CMA Awards: My 2 Cents

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood did the best job anyone has ever done hosting that show. They were everything you wanted in hosts. The Tim and Faith Barbi doll segment is a CLASSIC!

Great to see Taylor Swift win Entertainer of the Year. She's done more to help Country music and Country radio than she gets credit for through the halo effect of her mass appeal popularity.

Zac Brown Band should have won SOMETHING for the great year they had. That said, I wished they had performed one of their great songs instead of "Georgia On My Mind".

Why do some artists get two turns - while many worthy ones get none? Just askin'??

Too bad the Hall of Fame has become an afterthought. Not even a picture of the winners. Seems like lately other genres are doing a better job honoring their pioneers.

Now, we should start a Facebook page to lobby for Brad and Carrie to host the Oscars!

Fishing Is King

Each year it seems, a different theme becomes popular in Country music.  This year, fishing rules.  "Just Fishin'", "Bait a Hook" and simply "Fish" are all on the charts. All good songs. I have to say, I much prefer fishing to last year's "my town is smaller than your town and I'm more Country than you" dominant theme.  Lifestyle themes are part of the format, and always will be.  Let's remember, too, that Country is also about universal themes, told in the clearest most honest way.  I wonder what's in store for next year?

Just saw my first "Back To School" ad - on July 3rd. Is this for Summer School?

Classic Country Radio Songs

Phil Sweetland wrote a great column today about Country songs that reference Country radio.  It made me think of others that I either remember, or learned about from Country music's rich past.  Besides the recent Reba hit, "Turn On Your Radio", how about these (in no particular order): 
Nothing On But The Radio - Gary Allan
Fading In, Fading Out - Tommy Overstreet
Listen To The Radio - Don Williams
Tiny Blue Transistor Radio - Connie Smith
(Lord Have Mercy On A) Country DJ - Bill Anderson
Radio Lover - George Jones
There Ain't Nothing Wrong With The Radio - Aaron Tippin
Turn Your Radio On - Ray Stevens
I Watched It All On My Radio - Lionel Cartwright

Radio and Country music are forever entwined in these classic songs.

No Respect For Merle

Kennedy Center Awards are tonight.  Most of the articles and promotion for the show reads something like, "McCartney, Winfrey and others" honored tonight.  One of those "others" is Country Music Hall of Famer Merle Haggard.  While I can't argue that Sir Paul and Oprah are more famous than "Hag", to me he means than both of them put together.  From the 60's through the 80's, no one loomed larger over the Country music landscape than Merle Haggard.  While physically small, he was larger than life.  He could do it all; sing, write, and perform while being strong enough to buck the Nashville star system by succeeding his own way.  In 2010 Merle Haggard continues to do it his own way.  Long live Merle.  My hero.

Wishful Packaging

Is it presumtous to put not yet released songs on a "Greatest Hits" or "Number One's" package?  I think it is. If the song or songs are then released to radio and are not hits or do not make number one, what then?  I suppose all releases are hits with someone.  Just askin'.

CMA Awards 2010

Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood did a great job hosting again this year, teasing Nashville's royalty and keeping the show moving. Funny line: (paraphrasing) "After the night Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are having ... expect a baby in 9 months."

Kelly Clarkson performed a powerful song with Jason Aldean, "Don't You Want To Stay Here A Little While".  No surprise that the song was released today to Country radio.

Gwyneth Paltrow sang the title song from her new movie, "Country Strong". Vince Gill sang with her to lend support. She got a standing ovation (in spite of looking nervous during the performance). 

Blake Shelton wins Male Vocalist of the Year, beating out a bunch of heavyweights.  Well deserved.

Blake's fiance Miranda Lambert wins Female Vocalist of the Year, Album of the Year, and sings the Song of the Year for "House That Built Me".   2010 is the Year of Miranda.

Sissy Spacek introduced a tribute to Loretta Lynn. There wasn't a dry eye in house as Loretta came out to sing "Coal Miner's Daughter" with Miranda Lambert and Sheryl Crow.  I had the privalege of interviewing Loretta (and Sissy) when Coal Miner's Daughter was released, and can tell you that there is no one more genuine and deserving of everything she's received than Loretta Lynn.  She is truly a national treasure.

Why did Taylor Swift utter the word "What?" after her performance.  We may never know.  We do know that after her incredible 2009, the woman who just sold a million albums got shut out of winning any awards last night.

Finally, Brad Paisley gets the well deserved Entertainer of the Year award, giving a heartfelt acceptance speech.   Glad to know that men are now allowed to cry in Country Music.