Taylor Swift nabs second straight BMI award, has all eyes on her for tonight’s CMA Awards
Taylor Swift at Tuesday night’s BMI Country Awards in Nashville, Tenn. (Associated Press photo)
Taylor Swift won her second straight song of the year award at Tuesday night’s BMI Country Awards.
Swift won for her song “Love Story” – and will compete for four more prizes, including entertainer of the year, at tonight’s CMA Awards.
Also honored at Tuesday’s BMI Awards were Bobby Pinson for songwriter of the year and Sony/ATV Music as publisher of the year, according to the Associated Press.
Kris Kristofferson, 73, was lauded as a BMI Icon. Oklahoma native Vince Gill, Willie Nelson and Patti Griffin performed in honor of the songwriter, whose classic hits include “Sunday Mornin’ Come Down” and “Me and Bobby McGee.” Kristofferson cried during Griffin’s rendition of “Help Me Make it Through the Night.”
But tonight, all eyes are sure to be on Swift, the 19-year-old singer-songwriter sensation, whose sophomore album “Fearless” is at No. 3 on the charts after 51 weeks. It has already sold 3 million copies.
Country star Brad Paisley is nominated for a leading seven trophies, but Swift has nominations in four key categories: album, music video, female vocalist and the biggie, entertainer of the year. She’s the youngest ever nominated for the top award and the first solo female act since Faith Hill in 2000.
If she wins, it will put her in the company of icons like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, three of the six other female acts to win entertainer of the year. McEntire, who grew up in Chockie, said she voted for Swift.
“I will say I did vote for her,” McEntire told the AP. “The obvious is that she is a female and I do tend to support my female friends and artists in the business, but also because I think she is the one who’s done the most this year — television, touring. She is an extraordinary person and I think she highly deserves it.”
In addition, she can end Carrie Underwood’s streak: Swift is competing with her for female vocalist of the year, an award that Underwood has won three straight years. Two other Oklahomans – McEntire and Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert – also are vying for female vocalist.
“I’d so be lying if I said, ‘Oh, I don’t care,’” Underwood told the AP. “I’m competitive. Of course I want to win. But I’ll completely understand if I don’t. I mean, they have Reba nominated. I mean, like, hello. I would be so happy if she kicked all our butts. That would be so awesome.”
Other interesting races to watch at tonight’s CMA Awards: Will Brooks & Dunn win their two categories as a sort of good-bye gesture. The duo, which includes former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, announced earlier this year that they are parting ways after a 2010 tour. Brooks & Dunn is nominated for duo of the year and musical event with McEntire for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.”
Also, former Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Rucker is nominated for new artist and male vocalist. He will be looking to join Charley Pride as the only black performer to win male vocalist of the year. But he faces a quartet of superstars: Paisley, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and George Strait. Win or lose, Rucker will play Friday at Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino in Tulsa.
Follow along with my live-blog of the CMA Awards tonight here on BAM’s Blog.
-BAM
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