44th Annual CMA Awards - Highs and Lows



Seven of my winner predictions for correct!  That's not too bad.

And the winners are...

Musician of the Year
Mac McAnally - Correct!

Music Video of the Year
Miranda Lambert, "The House That Built Me"

Single of the Year

Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"

Song of the Year

"The House That Built Me" - Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin - Correct!

New Artist of the Year

Zac Brown Band - Correct!

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum - Correct!

Album of the Year

Miranda Lambert - Revolution - Correct!

Vocal Duo of the Year

Sugarland

Male Vocalist of the Year

Blake Shelton

Female Vocalist of the Year

Miranda Lambert - Correct!

Entertainer of the Year

Brad Paisley - Correct!

Nominees Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood returned to host the event for the third consecutive year, once again drawing chuckles from the audience for their musical parodies of country classics.  This time, "I've Got a Tiger by the Tail" became "Caught Tiger [Woods] with Some Tail."

Carrie kicked off the night with a high-energy performance of "Songs Like This," featuring some guitar work from Brad Paisley and a banjo breakdown by Keith Urban.

That was followed by Rascal Flatts giving a mediocre performance of a great song ("Why Wait"), and Blake Shelton giving a great performance of a mediocre song ("All About Tonight").  Miranda Lambert, who led the pack of nominees with nine nominations, gave a loud and energetic performance of "That's the Way the World Goes 'Round."



Little Jimmy Dickens also made his requisite appearance wearing swim goggles in preparation for another Nashville flood.  Brad explained to the audience that Little Jimmy would yell when the water got up to his neck, and then the rest of us would have time to get to safety.

George Strait performed "The Breath You Take," and then the Zac Brown Band was joined by Alan Jackson for a performance of their number-one collaborative hit, "As She's Walking Away."  Kenny Chesney followed with his recent number one hit "The Boys of Fall."

Taylor Swift accompanied herself on piano in a shower of snowflakes for a performance of her new song "Back to December."



Sugarland turned the kooky fun factor up to ten with their wild performance of "Stuck Like Glue."



Keith Urban set the stage on fire with "Put You In a Song."



Reba gave a performance of the Beyonce pop hit "If I Were a Boy," which she covers on her new album All the Women I Am.



Jeff Gordon made a comedic appearance as a Brad Paisley impersonator right before Carrie introduced Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, who sang their duet "Don't You Wanna Stay" from Jason's new album My Kinda Party.





The CMA's obsession with Kid Rock continued this year, and he also received a coveted performance slot, despite having no award nominations, and having only a single country hit from two years ago under his belt.  Time for a bathroom break.

Brad Paisley performed "This Is Country Music."



Afterwards, Lady Antebellum performed their current hit "Hello World."  Then, in one of the show's more surprising and memorable moments, Martina McBride presented the award for Male Vocalist of the Year to none other than Blake Shelton.  Miranda and Reba wiped tears as Blake strode up to the platform to accept the first CMA Male Vocalist award of his career.



Subsequent performances included Carrie Underwood with "Mama's Song" and Dierks Bentley with "Up On the Ridge."  Miranda and Lambert paid tribute to Loretta Lynn on her classic hit "Coal Miner's Daughter."  Then Loretta herself made a surprise appearance to sing the final verse of the song, and was received with a thunderous applause from the crowd.  Loretta and Sissy Spacek then presented the Female Vocalist award to... Miranda Lambert!





Finally, Gwyneth Paltrow took the stage for her much-hyped CMA debut.  Vince Gill joined her in singing "Country Strong."



Finally, Tim McGraw presented the CMA's top prize - Entertainer of the Year.  Brad Paisley was announced the winner.  He choked back tears as he thanked country's loyal fanbase for its support.  His speech was easily the best moment of the show, and it unfortunately was one of the only parts that I could not find on YouTube.  There is no justice in this world!  But if it shows up, I'll add it.

That's all for this year's CMAs!  We'll see how things play out at the ACMs this spring.

44th Annual CMA Awards - Who Wins?

Nashville is abuzz with excitement during preparation for country music's biggest event of the year.  I will be watching this year, more as a fan than as a critic.  Fortunately, we do have quite a few strong nominees in a show that has often been a disappointment in recent years.  We should have a good show this year!

