The festivities begin at 8 PM EST. Refresh for updates and check for winners above the fold:
Winners:
Entertainer: George Strait
Male Vocalist: Blake Shelton
Female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert
Vocal Group: Little Big Town
Album: Blake Shelton, Based On a True Story…
New Artist: Kacey Musgraves
Vocal Duo: Florida Georgia Line
Song: “I Drive Your Truck” – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary
Single: “Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line
Music Video: “Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban; director: Shane Drake
Musical Event: “Highway Don’t Care” – Tim McGraw with Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
Live Blog (EST):
7:04 First two wins go to “Highway Don’t Care” for Music Video and Vocal Event. First wavering of previously held sentiment: I totally want George Strait to win Entertainer of the Year for his farewell tour. – KJC
8:01 It’s 8:01 and Luke Bryan is wearing a glittery shirt. I’m already confused. – KJC
8:03 And the show starts with two of the most insufferable songs of the year (to me). Where’s the money shot of Zac Brown’s face? -TS
8:06 Weird how we can go from such a horrible representation of the genre to such a charming one. Carrie/Brad >>>Luke/FGL. – KJC
8:08 Brad and Carrie shining as always. This feud sketch is stellar. Thoughts on the Julianne Hough dig? – TS
8:09 It would be nice if there was someone other than Darius Rucker to hand the name to. – KJC
8:10 A bunch of rich people with insurance making health care jokes. Privilege goes down smooth with “Amarillo by Morning.” – KJC
8:10 “Cruise” is only one of the biggest crossovers of all time because they changed the chart rules. Boo. – KJC
8:12 I thought that was Blake Shelton in a costume. Turns out it’s the real Duck Dynasty guys. Wow. – KJC
8:15 SINGLE OF THE YEAR: “Cruise” – Florida Georgia Line. (That is not a typo.)
8:17 I can’t think of anything quippy, I’m so disgusted by this FGL win! – LW
8:20: CMA Awards 1992: The feud is Billy Ray Cyrus vs. Travis Tritt, and “Achy Breaky Heart” wins Single of the Year over “Maybe it Was Memphis”, “I Feel Lucky”, “Love, Me” and “Look at Us.” The more things change… – KJC
8:23 Jason Aldean singing “Night Train” is the best actual performance so far. We’re reaching a point where last year’s nadir is this year’s apex. Where’s Kacey Musgraves? – KJC
8:25 There she is. Singing a Brandy Clark co-write. Now we’re talking. -KJC
8:28 Can we take a moment to reflect on how awesome this chick’s mainstream success is? She’s looking and sounding fab here. Love this song. – TS
8:30 Always nice to hear some actual audible steel guitar on the CMAs for a change. – BF
8:32 Check out the Engine 145 Live Blog, led by the incomparable Juli Thanki!
8:34 Who else feels like a giddy 14-year-old listening to this new Lady Antebellum song? I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing. – TS
8:35 Lady Antebellum with “Compass,” a song which is really growing on me. It sounds like it was made for a live setting. – BF
8:37 Song: “I Drive Your Truck” – Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington, and Jimmy Yeary
8:38 Lee Brice wins Song of the Year with “I Drive Your Truck.” I’m not complaining. – TS
8:41 I feel like “I Drive Your Truck” is a surprise win…but maybe that just shows how much I’m out of the mainstream these days. – LW
8:42 As truck songs go, it’s not a bad one. But wow, there was so much more compelling material to choose from this year. – KJC
8:44 “Sober.” YES. – BF
8:45 Every year, there’s at least one performance that makes it clear that it’s not the sound system’s fault that everyone sounds bad. This year, it’s Little Big Town. They sound fantastic. – KJC
8:46 I’ll say it again: I always love LBT live, even if I don’t love the recorded version of the same song. – LW
8:45 LBT nailing “Sober” with a sparse and spiritual performance. – TS
8:46 LBT sounding fantastic as usual. This is one of those performances that makes me glad I tuned in in spite of all the drivel. – BF
8:47 Vocal Duo: Florida Georgia Line
8:48 For one brief moment, I was clinging to a tiny shred of hope that The Civil Wars would get it. I don’t know why. – BF
8:53: Keith and Miranda with “We Were Us.” I actually think I’m liking this performance better than the studio version. It’s one of those songs that I like well enough, but would like better if it had a better production. – BF
9:00 Having Vince Gill and Alison Krauss onstage doesn’t exactly invite favorable comparison to Taylor Swift’s vocal abilities, but I am enjoying this performance. I love hearing the cheers for Vince and Alison.
9:02 Incidentally, I may be going crazy, but I actually think T-Swift is sounding quite decent tonight. – BF
9:02 The R-eh-eh-ed hook doesn’t work in this setting. – KJC
9:01 I feel like the TS collaboration with Vince and Alison could be good, but my sound must be messed up, because it’s not working for me… – LW
9:02 Even when Taylor isn’t sounding as bad as she usually does, it’s pretty daring of her to sing with two of the best voices in country music! – LW
9:04 Florida Georgia Line performing “Round Here.” – BF
9:10 Hunter Hayes and Jason Mraz with “Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me.” I’m actually enjoying this so far. – BF
9:12 Hunter Hayes channeling Gary LeVox with this messy live performance. This kid has so much potential, though. – TS
9:12 New Artist: Kacey Musgraves
9:13 Woohoo! I could not be happier for Kacey. This is one that the CMA got very, very right. – BF
9:14 I liked that Hayes/Mraz performance – LW
9:14 Eric Church performing “The Outsiders.” – BF
9:16 I don’t think Eric Church’s backup singers are actually making those sounds – KCJ
9:17 I wonder what the aforementioned Tom Petty thinks of this one. Me, I kinda dig it. – TS
9:18 Does that bass breakdown in the Church song remind anyone else of “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”? – LW
9:19 It would be hilarious if this segued right into the George jones tribute. – KJC
9:23 The Band Perry performing “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely.” – BF
9:24 I’m half expecting Jennifer Nettles to walk out during this Sugar Land-lite tune. Really, though, that would be kind of awesome. – TS
9:28 Sheryl Crow presenting Album of the Year. – BF
9:29 Album: Blake Shelton, Based On a True Story…
9:29 Blech. So much for my optimism is predicting an LBT win here.
