Voting closes today for 2nd American Country Awards
Kristin Chenoweth speaks at a press conference before her induction into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Thursday in Muskogee. (Photo by Adam Kemp, The Oklahoman)
Voting closes today in most categories for the second annual American Country Awards.
Fans can vote for their favorite American Country Awards nominees at www.theacas.com. Voting ends today in every category except for Artist of the Year. Voting in that category closes on Friday, Dec. 2.
The fan-voted awards show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 on Fox. Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth, who was inducted Thursday into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, 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 and bestowing honors that no other awards show has.”
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.
See the full list of nominees for the second annual American Country Awards after the break.
Kristin Chenoweth, Wayman Tisdale, members of The Ventures and more inducted into Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Singer and actress Kristin Chenoweth smiles after signing the oversized Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame guitar at her induction into the hall of fame Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, in Muskogee. Chenoweth is from Broken Arrow and attended Oklahoma City University before moving to New York City and beginning a career in in theater, TV, film and music. (Photo by Adam Kemp, The Oklahoman)
A version of this story also appears in Friday’s The Oklahoman.
Kristin Chenoweth joins Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Along with the Tony- and Emmy-winning singer/actor, the hall’s 2011 class includes the late Wayman Tisdale, members of surf-rock pioneers The Ventures and The Oklahoman’s Gene Triplett.
MUSKOGEE — Wearing a short, silvery dress and a wide smile befitting a Cinderella, Kristin Chenoweth stooped to sign an oversized guitar with the message “I’m just an OKLAHOMA GIRL!”
So far this year, the Emmy- and Tony-winning actress/vocalist has sung for Oprah Winfrey, President Obama and the Queen of England. She added another highlight Thursday night when she was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
“All those other things are amazing. I’d be a liar if I didn’t say singing for the queen and Oprah and presidents and all that is amazing. But when you come back home and you sing for your family and you sing for people who said, ‘You done good,’ that’s where the loyalty and the love is,” Chenoweth told The Oklahoman.
“This is who I am. This is who I am, and I can’t forget it.”
The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame ushered in its 15th class during Thursday’s Annual Induction Ceremony and Concert. Along with Chenoweth, the class of 2011 includes basketball great and popular jazz bassist the late Wayman Tisdale and Rock; Roll Hall of Famers Nokie Edwards and the late Bob Bogle, both members of surf-rock pioneers The Ventures; and Gene Triplett, longtime entertainment editor of The Oklahoman.
The class of 2011 also features the late guitarist/keyboard player Jesse Ed Davis, who performed with Leon Russell, George Harrison and John Lennon; the late composer, lyricist and performer Ralph Blane, who was twice nominated for the best original song Oscar; and Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Rising Star Award recipient Cheevers Toppah, a Kiowa/Navajo singer and Grammy nominee.
This is a totally unexpected honor. I don’t play guitar and sing as well as any of these folks here, but I’m just really proud to be here,” said Triplett, who has been at The Oklahoman for 30 years and spent the last decade as entertainment editor, at the press conference before the ceremony.
“This is a great place if you’re gonna write about music and entertainment. This is the place to be. (As you can see) from the fantastic panel up here, Oklahoma is just a really rich breeding ground for great talent … something in the water. Or the dirt, I don’t know.”
“It’s the dirt,” Chenoweth said with a laugh.
Judging from the class of 2011, the Oklahoma dirt provides a fertile breeding ground for musical diversity, with the honorees representing an array of styles, from Broadway show tunes and contemporary jazz to American Indian fusion and rock ‘n’ roll.
Kelly Davis, Davis’ widow, said that friends laughed and asked “Do they surf in Oklahoma?” when they heard that The Ventures were part of the same hall of fame class as her husband.
“I’m from California, and we met in California … but he was a proud Oklahoman, and this is a tremendous honor” Davis said.
Along with Toppah, Davis, who was full-blood Kiowa Comanche, and Edwards, who is Cherokee, represent Oklahoma’s strong American Indian roots.
“To be amongst the greatest musicians to come out of Oklahoma, it’s humbling for me, and to be Native American and represent the state of Oklahoma, it’s one of the greatest awards I’ll ever have,” said Toppah, 28.
Edwards, 76, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008 as a member of The Ventures and earlier this year became a Native American Music Awards Hall of Famer.
