Jamey Johnson Gets David Spade's Attention on CMT Music Awards
It remains to be seen whether actor David Spade had any real clue about Jamey Johnson and country music prior to his visit to Tennessee for Thursday night's (June 9) CMT Music Awards. However, Spade did manage to deliver a funny line when he introduced Johnson's performance of "Back to Macon." Arriving onstage at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville, he was immediately met by Kid Rock, who explained that he would be introducing Johnson's performance. Claiming he had been told he would be introducing someone else -- Carrie Underwood, to be exact, Spade said, "I didn't fly in a puddle-jumper from Little Rock to introduce the dude who looks like an extra on Ice Road Truckers." Much has been written about Johnson's rough-and-tumble approach to personal grooming, and let's hope he has a sense of humor about it. Of course, if anybody could thoroughly kick Joe Dirt's ass, Johnson is probably the guy.
Photo credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images
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Sandy says:
That was the worst CMT awards show that I have ever watched. So many things were going wrong with the sound and who the heck let Kid Rock host it? I thought I was watching MTV for a minute. Smoking on tv? I thought that you couldn’t do that anymore. Taking shots (hopefully it wasn’t alchol)another thing I thought couldn’t be done any longer on TV. Whenever Kid Rock talked it should’ve been bleeped. It showed no respect for Country music. Even my teenage kids didn’t like the show.
Doug Kimmel says:
I find it laughable that the “award” shows (except the Oscars) ignore Ryan Bingham…typically it’s artists like him that make the biggest impression…like Willie Nelson or Bob Dylan - not today’s favorite flavor. Oh well, checkers sells more than chess.
Wanda says:
The worst show I’ve seen as far as the hosting. Almost embarrassing for country music fans. It seemed that no one knew what was happening next. Very, very disappointed. The best parts were some of the performances - mainly, Zac Brown Band, Keith Urban, and Miranda Lambert. PLEASE do not ask Kid Rock to host again - get someone a bit more professional.
ernie says:
If this is the way CMT is going, I can see myself watching something else. That had to be the worst awards show I have ever seen. If I want to watch crap like that, I will watch MTV. There was more pop artist on there than country. And all the drinking and smoking? please. I used to respect Paula Dean, but if that is your true nature last night… you have lost my respect. But the only good thing that came out of last night…NO TAYLOR SWIFT AWARDS OR SINGING. Country has so lost its way. You may be getting all the younger crowd, but you have lost all the older crowd. The new music sucks. And you can keep the Bundy girl…..
Disappointed says:
Very diappointing awards show. I agree the drinking or even apperearance of drinking and the smoking has no business being on the show. The “jokees” and “ad libs” were not funny at all. Country has always been respectful, tasteful shows that showcase COUNTRY MUSIC. What is going on????
Robin says:
Hated how the show was put on like everyone above, but remember that this is cable and smoking and drinking is allowed.
Always Right says:
Where have you people been? CMT hasn’t been country for some time now. Turn it off.
And nothing was wrong with the sound. It was the singers. You can clearly hear who can actually sing and who can’t at these shows.
Cindy says:
I am so sad…..awards show was terrible! Country Fans do NOT want or need the nonsense between artists or announcers. We love the music and the videos!
Just_My_Opinion says:
Kid Rock should not have been the host for this show. His antics (smoking, etc.) were strictly unacceptable for an Awards Show. Made the show look cheap. Jersey Shore intro was strange , as well.
The performances were good. Would have liked to see Faith Hill and Tim Mcgraw sing a duet together. Taylor looked lost, most of the show…
Liz says:
I loved the show! I personal watched because Kid was hosting. I thought it was funny and unoredictable which is what I wanted. My opinion is that david Spade and Kid work great off each other…..
Debra says:
The best part no singing (or attempting to sing) by Taylor Swift!!! Congratulations to Carrie and Miranda!!! Mayer and Urban best performance of the night!!!
Clay says:
Kid Rock Sucks. Not funny,not entertaining,no talent. That show was awful.
