Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler to play “CMT Crossroads” live special from Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam
In this April 3, 2011, photo, singers Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood perform at the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. Tyler and Underwood are teaming up for a special CMT Crossroads the night before the Super Bowl. "CMT Crossroads: Steven Tyler & Carrie Underwood Live from The Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam" will air Saturday, Feb. 4. (AP file)
Checotah native and 2005 “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood and Aerosmith frontman and current “Idol” judge Steven Tyler and will share the stage in a “CMT Crossroads” special airing live from Indianapolis on Feb. 4, the night before Super Bowl XLVI.
“CMT Crossroads: Steven Tyler & Carrie Underwood From the Pepsi Super Bowl Fan Jam” will take place at the Pepsi Coliseum at the Indiana State Fair Grounds, reports CMT.com.
The concert is a private event.It will premiere live at 10 p.m. Feb. 4 on CMT.
As Aerosmith’s frontman, Tyler established himself as one of rock music’s most popular vocalists with hits such as “Sweet Emotion,” “Dream On” and “Last Child.” After winning “Idol” in 2005, Underwood has sold more than 14 million albums and won five Grammys, seven CMT Music Awards and six American Music Awards. She is a two-time winner of the Academy of Country Music’s entertainer of the year award and a three-time winner of both the Country Music Association’s and ACM’s female vocalist of the year award.
Tyler and Underwood previously performed together in 2011 at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas. The duo brought the arena crowd to its feet and wowed millions of viewers at home performing Underwood’s No. 1 song “Undo It” followed by Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way.”
-BAM
Hits by Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and more featured on “Country Dance All Stars” Kinect game
Brooks & Dunn (AP file)
GameMill Entertainment, an independent publisher of entertaining mass-market video games, today announced plans to release “Country Dance All Stars,” an entertaining dance game with bonus sing-along features that will be packed with dozens of hits from favorite country chart-toppers. “Country Dance All Stars,” which launches exclusively on Kinect for Xbox 360 in March, will become the first country music dance game to hit the platform, according to the announcement.
“Country Dance All Stars” will feature more than 35 tracks from the best names in country music, including 18 of last year’s Country Music Association Awards winners like Male and Female Vocalists of the Year Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, who live in Tishomingo; Album of the Year winner Jason Aldean; and Vocal Duo of the Year Lady Antebellum.
Songs from Checotah native Carrie Underwood and fellow superstars Brad Paisley, Zac Brown Band and Eric Church also will headline the dance party.
Of course, what country dance game would be complete without former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn crooning the Brooks & Dunn smash “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”?
Here is a partial list of the in-game soundtrack revealed today:
Alan Jackson – “Good Time”
Ashton Shepard – “Look It Up”
Billy Currington – “People Are Crazy”
Blake Shelton – “All About Tonight”
Brad Paisley – “Water”
Brooks & Dunn – “Boot Scootin’ Boogie”
Carrie Underwood – “Cowboy Cassanova”
Chad Brownlee – “Carried Away”
Dierks Bentley – “What Was I Thinking”
Easton Corbin – “Roll With It”
Eric Church – “Hell On The Heart”
Gwyneth Paltrow – “Shake That Thing”
Jason Aldean – “My Kinda Party”
Josh Turner – “Why Don’t We Just Dance”
Katie Armiger – “Best Song Ever”
Kellie Pickler – “Tough”
Lady Antebellum – “Lookin’ For A Good Time”
Laura Bell Bundy – “Giddy On Up”
Miranda Lambert – “White Liar”
Zac Brown Band – “Chicken Fried”
“Country Dance All Stars,” the next iteration in the top-selling “Country Dance” video game franchise, brings a whole new hands-free experience to the dance party. Your body becomes the controller as you kick up your boots and dance your way through more than 35 hot routines and songs. Players can challenge a friend to a dance-off with simultaneous competitive play or work together to pull off the moves and collectively build a top score. Boost your boot-scootin’ skills with all new line-dancing routines, and don’t be afraid to belt it out with scrolling sing-along lyrics. Plus, players can share the fun with friends as the Kinect sensor snaps photos throughout each routine. Plus, new downloadable content (DLC) support allows gamers to keep the party going with downloadable song packs featuring new choreography that will be released post launch.
