Highlights From the CMA Awards
The CMA Awards are always entertaining, and this year's event was no different. I do want to say that Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood infusing their hosting duties Wednesday night (Nov. 11) with some music was a welcome addition. Taylor Swift's opening performance was rockin' -- even for Taylor. I admit I'm a little speechless. Congrats to Lady Antebellum for their wins for single and vocal group of the year and to Jamey Johnson for his song of the year win ("In Color"). The Zac Brown Band's performance of Charlie Daniels' "Devil Went Down to Georgia" was probably the most fun to watch -- especially since he did the version with the "old lyrics" -- and how about that fiddle solo?
Lady A's "snow globe" performance looked pretty cool, too. And it was good to see George Strait with his whole band onstage. That guy sure does make it look easy. Carrie Underwood recreated her "Cowboy Casanova" video for the live audience, which led Paisley to quip, "How hot was that dress? You wouldn't believe the view that Little Jimmy Dickens got backstage. Paramedics say he's been stabilized ... ." But Dickens had the last laugh when he interrupted Paisley with a Kanye West parody. The award for the most genuine acceptance goes to Darius Rucker, I think, for his new artist win. And the award for coolest guest definitely goes to Drake Dixon (the "Boots On" kid) and his tiny rhinestone suit.
Tim McGraw and Keith Urban both turned in smooth vocal performances, and Sugarland recruited a string ensemble for their piece. Congrats to Swift for her album of the year win. "This album is my diary," she graciously told the crowd. Brooks & Dunn performed for the last time in CMA Awards history, and they went out in rock 'n' roll style with help from ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons. Directly after that came an undeniably country song from Jamey Johnson and Kid Rock -- "Between Jennings and Jones."
Swift won video of the year with "Love Story" and then offered a second performance, this time from a chair in the middle of the arena floor on "Fifteen." Brad Paisley won male vocalist of the year and also musical event with Urban for "Start a Band." I was especially glad to see the tribute to this year's Hall of Fame inductees, Barbara Mandrell, Roy Clark and Charlie McCoy. Martina McBride surprised everyone with a George Strait duet on "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool," with McCoy adding his signature harmonica.
Swift thanked the crowd for "not jumping up onstage during the speech" after winning female vocalist of the year, and Jason Aldean, Reba McEntire and Billy Currington brought out "Big Green Tractor," "Consider Me Gone" and "People Are Crazy," respectively. Then Kenny Chesney and Dave Matthews contributed their recent duet "I'm Alive" with the two singers seated on a nearly empty stage.
As for the big moment: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill presented the 2009 CMA entertainer of the year award to ... Taylor Swift! Hugs and smiles and tears of joy all around and Swift's score card for the night reads a perfect four wins out of four nominations. She was able to hold back her emotions long enough to manage "In this moment, everything that I have ever wanted just happened to me."
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
Kristina says:
Taylor Swift’s performance was awful…
Mary England says:
Why does the CMA focus on one person or group per year> It seems like all the awards and focus are on the same individual for the all the awards. The cameras keep going to Taylor Swift and she is performing twice for the show. Every year you tend to push one performer and the audience. I think the voting for the winners should be done by the fans and then if the same person wins its the fans choice. I would like to know how the winners are chosen?
Ann says:
I agree, she is a horrible singer.
barb b says:
kristina i agree with you
best performance of the night
was carrie performance of the
night
barb b says:
the cma is so fixed they focus
on one artist it is not fair to
the others i think they should
rename the cma to the taylor swift
show not worth watching i still say
she cant sing
Bev says:
Wynonna looked beautiful.
Joe says:
This one of the best cma’s ever….
They Honored Alot of Classic Stars, the Jokes were funny, and the Kayne West jokes were funny.
Martina singing Barbra Mandrell songs….
Little Jimmy Dickens being on it.
Jamey Johnson proves outlaw country is still big in country…Too Bad Waylon Didn’t get to see Jamey follow in his footsteps.
