Young stars lead way at American Country Awards

The Associated Press, Monday, December 5, 2011, 1:24am (PST)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- It didn't all start for The Band Perry at last year's American Country Awards, but the show gave the sibling trio a shove down the path to stardom and the long string of accolades they've earned since.

The group played its breakthrough hit "If I Die Young" in full for the first time in front of a television audience, and were happy to return this year. The show will be broadcast live Monday night from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Fox.

They're on a nominee list packed with rising stars. Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band, country music's newest arena-filling acts, lead all nominees with eight each. Thompson Square has seven, followed by The Band Perry and Taylor Swift with six.

———

Online:

http://www.theacas.com