Live-blog: 2009 CMA Awards
CMA Awards co-hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood
7 p.m.: As previously announced, 19-year-old singer-songwriter sensation Taylor Swift is starting off the show with her new surefire hit “Forever & Always.” The performance started out with an interview and then morphed into a pretty spectacular production. The teen start has skipped out on her usually sparkly, short dress for a sexier black pant-and-top ensemble, which makes her look older.
Taylor Swift (Associated Press photo)
7:05: Overall, I would call Taylor’s performance a solid opener, but co-host Carrie Underwood’s first dress is a showstopper. She took all the sparkles from every dress Taylor has ever owned for that short silvery number. Love co-host Brad Paisley’s first quip of the night, “Wait ’til you see dresses two through 14.” Carrie just shrugs.
7:07: So, Brad’s quip No. 2 was pretty hilarious, too. You expected someone to make a Kayne comment, and who better than to do it than he? He and Carrie start singing a “classic” country song, “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Kanye,” commenting that country boys have the manners not to interrupt. “That song is just as relevant as the day it was written, which was this morning,” says Brad.
7:08: The musical hits keep coming from Carrie and Brad as they croon that Brooks & Dunn’s “D-I-V-O-R-C-E” becomes final today. “Everyone’s upset except for Sugarland ’cause now they’re home free.” Love it! Plus, Brad’s comment about how he is the prettiest nominee and that “doesn’t just happen” … “plus Keith is pretty cute, too” was fairly hilarious.
7:10: Now, Carrie and Brad are gigging super-couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw for the dueling perfume offerings. And they’re introducing a rocker with a “distinctive scent all his own” – “whiskey and Waffle House” – to present the first award of the evening.
7:11: So, Kid Rock – in case you couldn’t figure it out from the smell jokes – is presenting the award for single of the year. Here are the nominees:
“Chicken Fried”
Zac Brown Band
Produced by Keith Stegall
Atlantic Records
“I Run To You”
Lady Antebellum
Produced by Victoria Shaw and Paul Worley
Capitol Records Nashville
“In Color”
Jamey Johnson
Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys
Mercury Nashville
“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington
Produced by Carson Chamberlain and Billy Currington
Mercury Nashville
“Then”
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville
7:13: And the first trophy of the night goes to Lady Antebellum, a personal favorite of mine. Congratulations to them, and kudos to sharing the mike time with their producers, who also share in the award.
7:14: We’re up to the first commercial break, and so far, we’re off to a strong start. I’m curious to see just how much Taylor Swift we see tonight. I heard many country fans comment that the summer CMT Music Awards had just a little too much Taylor, and it’s easy to see why people who aren’t diehard Swift followers would feel that way. Between Taylor’s hot streak and Carrie’s wardrobe changes, it should be interesting.
7:16: Wow, that was fast. Carrie’s already wearing a different outfit, a short red dress with ruffles running down the front. She’s asking Brad to feel her and see if she’s hot, and after a sideways look at wife Kimberly Williams-Paisley, he’s touching her forehead. And they’re doing another musical gag as she applies her best LeAnn Rimes impression to “Swine Flu,” to the tune of “Blue.” It’s cute, and it’s all building up to a gushing intro for the hot country convert Darius Rucker, former frontman of Hootie & the Blowfish who is riding high off three straight No. 1 country singles. He’s strutting through the crowd singing the latest, the breezy “Alright.”
7:21: It’s not my favorite song on his album, but Darius’ honeyed baritone is always welcome. And whether he wins or loses tonight, Darius will perform Friday night at Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino in Tulsa.
7:23: Kellie Pickler and Jake Owen are onstage to present the award for song of the year. Here are the nominees:
(Award goes to the songwriters)
“Chicken Fried”
Zac Brown/Wyatt Durrette
“I Told You So”
Randy Travis
“In Color”
Jamey Johnson/Lee Thomas Miller/James Otto
“People Are Crazy”
Bobby Braddock/Troy Jones
“Then”
Brad Paisley/Chris DuBois/Ashley Gorley
Jamey Johnson
7:24: Winner: Jamey Johnson and Co. for “In Color.” James Otto is quickly thanking his wife because he forgot to last time. Lee Thomas Miller gives a quick shoutout to veterans on Veterans Day and to Fort Hood, since they spent a lot of time while crafting the great song talking about their grandfather.