9:31 This is pretty much the worst slate of winners I can remember. – KJC
9:31 Tim McGraw performing “Southern Girl.” – BF
9:32 I’ve decided the CMA voters are just trolling now. – KJC
9:33 This song gets on my nerves so bad. I can’t believe the songwriters have the bad taste to rhyme “girl” with “rock my world.” – BF
9:35 And there’s glitter on Tim’s hat. – KJC
9:35 Nashville fans, do you get a 90s Rayna James vibe from this song? Have I lost my mind? – TS
9:35 What is with all the glitter? – KJC
9:40 Nice to hear some acknowledgement for Cowboy Jack Clement and Bobby Bare.
9:40 Blake Shelton performing “Mine Would Be You.” – BF
9:44 Not one part of me can get behind a Blake Shelton AOTY win, but this is a decent song and performance. – TS
9:47 Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, George Strait, and Rascal Flatts presenting Taylor Swift with the CMA Pinnacle Award.
9:48 Leeann: I would like to hear George Strait do a Swift song. – LW
9:49 LOL to Keith Urban describing Taylor Swift’s contribution to country music while “22” plays in the background. – TS
9:50 LOL at Ellen’s “Pineapple Award” quip! – BF
9:51 “The Pinnacle Award?” Okay ,they’re just making things up now. No time for the Hall of Fame inductees, but time for this. And stop acting so shocked. They announced this beforehand. – KJC
9:54 This is like the first husband who knows his wife is leaving and tries to keep her by giving a really shiny piece of jewelry. – KJC
9:56 But it’s not on her. It’s on them. We got a stupid award made up in 2005 for Garth Brooks, with Mick Jagger and Julia Roberts shout-outs, and nothing but a three-second wave for Bobby Bare. Too much. – KJC
10:01 Carrie Underwood highlight reel from the past year leading up to her Entertainer of the Year award… Oh, wait – KJC
10:05 So Tim McGraw got a standing O but Carrie polite applause? Huh. – KJC
10:05 Disappointed in her team for taking the lazy route with this medley, but nonetheless proud of Carrie for, ahem, following her own arrow during this Blown Away era. My EOTY. – TS
10:05 So weird that Carrie’s doing a medley. It’s usually what people do when they’re not big anymore… – LW
10:05 I really enjoy Carrie’s voice these days. – LW
10:07 Vocal Group: Little Big Town
10:07 Can’t complain about LBT. Though they still look like ABBA to me. – KJC
10:08 Beautiful shout-out to Nancy Jones. – KJC
10:09 Loving the George Jones tribute with George Strait and Alan Jackson. I cannot think of two guys better qualified for this job. – BF
10:11 First time tonight I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. Just lovely. – TS
10:12 So much history. So much love. – KJC
10:14 Kinda weird how the Opry can be just like a digital backdrop, given how many years the show was aired from the actual Opry. It feels sometimes like the arena has swallowed the CMA show like arena rock has swallowed country music. – KJC
10:14 The Jones tribute was wonderful. I felt a bit emotional during. I’m such a wimp. – LW
10:17 Zac Brown Band with Dave Grohl of The Foo Fighters debuting a new song, “Day of the Dead.” – BF
10:21 Between this and Eric Church’s “The Outsiders,” I’m all kinds of confused and happy. – TS
10:22 Brad Paisley performing “The Mona Lisa.” – BF
10:31 The Kenny Rogers tribute begins with Jennifer Nettles. – BF
10:32 Jennifer Nettles is certainly doing her best Dolly Parton impression. – KJC
10:32 Rascal Flatts singing “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In).” – BF
10:33 Darius Rucker singing “The Gambler.” This I can take, but if given a choice, I would just as soon hear Kenny Rogers sing it himself. – BF
10:35 Kenny Rogers singing “Islands In the Stream.” I love this song. Unashamedly. – BF
10:35 The audience sing-along to these Kenny Rogers tunes is my favorite part of the night so far. – TS
10:35 I’m enjoying hearing Jennifer Nettles sing this, but I can only imagine the warm fuzzies I would be getting if Dolly were onstage singing it. – BF
10:36 Wow. Darius did a rough job on “The Gambler.” Nettles and Rogers doing “Islands in the Stream” works for me! – LW
10:39 Female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert
10:40 Eh. Not my choice this year, but she’s being classy as ever in her acceptance speech. – BF
10:42 Very sweet of Miranda to recognize the other females in the category. Don’t agree with it, but there are worse things than her fourth FVOTY trophy (see: basically every other award given out today). – TS
10:44 Miranda is always classy when she accepts these awards. – LW
10:44 Given how the night’s gone so far, can we just call Male and Entertainer for Blake now? – KJC
10:46 Luke Bryan performing “Drink a Beer” (“a very personal and meaningful song dedicated to the memory of his brother and sister”). – BF
10:49 Leeann: I’ll admit that as much as I hate Luke’s music these days, I soften when I think of how he lost two siblings within a short span. I’m just a sap that way, I guess. – LW
10:49 It’s so easy to forget what a good vocalist Luke Bryan is these days. Wish that weren’t the case. His voice deserves better material. – TS
10:50 It’s nice to hear Luke Bryan singing in a quieter setting. – BF
10:50 This is a great song that is being sung well…on the set of Once Upon a Time. ABC sure is good with the corporate synergy. – KJC
10:50 Seriously? He even turns a song about his deceased siblings into a beer-drinking song? That takes…something. – LW
10:50 Male Vocalist: Blake Shelton
10:51 Can we just get over Blake Shelton already? – BF
10:51 Blake Shelton, however, is not in the same league as the other two men who won four of these at the time that they won. – KJC
10:53 Other two: Vince Gill and George Strait. – KJC
10:53 I can’t even. – TS
10:56 Blake Shelton, Vince Gill and George Strait: One of these things is not like the other. – TS
10:57 I’ve learned to accept that ABC is going to use the CMA Awards to shamelessly plug their programming. I just wish that they’d leave the Entertainer of the Year award out of it. – BF
10:57 Entertainer: George Strait
10:58 That just saved the whole night. – KJC
10:59 I share Kevin’s remorse for not picking George Strait for Entertainer. Was he on the top of his game this year? No. But he’s still the only nominee whom I can be genuinely happy for their winning. – BF
11:00 Keith Urban’s arms in the air is the best reaction to George Strait’s EOTY win. I had the privilege of seeing and reviewing his farewell concert earlier this year, and he is an entertainer indeed. – TS
11:01 Go King Gentleman George Strait!! I’m so, so happy for George Strait right now! Strait is so classy. – LW
10:03 Thanks so much for hanging with us, y’all. Not a bad show, in all honesty. All props to Ben for keeping this post alive in the midst of technical difficulties! – TS
10:03 That was almost worth the three hours. Almost! – KJC
10:04 I’m relieved that that didn’t wind up another Blake Shelton victory. – BF
10:04 Thanks, all! This was a blast. Rough show as usual, but we had a few great moments. – BF
…well it can’t get worse than this opening can it?
