2009 CMA Awards nominees
Oklahoma native Reba McEntire is nominated for two trophies at tonight’s CMA Awards. Follow along with my live-blog of the show starting at 7 p.m. here on BAM’s Blog. (Associated Press photo)
The 43rd Annual CMA Awards start at 7 p.m. on ABC. My live-blog begins at that time. Get ready by checking out the nominees list.
2009 CMA Awards nominees:
(Nominees with Oklahoma ties are marked with an asterisk)
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
*Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
*Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
*Carrie Underwood
MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban
NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Randy Houser
Jamey Johnson
Jake Owen
Darius Rucker
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Eagles
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
*Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band
VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
*Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
SINGLE OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to artist and producer)
“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
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
SONG OF THE YEAR
(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
MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR
(Award goes to each artist)
*“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)
MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
(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
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Eddie Bayers- Drums
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar
-BAM
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
Oklahomans get the chance to shine on tonight’s CMA Awards
Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley will co-host the CMA Awards tonight for the second straight year. (Associated Press photo)
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Expect Oklahoma stars to shine bright tonight
Oklahoma’s constellation of country music stars will have the chance to shine tonight at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards.
Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, Miranda Lambert and Rascal Flatts are nominated for awards at the Country Music Association’s yearly industry honors. Several of the state’s stars also will perform on the awards show, which airs live from 7 to 10 tonight on ABC.
For the second year, Underwood and fellow star Brad Paisley will host the CMA Awards, which take place at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn. In addition, both will perform during the broadcast.
“We didn’t know what to expect the first time. We had no idea,” Underwood told the Associated Press. “Things are different from year to year, but the overall layout — we’ve got it down.”
The Checotah native goes into the show with two nominations, for female vocalist of the year, an award she has won the past three years, and for musical event of the year for her version of “I Told You So” featuring Randy Travis. Travis picked up a second nomination for song of the year, for writing “I Told You So,” which was a chart-topper for him in 1988 and a hit this year for the 2005 “American Idol” winner.
If Underwood wins the female vocalist award again, it will tie her with fellow nominees McEntire and Martina McBride for most wins in the category.
Along with her female vocalist nomination, McEntire, who was raised in Chockie, also will compete for the musical event prize for “Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” her duet with Brooks & Dunn.
With her two nominations, McEntire brings her career total to 48, continuing her reign as the female artist with the highest number of nominations in CMA Awards history.
In addition, the redheaded star is set to perform on the show.
Brooks & Dunn, which includes former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, also is nominated for vocal duo of the year, a category they have won a record 14 times. The hitmaking team of Dunn and Kix Brooks, who will perform on the show, announced earlier this year that they are splitting up after their 2010 “The Last Rodeo Tour.”
Lambert, who lives in Tishomingo, joins Underwood and McEntire in competing for the female vocalist award and on the list of performers.
Rascal Flatts, which includes Joe Don Rooney of Picher, was nominated for vocal group of the year, an award the band has won for the past six years.
Vince Gill, who was born in Norman and raised in Oklahoma City, and rock band Daughtry will play their country-rock collaboration “Tennessee Line,” featured on the band’s new album, “Leave This Town,” during the show.
Gill, who is known for working with artists from many genres, expects some country purists will object to Daughtry’s inclusion in the show but praised the band for writing a great song.
“That’s what television is about is ratings, and I can say this with a straight face, I don’t know that the networks that their greatest concern is the validity of country music in their show,” said Gill in a phone interview “It turns into a pretty big melting pot of occasionally some neat collaborations. If you’ve got an open mind, it’s fine, but some people, they can get pretty cantankerous about it. And there will be people who will say ‘Why is Daughtry on the country music awards?’ … They’re musical people and they have a neat record and I’m a part of it. And that’s why.”
The CMA entertainer of the year nominees are Paisley, Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Keith Urban and Taylor Swift. Swift becomes the first solo female artist since Faith Hill in 2000 to be nominated for the CMA’s top award; the last solo woman to win it was Shania Twain in 1999.
Paisley goes into the show with a leading seven nominations, including entertainer, male vocalist and album of the year.
Follow along with my live-blog of the CMA Awards here on BAM’s Blog.