“I didn’t think y’all would even let me come to something like this,” Johnson comments, thanking everyone for listening to his music. He does a wonderful job with the song, so I’d have to say this was well deserved.
Miranda Lambert
7:26: Carrie is joking that men who cheat on the next performer might regret it, then turning the stage over to “my friend” Miranda Lambert. The Texas native and now Oklahoma resident is belting out her latest single “White Liar” in a short, slinky white dress and tall, butt-kicking boots. I love Miranda, so I’m just going to soak this in.
7:31: The announcer is promising another Taylor Swift performance, along with Tim McGraw’s first CMA performance in four years later on the show. So, there’s another notch on the Taylor count.
7:33: Another commercial break, another dress change for Carrie Underwood. Red seems to be her favorite color tonight. This time, she’s got on a shiny, slinky, short, off-one-shoulder number, and she’s introducing a performance by her co-host Brad Paisley.
Brad Paisley (AP photo)
7:34: Brad’s got his trademark white cowboy hat, T-shirt and jeans combo going, and he’s playing his sparkly blue guitar while crooning his latest hit, “Welcome to the Future.” It’s growing on me, and you gotta love a man who can finesse a guitar solo like that.
7:38: So, it wasn’t my favorite when I first heard it, but “Welcome to the Future” gets better every time I hear, and I love the “Tron”-esque use of the video screens with the “Game Over” at the end.
Zac Brown Band (AP photo)
7:39: Hot up-and-coming band Zac Brown is under a twisty-weird wooden arch and rocking through the Charlie Daniels Band classic “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” The performance is smoking, and I love all the high-speed jamming at the end. But since they’re a new artist nominee, it would be nice to hear one of their original songs, say the infectious “Chicken Fried.” Plus, after seeing OKC fiddle master Kyle Dillingham sing and play this song up close, it’s hard to be too impressed with anyone else’s rendition.
7:43: And the crowd gives Zac Brown Band’s duel with the “Devil” a standing O. As I said, rollicking performance, but I still think they should have done one of their originals.
George Strait
7:47: Brad Paisley jokes that George Strait won the CMA entertainer of the year award for the first time back in ’89, the same year the Berlin Wall fell and Brad won his first award, employee of the month at Tastee Freeze. “Watch them go wild when I say these two words: George Strait.” And the perpetually handsome “King of Country” is out to sing his latest hit – don’t ask me how many he’s on now – “Twang,” the title track of his new album. (And no, I don’t know how many albums he’s on now, either. I’m sure I can’t count that high.) Anyway, the song certainly lives up to the title, and George, as always, looks and sounds great doing it.
Lady Antebellum (AP photo)
7:51: Now, Brad is introducing a performance by the “fantastic trio” Lady Antebellum, and from the opening bars, we’re going ballad here. Yep, it’s “I Need You Now,” which sounds to me a little like a late Fleetwood Mac song with a country flair and tempo. And that’s by no means a bad thing. They have great harmony. Plus, I love the fake snow falling; very atmospheric.
7:55: Ah, yes, here comes the network nepotism. Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn, stars of the new show “The Middle,” are out to present an award, and Patricia is just gushing about how the Oscars are lame compared to the CMA Awards, which rock!! Neil, showing off that dry wit he used so well on “Scrubs,” is joking they are there to promote family values and harmony, not their new show. Eventually, they’re going to present the vocal group award, and the question is: Can anyone defeat Rascal Flatts, who has won the past six years?
The nominees:
Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
* Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
* Oklahoma connection
Lady Antebellum (AP photo)
7:57: Why, yes, Lady Antebellum is on fire tonight. Hillary Scott is gushing her gratitude about getting to do what she loves with her two best pals and then thanking veterans. Charles Kelley is giving props to the other nominees, calling Rasal Flatts an inspiration. And Dave Haywood is thanking the fans. Congratulations to the trio, but it looks like Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, will be going home empty-handed for the first time in many years.