“This is my third hall of fame I’m in, but I’m very happy to be inducted into the hall of fame here in my home state,” Edwards said, adding he was sorry that his bandmate and fellow inductee Bogle, who died in 2009, was not there to be honored with him.
Bob Spalding, who has played lead and bass guitar with The Ventures since 1981, accepted the induction award and performed on behalf of Bogle his wife and six children, five of whom were in attendance.
Regina Tisdale, Tisdale’s widow, accepted the honor for her husband, who the former University
Regina Tisdale, the wife of former Oklahoma basketball star and jazz musician Wayman Tisdale, signs the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame guitar on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Muskogee. (Photo by Adam Kemp, The Oklahoman)
of Oklahoma All-American basketball player who became a professional jazz bassist after his 12-season career in the NBA. She has accepted many of his posthumous awards since Tisdale died in 2009 at the age of 44 after a long battle with bone cancer.
“We’re very excited to be here. Wayman would’ve absolutely loved it. “Although he was an athlete, if you asked him what his first love was, he’d tell you music. So he’d be all smiles if he was here and he’d be honored to be among these musicians,” she said.
The hall of fame also inducted posthumously Blane, a prolific composer who co-wrote the holiday classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and the Oscar-nominated standard “The Trolley Song” for the 1944 movie musical “Meet Me in St. Louis.” He earned a second Academy Award nomination for “Pass That Peace Pipe,” from the 1947 musical comedy “Good News.”
“I met Ralph Blane when I was a teenager, and he influenced my life a great deal. And the last 10 or 15 years of his life, we became very close,” said Billie Sue Thompson, who accepted on his behalf.
“I’m probably the luckiest one here because my most famous mentor, Ralph Blane, and my most famous former student, Kristin Chenoweth, are both going to be inducted into the hall of fame tonight,” said Billie Sue Thompson, who accepted on his behalf.
As a teacher at Broken Arrow High School, she nurtured Chenoweth’s natural talent, cast Chenoweth in the title role of “Cinderella” and always knew the tiny blonde with the huge voice would be a superstar.
“Singing has been the greatest love of my life, and it is definitely an extension of my soul and something that God saw fit to give me. I can’t balance my checkbook and I’m not a very good driver, but I do enjoy singing,” Chenoweth said with a grin. “I’m very, very honored to be here tonight.”
More to come
Look for my review, along with photos and video, of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame 2011 Induction Ceremony and Concert on NewsOK.
-BAM
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inducting Kristin Chenoweth, Wayman Tisdale, Gene Triplett and more tonight
Kristin Chenoweth
MUSKOGEE – The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame 2011 class of inductees will be inducted tonight and include Emmy and Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth; the late Jesse Ed Davis, who played with Leon Russell, Jackson Browne, George Harrison and John Lennon; the late jazz musician Wayman Tisdale; The Oklahoman entertainment writer Gene Triplett; the late composer, lyricist and performer Ralph Blane; Nokie Edwards and the late Bob Bogle, both of The Ventures; and multiple Grammy nominee and past Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Rising Star Award winner Cheevers Toppah.
The induction ceremony and concert will be at at the Muskogee Civic Center, 425 Boston Street.
“We are thrilled to have such a prestigious group of inductees this year,” said Andrea Chancellor, Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Board president, in a news release. “This slate of nominees serves as a tribute to Oklahomans who are contributing and have enhanced our lives with music, leaving their legacy on the world stage.”
The 2011 class of inductees will join a growing list of prominent musicians, composers and performers who have entertained generations, including past inductees Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Jean Shepard, Claude “Fiddler” Williams, Ronnie Dunn, David Gates, The All American Rejects, Leona Mitchell and dozens of others. The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inducted its first members in 1997.
Read more about the 2011 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame inductees after the break.
Kristin Chenoweth, Wayman Tisdale, Gene Triplett and more to be inducted Thursday into Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Kristin Chenoweth
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Kristin Chenoweth, the late Wayman Tisdale and Gene Triplett to be inducted Thursday into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame
Column: Other honorees include The Ventures guitarists Nokie Edwards and the late Bob Bogle, the late guitarist/keyboard player Jesse Ed Davis, the late composer, lyricist and performer Ralph Blane and Kiowa/Navajo singer Cheevers Toppah.
MUSKOGEE — The Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame will usher a particularly talented group into its ranks during its annual Induction Ceremony and Concert Thursday night.