Skip the awards. Brad and Carrie are more fun.
Quack quack quack!!! :)
Opening performance: dreadful beyond all words.
Opening monologue: incredible in all aspects.
…they’re bleeping “roll up a joint” during Musgraves’ performance?
Ridiculous.
I knew that it sounded weird…I wonder why?
Is it just that I’m a Kacey Musgraves fan or was her performance one of those rare, truly defining moments in country music? Some new ground was just broken. That was a brave and cool performance…audacious
Hey guys – we’re having some technical difficulties so our apologies for not getting the post updated in real time. We’re working on it and appreciate your comments!
I love Compass!
I love Jessi Alexander so while I would’ve loved to see her win an award for her singing seeing her win a CMA award was awesome. :)
I have loved Sober the moment I heard it! Sweet performance by LBT! :)
A bit depressed to have Alison Krause and Vince Gill singing back up for Taylor Swift.
Swift was pretty good, and of course her “band” was great. The song was a little sleepy for me.
That “Red” performance was just…strange. I like the Pop version better, which is strange for me to say. That, and it certainly didn’t warrant such a long standing ovation — I hope some of that was put towards her backing band (even stranger for me to say that Vince Gill and Alison Krauss are of “backing band” status).
I don’t find anything to dislike about Ms. Musgraves. Nice to see her take this one.
Eric Church doing Springsteen again…and poorly.
Holy damn. What did I just witness? That performance with the grating white noise masquerading as music with the set on fire may be the single worst thing I’ve ever seen in an awards broadcast – and I watched the entirety of the Oscars that Letterman hosted.
So far, only Taylor Swift’s performance of “Red” has actually engaged me. Everything else has fallen between “I won’t remember this in three minutes” to “OH MY GOD MAKE IT STOP WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!” (More has fallen toward that latter end of the spectrum.)
I would’ve even taken “Red” over “Based On A True Story…”
That was just obscene.
I hope ZBB goes batshit crazy with the AOTy win. Oh my god! Stop rewarding freaking mediocrity CMA voters!
Except for Kacey Musgraves (a definite bright spot) it’s been pretty much my worst case scenario so far with regard to winners.
Where’s Kanye when you need him?
I’m the biggest Swiftie I know, but I’ll concede to some country classicists that it’s a little fatuous to give this award to someone who’s spent seven years in the biz and half of it mostly in pop, when the last guy to win it had been there for 15 years. But I’ll smile as long as she doesn’t do the “WAIT, WHAT? YOU MEAN THE AWARD THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK AS BEING MINE IS…MINE?!! WHAT???!” act.
Maria Von Trapp has nice legs.
I don’t begrudge Taylor Swift her Pinnacle Award or the attention that goes with it; I’d have voted to give it to her if they’d asked me. But it does make it all the more shameful that Bobby Bare only got to stand and wave at the throwaway reference to his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
So going by the criteria for the Pinnacle Award I bet Luke Bryan gets it next year. Or FGL for their “record-breaking” single.
Please remind me again why Carrie Underwood hasn’t win any awards yet?
Carrie! That was pretty cool. :)
If you have any doubt Carrie is not the people’s choice in Nashville, just replay the polite applause after her performance tonight. They stand for everything and everyone except, well…
So remember those years when Carrie won FVOTY?
*hasn’t won
Because the CMAs don’t like artists rammed down their throats. They will never get over her getting there because of American Idol, and no matter what she does, they will NEVER, EVER, award her EOTY.
That medley was the best performance of the night, to be entirely honest.
And funnily enough, it was also one of the two performances to not get a standing ovation, along with The Band Perry.
Anyways, great job to the true EOTY.
I don’t begrudge Miranda winning one, or even two FVOTY awards. But four times is just plain overkill.
Really whose Cheerios did Carrie pee in??? No standing ovation?? Guess we know what those in Nashville think of her don’t we
Nashville doesn’t like having someone shoved down its throat….unless they sell lots and lots of records very swiftly.
But they had no problem giving her awards in her first 3 years, including consecutive Female Vocalist trophies. It’s these last few years that they have been begrudging her every nomination.
I have always thought that the objective was to please other people and Carrie just ended up being collateral damage. Now I’m not so sure.
As a Carrie fan, I was disappointed in the medley..it was like a “Remember me? I”M CARRIE UNDERWOOD” like she was the only one to have a big tour. But, she did show how well she can sing.
Carrie can continue to piss them off by just simply winning Grammys instead.
For me, Alan Jackson and George Strait were the best performances of the night.
“As a Carrie fan, I was disappointed in the medley..it was like a “Remember me? I”M CARRIE UNDERWOOD” like she was the only one to have a big tour. But, she did show how well she can sing.”
It really wasn’t like that at all, though. I mean, A) she’s not releasing a 5th single from the album, B) she’s hosting the show, and C) she’s a 3-time nominee this year. It’s not like she wasn’t going to perform, so what else could she have done, besides overkilling one specific single from the “Blown Away” era with another individual performance? I thought the medley was pretty fantastic and very unique. The flow from one song to the other was clunky a couple of times, but that’s about the only critique I could’ve made. Her vocals were absolutely out of this world on that performance. She’s never been a vocal disappointment in her entire career, but tonight’s performance was absolutely universal.
Though unlikely, I’m guessing this would be the last year Carrie hosts the damn show. Although the CMA management loves her, it’s not so much the case with its voting population. But, whatever Carrie does, the fans will support her no matter what.
I feel like Carrie’s medley was a good way to remind the voters how truly amazing her Blown Away era has been. Absolutely fantastic performance, as always.
I really liked that ZBB song!
ABC picks the hosts. As long as Brad and Carrie brings in the viewers, they will be asked to return. The voters have no say in the matter.
What I’m saying is that if it were up to the voters AND Carrie, this would be the last time she would host. And even I, as a fan, I would not do it again next year. They’re using Carrie to bring in viewers. And the viewers get disappointed. Oh well. I’ll rest my case. :)
Carrie for FVOTY!
That tribute to The Possum by The Cowboy and AJ was almost worth slogging through this mess. This tribute to Kenny Rogers has been nice. I actually even didn’t hate Rascal Flatts. Kenny and Jennifer Nettles sound great on “Islands in the Stream”.
Love the First Edition songs
Another stinking reality show star wins a CMA Award…
Well, no comment.