7:58: And now we’re hearing Lady Antebellum’s hit “I Run to You” on some financial company commercial. Between the song and the adorable meerkats, I’m not really paying attention to the actual product.
Carrie Underwood (AP photo)
8:03: Brad Paisley, handsome in his Western cut black suit, is introducing his co-host Carrie Underwood, who now has the No. 1 country song AND album in the nation. She’s surrounded by dancers dressed in sexy black lingerie and slowly rising from a settee to show off her own sultry outfit, a cream white robe construction over a pair of super-short silvery shorts. It’s all to go along with her rocking hit “Cowboy Casanova,” and she’s strutting along with supreme confidence. Besides looking like a male fantasy come to life, Checotah’s favorite daughter is in great voice tonight.
8:07: The Judds – Naomi and Wynonna – are back together on the CMA Awards stage. “It was 25 years ago tonight that we attended our first awards show, and to our surprise, it was our first award,” Wynonna said. They won the new artist award back then, and they’re showing a clip of Naomi’s, um, enthusiastic acceptance speech. “Gotta love her. If it’s not one thing, it’s your mother,” Wynonna says with an eye roll. They’re going to give the new artist award to one of these guys:
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band
Darius Rucker (AP photo)
8:09: “Well, come on down Darius Rucker,” drawls Naomi. And Darius looks stunned: “Wow, what a year!” He’s thanking his wife and three kids for sacrificing while he’s on the road working his butt off, and he’s thanking the fans for accepting him. He just keeps getting more exuberant as he cheers country radio for taking a chance on a pop singer from Charleston, S.C. It’s strange to think of the man formerly known as Hootie – of the 16 million sales off their debut ’90s fame – getting best new artist, but there you go. And when I spoke to Darius a few days ago, he was sure Zac Brown had this prize wrapped up, so I know his surprise is authentic. And he is EXCITED!
8:11: Brad Paisley is back to introduce the next performer, but not before making a comment about how hot Carrie’s outfit was for “Cowboy Casanova.” “You should have seen the view Little Jimmy Dickens got backstage,” he quips. “By the way, he’s stable now.” I’m sure the country legend isn’t the only one who had trouble breathing after getting a gander at that get-up.
Vince Gill (The Oklahoman Archive photo)
Daughtry’s Chris Daughtry (AP photo)
8:12: Now it’s time for one of the show most promoted duets, rock band Daughtry and Oklahoma native Vince Gill. They’re here to sing “Tennessee Line,” a collaboration from Daughtry’s new album “Leave This Town.” And I totally adore this song. I’m no big Daughtry fan, but if they released an album of songs like this, I would be all over it. Plus, who doesn’t love Vince? It’s a low-key, very beautiful performance, and they’ve managed to steal the show with just great voices and musicianship, no glitzy stage production. It’s one of my favorite moments so far.
8:16: As you undoubtedly noticed, we had a technical problem with the NewsOK blogs, which meant BAM’s Blog was out of commission for about 45 minutes. My apologies for the inconvenience. I was following along in MS Word until I could get back online. Here’s what happened in the interim:
8:21: Carrie and Brad are back, and this time Carrie is dressed in a long, soft, pale gown with purple flowers decorating it. She’s praising Brad for his video to “Welcome to the Future,” and he’s starting to thank the director and all the others involved. But the aforementioned Little Jimmy Dickens crashes the stage with an “excuse me,” promises to let Brad finish in a minute and then praises Taylor for making the best video of all time. “You go girl,” he exclaims before leaving the stage. While Carrie looks convincingly shocked, Brad ponders what kind of security they have that lets a 4’11″ 88-year-old man in a glitzy suit onstage. It’s a cute moment, and Kanye West deserves all the ribbing they can deliver for his MTV VMAs debacle.
Keith Urban (AP photo)
8:30: Ever-hot star Keith Urban is taking over the stage to sing “’Til Summer Comes Around,” a mournful ode to summer love gone cold. Pretty, but I’m ready to pick up the pace of the show. And he’s finishing up, so cue cut to his movie star wife Nicole Kidman looking lovingly at him. There it is.
