NASHVILLE – During a press conference to announce their new global charity initiative LadyAID™, Lady Antebellum was surprised today when CMA Chief Executive Officer Steve Moore presented the group with the CMA International Artist Achievement Award.

Formerly the International Touring Artist Award, the CMA International Artist Achievement Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a U.S.-based artist who contributes to the awareness and development of Country Music outside the United States.

“We’re so honored,” said Hillary Scott. “This year especially, being able to take our tour to Europe and then to Australia, and meet even more of our fans all over the world, and to take Country Music that far, we don’t take that lightly. We really, truly do want to make this town and the Country Music community proud when we go overseas and perform.”

“We wish Lady Antebellum much success as they help children around the world,” said Moore. “And it is because of their work around the globe as ambassadors of Country Music that we are presenting them with the International Artist Award.”

Lady Antebellum has sold more than 11 million albums worldwide. Their “Own the Night World Tour” staged performances in 11 countries for more than one million fans including sold out shows in Dublin, London, Toronto, and three-nights at the famed Sydney Opera House. The trio’s first world tour also earned Billboard’s all-genre “Breakthrough Award” at the 2012 Billboard Touring Awards for its total ticket sales and other touring data.

The group are multiple-award winners including most recently the 2012 CCMA International Best Selling Album Award (Canada). They were nominated for the 2012 Brit Award for Best International Group (UK). They received a CMC Music Award nomination for International Artist of the Year (Australia) as well as the 2011 Juno Award for International Album of the Year (Canada).

Among their many international accomplishments, their hit “Need You Now” went to No. 1 in Brazil, Mexico, New Zealand, and Switzerland; and Top 5 in more than 20 countries. The album was certified Triple Platinum (Canada); Double Platinum (South Africa); Platinum (Australia and New Zealand); and Gold (China, Ireland, Taiwan, and UK). 

Lady Antebellum was certified Platinum (Canada) and Own the Night has been certified Platinum in Canada and Gold in Australia and South Africa.

Previous winners of the CMA International Artist Achievement Award include:

AUDIO: Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott and Charles Kelley talk about their CMA International Artist Achievement Award.

Lady A (CMA International Award) OC: (Charles) …hopefully proud. :49
HILLARY: “We’re so honored to receive this award, especially this year really started to feel like we were touring a little bit more globally than we have before. This European tour and then Australian tour this year were beyond our wildest dreams. I mean, we had such an amazing time, and I think that gives us a perspective to see outside of just these borders here in America. It’s all been culminating over the past 12 months of us really feeling like we have a platform and we need to use it.”

CHARLES: “We feel like our voice has grown so much more and our fan base has grown so much more, and they’re so much more diverse, and to see the CMAs get behind us like that with their support is pretty humbling. We’ve got big shoes to fill, and we’re gonna try to make everybody here in Nashville and our fans hopefully proud.”