Additional songs and features as well as pricing will be announced at a later date. “Country Dance All Stars” for Kinect for Xbox 360 is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, go to www.game-mill.com.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood’s foundation fulfills $350,000 worth of wishes from hometown Checotah schools, including computers, band instruments, iPads and more
Carrie Underwood talks with Pre-K student Sidney Hamilton after posing for a photo with her on Friday, October 14, 2011. Underwood helped build a playground at her former school, Marshall Elementary School, in Checotah. Photo by David McDaniel, The Oklahoman Archives
From Monday’s The Oklahoman.
Carrie Underwood’s foundation gives $350,000 to Checotah Public Schools
From musical instruments to iPads, the donation will help all four school sites at the country music superstar’s alma mater.
CHECOTAH — Christmas is over for another year, but the staff and students at Checotah Public Schools still have gifts coming in — from Apple computers to band instruments.
Country music superstar Carrie Underwood, Checotah’s most famous graduate, made wishes come true at her alma mater over the holidays, donating another $350,000 to the district through her Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation.
“It’s wonderful. Carrie, she is such a great kid. We’ve known her all her life, and we’re so thankful that … she hasn’t forgotten where she grew up,” Assistant Superintendent Toni Brown said.
All four of Checotah’s schools will benefit from the donation.
“Late last year each of the schools created a list of their needs and I am so thrilled that the C.A.T.S. Foundation was able to fund it all,” Underwood said in an announcement. “It gives me great joy knowing we are helping my hometown schools to offer an even better education to the students. They deserve it.”
In October, the 2005 “American Idol” winner returned to her hometown to join 200 volunteers in assembling a custom-designed playground at Marshall Elementary School. Underwood hinted then that her foundation would soon be giving more aid to the district.
“I’ve been blessed in my life, and God’s given me so much. And it is my responsibility to pass it on, I feel. I’m gonna get to do a lot more,” she said.
Marshall Elementary, which has about 430 prekindergarten through second-grade pupils, will use the funds for computer software, a stage curtain for the auditorium, and new ground cover and shaded areas around the new playground.
“I was proud of it before, but now it’s really amazing. … People can come and play any time and there’s a place to have a picnic, enjoy the children and have family time,” Principal Jann Ledbetter said in October.
“It just means so much because she’s one of our children that grew up here. We love Carrie.”
At the intermediate school, which houses 350 third- through fifth-graders, the donation will put computer workstations in every classroom.
“Every student in that building will have access to a computer during the day,” Brown said.
At the middle school, the funds will buy 25 scientific calculators, furnish a 25-computer lab and establish an iPad lab with a dozen of the tablets.
“At the high school we had some funding from another source, so Carrie is funding about half the cost of an Apple computer lab. We didn’t have any Apple computers in our system … but we will have a new Apple lab for our business technology class,” Brown said, adding the computers were ordered before the holidays and have already arrived.
The Grammy-winning singer’s foundation also funded music education projects. The district is building a new high school it hopes to open next fall, and the donation will pay for risers for the new vocal music room.
For the band program, the gift will pay for chairs, music stands and instrument lockers, as well as an electric piano and other instruments. In 2009, the foundation donated more than $115,000 in musical instruments to the district.
While the district paid for new marching band uniforms last year, the new gift will buy uniforms for the jazz and concert bands, too.
“It’s just been a big boost to our band program,” Brown said. “This is something that the district probably would not have been able to furnish to our band. It’s just extra special that now they’re going to be able to have these things.”
-BAM
Carrie Underwood donates $350,000 to her hometown Checotah schools
Carrie Underwood helps paint a world map on the playground at her former school, Marshall Elementary School, in Checotah on Friday, October 14, 2011. Underwood has made an additional donation of $350,000 to her hometown school district, according to an announcement from her publicist. Photo by David McDaniel, The Oklahoman Archives
Carrie Underwood made wishes come true this holiday season for the schools in her hometown of Checotah, Oklahoma with donations amounting to $350,000 through her C.A.T.S. Foundation – Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation.
Each of the four schools – Marshall Elementary, Checotah Intermediate School, Checotah Middle School, and Checotah High School – learned just in time for Christmas that they would receive the necessary funds from C.A.T.S. to fulfill various school needs.
The donations will go towards items such as new computer labs for each school, plus playground equipment, physical fitness equipment, as well as new band uniforms, furniture, storage, instruments for their music programs, among other items, according to an announcement through her publicist.
“Late last year each of the schools created a list of their needs and I am so thrilled that the C.A.T.S. Foundation was able to fund it all,” said Underwood in the announcement. “It gives me great joy knowing we are helping my hometown schools to offer an even better education to the students. They deserve it.”