Tim McGraw (AP photo)
8:32: Tim McGraw – who once again takes teasing from Brad Paisley for his cologne line, but gets praise from Carrie for having time to be a movie star in addition to a music star – performs “Southern Voice,” the title track from his new album. He’s always a welcome addition to a country awards show in my opinion, and for the curious, his new movie “The Blind Side” is out later this month.
Sugarland (AP photo)
8:36: Carrie’s latest dress is a green frock with a few poofy bows. She pulls it off, but it’s not my fave. She’s introducing the duo Sugarland, who is performing a Veterans Day tribute to the military, and several uniformed servicemen are cheering for it in the audience. Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush always put in great performances, and they’re really delivering on their emotional “Keep You.” But I’m ready for another solid shot of country-rock in this show.
8:40: Randy Houser and GMA co-anchor Robin Roberts are onstage, and they’re showing a clip of Houser’s entertaining breakout video, “Boots On.” Toddler Drake Dixon, the real star of the video, is at the show, decked out in a little suit and sitting next to the lovely Kellie Pickler.
Randy and Robin also introducing the noms for album of the year:
(Award goes to artist and producer)
“American Saturday Night”
Brad Paisley
Produced by Frank Rogers and Chris DuBois
Arista Nashville
“Defying Gravity”
Keith Urban
Produced by Dann Huff and Keith Urban
Capitol Records Nashville
“Fearless”
Taylor Swift
Produced by Nathan Chapman and Taylor Swift
Big Machine Records
“Love on the Inside”
Sugarland
Produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush, and Jennifer Nettles
Mercury Nashville
“That Lonesome Song”
Jamey Johnson
Produced by The Kent Hardly Playboys
Mercury Records
8:44: Winner: It’s Taylor’s night, as “Fearless” earns the starlet her first album of the year win. She looks shocked even after all these awards. “This album is my diary … and thank you for saying you like my diary,” says Taylor, who is dressed in a long elegant gown with a white skirt and glittery strapless top.
Mac McAnally
8:46: The announcer says the musician of the year honors were presented earlier in the evening, and the winner was the multitalented guitarist Mac McAnally. Congratulations in passing to him. (Can’t you take a minute to give him more than just a passing recognition in a three-hour show? Sheesh.)
8:47: Speaking of Tim McGraw, movie star, here’s an extended clip of the football drama “The Blind Side,” featuring interview snippets with the real-life folks involved in the based-on-a-true story, along with Sandra Bullock.
Brooks & Dunn (AP photo)
8:51: Carrie notes that two country greats have decided to call it a day at the top of their game. Naturally, she’s referring to Brooks & Dunn. Kix Brooks and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn are performing for what will apparently be the last time on the CMA Awards, at least as a duo. They’re breaking up next year after their “Last Rodeo Tour,” which is a real shame. But they’re going out in style, playing the raucous “Honky Tonk Stomp” with help from bearded ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons. Now that’s what I’m talking about, fellas! But it only makes me sadder that they’re splitting up.
8:54: And it’s a standing O for Brooks & Dunn. We sure will miss them.
Jamey Johnson
Kid Rock (AP photo)
8:55: Jamey Johnson and Kid Rock are channeling George Jones and Waylon Jennings for an outlaw country duet to Johnson’s “Somewhere Between Jennings and Jones.” They actually sound really good together, though I’m not sure Jamey really needs Kid Rock for it.
8:58: Racer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and singer/dancer/beauty Julianne Hough are together to present a Salute to American Heroes – ie the troops – sponsored by Chevy. They’re showing video clips of racing and country music stars signing a 2010 Camaro that will be auctioned off to benefit of the troops. And now the pretty pair will present vocal duo of the year. Will Brooks & Dunn get a goodbye award? The noms:
Big & Rich
*Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
Sugarland (AP photo)
9 p.m.: Nope, Sugarland wins it again. “We don’t usually expect this, but we especially didn’t this year,” Jennifer Nettles said. She’s thanking her people, and now graciously giving Brooks & Dunn, who holds the all-time record for wins in this category. Ronnie and Kix are refusing, but it’s sure nice for her to offer. Kudos to her for the gesture – and her gorgeous black gown.