Dave says:
That awards show was a joke. Some of the performances were great, and the only thing that saved the whole awards from being a complete flop. It looked like the MTV awards. I love country, but that show made me lose some respect for cmt. Last years show was awesome, this year, worst award show ever. Showing the people backstage at the make-shift bar with Kid Rock taking shots, smoking, random disgusting people standing around… Yeah, way to go cmt. You definitely won the award going from classy to trashy the quickest. Atleast with MTV their downfall happened gradually over 15 years, you managed to do it all in one night. Do yourself a favor and watch the show over and look at some of the Country stars faces while the jersey shore bit was going on… They all looked like they wanted to walk out, punching Kid Rock in the face on their way. Which by the way, Kid Rock? Seriosly? No seriously? What were you thinking. The guy is washed up, white trash, bobmshell leftovers. And asking Cheryl Crow to have his baby, which she looked like she wanted to run out of there. Word for the wise. FIRE your marketing, pr, and advertising people and start over. You lost your appeal with that one show, Congrats!
Slappy says:
Awful show, almost un-watchable. Some things I didn’t need:
1. Paula Deen rubbing the bare abs of someone young enough to be her son.
2. Blake Shelton telling Laura Bell Bundy how much he had “used” her video.
3. Laura Bell Bundy telling Blake Shelton that his “Hillbilly Bone is huge.”
4. Snooki and The Situation
5. The backstage drinking segments
6. Kid rock smoking onstage
7. Reba imitation - lame.
8. Kid Rock suggesting that Sheryl Crow have his child.
It went on and on and on. The crowd in attendance seemed to be enjoying it about as much as I did, which was minimal.
If you guys want to turn CMT into MTV, let us know. I can just block it on my tv as I have done with MTV. You may want to take a step back and think about your direction.
Kaye says:
This message is to validate ALWAYS RIGHT as being ALWAYS RIGHT…..you bettcha…either TURN IT OFF or NEVER TURN IT ON IN THE FIRST PLACE.
I watched the past two seasons of the CMT AWARDS and being generous had about 90% NEGATIVE OPINIONS and 10% being a mixture of lukewarm to something positive……
THIS YEAR….didnt’ watch, didn’t care…..got no frustration, got no aggravation……obviously one less viewer don’t mean much until other viewers decide to turn off or not watch for themselves. I’m simply not the target audience or demographic they are looking for anymore.
Philip says:
Kid Rock as the host of this years CMT Awards? Are you kidding me? If this is the new face of country radio (or CMT’s version anyway) count me out. Aside from the wonderful artists performances the whole thing had a skanky feel about it. Come on CMT…..you can do MUCH better than this!
Tracey says:
Country music has always been about God and Country first. If I wanted to hear inappropriate jokes, see drinking, and hear people encourage kids to do drugs….I would watch the rapper awards show. The awards were fine and most of the performances were fine but the hosting, writing, presenters dialouge, etc. did not represent the country music that I love. If this is the future of Country Music, I’ll just shut it off. Not that I think that will really matter to CMT, but I am a person that purchases A LOT of country music. I don’t steal or pirate it. I purchase CD’s or pay for the single. This was a huge failure CMT! I hope you will listen to the opinion of the fans.
Delaney says:
What a joke, it looked like the circus was in town! The respectablity of the country music industry took a hard hit. Country is not represented well by the likes of Kid Rock, Jamey Johnson and others that were on that show. Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash would probably have been appalled. The look on Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins and others faces told a story, and Reba, it was apparent that she was not comfortable. The skits were crude and insulting. It was obvious that there were numerous audio problems. If Carrie Underwood’s performance was an indication of the direction her music is going in, then maybe she should change alliances and move her act to MTV or VH-1. Where were Alan Jackson, George Strait, Josh Turner and others, were they not there because they knew beforehand the calamity that this show was going to be? The consensus is the best part of the show was NO TAYLOR SWIFT.
kat says:
The performances were the best I have ever seen on the CMT awards show. Never a dull moment. Lively and fun! Jamey Johnson with LBT, Urban and Mayor, are but just two of the great performances. All were really entertaining! I’ve never been fan of the skits, (there are good writers and bad writers) on ANY show, so I don’t take those in account.
