Kenny Chesney lands special honor at American Country Countdown Awards

Singer Kenny Chesney is to be honored for his career accomplishments at the inaugural American Country Countdown Awards.

The No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems hitmaker will receive the Groundbreaker Award for "revolutionising the live music experience for country fans" and "moving country music into new directions with his pioneering, record-breaking tours".

Chesney tells People magazine, "To be given the first of any special award is a great honor because you know they've really thought about it. What they want that award to mean or represent, and how you do that. Given what they're saying the Groundbreaker Award means, I'm honored that's how the ACC Awards sees me.

"I try to push what we've done, give the fans the best night of the summer - and hopefully, we can keep making the music better and more interesting to give them a reason to come back."

The first ever American Country Countdown Awards will air live in the U.S. from Nashville, Tennessee's Music City Center on 15 December (14), and the evening will feature performances from multiple-nominees including Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert and the ceremony's co-hosts, Florida Georgia Line.