“Thank you for what you’ve done for us and thank you for what you’ve done for country music,” Nettles says.
9:02: The video of the year winner apparently was announced earlier, too. And the winner was Taylor Swift. You’d think ABC wouldn’t miss another ratings-spike moments featuring Miss Swift, but there you are. Here are the nominees, if you’re more interested than the CMAs:
(Award goes to Artist and Director)
“Boots On”
Randy Houser
Directed by Eric Welch
“Love Story”
Taylor Swift
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“People Are Crazy”
Billy Currington
Directed by The Brads
“Start a Band”
Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)
Directed by Jim Shea
“Troubadour”
George Strait
Directed by Trey Fanjoy
Taylor Swift (AP photo)
9:07: The show is back from commercial, and Taylor Swift is out on a dais in the middle of an adoring crowd of teenage fans. They’re waving signs and singing along as she croons her hit “Fifteen.” These song gets stuck in my head every time. I love her purple dress and cowboy boots. Very country chic.
9:10: LeAnn Rimes, in a lovely white dress, is introducing the male vocalist candidates, noting their easy on the eyes and “oh, yeah, they sing pretty good, too.”
Here are the noms. Will Brad win it again?
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
Brad Paisley (AP photo)
9:11 Why, yes, he will. Brad is back at center stage, and he’s getting a standing O. He starts to thank his wife Kim and then says “I accidentally pointed to the wrong woman,” as Darius notes, “That’s my wife.” Kim just has to laugh. He’s thanking all the other pertinent folks, from fans to his agent, and then says “I’ve talked enough.” Well-deserved award.
Jason Aldean
9:17: And we’re back to live. Again, sorry for the technical malfunction. Carrie is introducing rising star Jason Aldean, who has held the No. 1 spot on the country charts for six weeks this year. He’s playing his sly ballad “Big Green Tractor.” Love this handsome Southern rocker.
Martina McBride (AP photo)
9:21: We’ve come to the Country Music Hall of Fame tribute portion of the show, and they’re honoring this year’s inductees: Tulsan Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie McCoy. McCoy is playing harmonica while big-voiced star Martina McBride sings Mandrell’s hit “I Was Country When Country Wasn’t Cool.” Appropriate choice, and you couldn’t ask for a better choice than having Martina sing it – unless you add George Strait and make it a duet. Which they just did. Wow. Great moment, one of those that makes sitting through these shows worth it. And I love Martina’s long purple and black gown.
Country Music Hall of Fame 2009 inductees, from left, Roy Clark, Barbara Mandrell and Charlie McCoy
9:24: Barbara, who looks still-lovely in her glittery off-the-shoulder gown, is getting to come up on stage and thank George, Martina and all the people who inspired her and worked with her over the years. She’s also thanking the fans for their love and enthusiasm. “I may have been country when country wasn’t cool, but it was always cool to me,” she says. She’s also passing on congratulations to Roy and Charlie, and it would have been nice to hear from them, too.
9:28: Boy, it’s good to be back live. Let me just take this opportunity to thank our technical wizards who got the blog back up and running so I could finish out the night. And I’ve just had the chance to check out the comments, and it looks like many of you are hating the level of Taylor Swift involved tonight. I’m not saying she always sings on tune or in key, but I’ve seen her live and she puts on a great high-energy show. And her fans totally adore her, my 13-year-old niece included.
Reba McEntire (AP photo)
9:31: Carrie is introducing “the one, the only, the imcomparable Reba.” “You can’t grow up in Oklahoma like I did and not worship this woman,” according to Carrie, and I would have to agree. Reba looks fab in slim black pants and a sparkly dark blue top, and as always she sounds amazing belting out her latest hit “Consider Me Gone.” (No worries about Reba being on key – ever.) And Carrie looks pretty amazing herself in a long, layered yellow gown. Very retro chic.