Is it just me, or did Kacey Musgraves look really angry that Miranda Lambert even mentioned her?
This just makes me sick. There is absolutely no way Carrie did not deserve the award both last year and this year. I hate politics … I hate voting blocs. The only word I can use to describe this is bogus … absolutely, completely BOGUS.
Yeah, Music Row really ain’t all too fond of Carrie anymore, that’s for sure.
Skipping back a beat here, didn’t anyone wonder if Jennifer was proud of the new boobs her pregnancy gave her? Pretty daring top there.
Tara, I respectfully disagree. The other thing worse than Miranda winning her 4th FVOTY is Carrie not winning it for the 5th time already (last year and this year).
Disappointed that Carrie lost. I’m going to not go crazy like some Carrie fans, though…lol. *Soft joke in attempts to lighten up the mood.*
Well I didn’t kick the cat or anything, but I feel very sad for her. She will say she feels blessed and she doesn’t need awards … but with all she has done, not to be accepted by her peers anymore has got to make her cry inside.
Jan, I don’t think Carrie has deserved FVOTY all five years she’s lost, but certainly this year. It is what it is, though.
THE COWBOY! HOT DAMN!
Wow! King George!!!
I don’t think in all the 5 years Carrie’s lost that she deserved it. He means that in addition to 3 (2006, 2007, 2008), she would have won 2011 and 2012 too.
Yeah Ben- How dare the CMA’s let a woman who has survived cancer present an award.
You are so freakin’ tone deaf sometimes it boggles the mind that you function in life.
Oh noes- a cancer survivor presented EOTY. The CMA’s are ending as we know it.
George Strait winning is a sweet ending to a so so award show. Jason sincerely smiled when George won!
Tara, I certainly didn’t mean that Carrie should have won all those years. Like I said above, I don’t begrudge the first two awards Miranda won – those were well-deserved.
I meant to say that Carrie should have won 5 by now – the 3 straight that she won way back, plus the last two she should have won last year and this year. Miranda winning her 4th one before Carrie is just plain ridiculous. Even on Miranda’s pinnacle, she still hasn’t matched Carrie’s success. It’s like she’s being graded on a generous curve while the bar for Carrie is just being unreasonably and inexplicably being set higher and higher each year.
Things that I liked:
*Taylor Swift’s performance of “Red” with Vince Gill and Alison Krauss
*George Strait & Alan Jackson paying tribute to George Jones with “He Stopped Loving Her Today”
*The tribute to Kenny Rogers
*King George being named Entertainer of the Year
Things that weren’t terrible:
*The clumsy, but admittedly amusing “Obamacare by Morning” bit (I’m a liberal, but I’ve still got a sense of humor!)
*The Band Perry’s performance
*The Pinnacle Award presentation to Taylor Swift
*Miranda Lambert & Keith Urban’s duet
*Tim McGraw’s performance (though the song is “meh”)
Things that were terrible:
*Cowboy Jack Clement and Bobby Bare recognized with just a throwaway remark, and Bare only getting to stand and wave
*Broadcast booth glitches interrupting a few moments, including Strait’s acceptance speech
Things that were worse than terrible:
*Pretty much everything else
Thing that so terrible that terrible would be an improvement:
*Eric Church’s performance
Ah, I gotcha Jan. Sorry.
I also wanted to say that I would never want Carrie to pull stunts to win awards…I would hate that, to be honest.
“@brian_mansfield: “@MollyVegas why won’t they award Carrie…or even stand for her? lol” It’s a long story, and one I don’t particularly care to go into”
This showed up a while ago. Any thoughts?
“‘@brian_mansfield: ‘@MollyVegas why won’t they award Carrie…or even stand for her? lol’ It’s a long story, and one I don’t particularly care to go into’
This showed up a while ago. Any thoughts?”
This completely confirms that she is getting snubbed for a reason, but he makes it seem like Underwood is a bitch with the way he’s put it in his other tweets…
I don’t know. He said it could change but not in her legitimate window for winning awards. That makes it sound like politics or something with her label. Not that she’s a jerk and will suddenly get nice, but it will be too late.
Everyone who works with Carrie says how nice and humble she is, and what a hard worker she is, not diva-ish, etc. What could she have done to make the industry turn against her like this? Did she turn Scott Borchetta down to jump ship and join his label or something? Did she not invite someone important to her wedding? Wth is going on here? This is going past the ridiculous …
While I’m absolutely delighted Kacey Musgraves won “New Artist of the Year”……..I have to admit my disappointment in her lack of graciousness in response to Miranda Lambert’s win for “Female Vocalist of the Year” (again)
Say what you will about the fact the CMAs once again continued their industry-driven love-fest of this power couple………..it made Musgraves look like a sore loser and wasn’t the kind of first impression she probably wants to leave with many.
Granted Miranda Lambert has done the same thing herself (most recently to Eric Church)……….but Musgraves was better than that. And while her fierce criticism of the much of the music industry is absolutely justified and I most encourage her to continue to speak her mind and to try and disrupt the apple cart……….let’s hope she can do so with more grace and dwell more on the positive along the way.
It also didn’t help matters that she self-censored the joint reference in her own song. Unfortunately, her credibility descended a rung or two in plenty of eyes in result when she has been steadily establishing an image of someone who is never afraid to ruffle feathers and ruckle people’s chains and that “Follow Your Arrow” is all about respecting one’s individual life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. By censoring what was obviously intended as one of the song’s two most controversial lyrics, she slightly defeated its purpose.
I highly, highly doubt it was Carrie’s attitude that made such an affect; that’s for sure. I just said that solely because that’s how it came across in Mansfield’s multitude of tweets.
It’s all relative to politics and label antics. It’s just come at Carrie’s expense.
In a word: DREADFUL
So goes another telecast of the Pseudo-Country Music Association Awards
If you like hirsute guys, woman wearing minisirts (or hot pants) and third-rate rock music, this show was right up your alley.
Politics and label antics in no way explain the lack luster reception she received from her peers. No one stood for her on a night where most everyone stood for most everyone else. I believe The Band Perry was the only other act not to get at least a partial ovation.
I’m fascinated by this Underwood situation. There are a number of things that work against her — that she’s on a weak label (Sony’s acts haven’t been doing well at awards shows for some time now), she’s not country enough (or at least the singles that get released aren’t), she’s being buried by the Blake / Miranda juggernaut — but none of those things adds up.
I’m sure the coy remarks made by Brian Mansfield via Twitter are legit. She’s not a popular woman with her peers. Bottom line.