Joe says:
woah George Strait singing with Martina Mcbride on I was country when country wasn’t cool
gabriela says:
GO TAYLOR SWIFT!!! I LOVE HER!!! ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
TAYLOR ROCKS!!!! SHE IS SO TALENTED!!! :-)
GOOD LUCK FOR ENTRETAINER OF THE YEAR!!
Dave says:
Notthe biggestcountry fan but enjoyingthe show.Whatisthe nameofthe song SUgarland performed?
flower says:
hey barb what about your cu, nothing tonight ha! taylor swift FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR!!!! WOW that makes 3 cma awards for the awsome MISS SWIFT!!!!!
flower says:
by the way barb the critics on the cma page gave cu a b- on her performance and said what has happened to cu that’s all she needs is a pole,thats what they said.oh and they said she did not do that well.
“ME” says:
Woo Hoo to those that are in Taylors group but a little insight!!!! SHE CAN’T SING..
Randy would say “pitchy” Simon.. sorry you are out…..
Paula.. but we love you..
Yes she is young and the 15 song hit it with the young but come on people…
Honestly .. Carrie could sing better with her head in a bucket of water. Entertainer of the year.. that was a joke..
Sing your hearts out, see you at the CMA’s next yr.
I have been nominated for entertainer of the yr.
Alison W says:
Every time Jennifer Nettles sings I feel like she is speaking right to me. When she sings I believe her more than anyone. She’s not even my favorite country artist by far, but something about her live performances always leaves me speechless.
Sandy says:
Dave the name of the sugarland song was ‘keep you’.
I think Taylor probably deserved each award she won EXCEPT female vocalist…the bottom line criteria for this award should be the ability to sing.
Trish says:
Taylor Swift winning a vocalist award is a joke and a disgrace. Shame on the CMA’s and I will never watch again!
Sandy says:
sugarland always gives outstanding live performances…tonight they were great as usual
Sandy says:
is anyone else having trouble posting on the cmt message boards?
amy says:
the show was stupid!!! Seriously how can people not see how political these shows are..its all about who the record labels want to win. Its so dumb, the CMA’s have lost all credibility, they should be ashamed for treating the fans this way. Every year I think maybe the CMA’s will get it maybe they’ll actually stick true to whats fair..but nope lets see how many performers they can screw over..terrible.
Chris says:
taylor swift can’t sing, she can’t even hold a damn note.
flower says:
WAY TO GO TAYLOR, EOTY,FV,VOTY AND CD OF THE YEAR!!!!!!! TAYLOR IS THE QUEEN OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE ENTERTAINER OF COUNTRY MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!
rascalfan says:
whats with rascal flatts not winning!!!
we still love you guys, you’ll get it next year
NO! says:
Taylor Swift winning the EOTY made as much sense as the Obama Peace Prize: NONE!
dixiemama says:
Calm down,people! Take a chill pill and take the show for what it was–an opportunity to enjoy live performances and see all the country stars bedecked in their finest. I, for one, found it entertaining. Best performances of the night: Zac Brown Band and Keith Urban.
coungrygal says:
I am happy to hear I’m not the only one who doesn’t think Taylor is a good singer. I think she’s more worried about the gimmicks she can do than with singing. Not impressed. I enjoyed everyone else and thought they sounded great!
Bre says:
Taylor really did not deserve that EOTY award, this was Brad’s year. He is AWESOME! And Carrie Underwood deserved female vocalist because unlike Taylor she can sing. Thank God Sugarland and Reba performed or I might have stopped watching it.
D Trotter says:
Taylor’s singing was fine, especially given the energy of the first performance (AMAZING!) and the informality of the second. The sound system sucked for the second year in a row, too much bass and echo. The notes being sung weren’t nearly as sour as the grapes being displayed in here.