“We are so proud of Carrie and her accomplishments and we appreciate everything she has done for our students. Every student in our school will benefit from the C.A.T.S. Foundation’s generous donation,” shared Toni Brown, Assistant Superintendent of Checotah Public Schools in the announcement.
In October, Underwood’s C.A.T.S. Foundation partnered with national non-profit organization KaBOOM!, and with the help of more than 200 local volunteers built a playground in one day at Marshall Elementary School designed by the school’s students.
I’ll have more on this story coming soon.
About C.A.T.S. Foundation – Checotah Animal, Town, and School Foundation
Established in 2009 by country superstar Carrie Underwood, the C.A.T.S. Foundation was created to help with general causes, needs, and services in the area of Checotah, OK, to directly impact her hometown community. In August of 2009, C.A.T.S. Foundation partnered with ACM Lifting Lives to donate over $117,000 in new instruments for Checotah’s school music programs. In 2010, C.A.T.S. helped in the rebuilding of Checotah’s animal shelter, Happy Paws. For more information on C.A.T.S. Foundation, or to make a donation, go to www.thecatsfoundation.com.
-BAM
13 Days of Oklahoma Music: Carrie Underwood & Vince Gill’s “How Great Thou Art”
Merry Christmas!
The 13 Days of Oklahoma Music continue here at BAM’s Blog, as we look back on the musical milestones state artists experienced in the past year as 2011 draws to a close. Today’s installment is not only appropriate for Christmas, but also features two top-shelf Oklahoma country stars who love collaborating with one other.
In April, Carrie Underwood, who hails from Checotah, was honored during the TV concert special “Girls’ Night Out: Superstar Women of Country,” and fellow Oklahoma native Vince Gill joined her in belting an incredible rendition of the hymn “How Great Thou Art” that earned a standing ovation and so far has garnered 10.5 million YouTube hits.
In addition, Underwood recently ranked No. 7 on Forbes’ list of the top-earning women in music, shared a No. 1 hit with Brad Paisley for their duet “Remind Me,” and earned a Grammy nomination for best country solo performance for her emotional ballad “Mama’s Song.”
Gill received his 41st Grammy nomination for best country song for “Threaten Me with Heaven,” which the Norman-born, Oklahoma City-bred star penned with his wife Amy Grant, Dillon O’Brian and the late Will Owsley.
The fervent ballad is the first single from Gill’s October release, “Guitar Slinger,” his first album in five years. “Guitar Slinger” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Top Country Albums list and No. 14 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Also this fall, Gill taped an episode of the acclaimed series “CMT Crossroads” with British rocker Sting.
-BAM
Carrie Underwood named country music’s most beautiful woman by Country Weekly magazine
Country Weekly readers have voted Checotah native Carrie Underwood as country music’s most beautiful woman for 2011. Her natural beauty, which has landed Carrie a role as spokesperson for Olay Skincare, is featured on the cover of the magazine’s Dec. 12 issue, on sale now.
Country Weekly’s top 10 most beautiful list also includes fellow Oklahoma native Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift and more lovely ladies who grace the format.
-BAM
2011 American Country Awards winners
Carrie Underwood (AP file)
The second annual American Country Awards aired tonight live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Fox. To read my live blog of the event, click here.
Winners with Oklahoma ties nominated include Thompson Square, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood and Toby Keith.
Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth co-hosted the show with country star Trace Adkins, who hosted the inaugural show solo. The ACAs are billed as the only country music awards show that “gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories but also in previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring, encompassing the entire spectrum of country music and bestowing honors that no other awards show has.”
