s third-place finisher Danny Gokey was nominated in the Breakthrough Artist of the Year category, which was won by Easton Corbin.
And Season 5’s seventh-place finalist Kellie Pickler was nominated for two awards, Single of the Year: Female and Music Video: Female, for her hit song, “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.”
Fox Television Network created the American Country Awards as a democratic alternative to the other country music awards ceremonies (much like the American Music Awards are with regard to the Grammy Awards), the Academy of Country Music awards and the Country Music Association awards.
In the two years the ceremony has been held, it has been a showcase for the talent of the network’s hit reality show “American Idol” as well as the country music industry.
It is doubtful they could have scripted a better marketing scheme.
