Brad Paisley took home a guitar trophy for Male Artist of the Year during Monday night’s 2011 American Country Awards show, as it broadcast live from Las Vegas. Although Paisley was not able to make it to the awards to accept his guitar, he sent in a thank you video that was aired after he was announced as the winner of the category with stiff competition.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t be there today, but we’re in the middle of these rehearsals for our next tour,” he said in the video, as music played to his recent No. 1 hit, ‘Old Alabama.’

He then went on to introduce “one of the greatest bands in the history of country music or any kind of music for that matter.”

Much to the audience’s surprise, Alabama took the stage to perform a medley of some of their biggest hits including ‘Tennessee River,’ ‘If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)’ and ’Mountain Music’ — where they lived up to the praise spoken by Paisley.

Following their standing ovation, the 2011 ACA’s co-host, Trace Adkins, took the stage next to the legendary and iconic band holding a telecaster trophy. “The first country music concert I ever went to was these guys,” Adkins said as he pointed to Alabama’s Randy Owen, Teddy Gentry and Jeff Cook. “They were the greatest then, and they are still the greatest. My hat’s off to Alabama,” Adkins added as he removed his black hat and bowed to the supergroup.

The group went on to accept the 2011 ACA guitar trophy for Greatest Hits Band.

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