GG says:
Very disappointed with CMAs this year. How can anyone possibly accept that Taylor Swift can be a country entertainer of the year. Honestly America can’t be happy about this. To beat out Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisly, and Keith Urban is one thing, but to win over GEORGE STRAIT is totally insane. George Strait knows a whole lot more about being entertainer of the year than she does. Then to win female vocalist over Martina Mcbride, Reba, Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert. Taylor will never have a voice like thiers. Don’t know who made these descions but they are sure wrong on them on ALL OF THEM. Taylor doesn’t deserve to win anything that represents COUNTRY MUSIC. One last question where was KANYE when AMERICA needed him?
Martin says:
flower…caps lock button. Please learn to use it. And realize lots of people here do not like you at all tonight (or ever, really).
Deb says:
I’m very disappointed that the Zac Brown Band didn’t win at all. They are an incredibily talented group of guys….not sure who picks the winners, but it doesn’t seem right.
Mat says:
Thought it was a good show. all in all they took a little bit of all the good country and had it aranged perfect. we can’t all agree on who wins the awards and why. but congrats go to those who won. and till next year. we still have the CMT awards on tues to look foward to. that should be a good show.
Sue says:
Watched the show and enjoyed most of the performances, comedy and dresses. Not sure how the winners actually are determined. Billy Currington’s “People are crazy” spoke to me this year. Sorry, to see so many really talented people get passed up for years, yet someone so new to the business can wipe the slate.
Keep your chins up, the fans love you all!!
Mama says:
isn’t entertainer of the year just that? biggest entertainer, not necessarily most talented? taylor is talented, not of the caliber of those others nominated, but definitely was quite an entertainer this year. she is responsible for many, many new ears listening to country music stations and that is huge. i love that my kids have always listened to and enjoyed country music, but now it is cool. so many friends are beginning to realize they like music they can understand and relate to. taylor has a lot to do with that.
barb b says:
hey flower did you see taylor
come down the pole she pulled
a miley cyrus she still cant sing
queen of country maybe in another life
time when are you going to stop being
so jealous of carrie flower go and respond
to all the blogs about taylor they are not goog
TY says:
Someone said CMA gave Carrie a B- on her performance—then they had to give Swift an F for hers. Her singing made me sick. She was off key and all over the place- AND she used a strippers pole too. Swift winning female vocalist is a joke. Didn’t think Carrie would get it because she has been busy making a #1 album–but for Swift to win over Reba & Martina (great vocalists) was a joke. Wonder how much was staged? Swift pretending to cry–Tim & Faith giving the ETOTY award–2 terrible songs from Swift—Something stinks here.
love story says:
Get over it all you SORE LOSERS…the vote says it all…Taylor you are an amazing talented YOUNG woman….keep up the good work and dont let these people get you down..you obviously have a TON of support from peole who appreciate what you do…..cant wait to see you again!!!! liked the changes Lady A, Darius…Keith is still awesome and overlooked……….congrats,TAYLOR, YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lord Theodore says:
I fell asleep during the awards. Darius Rucker ROCKS! He is a talented guy and is proving it. As for the others - well, most of them sound alike.
Rodeo says:
What the Hell was Zac Brown Band thinking? If you are gonna cover such a classic country song you at least better be able to match it and their version was absolutely horrible. The song is supposed to be a showcase for awesome fiddle playing but they turned it into a guitar show. Completely disrespectful to CDB.
country9irl1212 says:
I cannot believe Taylor Swift won over Kenny Chesney & George Strait. Are you kidding me????? Paleese….she is a POP singer, this is an absolute insult to country music and if people can’t hear the difference between her whinny voice and amazing voices, true country voices, such as Trish, Miranda, Reba, Dolly and of course Carrie, then stop smoking your wacky happy pipe or you might make another mistake next year and have Brittney Spears win!!! Good God!! Are you judges tone deaf!
Brent says:
I cannot believe Lady Antebellum won for Single of the Year. I have hardly heard that song played on the radio. Jamey Johnson should of won that category easily as well as Best New Artist.