The only think I can criticize tho, ARE the skits, Who in the heck is Snookie and The Situation? After that one began it immediately got a fast forward. That’s the great thing about the DVR. I played many performances over and over before I went on with what came after, and skipped what I didn’t like. Most of my favorites won, not all.
Kid Rock did just fine. He was simply Kid Rock.
Thanks to Keith Urban for his heartfelt mention of the people in the Gulf Region. I was beginning to wonder if anyone even cared about our dying Gulf and it’s people.
TG says:
All I can say is poor John Anderson.Poor,poor,John Anderson.
countryiscool says:
TG, I agree. While I leave Leanne’s personal stuff out of her music because I like her songs & videos for most part, I think she ruined JA’s “Swinging.” WAY too manic, not fun & whimsical like John’s version. I feel bad for him too.
Robin says:
Really? I don’t think Johnny Cash or Waylon Jennings had the ability to be appalled. Just read Kristofferson’s notes when he talks about songwriting in Nashville. He pulled Johnny off the floor many nights and not just for being drunk (and vice versa). Jennings didn’t get off cocaine until the mid 80’s and it was for the sake of his son (thanks Shooter for giving him back to himself).
Country music MAY be about God and country, but it’s about a whole lot more than than that. It’s about LIFE and the bad and the good parts of life. Same thing I say to people who think it should all be about the bad stuff. There are country folks living the “All American Girls” life as well as folks that understand the “High Cost of Living” (see Jamey Jonson’s ‘That Lonesome Song’ CD).
With that said, what they would not do is bring it to the stage in an award show (family programming) atmosphere. They’d save it for their adult venues (the rowdyness not the songs themselves).
Angela Peters says:
Call me a traditionalist, but what has happened to country music? Smoking, drinking, cussing on aan awards program. I thought this was one of the last genres to the crass, rude social behavior that has permeated other music. From Kid Rock, David Spade, and the Jersey Shore Freaks.! What a total turn-off. I was surprised to see the greats like Martina Mcbride, Reba , Brad Paisely sit through this joke! Shame on CMT from going against the roots and beiefs that has made up what country music means to people!
Amy B says:
Horrible, Horrible show. Shame on CMT. One of the reasons I like to watch CMT, or did, is because I don’t have to worry about the content. (unlike MTV which is not allowed in my house)
Looks liket that is not longer the case. The sexual innuendos, and alcoholic behavior added nothing good to the show. If you saw the expressions on the faces of artists in the crowd (Trace Atkins, Brad Paisley etc…) you would see they agreed. The “Reba” skit was one of the stupidest things I have ever seen. Shame, Shame, Shame.
p.s. Not sure what the big deal is with Laura Bell Bundy. She is about as contrived as they come. I really miss country the way it used to be…..
timcun says:
I can’t stand David Spade. He thinks that he’s so cool but in my opinion he’s just a little twerp. I wish that Jamey Johnson would have put him in his place. Someone needs to.
Monica Steele says:
Almost everything has been said. I love Country Music but if they keep adding this type of callabor of person for host they are going to have lost CD and show sales. You could tell many established artists were very uncomfortable and were just waiting for something to go wrong.
timcun says:
Just_My_Opinion said that Taylor looked lost most of the show. That’s because she’s used to being in the spotlight and doesn’t know how to act when it’s not all about her.
Always Right — I have to disagree with you because there was definitely someone very wrong with the sound last night.
Sandy — I have a feeling that Kid Rock was drinking alcohol … and a lot of it the way he was slurring his words and coming on to Sheryl Crow at the end of the show.
I noticed during the show that when the cameras panned to the artists that were sitting in the audience some of them had looks of disbelief on their face.
I may be the only one but I did like Kid Rock’s opening number. But he did have a lot of great artists to help.