I am convinced she is not popular. That much was obvious from her peers’ response to her. I just want to know why. Who the funk did she manage to piss off that it led to this kind of coldness?
White Cleats-Carrie is country enough and can sing the pants off of all of them. Taylor definitely isn’t country period but her label also is the home of Tim, Reba, and others who still have clout amongst the clan. Taylor didn’t pay her dues but yet Carrie is condemned because she won American Idol. Miranda Lambert was runner up to, if I am not mistaken, to some Nashville contest. Taylor is pop and that will never change. Carrie deserves more.
Quote by Paul W. Dennis:
In a word: DREADFUL
So goes another telecast of the Pseudo-Country Music Association Awards
If you like hirsute guys, woman wearing minisirts (or hot pants) and third-rate rock music, this show was right up your alley.
Funny. I’ve been saying that about not only the CMAs but what passes for country music in general for years.
So I guess you guys at CU can save some thought process in the future and skip on predicting and/or analyzing for Carrie ever winning awards in the future:
@lovemandielee 2h
@brian_mansfield Can you at least answer if it’s something that could ever change?
@brian_mansfield 2h
@lovemandielee Yes, but I doubt that it will within her legitimate window for winning awards.
@allamericangrl8 1h
@brian_mansfield Why are Blake and Miranda getting rewarded all the time? Is there any particular reason behind it?
@brian_mansfield 34m
@allamericangrl8 I guess because people like them AND how the people around them do business.
So Carrie, and/or her people, did manage to apparently piss off the country music voters, and whatever achievements she will make with her next albums, it will be all for nothing, awards-wise, except for the Grammys. And as long as Blake and Miranda stay married, they will win the awards even for just burping.
I guess you guys at CU can save yourself some thought process in the future with predicting and/or analyzing Carrie winning any awards because it looks like that won’t happen anytime soon:
@lovemandielee 2h
@brian_mansfield Can you at least answer if it’s something that could ever change?
@brian_mansfield 2h
@lovemandielee Yes, but I doubt that it will within her legitimate window for winning awards.
@allamericangrl8 1h
@brian_mansfield Why are Blake and Miranda getting rewarded all the time? Is there any particular reason behind it?
@brian_mansfield 34m
@allamericangrl8 I guess because people like them AND how the people around them do business.
So apparently, Carrie, and/or her people, did manage to piss off the country music industry. So whatever achievements Carrie will have with her next albums, it will all be for nothing, awards-wise, except for the Grammys. And as long as Blake and Miranda stay married, they would win the awards even for just standing there and burping.
I guess you guys at CU can save yourself some thought process in the future by predicting/analyzing Carrie winning any awards because that looks like it will not happen in the foreseeable future:
@lovemandielee 2h
@brian_mansfield Can you at least answer if it’s something that could ever change?
@brian_mansfield 2h
@lovemandielee Yes, but I doubt that it will within her legitimate window for winning awards.
@allamericangrl8 1h
@brian_mansfield Why are Blake and Miranda getting rewarded all the time? Is there any particular reason behind it?
@brian_mansfield 34m
@allamericangrl8 I guess because people like them AND how the people around them do business.
So apparently, Carrie, and/or her people, did manage to piss off the country music industry. So whatever achievements Carrie will have with her next albums, it will all be for nothing, awards-wise, except for the Grammys. And as long as Blake and Miranda stay married, they would win the awards even for just standing there and burping.
For all we know, that’s the way these awards have been handed out since the beginning. You’d like to think otherwise, but office politics and behind-the-scenes deals have been around a LONG time. People used to hide it back then – now it’s more out in the open (or the wheeler-dealers care less about hiding it). As sad as I am for Carrie (how can this not bother her at least a little) she does NOT need these awards to prove to her public how wonderful she is. She has staggering talent, is beautiful, is beloved by many, has a wonderful husband who loves her, is surrounded by a loving family and true friends, and takes part in a variety of projects. We should all be so lucky.
I think it was a great CMAs! Brad and carrie act are alwayd jokes on what happened through the year. Of course Miley will be on there.. but I don’t agree that she even deserves that Fame! ZBB and Luke Bryan is right on. Lightened the mood I think. As forr ObamaCare it is hilarious that people are getting worked up over it. I don’t see why Obama and health care should get a pass from Humor! I’m sure half of them country artists love the idea of it as well as the 2 that made the skit. It just shows there open minded. Get over it! Couldn’t be more happy that George won Entertainer! Went to his farewell concert and he is an Entertainer! Best performance was tribute to George Jones. Alan and George voices together sound amazing:) congrats to all!
Have to agree with Paul Dennis on this one. Overall I would give this a D-, and I only rate it that high because they did show some respect to George Jones & Kenny Rogers. I did like Kayce and although I am personally not a fan of George Strait I am glad he won. It gives me hope that country isn’t totally dead just yet.
In hindsight, I think the answer to the Carrie Underwood snub might have been made during the presentation of Taylor Swift’s Pinnacle Award. They could have had anyone present it to her, but instead they had Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, George Strait, and Keith Urban all on stage together. Why? Because, as Tim McGraw made a point of stating, she had opened for all of them along the way.
Did she “pay her dues”? Well, she was fast-tracked but she did pay ’em – at least in the eyes of her peers. More importantly for her, she managed to impress everyone on that stage last night enough that they’ve supported her along the way. When the ACMs did their tributes to George Strait and Brooks & Dunn, Taylor Swift was there to perform and pay homage. Tim McGraw invited her to be part of this year’s Tim McGraw’s Superstar Summer Night. I think there’s a sense that as long as she keeps answering the phone, she’s “one of us” – and so far, she keeps answering her phone.
The only country institution where she’s still an outsider – and where Carrie Underwood reigns – is the Grand Ole Opry. She’s presently classified as a “Guest Artist”, and their web page profile of Swift hasn’t been updated in two years.
Carrie Underwood may be given the cold shoulder by the awards side of the industry, and even her peers among active, mainstream country artists, but it does seem that she has a close relationship with the Opry and the artists who built the industry as we know it. I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to learn that she went to bat for a more substantial tribute to Cowboy Jack Clement and Bobby Bare than what was given to them last night, for instance.
It doesn’t seem that Taylor Swift has really courted the Opry, and here one wonders whether that may not be due to the rumored rivalry between the two artists; that perhaps she’s conceded the Opry to Carrie Underwood, or that the Opry has frozen out Swift on behalf of Underwood.