Following is the list of categories, nominees and winners of the American Country Awards, with Oklahoma nominees marked with an *:
ARTISTS
Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean – WINNER
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band
Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley – WINNER
*Blake Shelton
Artist of the Year: Female
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
*Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood – WINNER
Artist of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum – WINNER
*Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band
Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Eric Church
Eli Young Band
Justin Moore
Jake Owen
Chris Young – WINNER
Artist of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry
Scotty McCreery – WINNER
Jerrod Niemann
*Pistol Annies
*Thompson Square
Album
Album of the Year
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party” – WINNER
Kenny Chesney, “Hemingway’s Whiskey”
Brad Paisley, “This Is Country Music”
Taylor Swift, “Speak Now”
Keith Urban, “Get Closer”
Zac Brown Band, “You Get What You Give”
SINGLES
Single of the Year
Billy Currington, “Let Me Down Easy”
Tim McGraw, “Felt Good On My Lips”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Chris Young, “Voices” – WINNER
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, “As She’s Walking Away”
Single of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party” – WINNER
Luke Bryan, “Someone Else Calling You Baby”
Billy Currington, “Let Me Down Easy”
Tim McGraw, “Felt Good On My Lips”
Chris Young, “Voices”
Single of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”
*Miranda Lambert, “Heart Like Mine”
*Reba, “Turn On The Radio”
Taylor Swift, “Mean”
*Carrie Underwood, “Mama’s Song” – WINNER
Single of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
*Rascal Flatts, “Why Wait”
Sugarland, “Stuck Like Glue”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” – WINNER
Zac Brown Band, “Colder Weather”
Single of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
Craig Campbell, “Family Man”
The JaneDear Girls, “Wildflower”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” – WINNER
Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” – WINNER
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, “You and Tequila”
Brad Paisley with Alabama, “Old Alabama”
Zac Brown Band with Jimmy Buffet, “Knee Deep”
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, “As She’s Walking Away”
TOURING
Touring Headline Act of the Year
Jason Aldean – WINNER
Kenny Chesney
*Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
*Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
VIDEOS
Music Video of the Year
Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Blake Shelton, “Who Are you When I’m Not Looking” – WINNER
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Josh Turner, “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
Music Video: Male
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Blake Shelton, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” – WINNER
Josh Turner, “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
Keith Urban, “Put You In A Song”
Music Video: Female
Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”
*Reba, “Turn On The Radio”
Ashton Shepherd, “Look It Up”
Taylor Swift, “Back To December”
*Carrie Underwood, “Mama’s Song” – WINNER
Music Video: Duo, Group or Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” – WINNER
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
Lady Antebellum, “Hello World”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, “As She’s Walking Away”
Music Video: New Artist
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
Craig Campbell, “Family Man”
Brett Eldredge, “Raymond”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not” – WINNER
Contributing: The Associated Press.
-BAM
Live blog: 2011 American Country Awards
Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth
7:00 p.m.: Co-host Trace Adkins, dressed in his usual all black, is performing one of his past smashes, “Honkatonk Badonkadonk” while a group of female dancers shake theirs around him. Carrie Underwood is singing along in the crowd. “Now for something completely different,” he says as the dancers shimmy offstage and he starts crooning “Just Fishin’.” Now the dancers are back, the electric guitars are rocking again, and Trace is doing “Ladies Love Country Boys.” The ladies end by surrounding him like a harem, while Trace intones “thank you ladies.” It’s an odd little medley, but if this show is anything like last year, that will be par for the course for the still-young ACAs.
7:05: Trace says he hosted the show last year and thought he did a pretty good job, but the “network people” didn’t feel like he followed the rules or the prompter too well. So they gave him a “co-host” to “keep him in line,” he says, noting that anyone trying to him in line is an opponent because those are fighting words. So 4’11″ Oklahoma native Kristin Chenoweth comes out with boxing gloves and a robe and starts dancing around him throwing punches. “Watch the below-the-belt stuff,” he says. “I have no choice but to go below the belt,” she says, showing off her slogan on her robe “Four Feet of Fury.” She is having him pull off her gloves so she can get her hands on “country’s sexiest man,” as determined by Country Weekly, and he tells her to stop it.
7:09: She’s challenging him to a singoff, winner gets to host, loser goes home to Louisiana. She’s bragging that she’s from Oklahoma and challenging him to sing “Oklahoma!” for the first round. “You’re pretty comfortable with those jazz hands you could be on Broadway.” He challenges her to sing “Honkytonk Badonkadonk,” so she throws off her robe to reveal a prodigiously padded rear and sings it in her best opera voice, with some guy dancers. “So it looks like I’m staying.” “This ain’t over yet, Chenoweth.” This is silly but it’s kind of fun too.
7:11: Josh Turner and Jordin Sparks are going to present the first award, which will honor some of country’s top ladies. But first the “American Idol” contender is asking Josh to sing one of his songs. That deep voice is pretty se
Single of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”
*Miranda Lambert, “Heart Like Mine”
*Reba, “Turn On The Radio”
Taylor Swift, “Mean”
*Carrie Underwood, “Mama’s Song”
xy and all the girls including Jordin are singing along. Of course, we’re not getting all these awards distributed very quickly.