Billy Currington
9:35: Billy Currington is crooning his all-too-true song “People Are Crazy,” which nabbed three noms tonight but no awards. Still, great song and he does it well.
9:38: Country traditionalists have something to cheer about, as Lee Ann Womack and Kris Kristofferson, who was honored as a BMI Icon Tuesday night, are onstage to present the female vocalist award. Can Carrie win again? Here are the noms:
*Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
*Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood
Taylor Swift (AP photo)
9:40: Nope, it is still Taylor Swift’s night. It’s her second nomination in the category and first win. “I just got a hug from Kris Kristofferson. I’m good,” she says. She’s thanking Reba McEntire and Faith Hill for being themselves and country radio for taking a chance on her. “And I’d like to thank everyone here tonight for not running up onstage,” she quips.
I’m normally a Taylor supporter, but I have to protest this one. She’s a great songwriter (which is changing but still all-too-rare in Nashville) and charismatic entertainer, with a sparkling personality, but the singing part is definitely her weak point. She can’t compare to the other nominees – especially Reba, Martina and Carrie – in this category. She just can’t. Sorry, this is not a good call, and I’m not just saying that because she beat out three Okies to get the prize.
Kenny Chesney (AP photo)
Dave Matthews (AP photo)
9:46: The much-hyped Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews duet is about to begin. They’re playing one of Kenny “The Tan” Chesney’s easygoing island-country songs, “I’m Alive.” It’s just Kenny sitting on a stool, strumming and singing, and a big cheer goes up from the crowd when Dave takes the seat next to him and starts crooning along. In all, a wonderful low-key performance, which gets a standing ovation from the crowd.
Brad Paisley and Keith Urban (AP photo)
9:49: It’s another one of those presented-earlier-tonight situations for musical event of year, which due to an accounting error in calculating the final nominees ended up with six possibles. The winner is Brad Paisley and Keith Urban’s “Start a Band.” Here are the other nominees:
*“Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
Arista Nashville
“Down The Road”
Kenny Chesney (with Mac McAnally)
Blue Chair Records, LLC & BNA Records
“Everything But Quits”
Lee Ann Womack (duet with George Strait)
MCA Nashville
*“I Told You So”
Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis
19 Recordings/Arista Nashville
“Old Enough”
The Raconteurs featuring Ricky Skaggs and Ashley Monroe
Third Man Records/Warner Bros. Records
“Start a Band”
Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)
It was a very competitive category, and I don’t know if I would have picked “Start a Band” even though I enjoy that duet.
I do know I would have actually presented the award at the awards show. Sigh.
9:53: Superstar couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw are back in black to present the highest honor of the night. Faith was the last solo woman nominated for the award before Taylor Swift. Could that be a hint of what’s to come? Here are the possiblities:
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
And hear the teenage squeals for Taylor …
Taylor Swift (AP photo)
9:55: Yep, Taylor is the winner. She stands in shock with her mouth open while Kenny comes over to kiss her cheek and give her his congratulations. She’s in tears by the time she makes it to the stage.
“I’ll never forget this moment because in this moment, everything I ever wanted has just happened to me,” she says, while her dad tears up, too.
She’s calling her band up on stage to share in the moment and praising the fans for coming to her shows in homemade shirts. “That’s why I do this.”
“Thank you for this moment. Thank you,” she says. “Every single person in that category let me open up for them … thank you. I love you all.”
9:58: Carrie and Brad are back briefly to close it out. “How about that? Nineteen years old. I can’t even imagine,” Brad says after hugging Taylor.
Carrie, dressed in a short, glittering silver dress with a shawl tossed around her neck, finishes with a little self-recognition: “How were we? We were awesome?”
She will have to settle for that job well done, since the “American Idol,” along with the rest of the Oklahoman stars, were on the receiving end of a rare shutout. Tough night all around for Okies.
10 p.m.: Thanks for following along with my live-blog of the CMA Awards, even though it went down for awhile. I appreciate your patronage, loyal readers. Give me a few moments to file a story, and I’ll get some photos in this blog and post your winners list.
