A Museum Exhibit Fit for a Carrie Underwood Dress
When I say "360 feet of silk taffeta," it sounds like the world's most hideous bridesmaid dress, right? But when I say "Carrie Underwood's dress made of 360 feet of silk taffeta," it all starts to sound pretty gorgeous, doesn't it?
That's probably why the folks at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum have devoted a display to that merlot-colored Rafael Cennamo dress Underwood wore during her performance at the Academy of Country Music Awards in Las Vegas in April. Remember? It's the dress nobody was allowed talk about until she revealed it that night, when she belted out her version of Randy Travis' "I Told You So." And the one that had Underwood saying, "I truly felt like a princess." That dress turned out to be a bit of a good luck charm, too, because that was the night the ACM named her its entertainer of the year and top female vocalist.
So this Carrie Underwood: All-American Girl exhibit opens June 11, right at the start of the CMA Music Festival. You can see the dress for the price of regular museum admission, which is about $22 for adults and $15 for kids. I am heading down to Nashville in June myself, so I will definitely check it out. It sounds even bigger than my wedding dress. And I was married at the very height of the bigger-and-puffier-and bustier-is-better wedding gown trend.
From the way I understand it, this dress is the only item in the spotlight exhibit. But what I think would make the exhibit much more fun is if they put this gigantic dress up next to the jeans, white cami and Flashdance-inspired fuchsia top Underwood wore to her American Idol audition in the summer of 2004. Then it would have kind of a before-and-after theme. Or a look-how-far-she's-come theme.
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RedMaZ says:
Hey? I remember seeing that thing. Who’s 4king bright idea was that? She looked like a cleaning lady in the middle of where Barney the Dinosaur just exploded. OverKilamanjaro…Kenya give me a break?
JP says:
It just goes to show you how she developed into a classy beautiful young woman….oh and did I mention talented too!
Alison, lucky you, let us know what you what you think when you see the dress, I’m sure you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
bkb says:
this exhibit is so silly. the dress was stupid and she was laughed at by trying to get out of the thing and off the stage.
Stephanie says:
It’s so great that this dress is on display. Sure there are kids running around the world without clothes on every day and all the material in that dress could’ve covered several of them, but as long as Carrie looked great at an awards show…man, that makes my year.
goldie says:
whatever talk about just trying to get more attention wow who really cares about the exhibt plus I agree with it being way way to soon for anything like this, whatever. I won’t be there either.
lorendasue says:
On my TV set the dress did not look good. It reminded me of a giant slug one might see in a horror film. I’ve read some very nice comments about how it looked if you were actually at the show, however. I had to let my Country Music Hall of Fame membership lapse, so I’m not likely to see how it looks in person.
Mia says:
oh man!!! i am the biggest Carrie Underwood fan EVER & i was just in Nashville literally last week for the first time. i absolutely cannot wait to go back- it was soo much fun! i just wish that the trip could have been during CMA Fest & in time to see this special exhibit! Carrie looked stunning as always in this gorgeous dress :)
bluefish@thesea says:
I will come and visit the museum just for that. Yes, it is worth for me to see it in person. She is a good role model.
K says:
Although I think Carrie is a beautiful lady with tons of talent, this exhibit is just too much. There are literally HUNDREDS of artists who have sold as many (if not more) albums than her, there are many who have broken more records than her, and there are many who have gotten on dozens of magazine covers and won dozens of awards. What makes her different than any of them? Do people in the industry think to reward her because she has accomplished so much as a woman in country music?
The same thing seems to be happening with Taylor Swift as well. Why did they chose her as one of the only country artists EVER to get a Rolling Stone cover? There are thousands of artists who have sold TONS more than seven million albums, and had a few number one songs. Why is she one the only country artists ever to appear on SNL? As I said before, the girl has accomplished NOTHING that hasn’t been done before.
Before all this Carrie/Taylor mania started happening, I respected them for their hardwork and talent; now I just see them as marketinng machines who get more attention than they deserve.
Why is it that artists like Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Lady A, Little Big Town and many others seem to be “too country” to appear on high-profile magazines and TV shows, yet two women who fit that demographic perfectly aren’t subject to such “sterotypes??
