Chesney, Gill, Jackson, Harris receive ACM honors

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson and Emmylou Harris were among the winners of Academy of Country Music awards Tuesday.

The announcement was restricted to those awards that will be not announced on air at the ACMS on April 1 in Las Vegas.

Winners were:

Crystal Milestone: Kenny Chesney for selling more than 10 million tickets and popularizing country outside the format.

Cliffie Stone Pioneer: Emmylou Harris, Billy Sherrill, Ricky Skaggs, Dwight Yoakam. The award honors those considered pioneers in country music.

Career Achievement: Vince Gill. The award is given to an individual artist, duo, group or multiple artist collaboration who have advanced the popularity and acceptance of country music through their endeavors in the entertainment industry in multiple areas during the preceding calendar year.

Jim Reeves International: Alan Jackson. The award honors those who made outstanding contributions to the acceptance of country music throughout the world.

Poet's Awards: Bobby Braddock, the late Roger Miller. This is a songwriter's award for career contributions.

Mae Boren Axton: William Morris Endeavor Entertainment's Gayle Holcomb for service to the ACM.

Songwriter: Dallas Davidson.

Casino: Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas.

Don Romeo Talent Buyer: Jayson Promotions' Jimmy Jay.

Nightclub: Billy Bob's Texas, Ft. Worth.

Promoter: Live Nation's Brian O'Connell.

Venue: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville.

Producer: Frank Liddell.

Audio Engineer: Justin Niebank.

Bass: Michael Rhodes.

Percussionist/Drummer: Shannon Forrest.

Guitarist: Kenny Greenberg.

Fiddle: Stuart Duncan.

Piano/Keyboard: John Hobbs.

Specialty Instrument: Aubrey Haynie.

Steel Guitar: Paul Franklin

Off-camera honorees will be celebrated at the Sixth Annual ACM Honors Sept. 24 in Nashville.