The sad part is that there’s no meaningful reason for there to be such a Mantle/Maris schism between the two. They’re both terrific in their respective ways, and there’s plenty of room on anyone’s iPod for the both of ’em. I don’t see how it services country music to perpetuate such pettiness.
So far there has not been a payoff to get Taylor as a member of the Opry and I am hoping there will not be. I am sure the 4 Million donation had alot to do with her getting the Pinnacle award. Same as ANY corporation. You give enough money they have to give you something in return. Please don’t get me wrong. I like Taylor as a person, just not as a country singer. I am not a huge Carrie fan but I do believe she respects the country genre much more than Taylor and I have to give her props for that. Award winners come and go. Opry is more important than any award.
So far there has not been a payoff to get Taylor as a member of the Opry and I am hoping there will not be.
See, I just don’t get that resistance. How does it harm the Opry to have Swift as a member, or help the Opry to exclude her? Of all the institutions in all of music, the Opry is the one place where it makes the least sense to snub an artist like Taylor Swift, who is sure to put butts in seats and bring in viewers. How does it help any Opry member to not have Taylor Swift’s coattails in the mix? What’s gained by her exclusion? It’s not as though by admitting Taylor Swift the Opry then “has” to induct anyone else. There’s no slippery slope from Taylor Swift to Yo-Yo Ma, Ice Cube, and Michael Buble being inducted.
I am sure the 4 Million donation had alot to do with her getting the Pinnacle award. Same as ANY corporation. You give enough money they have to give you something in return.
Well, they *did* name that education center after her, so there’s that. I don’t really understand the Pinnacle Award anyway. As near as I can tell, it was invented as a way of throwing attention to Garth Brooks in 2005 – the year when he released his Limited Series box set through Walmart.
Curiously enough, that was the first of Garth’s music distributed by…Big Machine Records, home of Taylor Swift.
Please don’t get me wrong. I like Taylor as a person, just not as a country singer. I am not a huge Carrie fan but I do believe she respects the country genre much more than Taylor and I have to give her props for that. Award winners come and go. Opry is more important than any award.
After slogging through last night’s awards show, I’m completely rejecting any and all complaints that single out any particular contemporary country artist for not being sufficiently country. For that matter, Carrie Underwood’s medley was buried under glam rock aesthetics and power singing that bordered on shouting.
What constitutes “respecting” the genre, anyway? Saying that she respects it in interviews ad infinitum? I’m not questioning her sincerity on the matter, but rather how this perception exists, and what meaning there is to it.
It’s as though both sides are trying to do some kind of musical gerrymandering to include either Carrie Underwood or Taylor Swift, but to exclude the other, all the while failing to see what else is going on in the rest of contemporary mainstream country. Someone explain to me how one of the two of them is (or is not) any more (or less) “country” than that godawful performance by Eric Church last night.
I think a lot of fans ought to revisit Waylon’s “Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way”:
“It’s the same old song, fiddle and guitar
Where do we take it from here?
Rhinestone suits and new shiny cars
It’s been the same way for years
We need to change
Somebody told me when I first got to Nashville,
‘Son, you finally got it made
Ol’ Hank made it here, and we’re all sure that you will’
But I don’t think Hank done it this way”
During the “Why Can’t we be Friends”, it would have had more meaning (and impact) if Carrie and Taylor had smiled and hugged.
If during “Why Can’t We Be Friends” if Taylor and Carrie smiled and hugged, that would have made everyone smile.
Travis, keep in mind Carrie did participate in the ACMs tribute to Brooks & Dunn (where she did “Neon Moon”). She also did Toby Keith’s charity concert for Oklahoma. She did that Teachers Rock thing with Dierks and others that aired on CBS. Carrie also did that Nashville Rising concert a few years ago with Tim, Faith, and others.
Oh, certainly. I didn’t mention Swift’s appearances in an attempt to suggest that Carrie Underwood hadn’t put in face time herself at such things. I was just trying to point out that for all the accusations that Taylor Swift has “left” country music, she really has made a point to remain active and visible in it.
You might be right about “paying dues,” but Miranda got her start on a televised competition show and obviously hasn’t been held back for it. And Carrie has been around long enough that I don’t see why anyone would care at this point. If anything, it should have held her back early on, but she was actually winning awards then.
I think the big difference is that Miranda Lambert went out opening for different country acts when she broke in (I remember seeing her open for George Strait in 2005), whereas Carrie Underwood went straight to headlining her “Carrie Underwood: Live 2006” tour – which brings me back to my previous point about how conspicuous it was that they emphasized how many acts Taylor Swift had opened for in the earlier part of her career.
I really do think it was Carrie Underwood going straight to headlining that rubbed a lot of folks the wrong way. (I also think it’s a ridiculous grudge to hold. Like you said, it’s been plenty long enough and she’s more than proven herself over the last seven years.)
Great work here, guys!
Oof, the show, though. The Blake and Miranda domination has gotten so lazy that it’s embarrassing. The CMA apparently can’t resist giving Song of the Year to any song about a dead loved one. The win I was really rooting for, Kacey for New Artist, was quickly dampened by that highly unfortunate shot of her looking stone-faced when Miranda gave her a polite (if perfunctory-sounding) shoutout during the Female Vocalist speech. Brad Paisley did a bunch of lazy Miley jokes instead of having the cajones to acknowledge the REAL country music controversy from this past year: “Accidental Racist.” Worst of all, I can’t get myself to stop liking Florida Georgia Line just a little, because even though they’re the devil, their songs are actually catchy and they look like they’re actually having fun.
Thought Carrie killed her set, though–far as I’m concerned, she works best as either a classic country crooner (“San Antonio Rose”) or a classic melodramatic diva (this Blown Away medley). I find her most interesting at those extremes, for some reason. Enjoyed Kacey’s, LBT’s, and ZBB’s performances, too.
Respectfully, the conspiracy theories on why people win or don’t win still feel a little silly to me. If the CMA proved anything this year, it’s that it’s gotten dead-stuck in a habit of rewarding acts in multi-year streaks, particularly in the Vocal categories. Keith Urban had a streak and it’s over, Brad Paisley had one and it’s over, Rascal Flatts had one and it’s over, Lady A had one and it’s over. Carrie had one and it’s over. And Blake and Miranda’s will end eventually, too. I’d like to see artistic progress in individual years rewarded more, but that just hasn’t been the system, particularly for the past decade. (Though even in the 90’s, Vince Gill and George Strait had five-year and three-year streaks, respectively.)
