What's Up With Heidi Newfield's Five ACM Nominations?
I couldn't believe it, so I had to rub my eyes when I saw the press release announcing that Heidi Newfield has received five nominations for this year's Academy of Country Music Awards. Brad Paisley landed six nominations, but Newfield received more than any other artist -- including Kenny Chesney, George Strait, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban and Rascal Flatts. Not to detract from Newfield's talents -- which are considerable -- but five nominations seem so unlikely given the level of success she's had so far as a solo artist. She's nominated alongside Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack, Swift and Underwood in the top female vocalist category. Her other nominations stemmed from the song "Johnny and June," which is up for single of the year and video of the year. She received two additional nominations -- as an artist and songwriter -- for the song.
All awards shows are supposed to honor artistic excellence, but commercial success generally plays a huge role in who gets nominated. The fact is that "Johnny and June" never made it to Billboard's country Top 10. (It peaked at No. 11 in September.) And while Newfield's solo debut album, What Am I Waiting For, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart when it was released in August, it has sold less than 200,000 copies since then. (That's an impressive achievement in these tough economic times, but it still doesn't add up to a major success story.)
What's puzzling about Newfield's success in the ACM nominations is that there's no conspiracy theory you can point to and no power base that can adequately explain it. Like it or not, block voting among those in the music industry can often explain the nominations and winners. Employees of record labels, music publishing companies, management companies, booking agencies and publicity firms tend to come together when they have a mutual interest in a specific artist. On occasion, that has probably happened as a well-calculated plan, but it's generally a mere matter of human nature. After all, everyone likes to vote for their allies.
In Newfield's case, she does record for an important country label -- Curb Records -- yet there were no ACM nominations this year for any other Curb artists, including Tim McGraw, LeAnn Rimes and Rodney Atkins. (However, Rimes was named this year's recipient of the ACM/The Home Depot humanitarian award.) The publishing companies representing Newfield and her co-writers are smaller operations, as opposed to mega-publishers such as the ones owned by EMI and Sony BMG. Newfield's album was produced by Tony Brown, a veteran who remains an industry favorite, but it's hard to imagine that this was a deciding factor in her nominations.
In all honesty, Newfield never got the credit she deserved during her tenure as lead vocalist for Trick Pony. Few people ever took that trio seriously, largely because there seemed to be a bit of a Village People factor in the cowboy persona of guitarist Keith Burns and the goofy hipster image of bassist Ira Dean. Inside of all that, though, I don't recall anybody ever saying that Newfield couldn't sing or write a good song. So maybe her ACM nominations are the culmination of years of hard work while tenaciously paying her dues. If anybody has any thoughts about this, I'd love to hear them. In the meantime, we'll see how it all pans out in April when the ACM Awards take place in Las Vegas.
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Connie says:
I’m sorry there is no way Heidi should have gotten five nominations? Just no friggen way !!! What about LeAnn Rimes
or Kelly Pickler . I saw Heidi live twice last year . She wasn’t that great . I think her album is weak.. No way does Johnny & June deserve the nominations it got,.Far better songs were put out this past year. Hopefully she will walk away empty handed
Blake Boldt says:
Newfield also received multiple ACM nominations (including five in 2003) with Trick Pony. Many voters are in the radio and concert industries, and she seems to have a lot of goodwill with those ACM members. In a stronger year, she wouldn’t have been included in the Top Female category. Based on her year, though, she deserved mention.
The most important thing to consider is the nominated song, “Johnny and June.” Cutting a song about the legendary Johnny Cash doesn’t hurt matters, and that romantic sentiment surely swayed quite a few voters who were fans of Newfield already.
RedMaZ says:
This has to be some type of pay off situation. Cashing in a favor. Whatever you want to call it. Which is fine. I accept it as part of the Pop music industry. As far as the song…quite lame, and the video is even worse. I guess the “quite a few voters” didn’t know about the other Johnny and June song(s).
c-natural says:
i was honestly a little surprised, too, but pleasantly. she has been working hard for quite awhile, and it’s nice to see that these votes aren’t always based solely on commercial success, because let’s face it, some music fans are just artistically shallow. it’s nice to see somebody up there who can actually sing, and write a song, and make her own creative decisions- and not to say that other slightly more successful women don’t have those talents as well– miranda lambert, for instance, is incredible– but i’m glad to see heidi getting some recognition.