I’m really starting to wonder…
JP says:
Geez K…CHILL…it’s just a dress on exhibit. Carrie did move up the ladder fast because she worked hard at it. She also won numerous awards and EOTY, that was a Big win!
She has something special…not only her voice and beauty, imo it’s her persona and class.
Taylor, that’s a different story, I’d rather not comment on how she moved up so fast. She is very popular with the tweens though.
All in all, people like different, not same ole same ole, like some country music can be.
diane says:
I thought the dress was very pretty and unique..She seemeed to feel like a princess in it so who cares. And non of this has anything to do with the enormous talent this young lady has….I listen to what comes out of the mouth..That is what is important to me..Everyone is making a big deal out of this..get over it..
hotelmotel says:
K says that Carrie and Taylor are “marketing machines who get more attention than they deserve.” I would agree.
But I would add that all Country artists that are famous and get played on FM radio are “marketing machines:” Taylor and Carrie may be better at marketing than other major label artists, but those other artists are marketing machines, too. Some are “defective” machines:( e.g., Amy Dalley’s singles all bombed), and they will be treated as a defective machine deserves, they will be thrown in the garbage pile.
Marketing isn’t optional for a major label country star: George Strait, Alan Jackson, Alabama, Reba, whomever, they are all “marketing machines.”
Trisha Yearwood years ago commented in a book that she was, in effect, a brand called “Trisha Yearwood,” and everything she did had to be done with marketing in mind: the photos chosen on the album cover, the products she would endorse (or not endorse), the singles selected, so as to give of the right image of the brand “Trisha Yearwood.”
Are Carrie and Taylor products of marketing? Of course! But that doesn’t distinquish them in any way from the other major label singers. If something does distinguish them, it is that they are particularly good at marketing.
RedMaZ says:
K, maybe someday you’ll understand mainstream Pop Culture. You’re 4 paragraph rant proves only one thing. You don’t have to understand, enjoy or suppport Mainstream Pop Culture to be a slave to it. I see you never post any reply or comment on any other blogs other than Pop Culture. Educate yourself, and you may not look so foolish, but then again calling RF, JA, LA, and LBT too country may keep you in the foolish folder for quite some time.
K says:
Redmaze, I NEVER called anyone “too country.” I said that many people who control marketing and attention aeem to THINK that artists such as the the ones mentioned above are “too country” for media attention outside of what they are given.
highwayman3 says:
It’s just a museum exhibit, its not like she’s going in the hall of fame. There is no significants to the exhibit, other then it was a much talked about dress and worthy of display. It is not a honour for her or a reward for her accomplishments. Big & Rich had their outfits displayed there last year, big deal.
RedMaZ says:
My girdle was displayed there in 97. Right along side Garth Brooks’ girdle. We both had a binding contract.
linda says:
i thought she and the dress were beautiful that night
merlefan49 says:
Rascal Flatts, Jason Aldean, Lady A, Little Big Town and many others seem to be “too country” Geez when did they become country to start with? Now their too country?
Brenda says:
LOL, this all gave me a big smile! I think Carrie looked great, and sang even better-plus she has class. In fact I enjoyed the ACM’s so much this year, because of the antics of our youth performing. There was a lot of laughter from them, plus beautiful music. I say WTG ACM, may you keep show casing all our great young stars in country music, they out shine all artist-Country has finally caught up!!!
Still smiling, have a great evening!
Mojo says:
People, get a grip! Her DRESS is going on display? I have nothing against Carrie, but really, that’s nuts. I was under the impression that the fashion gurus were not impressed with it. The Hall of Fame is giving her an exhibit for what? She hasn’t exactly done anything new in country music either. She’s just the latest superstar to come around. Name me someone else that got this kind of treatment this early in their career?
carmen says:
whatever. i really dont care what people say about carrie. people have opinions and their opinion get no where.
the qiestion is will carrie underwood be in country in the future = yes
carrie have a successfull career = i can say yes because she has awesome fans and she is recognized and appreciated in the music world.
will carrie still tour = yes
carrie win awards = yes
carrie sell albums = yes
can carrie sing the heck out of a song = yes
carrie huge in country = yes
yes,yes,yes and the list goes on. the matter of the fact is people that carrie has rose on top so fast because of all her accomplishments under her belt in such a her short career, true others may have accomplished the same but in 4 years? whether their were artists before her who have made their mark theres always room for more amazing artists and i hope that never stops because without music or incredibel people like her, music would bore me.