And I’m not just saying that because the class of 2011 happens to include my boss.
Our own Gene Triplett, longtime entertainment editor for The Oklahoman, and a stellar group
Gene Triplett (The Oklahoman Archives)
of performers will become Thursday the newest members of the respected Muskogee-based institution. For most of the class of 2011, their hall of fame induction will join a long list of honors they have received in the course of their illustrious careers.
Along with Gene, this year’s inductees include Emmy- and Tony-winning actress/singer Kristin Chenoweth, basketball great and popular jazz bassist the late Wayman Tisdale and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Nokie Edwards and the late Bob Bogle, both members of The Ventures.
Also among the class of 2011 are the late guitarist/keyboard player Jesse Ed Davis, who performed with Leon Russell, Jackson Browne, George Harrison and John Lennon; the late composer, lyricist and performer Ralph Blane, who wrote the holiday classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Trolley Song” from the musical “Meet Me in St. Louis”; and Kiowa/Navajo singer Cheevers Toppah, a multiple Grammy nominee and past winner of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Rising Star Award.
They will join a growing list of prominent musicians, writers and entertainers whose talents have been born, bred and fostered in our fair state. Past inductees include Wanda Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Leon Russell, Jean Shepard, Charlie Christian, Ronnie Dunn, David Gates, Roger Miller, Roy Clark, The All American Rejects, Leona Mitchell and many more.
Wayman Tisdale
Founded in 1995 to recognize the state’s rich and profound influence on the world’s music culture, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame and Museum ushered in its first inductees in 1997.
Along with the formal induction, Thursday’s event will include a concert showcasing the class of 2011. Chenoweth, Edwards and Toppah will perform at the show at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Muskogee Civic Center, 425 S Boston Ave.
In addition, the Wayman Tisdale Band and guests will pay their musical respects to Tisdale, who died in 2009 after a long battle with bone cancer. John Trudell and the Russell Saunkeah Band will perform a tribute to Davis, who died in 1988 after overdosing on heroin.
While my part won’t be particularly tuneful by comparison — hopefully at least some of my paragraphs will have a pleasing kind of cadence — I’ll be covering the event in honor of my boss, in appreciation for his tireless efforts to spotlight the state’s concert scene, showcase homegrown musical talents and inform you, the reader, about opportunities to enjoy great music.
Congratulations, Gene.
Going on
Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Concert
With: Inductees Kristin Chenoweth, Nokie Edwards and Cheevers Toppah, plus the Wayman Tisdale Band and guests and John Trudell and the Russell Saunkeah Band.
When: 7 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Muskogee Civic Center, 425 S Boston Ave.
Information: www.omhof.com.
-BAM
Blake Shelton, Rascal Flatts, Kristin Chenoweth nominated for People’s Choice Awards 2012
Blake Shelton
Rascal Flatts (AP file)
Kristin Chenoweth (AP file)
Nominees for People’s Choice Awards 2012 were announced today at The Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills by Elisha Cuthbert (“Happy Endings”), Julianne Hough (“Footloose”), Joe Jonas (The Jonas Brothers), Jennifer Morrison (“Once Upon A Time”), Sharon Osbourne (“The Talk”) and Busy Philipps (“Cougar Town”), along with People’s Choice Awards 2012 host Kaley Cuoco (“The Big Bang Theory”) and Executive Producer Mark Burnett. Prior to today’s announcement, fans cast more than 40 million votes to pick new categories and determine the nominees for the annual awards show that celebrates fan favorites in movies, music and television.
In the music categories, Tishomingo country music star Blake Shelton is nominated for Favorite Male Artist and Favorite Country Artist. NBC’s hit reality TV show “The Voice,” on which Shelton serves as a celebrity coach, is nominated for Favorite TV Competition Show.
Rascal Flatts, which includes Picher-bred guitarist Joe Don Rooney, also is nominated for Favorite Country Artist
Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth, who will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame on Thursday, is nominated for Favorite TV Guest Star for her role as April Rhodes on “Glee.”
Also in the television categories, “Pretty Little Liars,” on which Choctaw native Ryan Merriman had a recurring guest role, is nominated for Favorite Cable TV Drama.
In the movie categories, “Soul Surfer,” starring Oklahoma country music star Carrie Underwood, is nominated for Favorite Book Adaptation.
