Darius Rucker's CMA Win Moved Me to Tears
When you watch an awards show on television, there's only so much emotion you feel. But when you see it unfolding before your eyes live, like I did at last night's CMA Awards, everything's a bit more raw. The highs are higher, and unfortunately, the lows are lower. What might have just felt like a heartfelt acceptance speech from Darius Rucker when he won new artist of the year had I been watching at home, last night moved me to tears -- especially when he got the first standing ovation of the night. Or when it started snowing on Lady Antebellum during "Need You Now." I realize it wasn't real snow but it sure made the yearning in their vocals feel real. Or when Brad Paisley accompanied Carrie Underwood on a few parodies of older country tunes. Simply lovely.
The musical high, though, had to be Zac Brown Band's spirited cover of the Charlie Daniels Band's "The Devil Went Down to Georgia." There was only one fiddler so he had to play the parts of Johnny and the Devil and I might've actually seen fire fly from his fingertips. There were splashier numbers throughout the show ("Cowboy Casanova" and "Forever and Always"), but for three minutes that fiddler reminded me why I fell I love with country music.
The low points, like jokes that fell on deaf ears and some technical glitches, weren't all that bad. Just little reminders that live TV is never going to be perfect. But when Jennifer Nettles asked Brooks & Dunn to come up on stage with her and Kristian Bush when Sugarland won the vocal duo award, I wish their decline had been as gracious as Nettles' invitation. But when the show was over, and Taylor Swift had made history by being the youngest artist to ever win entertainer of the year, knowing how many artists she will influence in the years to come was the highest high of all.
Photo credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images
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Sandra says:
The show last night was spectacular. Other award shows should take a lesson from their playbook. Carrie and Brad were fantastic hosts, they really seemed to know what they were doing and worked well together. Whoever produced the show last night did ALL their homework. All the musical pairings were done exceptionally well. I watch all award shows and this one is in the top 3. Enjoyable from beginning to end.
Sidebar- the only moment I was uncomfortable with was LeeAnn Rhimes dialogue before she presented. Her flirtyness about the handsome men in the catagory didn’t sit well in light of her current romantic situations that have been in the press. Love her music, though…
John says:
Brooks and Dunn didn’t want to be the focus of attention. Uncharacterstic for entertainers. The award wasn’t for them and they knew. They’re breaking up didn’t change that fact.
I know Taylor Swift is a nice girl and is really popular, there’s just too much bubble gum for me. As a former Marine, I just can’t relate to being a 15 a fifteen year old girl in love. Nice to see a decent girl do good though.
Amanda Hopper says:
Ok, Taylor Swift seems nice and all, but please, she can’t hold a tune in a bucket live. And to put her in as Entertainer of the Year with such great and amazing singers as Martina, Reba, Carrie, and Miranda, who can sing anytime, anywhere and sound great live or not, and with music or not is by far a horrible decision. Yeah Taylor sounds great on the radio and her cd’s, but if you can’t put on the same show live then you should have no right to win such a prestigious catergory, against such talent!!! Other than that, Brad and Carrie were fantastic and funny. The show was really a great mix of great performers, except Taylor’s 1st performance!
Jessie says:
Thought the show overall was pretty good. Brad/Carrie did a good job especially with the song parodies… too funny.
Regarding your comment about Sugarland/B&D — what was Jennifer thinking? Yes I applaud her for her attempt, but to ask them to come up to say something was BAD IMO!!! It put B&D in a lose lose situation. Do a Kanye and steal the thunder from Sugarland by actually accepting to say something? or do what they did? I think it just really surprised them and from their facial reactions, didn’t know what to do. It’s too bad that some are taking their attempt to say no in the wrong way. Personally I think B&D should be commended for the way they handled it — I’m sure the time watchers were hoping they wouldn’t accept as well!!!
Anyway, tt failed miserably when Rascal Flatts tried several years ago to recognize Alabama — you would have thought Jennifer would have remembered or she remembered a little too late — opened mouth without thinking. Too bad for both Sugarland and B&D.
Alison W says:
I almost cried during Sugarland’s performance. I’m not even a huge Sugarland fan, but whenever she sings live, or even just acts it out in a music video, it’s like I have to hold my breath so I don’t break the moment.
