Country's rising stars shine on the red carpet and stage
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- It was couples night at the Country Music
Association Awards, as Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert capped an emotional
evening with Shelton's first Entertainer of the Year award.
"The Voice" star won a leading three awards, including his third-straight
Male Vocalist of the Year award. Lambert won Female Vocalist of the Year, and
the couple shared Song of the Year honors for their heartrending collaboration,
"Over You."
Lambert openly wept onstage in one of the more emotional CMA moments in
recent memory, as her husband recounted for the ABC television audience how his
late father, Dick, spurred the couple to write the song about the loss of his
brother, Richie.
"My dad always told me, 'Son, you should write a song about your brother,'"
Shelton said. "I lost my dad in January, and it's so amazing to me that tonight,
even after he's gone, he's still right. I just needed the right person to write
this song with and the right person to sing it."
Shelton and Lambert weren't the only couple with surprising wins. Thompson
Square's Shawna and Keifer Thompson won Vocal Duo of the Year, ending
Sugarland's five-year run in that category. And Little Big Town, a quartet that
includes couple Karen Fairchild and Jimi Westbrook, took home Vocal Group and
Single of the Year for "Pontoon."
"Y'all, this has been a 13-year journey," LBT s Fairchild said as members of
the group fist pumped, jumped up and down and shouted on stage. "We're living
proof that if you work really hard and chase your dream, all the good stuff
happens and it follows you. Nashville, you made us your band. Thank you for
letting us do this."
Like fellow outsiders LBT, Eric Church felt the love from the CMA's voters
for the first time. He won the prestigious Album of the Year prize for his
breakthrough record "Chief," signaling his complete acceptance by the country
music community.
"I spent a lot of my career wondering where I fit in too country, too
rock," Church told the crowd. "I want to thank you guys for giving me somewhere
to hang my hat tonight."
The North Carolina native was this year's leading nominee, breaking through
in prestigious categories for the first time. Yet, no one was more surprised
than Church, who said he certainly had no expectation of winning.
"Never, especially with our journey," Church said. "I mean our path's been a
little bit different. I distinctly remember playing for eight people in
Amarillo, Texas, four years ago, and to go from there to here is quite
surreal."
The awards went off-script early, though, and not just for Church and Little
Big Town. Thompson Square won in a category that's been locked up by either
Sugarland or Brooks & Dunn for 19 of the last 20 years.
"Ever since I was 5 years old, I used to practice in the kitchen with one of
my Meemaw's Mason jars for this moment here," Shawna Thompson said.
Hunter Hayes won New Artist of the Year, while Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw
won Musical Event of the Year for "Party Like a Rock Star," and Toby Keith won
Video of the Year for "Red Solo Cup."
Church helped kick off the show by combining forces with Jason Aldean and
Luke Bryan. Playing with a large American flag behind them, the trio of
performers teamed up on Aldean's new single "The Only Way I Know" from his new
album "Night Train" and earned a standing ovation. Each returned later to play
singles, showing how large a market share they now own in country music.
Most of country's top stars were on hand at Nashville's Bridgestone Arena for
the celebration, with many slated to perform. Swift performed the somber new
single "Begin Again" on a set with a picture of the Eiffel Tower and falling
leaves in the background. She received an ovation of her own.
McGraw debuted the single "One of Those Nights" from his new album "Two Lanes
of Freedom." Lambert, dressed in a multicolored bustier and leather pants, spun
around on stage while performing her rockin' song "Fastest Girl in Town." The
Band Perry delivered an energetic version of "Better Dig Two," complete with a
laser light show, and Paisley performed his new single "Southern Comfort Zone,"
with assistance from the Brentwood Baptist choir.
Shelton, McGraw and his wife Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum and Keith Urban
joined together to salute Lifetime Achievement award winner Willie Nelson,
ending with a group sing-along of his iconic "On the Road Again."
Little Big Town performed their winner "Pontoon," a song that is something of
a departure for group members Fairchild, Westbrook, Kimberly Schlapman and
Phillip Sweet. Produced by Jay Joyce, the song has a sharper groove than LBT's
previous efforts.
In a coincidence, Joyce also produced Church's "Chief." The hard edge he
brought to both paid off all around.
Church said Album of the Year, arguably the CMA's second-most prestigious
award, was a win that fit right in with his and Joyce's philosophy.
"I still think in this day and time the only way to really get a fan base is
you've got to give them more than one chapter of a book," Church said. "They've
got to read the whole book."
Don't like it, Don't watch it! Find your own happy place and stop complaining. Life is full of good and to many people spend their days walking around seeking negatives. Have a great day : )
why do you all have negative things to say? why are you even on this page checking this out if its so not your thing or country music died so many years ago? Mat you need to re-evaluate yourselves because I almost certain you cant do any better. This is the way these artist live and make millions, what are you doing? I am sure you listen to all those other "so called" artists.
I agree, what happened to good ole country music!!! All the artists sound the same, yelling, prancing & no real good country melody. I would guess the older country artists don't even watch the CMA.