-BAM
CMA Awards Day on BAM’s Blog
Brooks & Dunn (which includes former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, left) and Reba McEntire are nominated for musical event of the year for their hit “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” As much as I love the song, am I allowed to cry when Brooks & Dunn part ways next year? (Associated Press photo)
The Country Music Association’s 43rd Annual CMA Awards air from 7 to 10 tonight on ABC. Carrie Underwood, Brooks & Dunn, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Rascal Flatts and Vince Gill are among the Oklahomans who are nominated for awards or will perform during the show.
I’ll be bringing you CMA Awards updates and other country music news throughout the day leading up to my live-blog of the big show at 7 p.m. After the show, look for my winners list and analysis of the show.
-BAM
Taylor Swift to open Wednesday night’s CMA Awards
Taylor Swift (Associated Press photo)
The Country Music Association announced today that starlet Taylor Swift wil deliver the opening performance at Wednesday night’s 43rd Annual CMA Awards.
The 43rd Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood, will air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday on the ABC Television Network. Be sure to follow along with the show during my CMA Awards live-blog here at BAM’s Blog.
“Taylor is the perfect choice as the opening act for the 2009 CMA Awards,” said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer, in a news release. “Her charisma, charm, popularity, and talent will set the stage for an evening you won’t soon forget. We know her fans will want to stay tuned to see what she does next.”
In addition to Swift, performers already announced include Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn (which includes former Tulsa Ronnie Dunn), Kenny Chesney and Dave Mathews, Billy Currington, Oklahoma native Vince Gill and Daughtry, Kid Rock and Jamey Johnson, Lady Antebellum, Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Oklahoma native Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Checotah native Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.
Awards presenters will include Dale Earnhardt Jr., Neil Flynn, Patricia Heaton, Julianne Hough, Randy Houser, The Judds, Kid Rock, Kris Kristofferson, Jake Owen, Kellie Pickler, LeAnn Rimes, Robin Roberts, and Lee Ann Womack. Love And Theft will host the Pre-Telecast Awards.
Swift, who won the Horizon Award in 2007, received four nominations this year with entertainer of the year; female vocalist of the year; album of the year for “Fearless”; and music video of the year for “Love Story.” She could receive a second trophy for producing “Fearless” with Nathan Chapman. At age 19, Swift is the youngest artist ever to be nominated for entertainer. Prior to this nomination, Wynonna was the youngest at age 22 when The Judds were first nominated in that category in 1986. Swift is also the first solo female artist to be nominated for entertainer since 2000 when Faith Hill was nominated. The last solo female artist to win the category was Shania Twain in 1999.
-BAM
Jamey Johnson-Kid Rock duet, Martina McBride added to CMA Awards performers’ list
Jamey Johnson
Kid Rock
Martina McBride
The performer lineup for the Country Music Association’s 43rd Annual CMA Awards gets even more star-studded with the announcement that Kid Rock will join four-time nominee Jamey Johnson in their first televised duet.
Kid Rock will also present an award during the evening.
In addition, four-time Female Vocalist of the Year winner Martina McBride will perform.
Nine-time CMA Award winners The Judds, Country Music Hall of Fame member Kris Kristofferson, and six-time CMA Award winner Lee Ann Womack have been added as presenters.
The 43rd Annual CMA Awards, hosted by Brad Paisley and Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood, will air live from the Sommet Center in Nashville from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesday on the ABC Television Network. You can follow along with my live-blog of the show here at BAM’s Blog.
Performers already announced include Oklahomans Brooks & Dunn, which includes former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, Vince Gill, who will perform with rock band Daughtry, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, and Carrie Underwood.
Other performers include Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney and Dave Mathews, Billy Currington, , Lady Antebellum, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, and Zac Brown Band.
Previously announced presenters include Dale Earnhardt Jr.; stars of ABC’s “The Middle” Neil Flynn and Patricia Heaton; Julianne Hough; nominee Randy Houser (for both New Artist and Music Video of the Year for “Boots On”); nominee Jake Owen (New Artist of the Year); Kellie Pickler; LeAnn Rimes; and ABC News’s Robin Roberts, co-anchor of “Good Morning America” and host of the upcoming “Robin Roberts: Bright Lights. Big Stars. All Access Nashville” ABC television special (airing Nov. 10). Love And Theft will host the Pre-Telecast Awards.