Ah, forgot: also quite enjoyed the Taylor guitar-pull thing, even though my beloved A. Krauss apparently flubbed her lyrics and you could barely hear her in the first place. The version you can buy on iTunes has all lyrics intact and voices audible, thankfully; guess they went with the rehearsal take.
Did Kacey really think she had a shot at winning? (I know I’m saying this as the only person who predicted she would.) I’m pretty confused by her reaction and the way it’s blown up. She seems smarter than that.
Travis, It would be a slippery slope to induct Taylor as an opry member. The more you push the bondaries the further they go. Taylor certainly is not the only one doing that but how would you classify her as country? Just having a record company call you country does not make it so. I see no differnce in the type of music she puts out and what Katy Perry has put out this pat year. Otherwise we could take a dozen or so pop singers who’s music is just as “country” as Taylors and call it country. You mention that she would help sell tickets. I think we can all agree on that, but thus far, the Opry is one of the few things left that don’t induct people ONLY based on greed. If filling the seats is the criteria than the Opry will not last that many more years and that is sad. Part of becoming an Opry member is having some sort of respect and link to the past heritage of country music and the Opry. I just don’t see that at all with Taylor. I see absolutey no link to her music from the past and see no country influence in her at all. I love pop music so I see NOTHING wrong with what Taylor is doing. I just don’t want real country music to be a thing of the past. You don’t have to look no further than the actual quality of country lyrics to see that this current wave of pop crossover has had a negative impact. Country music was never meant to be COOL or to sell to teens and below. I simply want music intended for adults. The more artists similar to Taylor come on the scene the more it has pushed adult country music out. In a perfect world we could say there is room for both. Listen to country radio ANY day and you can see that is not the case. We all have our opinions and this is just my simple opinion.
I can definitely imagine how she could’ve thought she had a shot, since she had such a bounty of nominations and the category IS due for some turnover. I can’t blame anyone for getting their hopes up. But certainly it’s one of those peculiar situations where you have to learn how to put on a polite face, because as we learned from Faith Hill, the camera is merciless, sensationalistic, and context-free at award shows, and country music fans are touchy about classiness and the like.
“I think the big difference is that Miranda Lambert went out opening for different country acts when she broke in (I remember seeing her open for George Strait in 2005), whereas Carrie Underwood went straight to headlining her “Carrie Underwood: Live 2006″ tour – which brings me back to my previous point about how conspicuous it was that they emphasized how many acts Taylor Swift had opened for in the earlier part of her career.
I really do think it was Carrie Underwood going straight to headlining that rubbed a lot of folks the wrong way. (I also think it’s a ridiculous grudge to hold. Like you said, it’s been plenty long enough and she’s more than proven herself over the last seven years.)”
I’m really not involved in the discussion right now all that much, but I just want to point out real quickly a couple things:
The Carrie Underwood: Live 2006 tour was just a laundry list of fair dates that she performed at throughout the year with a tour name given to it. I thought the same thing as you, but I actually looked at the venues she was performing at and they were all smalltown fairs with multiple other performers on the billing; hardly headlining at all.
Underwood actually opened for Kenny Chesney in 2006, and in 2007 and 2008, she opened for Keith Urban. Halfway through Keith Urban’s tour, her scheduled dates of opening for him came to a close and that’s when they decided to put her on tour. She headlined from April of 2008 to October (or November, I can’t remember…) of 2008. So, realistically, she wasn’t a headliner until 3 years into her career when the Carnival Ride Tour kicked up.
Ok, my thoughts on Carrie. I had wished she performed one of her better well written songs from Blown Away. Who cares if it wasn’t going to be released for she did a unreleased number for the ACMs opening act one year with Brad and Keith. I get the feeling that Nashville is tired of the perfect, strong power voice. (Where is Martina?) They’d rather have the interesting voice singing with inflection and attitude on a well written, wordy song with a hook. But isn’t country music about the power of the story in a song? I admit, Carrie deserved accolades for her change to dramatic songs in Blown Away, but still with all the background sound board additions behind her power voice..the songs were not that wordy. I also would like to know if she decides what songs are released or her record label for I still think if she had released “Do You Think About Me?” instead of “Two Black Caddilacs” which was yet a power song, it would have enhanced her achievements more. And we all groaned when “See You Again” was released but at least the Video enhanced it greatly. I think it’s a little of that plus the vote buying power record labels that caused her not to win. Or..she must have deeply offended someone.
Ah! And Carrie opened for Brad in ’07. So she opened for Kenny, Brad, and Keith before she began headlining.
It just goes to show perception is everything. Travis McClain flat out states that Carrie didn’t open for anyone, whereas Miranda did. Glad someone came on here and set the record straight (so I didn’t have to). Carrie did open for Kenny and Keith and Brad … but interestingly enough, Travis doesn’t remember that and is quick to state otherwise. If he thinks this, then how many others do too???
I readily admit, I stand corrected on Carrie Underwood’s opening act history. I wasn’t following anyone’s touring at that time closely enough to remember, and I didn’t have much luck in a cursory Google search finding much more about the matter. So for those who fact-checked me: Good work, and thanks for not being snotty about it!
Still, there’s something about that aspect of the presentation of Taylor Swift’s Pinnacle Award that just seems conspicuous. Anyone could have presented her with that award; why make the big show of the prolific headliners she’d opened for earlier in her career? [I’m surprised they didn’t bring in Garth to hand it to her, as its only previous recipient, though maybe he already had plans or something.]
But, as with Carrie Underwood’s actual touring history, I may easily be entirely mistaken about the whole affair. I just know that whenever talk turns to the relationship between Carrie Underwood and the industry, “didn’t pay her dues” comes up an awful lot, and that entirely unnecessary award/tribute to Taylor Swift was one big “Thanks for paying your dues, you’re the best ever!” pageant.
If the CMA proved anything this year, it’s that it’s gotten dead-stuck in a habit of rewarding acts in multi-year streaks, particularly in the Vocal categories.
It’s unfortunately kind part of their entire pattern. Scrolling through the list of past category winners doesn’t show a whole lot of variety:
http://www.cmaworld.com/cma-awards/nominees/past-winners/
From 1991 onward, only eight guys have won Male Vocalist, and of these eight, only Toby Keith won just once (in his monster 2001 year). Hell, Mac McAnally has won Musician of the Year every year since 2008 – the longest active streak in any category.
I’d like to see artistic progress in individual years rewarded more, but that just hasn’t been the system, particularly for the past decade.