Now it's time for me to put on my thinking cap, and decide who I personally think should be recognized this year, and who I expect will emerge victorious.

Entertainer of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band

Most Deserving:  Miranda Lambert.  Over the past year, she has consistently released strong singles that have been embraced by fans, critics, and now even by country radio as well.  No one represented country music in 2010 better than Miranda Lambert.

Most Likely:  Brad Paisley.  Let's face it - we all know it's going to be Brad.  He didn't have nearly as big a year as Miranda, but he's the only longtime nominee in this category who has yet to take home the trophy.  I have a feeling the CMA is going to show more Paisley love this year.  With Carrie Underwood left out of this category, I'd say Brad's got it in the bag.

Male Vocalist of the Year
Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban

Most Deserving:  Dierks Bentley.  He took a significant career risk in releasing a bluegrass album that had actual radio singles.  Top that, Paisley.

Most Likely:  Brad Paisley... possibly out of the force of habit.  Bentley bluegrass album aside, I highly doubt that the CMA is going to take this one away from Brad just yet.

Female Vocalist of the Year
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Most Deserving:  Miranda Lambert

Most Likely:  Miranda Lambert.  She's probably got this one all wrapped up.  Taylor was relatively quiet at radio this year.  Reba had a good year, but didn't match Carrie or Miranda.  Martina is essentially out of the running to begin with.  It's going to be between Carrie and Miranda.  Carrie continued her consistent trend of success this year, but I think Miranda has a slight edge thanks to her massive radio breakthrough with "White Liar" and "The House That Built Me."  Still, the CMA might give Carrie this award as an apology for leaving her out of the Entertainer of the Year category.

Vocal Group of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Most Deserving:  Lady Antebellum.  They did put out a weak single with "American Honey," but they also reached their artistic peak to date with "Need You Now" - a massive crossover smash that ranks as a potential classic.  But Little Big Town may get a turn for this award when ACM season rolls around.

Most Likely:  Lady Antebellum.  At the very least, their enormous sales figures are going to net them the trophy.

Vocal Duo of the Year
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

Most Deserving:  Joey + Rory.  I would vote for them on principle, since they released one of the strongest albums of the year.  But since radio still isn't playing them, I doubt that they'll be victorious against their more contemporary hitmakers.

Most Likely:  Brooks & Dunn... as a parting gift, if nothing else.

New Artist of the Year
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band

Most Deserving:  Zac Brown Band.  They have quickly become one of country music biggest attractions.  This is a formidable line-up, but the Zac Brown Band is the strongest competitor.

Most Likely:  Zac Brown Band.  Since they will likely be edged out of the Entertainer and Vocal Group categories, I expect that this is where the CMA will give them their due.

Single of the Year
Easton Corbin, "A Little More Country Than That"
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
Miranda Lambert, "The House That Built Me"
Miranda Lambert, "White Liar"
Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins, "Hillbilly Bone"

Most Deserving:  "The House That Built Me."  It's a great song to begin with, and the acoustic arrangement and strong vocal performance brings it to full potential.

Most Likely:  "The House That Built Me."  "Need You Now" will be its biggest competition, but I can't imagine picking any of these other nominees over this four-week number one hit.  "A Little More Country Than That" was a pleasant breath of fresh air, but it's simply not strong enough to unseat Miranda's "House."

Song of the Year
"A Little More Country Than That" - Rory Lee Feek, Don Poythress, Wynn Varble
"Need You Now" - Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
"The House That Built Me" - Tom Douglas, Allen Shamblin
"Toes" - Zac Brown, Wyatt Durette, John Hopkins, Shawn Mullins
"White Liar" - Natalie Hembry, Miranda Lambert

Most Deserving:  "The House That Built Me."  Most of these nominees are good songs.  "The House That Built Me" is a great song.

Most Likely:  "The House That Built Me" - "Toes"?  Seriously?

Album of the Year
Dierks Bentley, Up On the Ridge
Lady Antebellum, Need You Now
Miranda Lambert, Revolution
George Strait, Twang
Carrie Underwood, Play On

Most Deserving:  Up On the Ridge.  Dierks was the only one in this group who took a significant career risk in releasing a bluegrass album, and a pretty dang good bluegrass album at that.  He stepped outside of the mainstream mold, and challenged country radio to play something drastically different from its usual favorites.  That deserves an award.

