CMA Awards: Final thoughts on the show
Posted by Lorrie LynchWell, this year's CMA Awards are all wrapped up, but our man in Nashville, senior writer Dennis McCafferty filed one final report after watching last night's show live. Read on:
The CMA Awards were extremely entertaining and sometimes surprising, as always. In an era where awards shows seemingly attempt to out-do each other as an exercise in time-stretching tedium, the CMAs remain a tight, entertainment-packed three hours -- always beginning and ending right on schedule. The surprises of the evening were earned, especially Shania Twain presenting the Entertainer of the Year award. (The comeback begins now?) The winner for Entertainer, of course, was no surprise: Kenny Chesney (at right). He's the hardest working tour-guy in Nashville and major talent, and this was his fourth for the CMA's highest honor. But there were some noticeable groans in the audience when the result was announced, with many hoping that some other deserving performers -- especially guitar gods Brad Paisley and Keith Urban -- could take this one home. C'mon, voters, time to spread some love. (Oh, and ever wonder why Toby Keith somehow never gets nominated? Even though he dominated our WEEKEND reader poll for live performances? Maybe it's time for CMA voters to put aside personal sentiment about the guy and evaluate him strictly on the merits of his music and show. Judging from our reader remarks, looks like Toby would be collecting HIS fourth straight Entertainer of the Year award last night if they had the vote.)
CMA results are further proof that USA WEEKEND Magazine is THE newspaper magazine to turn to for the very biggest stars on CMA night. Our cover boys this time were Rascal Flatts. And, once again, Flatts won Vocal Group of the Year for a record SIXTH straight time!
Click on read more to get the scoop on the performances by Taylor Swift and Kid Rock.
Taylor Swift was struggling with her dress on the red carpet, as the ever-candid young singer-songwriter described it to me last night.
But it apparently wasn't a problem for the long haul. By the time she
performed Love Story on stage, she had slipped into an impressive
violet sequin number (at left) and then -- to the amazement of an applauding
audience -- switched into a white gown MID-song! (She was surrounded
at the time, hidden from view on stage by dancers.) The
mega-production number, complete with a Disney-esque castle image on
stage, won country fans' hearts and had more than a few pulling for
Swift to win Female Vocalist of the Year. (Carrie Underwood won again,
for the third time straight. But Swift's time will come, sooner rather
than later.)
Kid Rock brought the house down with his smash-tastic hit, All Summer Long. Rock's song has a great vibe ahttp://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/pingnd brings back those fond (if sometimes unprintable) memories of the late 1970s/early 1980s that we grew up with. And he gives props to Lynyrd Skynyrd in the song with references to Sweet Home Alabama. But let's remember that the real genius behind Rock's hit here is Warren Zevon, whose Werewolves of London is the inspiration for the hit's driving hook. Zevon left us too soon but not before leaving behind a great archive of his singing-songwriting genius. If you dig Rock's treatment, kids, check Zevon's work on iTunes and download your hearts out.
(photos by Chris Hollo/ABC)
Comments (1)
Was Hugh Jackman nervous or what? Did he have Nicole take over for him?