Voting began today for all 43 categories and will end on Dec. 6, except for Favorite New TV Drama and Favorite New TV Comedy which will remain open for voting until the night of show. Winners will be revealed during the live broadcast of People’s Choice Awards 2012 from the Nokia Theater L.A. Live on Jan. 11 on the CBS Television Network.
How to Vote for the People’s Choice Awards 2012:
- Website – PeoplesChoice.com houses the main voting platform for People’s Choice Awards 2012. Registered fans are automatically entered to win tickets every time they cast a vote.
- Facebook – Facebook.com/PeoplesChoice features a custom application where fans can personalize their voting experience, share their votes, enter to win tickets and submit their Facebook profile picture for a chance to be featured in the People’s Choice Awards 2012 live telecast on Jan. 11.
- Twitter – Fans can cast official votes for People’s Choice Awards 2012 by tweeting a specific series of hashtags based on the nominee’s name and category. To see a complete list of hashtags created for each nominee, please visit PeoplesChoice.com/pca/vote.
- Mobile – Fans can vote in all categories on the People’s Choice Awards mobile site, and via the official voting application for Android devices. The free app is available for download from the Android Market.
Now in their 38th year, the People’s Choice Awards are voted on entirely by the public for fan favorites in music, movies and television.
See the complete list of nominees after the break.
Co-hosts Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins, plus Blake Shelton, Pistol Annies, Thompson Square and more to perform on American Country Awards
Pistol Annies
The second American Country Awards will feature plenty of performers with Oklahoma ties.
Along with co-hosting Trace Adkins and Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth are set to make music on the awards show, and the performance lineup also includes country music stars Blake Shelton, an Ada native who lives in Tishomingo; the Pistol Annies, the all-girl trio that includes Shelton’s wife and fellow Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert; Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson; along with Eli Young Band and The Band Perry.
The American Country Awards will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 on Fox.
The two-hour event will also feature appearances by Lambert, Lauren Alaina, Rachel Bilson, Scotty McCreery and the men of the reality TV show “Pawn Stars” (Richard Harrison, Rick Harrison, Corey Harrison and Austin Russell).
Additional performers and presenters will be announced soon, according to a news release.
The two-hour awards show offers country music fans the opportunity to vote for their favorite artists not only in traditional categories, but also in a previously unrecognized area of the business touring encompassing the entire spectrum of country music.
Voting for all categories remains open until Friday, Nov. 11 at www.theacas.com. Voting for Artist of the Year continues until Friday, Dec. 2. To see the list of nominees, click here.
Shelton has been dubbed one of the “most versatile of contemporary country singers” by The New York Times. The 2010 CMA Male Vocalist of the Year continues to prove to be one of the industry’s hottest vocalists as he caps a successful year with career highlights that includes a national breakout turn as a celebrity vocal coach on the hit NBC reality show “The Voice” and the release of his new album “Red River Blue,” which has spawned three No. 1 hits, and a cover of the iconic theme song to go with the new movie remake of “Footloose.”
The Pistol Annies are comprised of Ashley Monroe (“Hippie Annie”), Angaleena Presley (“Holler Annie”) and Texas native Lambert (“Lone Star Annie”). The trio was born out of a songwriting session when Monroe introduced Lambert to the music of her friend, Presley. “Hell on Heels” is the title track to the trio¹s 2011 debut album. The trio has performed on selected Lambert tour dates and it is planning a tour of its own soon. Every song on “Hell on Heels” was written by one or more of the Annies, who all co-wrote the track “Family Feud” with “Pistol Andy,” AKA Shelton.
One of country music’s biggest breakout acts of 2011, Stoney Creek Records’ Thompson Square has earned 12 major awards show nominations in 2011, including seven ACA nominations, an American Music Award nod for New Artist of the Year, and two CMA nominations for New Artist of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year. The husband-and-wife team, comprised of the Oklahoma-bred Keifer Thompson and Alabama-bred Shawna Thompson, combine classic country and rock influences to forge a sound that is thoroughly modern, but built on the bedrock of tradition. The duo’s No. 1 single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not” is country radio’s most played song of the year, according to music industry tracking service Mediabase. Their current single, “I Got You,” is a Top 10 hit. Thompson Square spent the past year on the road opening for multi-platinum country rocker Jason Aldean on his “My Kinda Party 2011 Tour.” The pair joins Darius Rucker’s U.S. tour in November and joins Lady Antebellum’s “Own the Night 2012 World Tour” in January.