Johnson is nominated in four categories: New Artist, Album (for his Gold-certified That Lonesome Song), and Single and Song (both for “In Color” which he co-wrote with Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto). He won Song of the Year in 2007 for co-writing the Strait hit “Give It Away” with Bill Anderson and Buddy Cannon.
Kid Rock was nominated along with Sheryl Crow in 2003 for Vocal Event of the Year for their song “Picture.” The artist, who has sold more than 25 million albums, performed on the CMA Awards last year and at 2009 CMA Music Festival in June. His most recent album is the three-times-Platinum-certified Rock N Roll Jesus.
McBride is nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year, an Award she has received four times (1999, 2002-2004), tying her with Reba McEntire for the most wins in that category. The singer/songwriter/producer also won Music Video of the Year in 1994 for “Independence Day.” McBride, whose current album is Shine, has sold more than 18 million albums.
-BAM
George Strait, Reba McEntire bringing tour to Tulsa’s BOK Center in 2010
George Strait
Reba McEntire
“King of Country” George Strait is taking along Oklahoma country music star Reba McEntire on his 2010 tour, with a stop planned in February at Tulsa’s BOK Center.
The tour will kick off Jan. 22 in Baltimore, according to a news release from Strait’s publicist. The pair will Feb. 20 at the BOK Center; the sale date or ticket prices for the Oklahoma show have not yet been announced.
The country superstars performed together for the first time in many years for a sold-out crowd June 6 at the Cowboy’s Stadium inaugural event in Dallas. The show, which also featured Oklahoma star Blake Shelton and Lee Ann Womack, sold out in less than an hour. It was hailed by the Dallas Morning News as “an extravaganza” that “showcased Strait at the pinnacle of his musical game,” and Ft. Worth Star Telegram wrote “Reba McEntire’s performance was a breathtaking master’s class in effortless brilliance.”
With 57 No. 1 hits, 33 multi-platinum albums and countless sold-out shows year after year, Strait holds the record for the most Country Music Association wins and a record 17 CMA Entertainer of the Year nominations.
“I can’t wait to get back out there and perform some of my new favorites from Twang along with hits the fans already love,” Strait says in the release. “And with my friend Reba, we will make it a really spectacular night.”
Strait’s latest album, “Twang,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the Top Country Albums chart. This is the fourth time in Strait’s career that a new release has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and his 13th time debuting at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. It has become a critically acclaimed album and received rave reviews in USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, People, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, The Dallas Morning News, The Boston Globe, Billboard and many more.
Strait co-wrote three songs on “Twang,” including the debut single, “Living for the Night.” The current single and title track of the album sits at No. 22 on Billboard and Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart.
At last year’s CMA Awards, George became the artist with the most CMA Awards in history with an album of the year win for “Troubadour” and single of the year for “I Saw God Today.” This year, he has four CMA nominations - nods for entertainer of the year, male vocalist of the year, video of the year for “Troubadour” and vocal event of the year for “Everything But Quits” with Womack - going into the Nov. 11 awards show.
His platinum-selling “Troubadour” was named best country album at the 51st Grammy Awards in February, and Strait was the fifth artist ever to receive the Academy of Country Music’s Artist of the Decade honor in April. Strait also has won 19 Academy of Country Music Awards including entertainer of the year.
With a career spanning more than 25 years, Strait has the most No. 1 singles of any artist in history, including Elvis Presley, with 57 to date. He has sold more than 67 million records, and with 33 platinum or multi-platinum albums to his name, he has the most RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) platinum certifications in country music and the third in all genres, behind The Beatles and Elvis .
One of the most successful female recording artists in history, McEntire, who grew up in Chockie, has sold more than 55 million albums worldwide, earned 33 No. 1 singles and was recently recognized as the biggest female hitmaker in country music history by Billboard, Mediabase and Country Aircheck.
The Oklahoma native is the winner of 15 American Music Awards, 12 ACM Awards, nine People’s Choice Awards, seven CMA Awards and two Grammy Awards.
McEntire’s new album, “Keep On Loving You,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart – her first solo studio album to do so. With 11 No. 1 albums, she holds the record as the female artist with the most No. 1 albums in the history of the Billboard Top Country Albums chart.