Disgusted in Delaware says:
I was TOTALLY disgusted with last nights awards show. Country Music has always been a first class act and I was sad and disappointed that they totally lowered their standards. WHY does CMT think that smut sells??? I turned it off when Snookie and that loser guy from the Jersey Shore came on. WHY in the world were they on??? AND what was Paula Deen thinking to come on stage with those two pieces of trash? Don’t think I’ll be watching Paula again any time soon either. Very disgusted in Delaware!!!!!!!!!
Janie says:
It is really a sad day when Kid Rock gets to perform on a country music show and Martina McBride is left to be his back up singer!! I cannot believe that CMT has fallen to this level! Do you know children watch this show and look up to these people and they are smoking, drinking and talking about smoking pot. And the lude comments about Blake Shelton’s big hillbilly bone and it was just all too much! I have really been disappointed for a while in CMT it has gotten to where there isn’t any music on there anymore it is all stupid shows or movies, what happened to videos! I will not watch CMT Video Awards Show ever again, unless a formal apology is sent out! Totally ridiculous!!
OMG says:
Worst awards show ever! Most people have already said what I feel. I will erase it from my DVR before my son has a chance to see it.
Jada W says:
I loved the format for the CMT show - thought it was funny and something different than most country award shows. It was a fresh feel. I am still cracking up over Kid Rock and David Spade. They played off of each other great. Loved it.
Sondra says:
THE VERY WORST I’VE SEEN IN THE HISTORY OF COUNTRY MUSIC.
I’ve so sick of all these want a be kids screwing up country music. There was not 1 thing about that show last night that was country. Other than the new singer ,who sounded like George Strait . Brooks and Dunn’s award. Other than that totally junk . We’ve been in this business 37 years. I’ve never seen anything like it. You need to be out there on the road like we are. And hear what we hear from the PEOPLE who make any artist. They all are fed up with all this bubble gum music being stuck in country music. calling it country, when it should be any where but country. As long as this keeps happening, your listers are going to fade away. And The record lables in Nashville wonder what’s happening . Wake up Nashville!!!!!
Sondra says:
Oh one more thing. Kid Rock A Joke. Is that the best you could do for a host!!!!!
Sondra says:
GAC HAS MY VOTE 100% AFTER LAST NIGHT.
Mike says:
What, y’all didn’t hear the big news? Kid Rock is now Joe Country! LOL based on some of the newbies I heard singing before the commercials…the future of country is looking pretty bleak if that’s the best they have to offer up…atleast Lady Gaga and Justin beiber did not perform, maybe next year…
Creek says:
Jamey Johnson is the only country artist to come out in the last two decades that can be metioned in the same Breath as Waylon Jennings…There is a reason why Shooter Jennings loves him, Hank Jr loves him…George Jones loves him…and Whispering Bill siad he could be the modern day Hank….Mr Johnson will be in the Country Music Hall of Fame one day for singing and songwriting….lets see how many of the rest of these clowns will.
Russ says:
“Always Right”…. I believe You are wrong this time.
I am a sound engineer. I do this for a living. In a production like this there are multiple sound boards. Some are at front of house and some are back stage (or side stage). Back stage runs the monitors for the artist (these days they are mostly “In Ear Monitors”). It seemed to me that the artist could not hear in their ear monitors and there was a problem with back stage being synched (on the same page) with front of house. Just count how many times someone started to speak or sing and their mic was not turned on. This is usually caused by poor communications from back stage to front of house or to TV production. I hate to blame the sound and production engineers because they are usually the victims of poor planning by the writers or producers.
I am not sure where the ball was dropped but I assure you the ball was dropped. For the artist to pull everything together and finish their performance strong (they all did) is a demonstration of how talented country artist are. It is sad that this is the type low class production we had to witness.
bill says:
Ronnie Dunn was the smartest artist of them all - he decided not to attend this mess.
