And the 2016 Taste of Country Fan Choice Awards Winners Are …
The winners have been revealed in the 2016 Taste of Country Fan Choice Awards, and there are some real surprises mixed in with some of the expected winners.
The entirely fan-voted awards kicked off in early November, asking Taste of Country readers to vote for their favorites across eight categories that included New Artist, Album, Tour, Song and Woman of the Year. Fans also voted on the Best Pop Collaboration, Favorite Country Couple and Most Passionate Fans of 2016.
Drake White fans have plenty to celebrate, as the newcomer took one of the top honors for his debut album, Spark, beating out much better-known names including Florida Georgia Line, Dierks Bentley and even Keith Urban. Trent Harmon capped a year that saw him become the final American Idol champ with another big win, as well.
Carrie Underwood squeaked out a narrow win over Keith Urban in one prime category, while Chris Young and Cassadee Pope sang their way to victory in another. Young won another category with another collaboration, and Blake Shelton, Brandy Clark and Home Free came out on top in other important categories.
Take a look at all of the winners in the list below!
2016 Taste of Country Fan Choice Awards Winners:
Most Passionate Fans
Home Free — WINNER!
Scotty McCreery
Brantley Gilbert
Carrie Underwood
Chris Young
Eric Church
Woman of the Year
Brandy Clark — WINNER!
Carrie Underwood
Miranda Lambert
Dolly Parton
Jennifer Nettles
Maren Morris
Kelsea Ballerini
Jana Kramer
Favorite Country Couple
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani — WINNERS!
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher
Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman
Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood
Thomas Rhett and Lauren Akins
Luke and Caroline Bryan
Miranda Lambert and Anderson East
Best Pop Collaboration
Chris Young (Feat. Boyz II Men), "Silent Night" — WINNER!
Kenny Chesney (Feat. Pink), "Setting the World On Fire"
Keith Urban (Feat. Pitbull), "Sun Don't Let Me Down"
Dierks Bentley (Feat. Elle King), "Different for Girls"
Brad Paisley (Feat. Demi Lovato), "Without a Fight"
Florida Georgia Line (Feat. Backstreat Boys), "God, Your Mama and Me"
Beyonce (Feat. the Dixie Chicks), "Daddy Lessons"
Jennifer Nettles (Feat. Jennifer Lopez), "My House"
Song of the Year
Chris Young (Feat. Cassadee Pope), "Think of You" — WINNER!
Keith Urban, "Blue Ain't Your Color"
Tim McGraw, "Humble and Kind"
Miranda Lambert, "Vice"
Florida Georgia Line, "H.O.L.Y."
Eric Church, "Record Year"
Maren Morris, "My Church"
Dierks Bentley (Feat. Elle King), "Different for Girls"
Jon Pardi, "Head Over Boots"
Kelsea Ballerini, "Peter Pan"
Tour of the Year
Carrie Underwood's Storyteller Tour — WINNER!
Keith Urban's Ripcord Tour
Luke Bryan's Kill the Lights Tour
Kenny Chesney's Spread the Love Tour
Garth Brooks' World Tour
Miranda Lambert's Keeper of the Flame Tour
Dierks Bentley's Somewhere on a Beach Tour
Jason Aldean's Six String Circus Tour
Album of the Year
Drake White, Spark — WINNER!
Brandy Clark, Big Day in a Small Town
Keith Urban, Ripcord
Florida Georgia Line, Dig Your Roots
Vince Gill, Down to My Last Bad Habit
Dierks Bentley, Black
Brothers Osborne, Pawn Shop
Maren Morris, Hero
Jake Owen, American Love
New Artist of the Year
Trent Harmon — WINNER!
Kane Brown
William Michael Morgan
Maren Morris
High Valley
Brett Young
Chris Lane
Tucker Beathard