Most Likely:  Revolution.  Miranda is unstoppable this year, and I expect her momentum to continue into this category.

Musical Event of the Year
Dierks Bentley, Jamey Johnson and Miranda Lambert, "Bad Angel"
Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews, "I'm Alive"
Alan Jackson and Lee Ann Womack, "'Til the End"
Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins, "Hillbilly Bone"
Zac Brown Band and Kid Rock, "Can't You See"

Most Deserving:  "Bad Angel."  Three of country music's most critically lauded stars performing on an ultra-cool bluegrass track - That is just impossible to outshine.  I like "Hillbilly Bone," but "Bad Angel" makes it sound like crap in comparison.

Most Likely:  "Hillbilly Bone."  The CMA will gravitate toward the one song that was the biggest radio hit.

Music Video of the Year
Lady Antebellum, "Need You Now"
Miranda Lambert, "The House That Built Me"
Miranda Lambert, "White Liar"
Brad Paisley, "Water"
Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins, "Hillbilly Bone"

Most Deserving:  "White Liar."  The song tends to sit in the shadow of "The House That Built Me," but it should be recognized for it's remarkably clever and creative video with a surprise ending.

Most Likely:  "White Liar."  I could be going out on a limb here, since this is a formidable lineup, but I think the Jamey Johnson cameo should at least be enough to put "White Liar" over the top.

Musician of the Year
Paul Franklin (steel guitar)
Dann Huff (guitar)
Brent Mason (guitar)
Mac McAnally (guitar)
Randy Scruggs (guitar)

Most Deserving:  Paul Franklin.  I really have no business trying to pick a winner here, so I'll just give a shout-out to the good ol' steel guitar.  It's a shame that country music's signature instrument is becoming it's least-used and most underrated instrument.

Most Likely:  Mac McAnally.  The CMA will act on the force of habit in this category.

Those are my picks.  Sound off in the comments section, and tell me yours!

More CMA Picks and Predictions:
Country Universe
The 9513
Roughstock
My Kind of Country
All Things Country
Country Chart Talk, Part 1
Country Chart Talk, Part 2

Katie Armiger Celebrates Album Release

On Wednesday, September 29, a large crowd packed into SESAC to hear Cold River Records artist Katie Armiger perform an acoustic set of songs from her upcoming third album Confessions of a Nice Girl.  She was joined onstage by several of her co-writers.  During her set, she shared several stories of how she was inspired to write some of the songs.

The event was streamed live online, and watched everywhere by fans from the U.S. to Scotland.

Katie's set list:

"Nice Girl"

"Kiss Me Now" (with Shanna Strassberg)

"That's Why" (with Rebecca Lynn Howard)

"Can You Handle It"

"Can't Keep Myself from Loving You" (with Joe West)

"Cry Cry Cry" (with Chad Carlson)

"Ain't Gonna Happen" (with Bruce Wallace)

"Best Song Ever" (with Amanda Flynn)

Rebecca Lynn Howard (left) joins Katie onstage to perform their composition "That's Why."

Katie and co-writer Amanda Flynn close out the set with Katie's upcoming single "Best Song Ever."

In between songs, Katie answered questions submitted by her fans.

What was your favorite song to write?
"I would probably say 'Best Song Ever.'  I wrote it with Amanda Flynn and Bruce Wallace.  We were, you know, in Amanda's Jeep driving through Kentucky, which is where she lives - well, she lives here, but which is where she came from.  I was so much fun!  I just never had that much fun writing a song.  We were technically on retreat, but we wrote a song during it."

How old were you when you first sang, and thought to yourself, "This is what I want to do"?
"I don't even remember.  My first memories are when I was like a teeny teeny toddler, and my mom loves to tell this story where I was kicked out of preschool, because I was not a problematic child - I was just more mischievous.  So I would get put in time-out a lot, and I would just write songs in time-out about how much I loved being there, and I would make those teachers so mad that they would be like 'We can't watch her anymore.  Send her to another preschool,' and I just always knew that I wanted to sing."