Ken says:
I think she is a filler. Someone that is there just to finish out the category. Just because she is nominated does not mean she will win all of them. If she does then it will be a payoff or something worse.
Carol says:
Have to admit, the thought of her being nominated never even crossed my mind. I think just as big a surprise was no FVOTY nomination for Martina. I was wondering if any of her fans could tell me if this was the first year that she has not been nominated?
linda says:
come on 5 nominations for heidi ,this is just plain out crazy,and I am sick and tired of brad paisley , every awards show ,he seems to dominate the nominations , maybe there should be a limit of nominations that an artist can recievethis should be for all awards show
mlt says:
I can’t believe they would nominate her for top female vocalist!I don’t understand why reba didn’t get a nomination !They should have considered if not reba then kellie pickler or leann rimes or even jessica simpson ,now that be something her in the running with carrie underwood!
Greatdivide08 says:
That’s just whacked.The CD sucks.It’s pretty sad that all one has to do is mention Johnny Cash in a song these days and you get 5 ACM nods.I have a theory that involves her doing some kind of “favors” for the ACM heads, but I won’t go there.
mlt says:
Martina was a nominee in 1998 trisha won,1999,2000,2001 faith won and in 02 and 03 ,04 martina won!Also in 05 gretchen won which was a surprise! 2006 martina lost to sara evans and in 07 and 08 to carrie underwood!Martina was a nominee for top new female in 1993 lost to michelle wright! This is martina’s first time out of the running since her first nod in 98!
Lisa says:
How’s this - I think Taylor Swift’s Love Story and Carrie Underwood’s Just A Dream both deserved to be nominated WELL ahead of Johnny and John. And I’m not even a Taylor fan. Hell, I can think of ten songs without even thinking that deserved to be there ahead of Johnny and June!
Ann says:
I am with you Lisa, Toby Keith “She Never Cried In Front Of Me” for one.
bkb says:
where is alan jackson and tim mcgraw? carrie for entertainer of the year is so far out. many artists work for years to be named entertainer of the year, and along comes carrie and is nominated. what’s the deal. also hedi does not deserve to be up for 5 awards.
tom says:
wasnt she one of only 4 females with a top ten song last year.
Tory says:
I doubt she’ll win a majority of the nominations.
Female vocalist and video of the year….she doesn’t stand a chance.
I really want Taylor Swift to win in both those categories, but I think Carrie might take both.
Carrie’s very talented and all, but I’m a hardcore Taylor fan so I’d love to see her walk away with at least one award :)
Always Right says:
When are you people going to realize that Taylor Swift cannot sing?
Faye Hilbert says:
The ACM nominations, what a joke! Where do I start, let see:
First, Top Female Artist, what a joke! How in the world does Heidi Newfield get nominated for this category along with the Top “New” Female Artist yet Martina McBride was not nominated at all! Martina not only had a huge tour last summer but new music and has been in the Top 20 of tours! Not to diminish Heidi’s talent, since I do really like her music, but to be nominated for this award within only a year of going solo and without even headlining her own tour or having any top 10 singles is a disgrace to Martina! Shame on the Academy of Country Music Association!
Second, Entertainer of the Year, did Carrie Underwood really deserve a nom in this category? I know that every song of hers has to go to #1(yet I don’t understand why) but I have seen Carrie twice with Keith Urban and unless she has improved on stage, she is definitely no “entertainer of the year”. Actually, aside from all of the hype of #1 singles and record sales the best female artist last year performance wise was Martina McBride! She has come so far in her show and her performing on stage that she deserves not only the Top Female Artist nomination but the Entertainer of the Year as well. When is Martina ever going to be nominated for this category both at the ACM and the CMA. Of course, there is Keith Urban! Not only does Keith give you a full 2-21/2 hours of pure entertainment, but he loves what he is doing and it shows every time he plays for his fans! That’s a true entertainer! Keith had the honor of receiving this award at the CMA’s in 2005 I only wish he would have the honor at the ACM’s before they stop nominating him as well. As for the fans voting for this category again, what a joke!