Anyway, they’re gonna present single of the year: female to one of these fine ladies:
Carrie Underwood (AP file)
7:14: Winner: Carrie Underwood for “Mama’s Song.” “First off, I don’t even know what to do about that intro, that was awesome,” the Checotah says as she holds the commemorative guitar, which is given in lieu of a trophy at the ACAs. She’s effusively thanking the country fans for their support. I believe Carrie won 6 or so awards at the first ACAs, so we could see a lot more of her tonight. Of course, since she got her break on Fox’s “American Idol,” she maybe has a bit of a homefield advantage.
The Band Perry (AP file)
7:19: The Band Perry, who were just nominated for the Grammy for best new artist, are performing their latest hit “All Your Life” while the fans in the crowd wave glow sticks. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were able to win that Grammy, they are so hot right now. Kimberly is even rocking a dress with a tulle skirt that looks like it escaped relatively unscathed from 1989.
7:23: Kristin Chenoweth announces that they will be awarding an Artist of the Decade, based on MediaBase’s assessment of the most-played artist of the past 10 years. They’ll be counting down throughout the show the top 10 most-played artists, with the No. 1 getting the prize and performing live. No. 10 is Keith Urban, and No. 9 is Brad Paisley.
Didn’t they give an artist of the decade award on this show last year?
7:25: Comedian Bill Engvall and “Idol” runner-up Lauren Alaina are up to tell us a bit about the Telecaster guitars they’re giving away. Bill and Lauren fumble the hand-off and drop the nice guitar to the floor, but they’re still gonna name the single of the year winner. I think Thompson Square (including Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson) has a great shot here:
Billy Currington, “Let Me Down Easy”
Tim McGraw, “Felt Good On My Lips”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Chris Young, “Voices”
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, “As She’s Walking Away”
Chris Young (Photo by Nathan Poppe, The Oklahoman Archive)
7:27: Winner: Chris Young for “Voices,” and he’s treating us to a performance of his winning song, which I absolutely adore. Plus, Keifer and wife Shawna of Thompson Square have 6 more chances tonight to win a guitar.
7:29: As Chris finishes up his performance and begins thanking the usual suspects, the announcer says he’s also been named breakthrough artist of the year. Good for him.
7:35: Two unbelievable things just happened at the ACAs: Garth Brooks, who has released maybe one single this millennium, is No. 8 on that artist of the decade countdown. And Trace just came out carrying Kristin on his chest in a big baby carrying, quipping, “I knew I’d end up carrying you on this show.”
They’re quickly tossing it to rodeo legend Larry Mahan, GAC personality Storme Warren and up-and-coming singer Hunter Hayes. They’re gonna present music video of the year
Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Blake Shelton, “Who Are you When I’m Not Looking”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Josh Turner, “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
Blake Shelton
7:39: Winner: Blake Shelton, who also wins music video by a male artist. Blake is saying hi to his dad back home because he’s had a rough couple of weeks, so he’s dedicating the award to his dad and telling him he loves him. Aw.
Eli Young Band
7:40: Eli Young Band is on to perform “Crazy Girl,” which has helped elevate them to a whole new level of success. It’s nice to see some Texas country represented here.
7:46: Rascal Flatts is listed as No. 7 on the artist of the decade list. And now Trace is getting some script changes from Kristin, and the wrestler Big Show shows up to make sure her co-host does just what she wants. He’s introducing the men of “Pawn Stars” per her instructions, and they show up holding that broken guitar claiming Bill Engvall tried to sell it to them for $500. They’re reading the canned lead-up to the album of the year noms with varying degrees of painfulness. Here are the noms:
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party”
Kenny Chesney, “Hemingway’s Whiskey”
Brad Paisley, “This Is Country Music”
Taylor Swift, “Speak Now”
Keith Urban, “Get Closer”
Zac Brown Band, “You Get What You Give”
Jason Aldean
7:49: Winner: Jason Aldean, who gets an undamaged guitar. He notes “it’s been a hell of year,” and he’s certainly been on a hot streak. But I think Paisley should have won in this category. Jason notes that he’s proudest this year that more than 1 million fans came out to his shows. He’s coming to OKC in the new year if you want to see him live.
Pistol Annies
7:50: Trace appears in a neck brace, and Kristin, in an extremely low-cut green dress, is apologizing for having the biggest athlete in the world brutally body slam him. “You’re right, this is our show, we can do whatever the hell we want,”as she yanks off the neck brace. “I like your style, Chenoweth, I’m gonna let you be my co-host.” Now that that is settled, they’re introducing the amazing duo of Pistol Annies: Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Angeleena Presley and Ashley Monroe are in matching black outfits as they croon their smoking first single “Hell on Heels.” Love them so much.
