CMT Blog: Archive

Toby Keith and the tag team match of Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins head up a batch of seven videos that were screened by the CMT New Music Video Evaluation Team. Joe Nichols says goodbye to a dear old friend of his. Bucky Covington takes a rock song live. Gene Watson and Rhonda Vincent look at a sad family situation. John Fogerty remembers the Everly Brothers. And you can meet the new sister group, the McClymonts.

Artist: Toby Keith
Video: "Cryin' for Me"
Director: Michael Salamon

Toby Keith has written a song and a video tribute to his late friend, basketball great and jazz bassist Wayman Tisdale. He says goodbye to his friend in a very personal way.

Panelists' comments: "Damn, that was sad." "But so sweet." "Amen ... what can you say." "I think he did a great job with it."

Artist: Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
Video: "Hillbilly Bone"
Director: Roman White

So Blake Shelton and his goodtime buddy Trace Adkins decided to head for a ritzy uptown restaurant and drink a little and tie the feedbag on. The results are at first scandalous as they horrify the upscale restaurant patrons. But there's a happy ending.

Panelists' comments: "That's hilarious!" "My favorite scene is when Trace pours the moonshine into a wine glass." "That's good. I think people will like it."

Artist: Joe Nichols
Video: "An Old Friend of Mine"
Director: Dennis/Dixon

After quitting his drinking ways, Joe Nichols decided to record this heartfelt lament of a man saying goodbye to his old friend, the bottle. The result is a very stark -- and effective -- song and video.

Panelists' comments: "Man, I miss that voice." "Joe is just one of the best." "Very powerful. I'm not sure I'd want to watch it more than once, though."

Artist: John Fogerty
Video: "When Will I Be Loved"
Director: David Gelb

With his current revival of his country alter ego, the Blue Ridge Rangers, classic rocker John Fogerty has rerecorded some of his favorite songs. Here, with help from Bruce Springsteen, he takes on the Everly Brothers' "When Will I Be Loved."

Panelists' comments: "Bruce wasn't in the video, right?" "Yeah. You see him on a poster in one shot in the saloon." "Fun, but I don't know as a video."

Artist: Bucky Covington
Video: "Gotta Be Somebody"
Director: Devin Pense

This is Bucky Covington's cover version of a Nickelback song. Here, he does it live with a second percussionist providing a rolling drumbeat straight out of early rock 'n' roll.

Panelists' comments: "I like it." "That's a nice, live video." "That's a Nickelback song, right?"

Artist: Gene Watson and Rhonda Vincent
Video: "Staying Together"
Director: Stephen Shepherd

Here's a great concept: Put together Gene Watson, one of the best male country voices ever, and Rhonda Vincent, one of the best female talents in today's bluegrass. They just did it, and here is the result.

Panelists' comments: "What a voice Gene Watson has." "I saw him perform not long ago, and he sounds so good. That's a voice that hasn't changed." "Don't forget what a good singer Rhonda Vincent is."

Artist: The McClymonts
Video: "My Life Again"
Director: Walter May

The McClymonts are three sisters from Australia. Brooke, Sam and Mollie have been singing together since they were children and play acoustic instruments. "My Life Again" is from their debut album Chaos and Bright Lights, which they recorded in Nashville.

Panelists' comments: "Those are really good voices." "Who are they? These are some really new faces." "That one reminds me of Faith Hill." "I'd like to hear more from them."

Consensus: Toby Keith's "Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)" will debut on Tuesday (Nov. 13) on CMT in hot shot rotation. The Blake Shelton/Trace Adkins video, "Hillbilly Bone," debuted Monday (Nov. 2).