S Davis says:
THe CMA Awards got it all wrong on Female VOcalist and Ent of the Year!! GIve me a break. Taylor whats her name can not sing. All her songs are in one key note!!! Her presentation on stage is obsurd. Who votes of this girl?? Her parents must have money….to buy her way to the top. How sad to pick this girl over all the other talented artist we have in country music. I am ashamed of the CMA Awards show. Doubt I will ever watch them again until Taylor Swift crawls back under the rock she came from. Her stardom won’t last long. You have to have talent and she clearly has none. She needs to stay in POP music not Country Music.
indygirl says:
hey Rodeo - what you smokin?
sean says:
PLEASE SOMEONE CALL SIMON COWELL…COUNTRY MUSIC NEEDS A GIANT WEEDING OUT OF CRAP….TAYLOR SWIFT WOULDN’T SEE ROUND TWO OF AMERICAN IDOL…..UNLESS HER DADDY PAID OFF SIMON……HER VOICE MAKES MY ARSE SOAR
Betty J says:
I tuned in late for the show, when I turned it on
Little Jimmie Dickens was saying something and I missed
what he said, ..What did he say and what was it all about ?
Also sorry I missed “Kris” I love that man !!
Sarah says:
I loved the CMAs this year! I watched it with a few people who aren’t big country fans & they liked it too. I’m so happy for all the winners! A few suprised me (like Lady Antebellum beating Rascal Flatts for vocal group, although I like both of them). & I am a little disappointed that one of my favorite songs of all time, ‘Then’ by Brad Paisley, didn’t win anything. I’m so happy for Brad’s win as Male Vocalist. Vocally-wise, I don’t think Taylor Swift deserved to win Female Vocalist but she has had an amazing year & I’m still so happy for her. I knew Sugarland would win Vocal Duo, despite the fact that it’s Brooks & Dunn’s last year. I loved their speech! I’m so happy for Darius Rucker, he really deserves New Artist. I honestly had no idea who would win Entertainer of the Year. I knew it wouldn’t be George but it could have honestly gone to either Brad, Kenny, Keith, or Taylor. They all put on amazing shows & have had awesome years. When Taylor won, the people I was with & I almost started crying! That’s such an awesome accomplishment & I’m so happy for her! (sidenote: it doesn’t matter how long a person has been around to win Entertainer of the Year. The award is called Entertainer of the YEAR. Taylor has had an amazing year: she’s sold millions of albums, sold out almost every concert, broke records, spanned genres, won several awards, hosted SNL, etc. She really deserves it & I’m so happy for her.)
I thought all of the performances were good too! Seriously everyone put on such an awesome performance. I liked Taylor’s performance of ‘Fifteen’ better than ‘Forever & Always’. Darius’ was awesome, as was Tim’s, Keith’s, Jason’s, Billy’s, & Brad’s. Zac Brown Band’s was so good! The fiddle & guitar playing was excellent. I didn’t like Kid Rock & Jamey Johnson’s performance that much. I thought Daughtry & Vince Gill’s was really good though! & Martina & George’s tribute to Barbara Mandrell was awesome. Brooks & Dunn’s was good for their last time. Sugarland’s was beautiful, as was Lady Antebellum’s. Why didn’t Rascal Flatts perform though?
Brad & Carrie were really good hosts & I thought the Kanye jokes were really funny, especially when Little Jimmy Dickens interrupted Brad hahaha.
Great show!
country9irl1212 says:
Sean…you nailed it there is NO way in hell Taylor Swift would of made round 2 on american idol and sarah, honey, I’m happy your happy for everyone but my entire point is….Taylor Swift doesn’t belong in the country category, I wish people would realize and really LISTEN to her awful, whinny voice, thats NOT country, stop insulting all the TRUE country artists and go on MTV or whatever pop stars win these days. What the hell is wrong with people? They must be tone deaf!!!
john says:
the cma’s sold out to the teeny boppers.the swift girl cannot sing and to say she is a better entertainer than any of the other performers is bull.