7:58: Brooks & Dunn is No. 7 on the artist of the decade countdown, and Tulsa comic Rodney Carrington, who has been playing Vegas and will be playing his annual post-Christmas shows at Firelake Grand in Shawnee soon, is with The JaneDear Girls. They’re going to present the new artist of the year prize. Here are the options:
The Band Perry
Scotty McCreery
Jerrod Niemann
*Pistol Annies
*Thompson Square
Scotty McCreery
8:00: Winner: “American Idol” winner Scotty McCreery, whose debut album has already gone gold, is the performing his new single “The Trouble with Girls” to mark his second big win on Fox. Carrie is nodding along as he croons. It’s amazing that a guy that young sounds so grown up; no matter how many times I hear him sing, I’m still kind of startled by it. “Thank y’all so much. It’s my first award, and it’s a dad-gum Telecaster.” He’s thanking the usual suspects, putting his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ first, and giving a birthday shout-out to his mom. If he were any sweeter, the kid would be Tim Tebow.
8:08: The duo Love and Theft are revealing No. 5 on the artist of the decade countdown, Alan Jackson, and Kristin Chenoweth is chatting with her fellow Oklahoma girl Carrie Underwood, noting that she’s perfect “just like my girls from Oklahoma.” “Sometimes awards show put people together that go together; this is not o
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
*Rascal Flatts, “Why Wait”
Sugarland, “Stuck Like Glue”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Zac Brown Band, “Colder Weather”
ne of those times.” The Big Show is back, with NASCAR pit reporter Jamie Little, and their chatting about their jobs while the wrestler points out her “Olympic conditioning” in her sleek purple gown.
They’re going to present single of the year by a group. Here are the noms:
Thompson Square
8:12: Winner: Thompson Square, who are performing their winning, breakthrough, Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling ballad. It’s been a ginormous year for this husband-and-wife team. The couple also won best single by a new artist and best video by a new artist. “Thank y’all very much. This is the first we’ve ever won anything, so be patient with us,” Keifer said. He’s thanking God for making it such a blessed year for them.
Blake Shelton (AP file)
8:20: Artist of the decade countdown continues with George Strait at No. 4, and with Kristin Chenoweth pretending to be the dummy to Trace’s fake ventriloquist. “How do you like the show so far?” Trace asks. “I’d like it better if I was sitting on Blake Shelton’s lap,” she said in a voice that’s more like a robot. But she can’t because Blake – who got huge cheers earlier when he won his music video honors – is going to croon his latest hit, “God Gave Me You.” Love this Okie, and I’m glad to see he’s finally achieving the level of success he deserves. And Miranda is singing along to the song, which he recorded for her and earned a Grammy nomination for the songwriter, Dave Barnes, to boot. It’s a gorgeous performance, and I love it when we get to see romantic Blake and not just crazy-funny Blake.
8:29: Artist of the decade countdown continues with Kenny Chesney at No. 3. Since I bet my boots that Toby Keith is No. 1, this list is awfully male-dominated. NASCAR star Kyle Busch, who’s giving a shoutout to his smoking hot wife, is going to present the female artist of the year:
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
*Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood (AP file)
8:31: Winner: Carrie Underwood, who also wins music video of the year by a female for “Mama’s Song.” She is thanking her fans, specifically her fan club, and promising an amazing 2012. She also says she loves and misses her hubby Mike, then apologizing because his teammates are gonna make fun of him for that later.
Kristin Chenoweth (AP file)
8:32: Trace says he’s been pretending that he doesn’t want to listen to his co-host but that’s just an act, and he’s introducing her singing her sassy country single “I Didn’t.” She’s letting her Okie accent and full-blown feisty out as she dedicates the song to her ex-boyfriend. No question her voice is amazing, but I think the Broken Arrow native is trying a little too hard with her performance, particularly with the “yee haw.” Of course, the last time I saw her perform “I Didn’t Live,” it was in front of 2,000 people – about a fourth of them relatives or friends and all of them fellow Okies and fans – at her Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame induction in Muskogee. So that could just be my perception based on a show in which she was definitely at home and ease.
Alabama (AP file)
8:39: The artist of the decade countdown is almost over with Tim McGraw getting the No. 2 spot. They’re going to give the Hits Award, which last year went to Alan Jackson, and since ACA male artist Brad Paisley is doing the intro via video, it’s safe to say the winner is going to be Alabama. The legendary band is getting a standing O as they take the stage to play a medley of their hits including “Tennessee River,” “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)” and “Mountain Music” that has everyone in the crowd singing along. It is so amazing to see this band playing their hits, and the crowd is just adoring every minute. Like most of the people there, I grew up with this band’s music. What great players, every one!