Of course as long as Kenny is in that category I am sure he will still win (which I don’t understand that either!) I only hope Kenny “thanks” the fans this year instead of critizing the process. I only wish the ACM voters would see each of these artists perform for their fans and they would realize that Keith Urban is a “true entertainer” and deserves that honor! Do we really need to keep giving these awards to the same artists every year, enough with Brad, Kenny and Carrie already!
Faye Hilbert says:
I correct myself, Heidi Newfield was NOT nominated for the Top NEW Female Artist, only the Top Female Artist which I still feel she should not have had that honor over Martina McBride. Sorry!
CJ says:
Shows how these awards are. Not always the most deserved nominated. I thought I read it wrong when I saw 5 nominations for Heidi Newfield. Something wrong there. She is good but has not won the right to be nominated. Hardley saw her on anything last year….
Valerie says:
Congrats to LeAnn Rimes! She deserved the grammy for What I Cannot Change. Better song and way better vocal performance than Last Name about being drunk in Vegas. Its a fact that Carrie’s fans have some kinda voting party. Especially on the CMT site. Its ok to support your favorite artist like a cheerleader but its not fair or accurate. Technology makes the best artist by whose fans pull a late nighter and vote. One vote for each would be fair. I have seen the comments so I know its true. I like Carrie and some of her music but every song going to #1 is bull! Its not on the billboard like that.
J.R. Journey says:
I don’t understand some of these comments …
But, I think Heidi is definitely deserving of the nominations. Hopefully, she will take home at least one trophy.
Valerie says:
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT IF SHE WON! REFRESHING TO SEE SOMEONE ELSE RECOGNIZED THIS YEAR. SHE IS VERY TALENTED.
miranda says:
I think she deserves it. she may not have had as many singles as them as a solo artist, but her song Johnny & June is amazing. she rele out did herself on that one.
Joyce Landy says:
I hope she wins all of them!!
hotelmotel says:
I think that in pop-country music, sales and radio play should be a factor in determining nominations. And Heidi Newfield has had only minimal commercial impact.
Now, in genres that focus more on art and less on commerce, focusing on sales should be less important when giving out awards. Focusing on musical quality should be (though, back to Newfield, its not as if she put out some high quality work. Her CD is a pretty average pop country CD).
Its hard to think this is anything other than the result of bribery of some kind; and an attempt by the label to promote Newfield.
Hello! says:
I am glad someone who can exactly sing is getting nominateed. How far can taylor ride the I sold the most cds thing. The only reason she sold the most is she remixs her cds and sells them pop and country. To me that is cheating!!!! She should never get nominated for any grammys. She cant sing, thats plain and simple.
RedMaZ says:
She’s always been Pop Country. Pop music isn’t an individual genre of music. Pop music includes many genres including Country. It doesn’t matter if you can sing or not. If you are selling CD’d and making money for Mainstream record labels…you WILL be nominated for Pop music awards. That’s just the way it is whether you like it or not. That in itself is part of the definition of Pop music.
guess? says:
Anyone can go into a studio and make a cd. They can fix her voice to make it sound good. I have heard and seen her live and she is aweful.
barbara baer says:
carrie deserves eoty she was great in her
concert she worked very hard for this and
i hope she wins the men are always winning
give the women a break she has an amazing voice
she can sing the telephone book great vocals.
her live singing is top notch. carrie does
not mix her songs with pop
Stan Campbell says:
Sorry gang, I don’t know what the surprise is about. I am happy to be one of the radio people who recognized Heidi as a “sleeper” artist from the get-go with a TON of talent and a superb creative writer. Finally, the ACM membership recognized what a creative artist she is. Radio airplay or CMT play is no longer the only yardstick for measuring artists success. Radio didn’t “get it”. Listen to her album and tell me that she is not a primo artist. The R&R charts is mostly created from radio airplay. What gets air-play is decided by handful of Consultants and VPs of Programming who still believe radio is an artist make or break medium. Heidi stands out from most of the current crop of “formula” stuff that comes out of Nashville. Jennfier Nettle is another artist who stands out and if she were a solo act, I’m sure she would walk away with everything but the male vocal. Someone mentioned “commercial success”. Allison Krauss, compared to other major country artists, has had minimal commercial success too, but can anyone argue with her incredible talent and success on the world stage?