-BAM
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Comments
Sure wish Country Music was COUNTRY MUSIC !!!Taylor Swift’s floor wallow is sickning …. PUH-LEEZE…..
what does that have to do with Country Music ?
Kanye’s mother died two years ago and I would be surprised if anyone had even known that off the top of their head. I sure didn’t.
As for Taylor Swift. Country fans should be thanking her. If I wasn’t a fan of hers, I wouldn’t be a country fan at all.
It doesn’t matter if Kayne’s mother died yesterday, that still doesn’t give him the right to act like an ass. That was just down right poor manners. He is just jealous that a 19 yr old is smoking him in the concerts and he isn’t able to do well. His poor judgement just made us take his music out of the jukebox at the bar.
What was Taylor thinking with that opening, it was awful. i would compare it to a Britney Spears appearance.
Taylor certainly showed her lack of talent on the opening.
I want to puke to think that anyone thinks there is talent in theis lame ass girl, whos Daddy bought her into the biz.
CARRIE’S PERFORMANCE WAS UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! especially for DANCING AND SINGING LIVE!!!!!! that’s hard to do, but i think she PULLED IT OFF!
i’m sorry. i like the new country stars…BUT…they are NOT worthy of awards. OVERALL…the show tonight is soooo DISAPPOINTING…seems more like the American Music Awards…so lame…it’s a shame that Country Music has been demoralized thanks to producers and what not…i’ll definitely go back to classic country music on SIRIUS radio…
man how cool was that with TS in the middle of the crowd with phony signs made by production assistants?
and I thought Miley Cyrus was lame, thes is a new low.
Taylor Swift ?? female vocalist of the year …. vomit…
she cannot sing…. her daddy must have billions….
Taylor Swift sounds like crap so how can she be Female Vocalist of the Year? Carrie and Martina sound fabulous and can actually SING…..
If she gets Entertainer of the Year I will never watch this show again…..
Taylor Swift is NOT country. Her songs are “folk” music… ala Jewel. But nowhere even remotely close to being country.
Taylor Swift can’t sing and country music just made a huge mistake. My neice who is ten called me and told me Taylor can’t sing or dance and asked if she is up for entertainer of the year because she throws chairs and swings her hair around to look like Miley. I am sure she is a nice girl, SHE CAN’T SING. She wouldn’t make it through the first round of americand idol. How do you win over Jamie Johnsons album. How do you win over Carrie???? My daughters said they don’t ever want to watch it again. It is all the little girls who made her win. People who are not true country fans!!!!!!!!!!!! Where is Tobey or Alan? How about Jason Aldean…She is making a joke out of country music. She needs to go pop where she and all her little friends belong!!!
Taylor can NOT sing. My roommate, who has never had lessons can sing 120 times better than Taylor. There are more deserving artists than Taylor Swift…Give the award back! As Taylor said, she opened for all the other nominees…she’s not good enough by a long shot.
i am really upset tonight…I CAN NOT BELIEVE TAYLOR WON FVOTY! it is UNBELIEVABLE! this is a sign that it is ALL ABOUT SALES AND POPULARITY and no talent would win you a female VOCALIST award! WOW! thanks a lot CMA’s! i do not think they should use the slogan “Country’s Biggest Night!” anymore…because it is NOT!
Most of us knows that Taylor can’t sing. How is that she is able to be Female Vocalist of the Year? There are others in the nominees that are so much better than her vocal. Very disappointing show.
Did anyone else not notice Carrie Underwoods croch when she started walking down the stairs. The lighting made her woman parts show up. I kid you not, we were laughing our asses off watching. We rewound it over and over for a great laugh.
Who was the surprise guest they kept advertising? Supposedly coming back after 5 yrs??? I’m confused as to who it was!
