Watch American Country Awards

The American Country Awards is an annual music awards show that aired on Fox from 2010 to 2014. In 2013, the fourth edition of the show was held in Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show was hosted by Trace Adkins and Danica Patrick, with performances from some of the biggest names in country music.

The show opened with a tribute to the late George Jones, featuring performances by Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, and Florida Georgia Line. The three artists sang a medley of some of Jones' greatest hits, including "White Lightning," "He Stopped Loving Her Today," and "The Race Is On."

Throughout the night, awards were presented in various categories, including Male Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Group of the Year, and Album of the Year. Unlike other awards shows, the American Country Awards are entirely fan-voted, with fans being able to cast their ballots online in the weeks leading up to the show.

Some of the night's big winners included Luke Bryan, who took home nine awards, including Artist of the Year and Touring Artist of the Year. Miranda Lambert won Female Artist of the Year, while Blake Shelton won Male Artist of the Year. Florida Georgia Line won Single of the Year for their hit song "Cruise," while the Band Perry won Group of the Year.

There were also several exciting performances throughout the night, including a high-energy performance by Jason Aldean of his hit song "Night Train." Lady Antebellum took the stage to perform their hit song "Compass," while Kellie Pickler delivered an emotional performance of her song "Someone Somewhere Tonight."

One of the highlights of the show was the tribute to Merle Haggard, which featured performances by several artists, including Brad Paisley, Dierks Bentley, and Sheryl Crow. The tribute ended with a performance of Haggard's classic hit "Okie from Muskogee," with all of the artists on stage singing together.

In addition to the awards and performances, there were also several notable moments throughout the show. One of the most memorable was when Taylor Swift presented the award for Male Artist of the Year. Before announcing the winner, Swift took a moment to address the audience and acknowledge the fans.

"I just wanted to say, we're all so lucky to be here tonight, and we're all so lucky to be a part of this incredible country music family," she said. "Thank you to all the fans out there who voted, and thank you to everyone who makes this show possible."

Overall, the 2013 American Country Awards was a night to remember for country music fans. With its star-studded lineup, impressive performances, and fan-driven awards, the show celebrated the best of country music and cemented its place as one of the most beloved music awards shows on television.