Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts & More Win Pre-Show ACM Awards

Well, if Care Bears were upset that Carrie Underwood hasn't been nominated for many awards of late, this seems like the Academy of Country Music trying to get back in their good graces. Carrie Underwood has been chosen as the winner of Gene Weed Special Achievement Award, which acknowledges unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music.

She is one of the winners of the off-camera ACM Awards, which will be handed out at the 8th Annual ACM Honors event in Nashville's Ryman Auditorium on September 9th. Other winners include Rascal Flatts, picking up the Jim Reeves International Award, for outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world, likely noting their touring success in the UK and Europe.

In addition, Toby Keith and Ronnie Milsap will both receive the Career Achievement award, while as previously reported Merle Haggard will pick up the Crystal Milestone Award. The Academy of Country Music have also announced the winners of all the musical/instrumental awards, plus the Songwriter of the Year, which has gone to Shane McAnally.

The full list of pre-show/off-camera winners are below.

SPECIAL AWARDS

Career Achievement Award – Toby Keith and Ronnie Milsap

Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award – Bob Beckham

Crystal Milestone Award – Merle Haggard

Gene Weed Special Achievement Award – Carrie Underwood

Jim Reeves International Award – Steve Buchanan and Rascal Flatts

Mae Boren Axton Award – Paul Moore

Poet’s Award – Jack Clement (awarded posthumously), Dean Dillon, Kris Kristofferson, and Buck Owens (awarded posthumously)

INDUSTRY AWARDS

CASINO OF THE YEAR:

Small Capacity – Mohegan Sun Wolf Den – Uncasville, CT

Medium Capacity – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT

NIGHTCLUB OF THE YEAR:           Billy Bob’s Texas – Fort Worth, TX

VENUE OF THE YEAR :

Small Capacity – Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater – Austin, TX

Medium Capacity – Grand Ole Opry House – Nashville, TN

Large Capacity – Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN

DON ROMEO TALENT BUYER OF THE YEAR: Nicole More – Neste Event Marketing

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR:            Brian O’Connell – Live Nation

STUDIO RECORDING AWARDS (FORMERLY THE MBI AWARDS)

BASS PLAYER OF THE YEAR:         Michael Rhodes

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR:             Shannon Forrest

GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR:   Rob McNelley

PIANO/KEYBOARDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Charlie Judge

SPECIALTY INSTRUMENT(S) PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Bryan Sutton

STEEL GUITAR PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Paul Franklin

AUDIO ENGINEER OF THE YEAR: Justin Niebank

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR:             Dann Huff

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR: Shane McAnally