Scott Wendy reads off a list of fan questions for Katie to answer.

Where can we see you again?  Do you have anything coming up on television?
"I do!  I'm going to actually be on the CBS Early Show on October 9th.  We just confirmed it today.  We're very excited.  So you guys can watch it."

Is there going to be another tour?  Do you have plans to do dates, and travel the country so we can go out and see you live?
"Well I definitely have plans to be doing a radio tour, so we're going to try to promote this album so much, and with everything that we can, so definitely we'll be traveling around, and I'll post it on Facebook, on my web site, on everything, so you will know when I'm performing!  Just stay in touch."

When your album goes on sale on October 5th, are you actually going to go to a store and buy your own CD?
"You better believe it, yeah!  I'm gonna be that person that buys every single copy in the store.  I figure if I spend like a hundred dollars on myself, it won't really matter maybe."

Katie poses with (left to right) Chad Carlson, Shanna Strassberg, Amanda Flynn, Joe West, and Bruce Wallace.

WATCH VIDEO OF THE EVENT

Celebrating 50 Years of Loretta

The year 2010 marks 50 years since the iconic Loretta Lynn signed her first recording contract, and released her debut single "I'm a Honky Tonk Girl."  The famed coal miner's daughter celebrated the milestone at a special invitation-only event on September 24 at her ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.

On hand for the event were several members of Loretta's family, including brother Herman; sisters Peggy Sue, Betty Ruth, and Crystal Gayle; and daughters Cissy, Peggy, and Patsy.  The evening's activities included a catered reception with speeches by Crystal Gayle, Marty Stuart, John Carter Cash, and others.  A concert performance by Crystal Gayle, which was open to the general public, followed later in the evening.

Before all this began, Loretta and Crystal sat down for a media question-and-answer session inside the Coal Miner's Daughter museum.

One question on many people's minds is how Loretta manages to stay so humble and grounded after having accomplished so much in her career, and having won so many awards.  "Honey, I look at these awards like they're somebody else's," Loretta answers.  "That way you can stay grounded.  I'm proud of my awards, and every one I get I'm even more prouder of.  Staying grounded - You just don't forget where you come from.  All I do is just close my eyes, and I know where I'm from.  You know, I just go back to that little one-room cabin where I lived 'til I was eleven years old."

Loretta also talked about the deep connection she feels to her legions of loyal fans.  "They're my friends; They're not my fans.  You know, I've met 'em over and over and over, so really that's it.  I still enjoy goin' onstage.  I enjoy it more now than I used to, 'cause used to I had to.  Now I don't have to, and I go when I want to, and I really enjoy it.  And my babies are big as me right now, my twins [Peggy and Patsy], so it's easy to work when they're grown like that than when they're little.  And I take the twins with me.  They work with me.  But when they were little I liked to stay home more, and now that they're grown, why stay home?  I still enjoy it, and I like it, so I get after it!"

In addition to talking about touring, Loretta discussed her connection to the show that made country music famous.  "Well the Grand Ole Opry was somethin' I listened to when I was a little girl.  Never dreamed that I'd ever go through the door of the Grand Ole Opry when I was little and we listened.  That was just radio at that time, and I listened to Roy Acuff and Ernest Tubb and Oswald and Rachel, and it was somethin' I never dreamed of doin'.  But the Grand Ole Opry is somethin' that every country singer dreams of bein' on.  It is the greatest show on earth."

Another hot topic was the all-star Loretta Lynn tribute album - the Sony release Coal Miner's Daughter - a Tribute to Loretta Lynn - which drops on November 9.  Loretta hand-picked each artist who would appear on it.  "It was hard to narrow it down, you know, because there was so many great ones.  I love Kid Rock.  He sung that song that I wrote called 'I Know How.'  I don't know if any of you have heard it or not, but you'll have to listen to it.  It's great!  He done somethin' with it I didn't do.  In fact, all the artists have done stuff to my songs that I didn't do, and I love it.  I really love it."