Good on you Ronnie!
jackn7up says:
The show was ok..The performances did save it especially Jamey Johnson singing his new song with little big town..We could’ve done without all the stupid jokes and antics and the back stage interviews with the blonde ding dong…would’ve freed up a lot more time for more performers..on a scale of 1-10 I’d give it a 4
L Myers says:
You either like it or you don’t. There is room for all of this in what is basically a genre that should be called “Everything But RAP” which is what the country genre is becoming because of the media concentration in radio. It doesn’t really bother me because I don’t pay any attention to “genre”. If it’s a good song by good singers and players, I usually like it. What I don’t do is bitch about it NOT BEING COUNTRY! None of it is country if you compare it to the Carter family which By God started the country music genre. It evolves and changes and there is something for everyone. The Beatles thought they were singing “country music”. So just shut up and listen or turn it off, if you don’t like it!
countryiscool says:
I’ve been of the opinion that GAC IS better than CMT, think I’ll put my $$ where my mouth is and drop CMT from my cable pkg and stick to GAC. Last nite’s show was a BIG LOSER!!!!
bama fan says:
From the sound of it. I’m glad I missed it.
Abomb says:
Cmt awards sucked. Jamey johnson was the most country thing of the night. And what on earth was the jersey shore losers doing there. Next year just call it what it was. The mtv awards.
Babs says:
Thinks CMT should tell us what that show was. Was not a country awards show at all. Too bad CMT as you are losing your audience.
john says:
Kid Rock didn’t hold CMT at gun point and force himself into the 2010 CMT Awards Show Host position, he was ask to be the MC for the evening by someone at CMT. I didn’t think i liked Kid Rock either till i actually heard him sing and realized i had been very wrong. He is a great Singer and Artist and has a captivating style and the Women go absolutely Crazy over this dude! Yes he was probably to edgy for the “Traditionalist’s” or the “Narrow minded” and maybe he did have a drink or two and his cigar offended the “Do Gooders” If ya don’t like drinking, smokin , cheatin or grape nuts, then you might get offended if you listen to some of the old country music that made Nashville the center of the universe for “Country Music” Pull your head out of the sand and place blame where it should be placed.
Disgusted with CMT says:
Shame on you CMT. Worst awards show that I have ever seen. Even the country artists looked embarrassed to be seen at this awards show–some even looked as if they were ready to bolt. Yes, country music does depict real life, but really CMT, was it really necessary to advocate smoking, drinking, and sexual suggestions. Kid Rock has even admitted he doesn’t belong in country music and will “never release a country album on purpose”–why on earth would you ask him to be the host???? There is only one word for this production–TRASH. The only part that was actually entertaining was the artists performing–and even some of those were questionable. Perhaps the most disappointing was witnessing Kelli Pickler partying backstage with Kid Rock at his make shift bar. C’mon Kelli–You are so much better than that
Wilson says:
CREEK - I agree with you 100%….Jamey Johnson is the modern day old time country, the stuff that I grew up on. Everything else is just not the same.
Redmaz says:
Creek, you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Robin says:
Creek - whispering Bill has written music with Carrie Underwood and has stated how highly he thinks of her. Don’t assume you know these people and what they think and that they must only love Jamey. Jamey is awesome, but there’s all kinds of sub-genre’s of country that should be highlighted.
jaye says:
Ronnie Dunn wasn’t the only smart one, other nominees were not there either, like Billy Currington and Sugarland and why did Trace Atkins look so mad?
Were the winners already known - it seemed like the only ones who came were ones that had contracted to be there and the winners of the categories. Not the usual crowd supporting an industry event like on other occasions.
Everyone else stayed away and that should tell you something about the production and this supposedly “Fan voted award show” - I am a little leery about the results some just don’t add up.