8:45: Trace is presenting the Greatest Hits Award to Alabama, saying the first concert he ever attended featured the band, who was “the greatest then and they’re still the greatest now.” He literally takes his hat off to the band, who then figuratively tips their hats to the fans and to the military members who keep Americans free to play and listen to the music of their choice. I notice that one of the band members is wearing a big slogan “We’re Back” on the back of his shirt. Awesome.
8:49: I’m betting that Okie Toby Keith is No. 1 on the artist of the decade countdown, though I may well be wrong. If that’s the case, the list will not have included a single female. If that’s the case, it’s just shameful.
8:51: Miranda Lambert, who is the first country artist to have her first four albums go No. 1, is looking quite sexy in a black dress covered in rectangular golden beads, and she’s going to present the artist of the year award. I’m disappointed that her honey isn’t in the running here, but here are the candidates:
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band
Jason Aldean
8:53: Winner: Jason Aldean, who comments, “This is getting ridiculous.” Yep, it sure is because that’s not all he’s won. He also gets:
Album and single of the year by a male artist for “My Kinda Party.”
Single and music video of the year by group/duo/collaboration for “Don’t You Wanna Stay” with Kelly Clarkson.
That brings his total ACA wins to 6. Wow. What a year.
Toby Keith
8:56: Trace and Kristin (who looks stunning her long golden and black dress) are presenting the artist of the decade honor to … Toby Keith, who comes out to his tune “I Wanna Talk About Me.” “Hell, anybody can have a good decade, right?” TK quips before going on to thank the fans. Before he performs his new smash “Red Solo Cup” for the first time, Stephen Colbert pays tribute to TK as the “pop of Nashville” in a taped message. Love that TK won, and my disappointment that there were ZERO women on the countdown is being drowned in the catchiness of “Red Solo Cup.” Everyone out in the crowd – from the fans to the stars – are holding the plasticware in question, and Toby Keith is so into this song, he just goofed on the lyrics. He is totally selling this ridiculous song! “You’re my friend!”
9:00: all the presenters along with Trace and Kristin join TK on stage to toast and drink from their red Solo cups, with Trace contributing to the lyrics and Kristin pretending to coach one of the guitar players.
It’s a fun way to end the show, and a handy way for Fox to promote that “Red Solo Cup” will be performed on Tuesday’s new episode of its cult favorite show “Glee.”
Thanks for following my live blog tonight. As usual, I’ll have more coverage to come soon. And if you’re drinking from a red Solo cup, please be safe and smart about it!
-BAM
2011 American Country Award nominees
Blake Shelton (AP file)
The second annual American Country Awards are airing from 7 to 9 tonight on Fox, with Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins co-hosting. I’ll be live blogging the awards in mere moments.
Artists with Oklahoma ties nominated for the 2011 ACAs include Thompson Square, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith.
The ACAs are billed as the only country music awards show that “gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories but also in previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring, encompassing the entire spectrum of country music and bestowing honors that no other awards show has.”