Taylor did NOT deserve vocalist of the year. It amazes me because it wasnt even fan voted, so an entire board of elite county music listeners actually voted for that. I don’t know if the category should just be retitled “Most relevant and highest selling female singer of the year,” but if I were any of those other nominees, Carrie and Miranda especially, I would have not been happy.
vikkiw says:
I think the show was good. I could have done without So much of Taylor. You cannot turn on the radio without hearing her. She is a very sweet girl and she is ok as a singer, but im not 15 as most of the other artist are not either. So her music does not appeal to me at all and i change the channel when she comes on. i feel like they are cramming her down our throats. I feel like the CMA’s through most of the season artist under the bus. And snub most. every year it is the same old same old artist.I was so proud for Darius Rucker, and his award was well deserved. I truly thought this might have been Keith Urban year for EOTY. He was due a chance, but he got thrown under the bus. Kenny out and out earn it and he was thrown under the bus, It had been 25 years since George Strait had won it,he got thrown under the bus. But then again i guess we can chalk it up to Nashville Politics.It is really a shame that there are some really great artist and with many years under there belts and they are never mention. Taylor is not ready for so many reason for this award and it is nothing against her , she is just not ready for this type of award. She only has been on the music scene 3 years or so. I think she needs a few more years of seasoning. I do not get it. Jamey Johnson Is just fanastic period. I was proud that he won song of the year. He earned that award.Brad and Carrie did a wonderful job.
hotelmotel says:
I don’t like Jamey Johnson. Don’t like his voice and I think his songs are overrated.
Melofy says:
Agree with the prior comment about female vocalist….really wasn’t Taylor’s category to win….I like her but she isn’t the strongest vocalist. I do think she’s very entertaining so the last award I felt was very deserving.
OuidaW says:
I’m so glad DR won this award. He so deserved it!!! So did Brad Paisley, other than that the rest were pretty well wrong, in my opinion!
thunderdoug says:
darius rucker as new artist, yeah right 15 years ago. i like the show but the picks could of been better.
Kim says:
Darius Rucker is a new artist to country music and it was well deserved. Every song on his cd could be a hit. His speech was so genuine and refreshing to see an artist actually excited and emotional about winning an award. Way to go Darius!
Taylor Brogan says:
I agree with Kim. It was really refreshing to see Darius Rucker so genuinly excited about winning new artist of the year. Taylor Swift was great. I think that Taylor deserved what awards she won. I think it was a tough competetion for female vocalist and enertainer of the year.
Michael says:
I sincerely believe that Taylor Swift doesn’t deserve to win such a weighty award such as Entertainer of the Year. She needs many more years before she deserves it. I agree with another poster about not being able to relate to most of her songs, since I’m male and long past 15. After TS winning so much and performing twice I have decided to boycott the CMA’s. I will not watch or pay attention to them again.
D Trotter says:
Great blog, Ms. Bonaquro. I agree with almost everything you said, the one exception being your statement that the musical high being Zac Brown. I like Zac, but personally I felt they pushed the tempo of Charlie Daniels’ tune to the brink of losing the song’s tension — speed can be thrilling but it can also kill. Still, the live audience seemed to like it, so maybe it was the TV transmission and the sound system, which seemed to muffle and distort everyone with way too much bass and echo.
Redmaz says:
I heard Rucker was thanking Country radio for taking a chance on a Pop singer? Someone should inform Rucker he still is and chances are always will be a Pop singer. Recently it just happens to be Pop Country.
solongsowrong says:
Actually Red, when his album came out, I did some research, listened to the whole thing, and think there may be hope for him. Pop is what he knows, so that is the route he took this time. It all depends at this point in his career, if he’s more interested in making good music, or just staying in the limelight. Maybe he’s pulled the wool over my eyes, but I have a feeling he’s sincere about doing it right.
catherine says:
Brooks and Dunn responded just fine to the uncomfortable situation Jennifer decided to put them in. Why would she think they would want to come up and say something when they were not the winners?
I don’t even know them but know they aren’t the kind of guys who would ever want to do something like that, whether they are up for Best Duo for the last time or not. She is the one at fault, not them for their uncomfortable reaction to her ridiculous request.
Redmaz says:
Maybe so solongsowrong, but personally I don’t see it. I’m sure Rucker is passionate about his music and everything but I see him as no more than a Pop act(country or otherwise). If he were to venture out into Americana/Roots Music, do you think he’d sound something like “Whiskey Myers” on the song “Goodbye Girl”? A lot of people I’ve played that song for say so. Check it out sometime if you get a chance.
solongsowrong says:
I guess for the most part Redmaz, my problem is more with the industry, than the artists themselves. The fact that Rucker used some Americana artists in his recordings, and knowing that with Alison, the love of the song and the music is what’s most important to her, I’d like to think he has that passion too. Maybe that’s what I’m seeing here, and in that regard, I can tolerate him even if he is a Pop act. I don’t dislike all Pop music, just don’t like enough of it to listen to the rest that’s on Mainstream radio, waiting for the few I can stomach. Does that make sense to you?
Connie says:
little late with this comment, I though Brooks & Dunn handled the decline just fine, Please do tell what would you have wanted them to do?? Ronnie Dunn & Kix Brooks are a class act.Sugarland should have NEVER put them in that position, They were out of line,