Like the male video- how come there were 5 choices in this category and only 4 in the others? How did a video that could barely make to the top of the Top 20 countdown or the charts beat out The Truth - by an artist who had a successful arena tour during the Winter of 2010 [and it wasn't a mild winter] and both The Truth and Green Tractor soared to the top of the charts and the Top 20 Countdown, or People are Crazy which during the voting period went from a little over 2 million plays to almost 3.5 million plays if you look in YouTube/Vevo with promotion to vote for the video which came out over a year ago and has shown great staying power and also the artist too continuing with another #1 and new single climbing fast, or American Ride which recieved much radio and video play during the year with its very unique style and commentary and again by an extremely popular and well loved artist with a huge fan base, sorry Southern Voice was just a performance video with a storefront thrown in…
Or the USA Today Breakthrough video, how, again,does a song and video that took forever to climb up the charts or establish itself in the Top 20 Countdown - beat out Laura Bell Bundy With Giddy On Up which has been one of the top streamed videos on CMT since the day it premiered back in December/January - it has stayed in the top during all of Carrie’s last three videos. As far as I can see the voters on these videos would not be so artist loyal.
I am sorry, Keith Urban may be a great guy and Luke Bryan is becoming more well known….
What did those that did not attend know that we didn’t? I think the whole thing was a sham. Like others I will be looking for a way to add GAC to my cable package and I think I heard there is a country channel coming with a more traditionl format. I am sure CMT won’t miss me.
Could be wrong…but nothing about that show added up.
S says:
jaye - it was fan voted so obviously the videos that won got more votes than the others.
jaye says:
It just doesn’t add up
S says:
So you think it doesn’t add up just because your favorite didn’t win? Obviously your favorite isn’t everyone else’s favorite.
jaye says:
If you noticed I didn’t favor anyone - It just overall didn’t add up and a blog at another country music site was noting some of the same, and in particular made the point below in the male video category.
Here is another point American Ride made it into the top for the video of the year category - where was Until Summer comes around - should have been there, seems if you are keith Urban fan you would have voted him the whole way down and the same with Toby. (So he had enough fans just “in to” that video that he beat out the other four in the male video but didn’t have enough votes to get him into the final round for video of the year.)
How did Carrie win two of the supposedly fan-voted awards (for her fans to put over the top in these two categories would have voted her down the ticket) and Miranda (nothing against her at all - she is on a roll) get in for the female video (at least they put her in the top contenders for video of the year). Seems like Carrie should have won all three because if Taylor didn’t have enough fans to topple Carrie, Miranda sure wouldn’t.
Another question did CMT extend the voting time at the last minute to the 8th instead of the 3rd what was up with that?
Just a view that is all.
Creek says:
Robin… How exactly did I say that Wisperning Bill only likes Jamey Johnson…lol..I just said that when you compare anyone to Waylon, George or Merle..Today…It is Jamey Johnson Hands down…I dont think Carrie Underwood is in this catagory….she reminds me more of Reba, and Martina…all Great country artists but not the same Genres of country…..
Red….Bro you dont know much about country music…. if I dont know what im talking about, neither does the Country Music legends of the past…because they are all saying the same thing, Im not making this up…lol
Redmaz says:
Okay Creek, I’m glad you came back. So you believe out of the 100’s of Roots Country artists none of them in the last two decades are keeping the love of Waylon(for example)and his music alive? If you get a chance could you list me the last 10 Roots Country artists you’ve checked out. Whether you liked them or not. Just wondering what else you’re listening to besides Pop Country. And no…I don’t believe Biil A. and George Jones are keeping up the times and todays Americana/Roots Music scene at all. Finally….I’m not a “Bro”. I will wait for your list of todays Roots Country artists you’ve been checking out. Thanks
NS says:
This has been a very sad last 10 years for Country Music. Country music has fallen apart with Waylon and Johnny passing away. There are a few left that are doing all they can, but the “new country” fans dont want that. They need to just divide country into two groups: Country and Pop Country. The country Group would be a very small select group…ex.) George, Alan, Reba, Willie, Merle, Jamey Johnson, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, Ryan Bingham, Jason Boland…umm yeah that might be it! I know i left out some very important names, but you get the point. TURN OFF THE TV AND RADIO AND PUT IN THOSE GOOD OLE CD’S…NEVER GETS OLD!!!