The superstar also recently scored her third consecutive Top 10 single of 2009, as her new song “Consider Me Gone” jumped into the Top 10 this week on both the Billboard country singles and the USA Today/Country Aircheck Chart powered by Mediabase) charts.
In November 2008, McEntire signed with The Valory Music Co. reuniting her with multimedia entertainer and industry leader Scott Borchetta, president and CEO of Big Machine Records and sister label The Valory Music Co.
For more information on the tour, go to www.georgestrait.com or www.rebamcentire.com.
See the full list of 2010 tour dates after the break.
New releases for Nov. 3, 2009
Carrie Underwood (Associated Press photo)
Oklahoma native and country music star Carrie Underwood releases her third album, “Play On,” in stores today.
The new album, one of the most eagerly anticipated country records of the fall, already has spawned one hit with the sassy first single, “Cowboy Casanova.”
Also in music news, Oklahoma country star Reba McEntire makes an appearance on Andrea Bocelli’s “My Christmas”; she and the Italian singing star do a duet of “Blue Christmas” on the album.
Here is a list of new CDs, DVDs and books out this week, from Amazon.com, VideoETA.com and BarnesandNoble.com:
CDs
Carrie Underwood, “Play On.”
Andrea Bocelli, “My Christmas.”
The Rolling Stones, “Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones In Concert” (40th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set).
Weezer, “Raditude.”
Foo Fighters, “Greatest Hits.”
Slayer, “World Painted Blood.”
Straight No Chaser, “Christmas Cheers.”
DVDs
Aliens in the Attic
The Answer Man
Command Performance
Food, Inc.
G.I. Joe Real American Hero: Season 1.2
G.I. Joe: Resolute
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra
I Love You, Beth Cooper
The Marc Pease Experience
North By Northwest
Star Wars The Clone Wars: The Complete Season One
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3
Will Ferrell: You’re Welcome America
Books
“Ford County” by John Grisham.
“Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer.
“The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama’s Historic Victory” by David Plouffe.
“A Christmas Blizzard” by Garrison Keillor.
“The Humbling” by Philip Roth.
“In Too Deep (39 Clues Series No. 6)” by Jude Watson.
“It’s Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams and Increase in God’s Favor” by Joel Osteen.
“Kindred in Death (In Death Series No. 29)” by J. D. Robb.
“The Lacuna” by Barbara Kingsolver.
“No Less Than Victory: A Novel of World War II” by Jeff Shaara.
“One Simple Act: Discovering the Power of Generosity” by Debbie Macomber.
“Our Choice” by Al Gore.
“A Quilter’s Holiday: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel” by Jennifer Chiaverini.
“Rachael Ray’s Book of Ten: More Than 300 Recipes to Cook Every Day” by Rachael Ray.
“Rainwater” by Sandra Brown.
-BAM
Video: Reba McEntire’s parents talk about the star’s childhood
The Oklahoman’s talented columnist Bryan Painter recently visited McEntire Ranch in Chockie to chat with Clark and Jackie McEntire, parents of music superstar Reba McEntire.
The McEntires share several interesting stories about Reba’s childhood and family history with Bryan in this NewsOK video.
-BAM
Reba McEntire’s parents tell childhood stories of the music superstar
Clark and Jackie McEntire, parents of singing star Reba McEntire, at their home near Stringtown (Photo by David McDaniel/The Oklahoman)
Reba McEntire, top, and her three siblings are featured in this old family photo.
The Oklahoman’s award-winning columnist Bryan Painter recently visited McEntire Ranch in Chockie to chat with Clark and Jackie McEntire, parents of music superstar Reba McEntire.
The McEntires shared many wonderful stories about Reba’s childhood, from her early encounter with U.S. Rep. Carl Albert to her learning to drive at age 5 so she could help her daddy feed cattle. The singer made her singing debut in first grade with a solo of “Away in the Manger” in a school Christmas play, they recalled.
When Reba and her three siblings were growing up, they were either helping on the ranch, playing outside or singing. Their mother said when she was young, singing together was how her family entertained themselves.
“At night we didn’t have a radio or television or anything like that,” Jackie told Bryan about her childhood. “So the whole family sang.
“The singing just passes down from generation to generation.”
To read Bryan’s fascinating column, click here. Reba fans should definitely consider it required reading.
-BAM