The Eli Young Band’s lead single “Crazy Girl,” has been certified platinum with sales of more than 1 million downloads. The song is currently at No. 2 on both country radio charts while the video for the single has tracked more than 6 million views on YouTube. “Life at Best”made its debut at No. 3 on the Billboard Country Albums chart and No. 6 on the Billboard 200. It came in at No. 1 on the iTunes Store Top 10 Country Albums chart and No. 3 on iTunes’ all-genre Top 10 Albums chart, just behind Jay Z/Kanye West and Adele. While currently on tour with Dierks Bentley, EYB is a headliner in its own right, selling out shows across the country from California to Rhode Island.
-BAM
Wednesday Video Spotlight: Kristin Chenoweth performs on “Dancing with the Stars”
Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth performed Monday and Tuesday on the hit reality TV show “Dancing with the Stars.”
In honor of the show’s “Broadway Week,” the Tony- and Emmy-winning singer/actress belted a medley of “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady” and “Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret.”
She also performed “Lessons Learned,” from her debut country album “Some Lessons Learned,” released earlier this fall.
Chenoweth will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame Nov. 10 in Muskogee.
To read about the other 2011 hall of fame honorees or get tickets to the 15th annual induction ceremony, go to www.oklahomamusichalloffame.com.
-BAM
2011 American Country Awards nominations
Carrie Underwood (AP file)
Fox announced today the nominees for the second annual American Country Awards
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 fan-voted awards show will air live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 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 and bestowing honors that no other awards show has.”
Starting today, fans can vote once each day for their favorite American Country Awards nominees at www.theacas.com. Voting is open until Friday, Nov. 11 for all categories, except for Artist of the Year, which closes on Friday, Dec. 2. The nominees for each award category have been determined by four media measurement companies: BigChampagne (for record sales and media consumption); Great American Country (video airplay); Mediabase (radio airplay); and Pollstar (touring data).
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 Me Or Not”
-BAM
Thompson Square, Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and more receive American Country Award nominations
Thompson Square
Hot new duo Thompson Square got even hotter today with the announcement that the husband-and-wife pair received seven American Country Award nominations.
Other artists with Oklahoma ties nominated for Fox’s second annual American Country Awards 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, Dec. 5 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 and bestowing honors that no other awards show has.”
Starting today, fans can vote once each day for their favorite American Country Awards nominees at www.theacas.com. Voting is open until Friday, Nov. 11 for all categories, except for Artist of the Year, which closes on Friday, Dec. 2. The nominees for each award category have been determined by four media measurement companies: BigChampagne (for record sales and media consumption); Great American Country (video airplay); Mediabase (radio airplay); and Pollstar (touring data).
Thompson Square, which includes Miami, OK, native Keifer Thompson, is nominated for Artist of the Year: New Artist. In addition, the couple 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, 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.
Jason Aldean and Zac Brown Band lead the ACA nominees with eight nominations each.
See the full nominations list after the break.
Kristin Chenoweth to appear today on “The Rachael Ray Show”
Broken Arrow native Kristin Chenoweth will appear today on “The Rachael Ray Show,” which airs here in Oklahoma City at 11 a.m. on KFOR-4.
The Tony- and Emmy-winning singer/actress is continuing to promote her debut country album, “Some Lessons Learned,” which was released Sept. 13. To read my review, click here.
The Oklahoma native is best known for her work Broadway, particularly in the shows “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” “Wicked,” and most recently, “Promises, Promises,” and for her TV roles on “Pushing Daisies,” “Glee” and the upcoming “Good Christian Belles.”
She called her venture into country music with “Some Lessons Learned” a return to her Oklahoma roots, particularly her childhood experiences singing in church and at rodeos.
Her country debut, released on Sony Masterworks, became her best-charting album on the multi-genre Billboard 200, as “Some Lessons Learned” debuted earlier this month at No. 50, according to Billboard.com. It concurrently bowed on the Billboard Country Albums list at No. 14, marking her first entry on that chart.
The chart success is just the latest career high Chenoweth has achieved this year. Already in 2011, she has sung for President Barack Obama, Queen Elizabeth II and Oprah Winfrey.
In addition, Chenoweth will be inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in November and co-host with Trace Adkins the second annual American Country Awards Dec. 5 on Fox.
-BAM