Following is the list of categories and nominees for the American Country Awards, with Oklahoma nominees marked with an *:
ARTISTS
Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Lady Antebellum
Taylor Swift
Zac Brown Band
Artist of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
*Blake Shelton
Artist of the Year: Female
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
*Miranda Lambert
Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood
Artist of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry
Lady Antebellum
*Rascal Flatts
Sugarland
Zac Brown Band
Artist of the Year: Breakthrough Artist
Eric Church
Eli Young Band
Justin Moore
Jake Owen
Chris Young
Artist of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry
Scotty McCreery
Jerrod Niemann
*Pistol Annies
*Thompson Square
Album
Album of the Year
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party”
Kenny Chesney, “Hemingway’s Whiskey”
Brad Paisley, “This Is Country Music”
Taylor Swift, “Speak Now”
Keith Urban, “Get Closer”
Zac Brown Band, “You Get What You Give”
SINGLES
Single of the Year
Billy Currington, “Let Me Down Easy”
Tim McGraw, “Felt Good On My Lips”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Chris Young, “Voices”
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, “As She’s Walking Away”
Single of the Year: Male
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party”
Luke Bryan, “Someone Else Calling You Baby”
Billy Currington, “Let Me Down Easy”
Tim McGraw, “Felt Good On My Lips”
Chris Young, “Voices”
Single of the Year: Female
Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”
*Miranda Lambert, “Heart Like Mine”
*Reba, “Turn On The Radio”
Taylor Swift, “Mean”
*Carrie Underwood, “Mama’s Song”
Single of the Year: Duo or Group
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
*Rascal Flatts, “Why Wait”
Sugarland, “Stuck Like Glue”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Zac Brown Band, “Colder Weather”
Single of the Year: New Artist
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
Craig Campbell, “Family Man”
The JaneDear Girls, “Wildflower”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Single of the Year: Vocal Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
Kenny Chesney featuring Grace Potter, “You and Tequila”
Brad Paisley with Alabama, “Old Alabama”
Zac Brown Band with Jimmy Buffet, “Knee Deep”
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, “As She’s Walking Away”
TOURING
Touring Headline Act of the Year
Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
*Toby Keith
Tim McGraw
Brad Paisley
*Rascal Flatts
George Strait
Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood
Keith Urban
VIDEOS
Music Video of the Year
Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Blake Shelton, “Who Are you When I’m Not Looking”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Josh Turner, “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
Music Video: Male
Jason Aldean, “My Kinda Party”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Blake Shelton, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”
Josh Turner, “I Wouldn’t Be A Man”
Keith Urban, “Put You In A Song”
Music Video: Female
Sara Evans, “A Little Bit Stronger”
*Reba, “Turn On The Radio”
Ashton Shepherd, “Look It Up”
Taylor Swift, “Back To December”
*Carrie Underwood, “Mama’s Song”
Music Video: Duo, Group or Collaboration
Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay”
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
Lady Antebellum, “Hello World”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not”
Zac Brown Band with Alan Jackson, “As She’s Walking Away”
Music Video: New Artist
The Band Perry, “You Lie”
Craig Campbell, “Family Man”
Brett Eldredge, “Raymond”
Jerrod Niemann, “What Do You Want”
*Thompson Square, “Are You Gonna Kiss
Thompson Square, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and more nominated for American Country Awards
From Monday’s Life section of The Oklahoman. To read my new feature with Kristin Chenoweth, click here.
Thompson Square competing for 7 American Country Awards
Other artists with Oklahoma ties nominated for the second annual ACAs include Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith.
Hot new duo Thompson Square are set to light up the second annual American Country Awards.
The husband-and-wife pair, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson, will view for seven commemorative guitars, which are given in lieu of trophies at the ACAs. Other artists with Oklahoma ties nominated include Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Rascal Flatts and Toby Keith.
The fan-voted awards show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday on Fox. Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth will co-host the show with country star Trace Adkins, who hosted the inaugural show solo. The ACAs are billed as the only country music awards show that “gives fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories but also in previously unrecognized areas of the business such as touring, encompassing the entire spectrum of country music.”
Thompson Square is nominated for Artist of the Year: New Artist and will compete for overall Single of the Year, Single of the Year: Duo or Group, Single of the Year: New Artist, overall Music Video of the Year, Music Video: Duo, Group or Collaboration and Music Video: New Artist on the strength of their smash “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not.”
Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert’s new all-girl trio Pistol Annies also will contend for the Artist of the Year: New Artist award. As a solo artist, Lambert is nominated for Artist of the Year: Female and Single of the Year: Female for “Heart Like Mine,”
Lambert’s husband and fellow Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton is nominated for Artist of the Year: Male along with overall Music Video of the Year and Music Video: Male for “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking.”
Checotah native Carrie Underwood is nominated for Artist of the Year: Female; Touring Headline Act of the Year; and Single of the Year: Female and Music Video: Female for “Mama’s Song.”
Reba McEntire, who hails from Chockie, also is nominated for Single of the Year: Female and Music Video: Female for “Turn on the Radio.”
Rascal Flatts, which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney, will vie for Artist of the Year: Duo or Group; Single of the Year: Duo or Group for “Why Wait”; and Touring Headline Act of the Year.
Norman resident Toby Keith also is nominated for Touring Headline Act of the Year.
Performers for the second ACAs will include Keith, Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square, Chenoweth, Adkins, Alabama, Scotty McCreery, Eli Young Band and The Band Perry.4
The show also will include appearances by Lambert, Tulsa comedian Rodney Carrington, Lauren Alaina, Josh Turner, Jordin Sparks, The Big Show, The JaneDear Girls, Bill Engvall, Larry Mahan and the men of the reality TV show “Pawn Stars.”
Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band each earned a leading eight nominations for this year’s ACAs.
-BAM
