Fresh off of a big win at last week's Country Music Association awards, Lady Antebellum arrived in Aiken to rock 'em like they write 'em -- acoustically.

The trio, which features Augusta-bred musicians Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood and Nashville native Hillary Scott, said the Best New Artist award was just the latest in a year filled with success and surprises.

The group played the 10th annual Kicks 99 Guitar Pull on Tuesday with Luke Bryan, Rodney Atkins, Kristy Lee Cook, Sara Evans and James Otto. "We legitimately felt like we had no chance," Mr. Kelley said of the CMA award. "I mean, Rodney Atkins was coming off of four No. 1s and Jason Aldean, well, we're opening for him. Basically all these people have sold more albums than us. Hopefully that means the industry is putting a stamp of approval on us. Now we have to make them not look stupid."

The group, which formed as a song-writing partnership less than two years ago and released its debut album in April, admits the past six months have been a bit of a blur. This time last year, they were an unheard-of act with potential. This year, they are receiving accolades previously awarded to artists such as Carrie Underwood and Rascal Flatts.

"It has happened a lot faster than we thought," Mr. Haywood said. "Last year, we went to the CMAs and nobody knew who we were. This year, they asked us to perform."

The group later decided to perform the tunes they wrote.

Ms. Scott said the success the group is enjoying is equal parts happenstance and hard work. She said because things happened so quickly, they are very careful to protect what they have built.

"It was like there was a hand guiding us," she said. "We really do feel like we have found our place. It's something that we feel like shouldn't be two albums and over."

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.