But were there any artists that Loretta wanted to have on the album that weren't able to do it?  "Oh yes," she replies.  "But when you just got an album, you know, you can't put everybody on 'em.  Me and my sister is gonna do an album together, me and Crystal.  We been sayin' that for years.  I said 'You know, there's no use talkin' about it.  Let's just go in the studio and do it!  We've got to get it done.'"  At this point Loretta turns to face her sister saying, "And Crystal Gayle, you need to help me do that!"

Loretta Lynn (left) and Crystal Gayle answer questions for the media



Members of Loretta's family pose for photographers.  From left to right:  brother Herman, sister Peggy Sue, Crystal Gayle, Loretta, sister Betty Ruth, daughter Cissy.


A collaboration between Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle - who wouldn't love to hear that?

Of all the hit songs Loretta has had over the course of her career, her autobiographical song "Coal Miner's Daughter" easily ranks as her most-remembered and best-loved hit.  But did she see it as a surefire hit when she released it?  No, she did not.  "You know I had six more verses to that song?  And I went ahead and I sung it to Owen Bradley, and he looked at me and he said 'Loretta, there's already been one "El Paso," there'll never be another one.'  He said 'Go in there somewhere and sit down and take six verses off,' and that's what I had to do.  So I just thought it was just another song with people talkin' about their lives, you know.  I didn't think about it ever bein' anything.  But it was a smash, and I'm real proud.  I'm proud to be a coal miner's daughter!  I am!"


Loretta says that she continues to write songs today.  "Well, you know when I think of a good title, I write it down, and me and Shawn Camp wrote quite a bit last year.  We haven't wrote this year,  and I don't even think somethin's wrong with me, but I just couldn't get into it this year!  I don't know why.  But a song title will come to me, and I'll write two or three lines, and get the melody to it.  But Shawn is a great writer.  He's a great writer, so me and him have to start back writin' again.  We wrote quite a few that I've recorded, and we got two or three more already wrote that I'm gonna cut.  He's s'posed to come tonight.  I don't know if he will or not.  He's probably mad at me 'cause I hadn't wrote with him," Loretta jokes.  "No, he ain't that kinda guy."

The upcoming tribute album features a re-recorded version of "Coal Miner's Daughter," which includes vocals from Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow.  "I love Miranda," Loretta says.  "I think she's just feisty enough that she can do anything she wants to do, and she's a great little singer - great country singer.  Now I'm not sayin' pop, 'cause me and her neither one are gonna go pop.  If we do, it'll shock me!  But Sheryl, you know, she cuts rock and she cuts pop, but we did 'Coal Miner's Daughter, the three of us."

Speaking of pop, how does Loretta feel about all of the pop-country that is heard on country airwaves?  "I love the old country music - don't get me wrong.  But I love the pop-flavor country songs that they come out with too.  I like the polished country music that they do today.  Now I'm not sayin' I can do it, but I love it.  But I love the old country, and I love the new."

Crystal Gayle shares her sister's opinion.  "There's a lot of really good artists out there.  As Loretta was saying, it is a little bit more of what the pop music of the seventies was, and I liked the pop music then.  Everything changes, and there's always a time and a place.  I definitely don't want them to forget in radio the true country as well."

"I'm so proud of my sister!" says Crystal.  "I'd turn that radio on, and there she was!  I knew every song by heart... until she told me to quit singin' 'em... I love my sister, and I love her music.  When you think of country music in Nashville, you think of Loretta Lynn.  Not just because of the music, but of her as a personality, and her love of country, and her promotion of country.  She's all over the world.  That has opened up the doors for country music through the years, and I just think it's great.  It's even greater that she's my sister!"



Marty Stuart (left) and John Carter Cash



At the following reception, Marty Stuart had further kind words for Loretta.  "She's one of the most awarded females in the history of country music.  This museum attests to this, so that she might share the many accolades she has with us... A few years ago, a journalist mentioned her - that she was the Queen of Country Music.  'Kitty Wells is the queen.  Tammy Wynette is the first lady'" ("I thought that was Connie Smith," Marty jokingly added) "'I'm just the coal miner's daughter,' Loretta said.  Kitty Wells might have been the queen to a lot of people, but I agree with the reporter."

It was a special night for Loretta, and for all of country music.  But, as Crystal Gayle rightly pointed out, this was just Loretta's first fifty years.  "We'll have to open a new museum for the next fifty."