I have watch county award shows for a long time and this was the worse one I have watched, and the last. This young girl are not country and they can’t sing. County is George Strait, Reba, Faith and Tim and so forth.I think just little girls go to the concerts of Taylor S and Miley Cyress and that is where they get their money. Why would a person my age want to listen to Taylor’s songs about her love lifem she is only 19 They need to bring back the real country singers
I am sooo disappointed!!! What in the world has happened – What a joke… This is how it should have gone…. Single -Chicken Fried, Song – In Color, Duet – Sugarland, Group – Lady Antebellum, New Artist – Darius Rucker, Female Vocalist – Carrie Underwood, Male Vocalist – Brad Paisley and the Entertainer of the Year – Kenny Chesney (he’s an entertainer (his concerts are amazing!!!) Why is Taylor Swift even up there…. She CANNOT sing (write music – YES… sing – NO) There is absolutely no comparison in the two (Carrie & Taylor) She may be a “sweet girl”, but come on people… Where has “country music” gone – where is Trace Akins, Alan Jackson, Blake Shelton, etc. – No one gives them credit… why??? Because maybe they are still country!!! I was country when country wasn’t cool (just like Barbara Mandrell) I don’t like this cross-over stuff – Taylor needs to be pop (so all her little teenage girls can worship her). Props to Jamey Johnson… he’s real – like him or not! Country music is supposed to be for “real people”, “country people”! I bet the country singers that are no longer with us, are rolling over in their graves! And the ones that are still here are just as disgusted as I am! How do we get our voices heard???
WOW! Taylor Swift is horrible, how she won over Carrie Underwood is beyond me!
She needs to stay with writing music and leave the vocal part to Carrie…end of story
And the pole? Like seriously, this isn’t a strip club its the CMA’s i mean come on!
and why on gods green earth did she open the show, once i saw that little whatever u wanna call it kind of performance she had, made me not even want to watch the rest of the show.
Carrie Underwood should of won Female Vocalist Of The Year, HANDS DOWN =)
Well I enjoy country music (all music for that matter). However the CMA’s were definitely paying homage to mediocrity last night by awarding Taylor Swift as Female Vocalist of the year and her other awards for that matter.
Though the CMA Winners are chosen by their membership it makes me wonder if the majority just collectively lost sense of what great country music is. In my opinion a great country artist or any artist for that matter should touch millions with there music. Well Taylor did touch millions of tweens (preteen girls) like Disney has with the likes of Miley Cyrus and other Britney wannabes. The question is whether Taylor touched millions of real country fans – I would say not!
It seems ‘Art’ is purely a populist ideal these days. Good or great is merely an affect of sales and not the ‘Art’. Get a majority of a group (in this case ‘tweens’) buying enough of your stuff and you can win awards too!
We as a culture are use to boy bands and other manufactured groups or singers selling out arenas and CD’s but not necessarily getting critically awards. There are several award shows that pick artist from record sales and popularity. Many of these hype artist receive awards by this mean. Award shows like the Grammy’s, CMA’s, Oscars, etc. are chosen by industry insiders and vote on whether or not that individual’s or group’s ‘Art’ is truly talent or merely hype.
Well the CMA’s bought into the hype and now should get their faces rubbed into it.
I will never watch the CMA’s again, this was a sham, and an insult to some of the greatest country entertainers around. How can anyone in all honesty think that this little girl Taylor can sing! What kind of cruel joke was this!
I was very disappointed in the results from the CMA, I had to change the channel when they announced Taylor Swift had won the entertainer of the year award, nice girl but she is not worthy of this award. Not sure who bought this one for her. I hope next year the CMA gets back to focusing on COUNTRY MUSIC.
If Taylor Swift is country, I question the concept of country. Both Carrie and Taylor’s gyrations and costumes do not personify country. Old or new. Where are Trace Adkins and Toby Keith. More awards should go to Reba, Martina, Tim just to name a few.
This blog was amazing! Thanks for posting this!! I am planning on making a webpage about the 2009 CMA Awards. (You can see it at http://www.squidoo.com/2009-cma-awards ). And your blog has given me so much information! Thanks!
its a shame, country and western music is long gone, about the only one left is george strait and reba; the rest are not country and western singers. and the joke of it all, ms. swift wins out over those guys, especially george strait, what where those judges thinking?
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The joke about Kanye was in poor taste given the he is still dealing with mother’s death.