CMT Blog: Sugarland

Let me preface this entry by saying that I love, love, love country concerts. I do wish, however, that an artist would ask me for advice just once on making the perfect set list. I know these artists have to do their big hits -- the ones everybody is paying big bucks to hear. And I know they need to promote their newest album with songs they have on the radio now, or ones they might want on the radio later. And then there are the covers that give everybody a little something unorthodox to remember them by: "Oh my God! You should have heard Keith Urban on 'Material Girl.' He was better than Madonna!"

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If you've ever wondered what performing on the CMA Awards would do for your career, I have three words: triple digit spikes. That's what happened for Lady Antebellum, Sugarland and Jamey Johnson. After winning two awards and performing the snowy "Need You Now," Lady Antebellum had their biggest sales week ever and a 130 percent sales increase from the previous week for their self-titled debut album. And Sugarland's current album, Love on the Inside, had a sales jump of 136 percent, while its concert companion, Live on the Inside, rose 110 percent. Even better, Jamey Johnson's That Lonesome Song jumped 286 percent after his performance of "Between Jennings and Jones" with Kid Rock, as well as his trophy for song of the year ("In Color"). That makes him the CMA performer with the biggest album sales percentage increase this week and he is grateful for every album he's sold, because like he said on stage, "I've swung a hammer for seven bucks an hour so I appreciate every single person who supports country music."

Photo credit: Rick Diamond/Getty Images

The song that was in Kristian Bush's head all day on Tuesday (Nov. 17)? Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A." He calls it the most genius song in a career for a woman who is growing up. "Miley's 15 being 16," he said in this short but jam-packed interview at Chicago radio station WUSN (US99). Jennifer Nettles admits to loving the rock band Phoenix and to not really knowing how famous they were until they were asked to be on Sesame Street. Then they take time to answer a question from a Twitter follower about their recurring use of "Joey" in their songs. Bush compares it to the way Bruce Springsteen sings about "Maria" all the time. "It's an ongoing story. Joey died as a teenager, then comes back as a football hero," he laughs. The duo was in Chicago taping an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show, or as Nettles says, "getting everybody in the fa, la, la, la spirit." Their Oprah appearance will air on Nov. 30.

In this special section on Maxim.com, they list who they consider to be the 18 hottest women of country music. And it's pretty much the usual suspects, like Julianne Hough, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler, Jennifer Nettles, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Sara Evans, Gretchen Wilson and the girls from Little Big Town. But it's the little remarks and photo captions that are worth checking out. From the introduction line ("We know why the devil really went down to Georgia. He was looking for these country divas.") to the comments about sexy newcomer Jessie James ("the smokingest thing to happen to country music since Willie Nelson rolled his first joint") and about Danielle Peck ("grabbed our attention with her pantsless video for "Bad for Me." Which was, ironically, very, very good for us."). This story may not be for the girls who hate men's magazine, but guys who dig country will love this photo gallery.

Photo Credit: Frederick Breedon/Getty Images

Remember how on the CMA Awards red carpet, all the country stars were autographing a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS? Well that car can be yours for the low, low price of $30,500 -- or more, assuming the bidding stays active until it closes tomorrow evening. But it's for a good cause. Whatever you pay for the car (100 percent of it) will go to the USO. The USO serves the religious, spiritual, social, welfare, educational and entertainment needs of service members and their families around the world. And you don't have to worry about driving in inclement weather in a car covered with autographs. You actually get the car AND the hood full of about 100 signatures from celebs and artists like Jake Owen, Brad Paisley, Sugarland, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Faith Hill, Billy Currington, Vince Gill, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw and Lady Antebellum. It may be a little hard to showcase such a large piece of country music memorabilia but I'm guessing anyone who can afford the car can afford a proper display.

Photo credit: Theresa Montgomery/CMA

Sugarland captured their third consecutive CMA Award for duo of the year on Wednesday night (Nov. 11), capping a very successful 2009. Although there have been numerous highlights -- multi-platinum certifications, a network TV special, a new Christmas album -- Jennifer Nettles was forced to cancel several tour dates this year due to nagging health concerns. She fielded a question about it during a visit to the press room backstage at the CMA Awards.

"This year I started out on a limp leg because I was randomly sick several times before we went on the road. That started me out, when we were on the road, still dealing with that," she said.

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Black Eyed Peas? LL Cool J? Who cares. Sugarland will be there. That's how I feel about the news that my favorite (and the CMA voters' favorite) country duo will be performing at the Grammy nominations concert live. I can't personally be there when it happens in Los Angeles on Dec. 2, but it's being broadcast live on CBS that night so they'll do a concert and nestle some Grammy nomination announcements in between songs. Then in January we'll get to see who actually wins those Grammys. It seems a little redundant to have a show to celebrate an awards show, but if it gives the world one more opportunity to see Sugarland shine, I'm in -- hook, line and sinker.

Photo credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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.

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Here's a list of the winners at the 43rd annual CMA Awards taking place Wednesday (Nov. 11) in Nashville:

Entertainer of the Year: Taylor Swift

Female Vocalist: Taylor Swift

Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley

New Artist: Darius Rucker

Vocal Group: Lady Antebellum

Vocal Duo: Sugarland

Musician of the Year: Mac McAnally

Song of the Year: "In Color," written by Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller and James Otto

Single of the Year: "I Run to You," Lady Antebellum

Album of the Year: Fearless, Taylor Swift

Musical Event: "Start a Band," Brad Paisley (duet with Keith Urban)

Music Video: "Love Story," Taylor Swift

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?

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