Country Music Association Awards

Wednesday was “country music’s biggest night,” and that is not an exaggeration. The stage… Wednesday was “country music’s biggest night,” and that is not an exaggeration. The stage inside Nashville’s Sommet Center featured legendary performers ranging from George Strait, the king of country music, to the 17-year-old Taylor Swift, to the Eagles and Jamie Foxx – yes, I said Jamie Foxx.

For one evening in November, Nashville is in the national spotlight as everybody who is anybody in country music flocks back to Music City to participate in the Annual Country Music Association Awards. Country boys and redneck women get all cleaned up for the red carpet and receive attention from a national mainstream audience rather than only country fans.

For the most part, the awards were extremely predictable, but I’ll get back to the awards later because, honestly, people really don’t watch music awards shows for the awards, they watch for the performances – and if they’re watching the VMAs, they are watching for the latest Britney controversy.

The CMAs were no exception. There were twice as many songs performed as there were awards given.

Rascal Flatts opened the show with its newest song “Still Feels Good,” but lead singer Gary LeVox sounded a bit flat. However, I’ll give the boys the benefit of the doubt, because it is extremely difficult to capture the acoustics inside a large arena on live television, especially for the first song of the evening. The trio was awarded a second chance, and sounded much better as they sang “She Goes All the Way,” an interesting collaboration with Jamie Foxx later in the show. LeVox and Foxx have been friends for some time, and they were once roommates in Los Angeles.

Brad Paisley, who took home honors for Male Vocalist of the Year, put on quite a show with his tongue-in-cheek song, “Online.” As Sara Evans introduced Paisley, she was interrupted as the Brentwood High School marching band from Tennessee walked down the center aisles playing Paisley’s “Online,” which the band recorded for Paisley’s latest album.

Keith Urban, who will perform at Mellon Arena Sunday night, made a triumphant return to the CMAs after checking himself into rehab for alcoholism just weeks before last year’s awards. He sang his latest hit “Everybody” and received a thunderous applause from the crowd.

Two performances stood out from all the rest. After Sugarland became the first duo in nearly a decade to upset Brooks ‘ Dunn in the Vocal Duo of the Year category – which is commonly referred to as the Brooks ‘ Dunn Award since the duo has won it 14 of the past 15 years – the new Duo of the Year performed its latest single “Stay.”

Lead singer Jennifer Nettles blew the crowd away with her emotional performance – she was actually crying on stage as she sang about being in love with a man who was in love with another woman. She was rewarded for her excellent performance with a standing ovation from the crowd – and with “King” George Strait, Keith Urban and LeAnn Rimes in the crowd, this is definitely something to be proud of. Kellie Pickler also sang an equally emotional song, and produced even more tears than Nettles and another ovation as she sang “I Wonder.”

Now, let’s get back to the awards. Some of the categories were highly predictable. Carrie Underwood took home Single of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year, and George Strait won Song and Album of the Year.

Also, Rascal Flatts won its fifth consecutive Vocal Group of the Year award, with which I have to disagree. Little Big Town is clearly the better vocal group. Sure, Rascal Flatts puts on a great show, but LBT has four equally talented singers, each of whom sings lead, and the harmony created by the blend of their voices is incredible.

It looked like all of the awards were going to be awarded to the favorites rather than some of the more deserving underdogs, but the aforementioned Vocal Duo of the Year category changed everything. Also, Taylor Swift managed a victory in the prestigious Horizon Award category. Swift hails from Reading and is only 17 years old. “This is definitely the highlight of my senior year,” Swift said in her acceptance speech.

The biggest award of the night went to Kenny Chesney, who recorded his second consecutive Entertainer of the Year victory. It was a no-brainer that Chesney should win this honor. None of the other artists are even close to the superstar level that Chesney has reached in the past few years. Every summer he sells out NFL stadiums – including Heinz Field – in less than a half hour. Also, in WTAE’s coverage of the awards, one reporter mentioned that LeAnn Rimes and Keith Urban will be opening up for Chesney in his 2008 stadium tour, and it will once again stop in Pittsburgh.

Overall, it was yet again a special November night in Nashville. There were tears, laughs, high notes and – thanks to Josh Turner – extremely low notes. There were upsets and repeats. There were legends and newcomers. But the simple fact that country music can put on such a respectful image while in the national spotlight is the most special characteristic of the CMAs.

Country music too often has a negative connotation, but the CMAs are one of the few music awards shows that does not highlight controversies and train wrecks. It honors the artists. There was an entire segment of the show dedicated to the three Country Music Hall of Fame inductees. The CMAs highlight everything positive in country music including country’s focus on family, God, friends, love and hard times – and aren’t these things what life is all about?