Miranda Lambert’s reign began in recognition for the progress demonstrated in her Revolution album, so there’s that. Not saying that album was so good she should win four years running because of it, but at least it accounts for the start of that streak. But, yeah, I do agree that the voters seem to be that object in motion that remains in motion until acted upon by an outside force, and there need to be more outside forces acting on ’em.
Travis, It would be a slippery slope to induct Taylor as an opry member. The more you push the bondaries the further they go.
Consider this, though: Music itself has evolved to this point. If the Opry wants to devote itself to an ideal of purity, it’s going to have to sacrifice remaining relevant because increasingly few contemporary artists are making music consistent with that of yesteryear. Those generic rock performances from this year’s CMA Awards are evidence enough of that.
Taylor certainly is not the only one doing that but how would you classify her as country?
There’s always been a pop-leaning section of country music. I’d say that Taylor Swift fits in neatly with a branch of the tree that includes Shania Twain, Kenny Rogers, Ronnie Milsap, and others like them. Rarely have they ever been seen in country/western attire, rarely have any of them written or recorded songs about farm life or ranching, or any other redneck anthems, but they’ve all been accepted as country artists.
You mention that she would help sell tickets. I think we can all agree on that, but thus far, the Opry is one of the few things left that don’t induct people ONLY based on greed. If filling the seats is the criteria than the Opry will not last that many more years and that is sad.
I do agree that the Opry’s reputation for being the Home of Country Music should not be compromised, but I’m unconvinced that inducting Taylor Swift as a member would threaten that integrity. On the contrary, she would help gain exposure for the Opry – without the risk of embarrassing antics – and that’s a positive thing.
Part of becoming an Opry member is having some sort of respect and link to the past heritage of country music and the Opry. I just don’t see that at all with Taylor. I see absolutey no link to her music from the past and see no country influence in her at all.
See previous remarks about the pop branch of the tree. And also, I think a case can be made that Taylor Swift has made a point to be connected with country music. Maybe she isn’t hobnobbing with “Little” Jimmie Dickens, but she’s been there to tip her hat to George Strait and Brooks & Dunn, and she did just fork over $4 million to the Hall of Fame for its education center. She clearly wants to be part of things.
I just don’t want real country music to be a thing of the past. You don’t have to look no further than the actual quality of country lyrics to see that this current wave of pop crossover has had a negative impact.
That ship, I’m afraid, has sailed, and it left harbor when SoundScan came along and showed Music Row that there was money to be had in the suburbs.
Country music was never meant to be COOL or to sell to teens and below.
I dunno if it was ever *that* rigid; George Jones alone recorded way too many novelty songs for me to believe that country never actively sought younger listeners.
I simply want music intended for adults. The more artists similar to Taylor come on the scene the more it has pushed adult country music out. In a perfect world we could say there is room for both. Listen to country radio ANY day and you can see that is not the case. We all have our opinions and this is just my simple opinion.
I’ve said for most of the last ten years that I’ve felt that I’ve “aged out” of contemporary country music, so I feel ya on that point. Hell, I’m getting divorced and I can’t find a shoulder to cry on in current country music. I have to go back to the older stuff already in my library for that. It isn’t that there’s an absence of breakup songs in country music today – we can always count on Taylor Swift to ensure that! – but rather, it’s how they write and sing about these themes that doesn’t feel “age appropriate” to me anymore.
The upshot for listeners like us is that we’re no longer reliant on mainstream country radio to give us access to the music we want to hear. Spotify is terrific for accessing newly recorded music by older artists, for instance. I have no illusions that Randy Travis is going to have another comeback on the charts, but I was able to stream his new album when it dropped in September. Willie, Hag, the aforementioned Kenny Rogers…they’re all still out there, recording and releasing new material worth hearing, and we have ways to hear it. Yeah, it’d be great if country radio could be bothered to actually support those artists still, but that’s a lost cause.
I’m reminded of Vince Gill’s “Young Man’s Town” from his Next Big Thing album:
“It’s a young man’s town
Full of young man’s dreams
And all God’s children gotta learn to spread their wings
Sometimes you gotta stand back
and watch ’em burn it to the ground
Even though you built it, it’s a young man’s town”
Taylor benefits from the publicity of the CMA awards and the CMAs benefit from her being there plus her $4 million donation to the Hall of Fame, it has nothing to do with country music. Her one line collab on Highway Don’t Care and having Alison and Vince back her up on Red are bids to get awards for collabs using established country stars because she really doesn’t release country material and hasn’t gotten any awards for her own material for years now- The Opry ?? Her interest in country music only lies in the award publicity that I can see, I really doubt she would be willing to appear at the Opry, what is it? Nine times a year they are requested to appear? I would think there would be a mighty fuss if she was invited but then people fuss about everything anyway don’t they?
Carrie does have many peers that she is friends with and has done music with like Vince, Dolly,Willie,Loretta,Randy,Brad,Kenny, Reba stuck up for her about no nomination for EOTY (last year?), Wynonna tweeted her about her performance last night, she tweets with the Band Perry, Lady Antebellum,Jennifer Nettles to name a few that I have read, I think it’s more a label, industry type deal, a voting block, and not about Carrie personally – her performance last night was excellent as always but it was a medley and perhaps they were disappointed like I was that it wasn’t a full song because there are some amazing songs on Blown Away like Wine After Whiskey- who knows? my observation about Kacey and her reaction to Miranda – maybe she thought Miranda would mention that Kacey had a hand in writing the song which was what Kacey may have had in mind when she gave it to Miranda to record- Miranda didn’t mention that, you would think she would
Incredible fact to behold, since we’re on the topic of the Grand Ole Opry: Since appearing right after her win on Idol in 2005, Underwood has appeared at the Opry over 40 different dates, with a newly-announced appearance on Dec. 13, just 8 days after her brutally-challenging and LIVE “The Sound of Music” wraps in NYC.
Doing the basic math, that’d average out to 5 shows per year. Obviously there were more in some years in comparison to others, but that’s still incredible. And, to add to that, she always performs two shows per date that she appears. That’s around 70-80 sets in her lifetime thus far. Talk about dedication and respect…
40 dates on the Opry is incredible for someone when they are at their peak. Usually artist only do that before they hit it big and when their peak is finally done. No (including Taylor & Carrie) will be on top forever and its always nice to see an artist give respect while still on top.
Yet Kellie Pickler, who also came from American Idol, will still receive a standing ovation. I still feel something is missing. Headlining a tour at the beginning of her career just shows how great and capable she is. Not awarding her is one thing but denying her a standing ovation after an amazing performance is shocking. I also noticed that this has happened to her during past award shows too. Crazy!