Chelly says:
I think that Miranda Lambert and The Zack Brown band gets ripped off every year. These are 2 of the best and they never get enough credit!! Lady Antebellium ( or whatever you want to call them) Is way overrated!!!
Avi says:
Honestly, did anyone see how superficial Carrie Underwood was right at the end of the show? She said something like, “what about us y’all? We were amazing too!” Then she stood at the mic waving in the expected praise, like she just couldn’t handle Taylor Swift getting all the attention for the night, and needed to snatch some of it her way. The LOOK on Brad Paisley was PRICELESS!!! He looked at Carrie for a second, looked super dejected and turned off, rolled his eyes and just walked off without her, letting her fan in the cameras. Probably thinking, ‘oh great, how’d I get stuck on stage with this attention hog.’ Ahh it was soo funny.
Everyone’s knockin’ on Taylor but shes gonna just get bigger and “ya’ll” will be left in the wake
barb b says:
flower is the one who said the cma
gave carrie a B you are right ts
deserved an F
barb b says:
ty read flower comments about
carrie
Sarah says:
country9irl1212, yes, I am happy for everyone. I’m a huge country music & music fan in general & I’m always happy for whoever wins, even if they’re not the person I would have wanted to win. I also said in my post that vocally-wise, Taylor Swift shouldn’t have won Female Vocalist of the Year. There is no way she deserved it over people like Martina McBride because yes, Taylor doesn’t have the best voice. I’m still happy for her win though & I love her songs, whatever genre you want to put them in. Some of her songs go to pop radio but she’s a country artist & she puts them out for country music. I like her because her songs are so relatable, she’s an amazing songwriter, a talented guitar player, & she seems like a nice person.
barb b says:
another brittany in the making
got her taste of the pole
countryiscool says:
What I wouldn’t give to hear the unspoken comments in people’s heads as they had to congratulate Taylor for undeserved awards- especially vocalist. I loved the
rest of the show though- performers, humor, and hosting.
Julie says:
Barb b,
Were you talking about Carrie’s performance being a Britney wanna be? Nothing country about that.
barb b says:
julie you know dam well who i am
talking about nothing country
about taylor at least carrie did
not slide down a pole or throw a chair
what kind of performance was that
you call that entertaining i call that
inmature
barb b says:
this comment is for chris parton why do
you dis like carrie underwood is it because
you know that carrie is the best singer in
country music by the way did not like the
out come of the CMA i am sure you wont print this
barb b says:
I am surprised you printed my comment
usually you say i detect you said that
if it is something neg about ts this is
what you say
Redmaz says:
Sarah, you’re a huge Country fan? That’s great. Who are some of your favorite Roots Country artists?
wanda says:
I was just glad to see Tim McGraw back on stage he still has it. I was rooting for George myself cause i have been around about as long as he has i just cant sing, “darn it”
S says:
If you Google “Taylor Swift can’t sing” it comes up with pages of links that people have posted on the subject. I Googled the same thing using other Country artist names but don’t get any responses. It’s funny that Taylor wins awards and sells albums when so many people agree that she can’t sing.
solongsowrong says:
What’s even funnier, is how those who don’t like her music spend so much time obsessing over her. Taking time to look for sites to complain about her, instead of using that time to look for music more to their liking, demonstrates behavour you’ll only find in those obsessed with Pop culture.
It’s also funny, how these same people can’t recognize the fact that talent doesn’t mean a thing when it comes to commercialized music. It’s all about promotion, sales and popularity. Love her or not, as long as she has fans who keep her on top by buying her music and applauding her awards, she’ll remain as the current fad. That’s just the way it is.
I have no pity for those who do nothing more that complain about it. Too many options from all the other genres of Country music, to worry an obsess about that which you don’t like.