carrie is a hardworking girl and im proud of hardworking strong women, keep’em coming…it never gets old for me.
carmen says:
yeah yeah i know so i mispelled some words im sure you all get my point
K says:
AMEN MOJO, I agree 100%! People are saying this is “no big deal” and “it’s just a dress.” Guess what? That’s still PUBLICITY people! It’s still something that’s taking time away from the thousands of other DESERERVING artists who work their butts off every year to get half the attention she is handed. I used be a huge Carrie fan- but STOP shoving her down our throats and maybe we can all get to the thing that really matters: THE MSUIC.
Sami says:
JEALOUS ANYONE?????????????????
hotelmotel says:
K - you say “[the dress] still something that’s taking time away from the thousands of other DESERVING artists who work their butts off every year to get half the attention [carrie] is handed…”
Maybe you’re right. But the same principle could apply to virtually any country star that gets publicity, for there is almost always someone no less talented, no less deserving, who is going unnoticed.
E.g., the fact that George Strait refuses to “retire” and that he still has a team of marketers that push his singles up the chart is taking “time away” from some other artists, signed or unsigned, who would love to be on the pop county charts but can’t get on because George is played once an hour.(But can we blame Strait for this? If no, Can we blame Carrie?)
But maybe you’re wrong. You say that the thing that really matters is “THE MUSIC,” but in the pop country world, what really matters is money.That was so long before Carrie came on the scene and it will be true long after she is forgotten. In this pop=country world, Music is a means of making money, and the criteria that determines “deservingness” is ability to make money for the industry. By that standard, Carrie is “more deserving” than most of the other artists “who work their butts off” because an exhibit featuring Carrie’s dress is likely to sell more tickets than an exhibit featuring, say, Mark Chesnutt’s shirt.
Pop country isn’t about musical quality, deservingness or any such thing. Its about money. There are other genres less commercialized and people who dislike the hyper commercialism of modern pop country can check them out.
Also, if people are “shoving [Carrie] down our throats,” we are opening our mouths quite wide voluntarily. The fact is only one of the radio stations I listen to plays Carrie. There’s no reason to get Carrie, or any singer, shoved down anyone’s throat in this day and age where thousands of stations are available. Its too easy to find music to one’s taste to be forced to eat a diet of Carrie, Kenny, George and Toby.
cj5 says:
Some of you seem to have to write a book to give us your opinion. Carrie is beautiful, has a powerful voice and has a great personality. She can sing. End of story!
barb b says:
how can you be so cruel
i cant believe you said
that about carrie dress
do you hate her that much
what did she ever do to
you;
Sara says:
I care about the exhibit. I think it is great. I hope there is lots more Carrie in the future. She is beautiful, has an amazing voice and represents country at its best. WTG, Carrie! I bet the dress is even more beautiful up close than it was on tv and it looked beautiful on tv. I can’t wait to see it next week!!!
Tabitha T says:
what a waste of blog space. go away carrie
Robinator says:
Jealous of what????? pleeeezz
Real says:
You people that come on here and bash Carrie are truely pathetic.Don’t you know that all that negative energy you put out is gonna come back on you negativity.If you don’t like something or somebody the best thing to do is ignore it or ignore them.The more you pounce on it and talk about it the bigger that thing or person becomes.Artists that I’m not a big fan of I ignore it and you know what it seems to me they are hardly even spoken about anymore.Carrie knows this and that’s why she continues to be successful.She replaces the negative things people say about her with positive things.You could be just as great and talked about as these artists if that’s what you want and truly believe it-GOD is no respect of person.Please learn to be POSITIVE!
carmen says:
all i read is “blah,blah,blah” it doesnt even matter what the bashers think there everywhere you can never get rid of fungus thats just the way it is. carrie is famous, rich, successfull, talented, educated, and she’s huuuuuuuge in country music “so go ahead cry babie’s play your violins”.
Beth says:
I am a big fan of Carrie she can sing and very God fearing person i wish her the best of everything and Good Luck.
Carrie Underwood and Her Mom at The 39th Annual CMA Awards After Party – Gallery says:
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Dripable Service says:
I agree completely!!