To see how many of our CMA Awards predictions come true, follow along as our friends at Engine 145 and Country Universe live blog the show tonight.

• During the “Footloose” opening, Blake Shelton and Kenny Loggins forgo professional back-up dancers, personally reenacting one of Ren and Ariel’s dance sequences from the film. Blake Shelton’s moonwalk wins him the lead role in next year’s “Dirty Dancing” remake.
• In accepting her Entertainer of the Year trophy, Taylor Swift takes a moment to burn Bob Lefsetz in effigy. In his email newsletter the next day, Lefsetz somehow spins this anecdote into a plug for Spotify.
• As the Female Vocalist winner makes her way to the stage, also-ran Martina McBride stabs her in the kneecap with a shiv before peeling out of arena on a flame-red Segway.
• David Kersh pulls up to the red carpet in his Opel Kadett, letting the motor run as he waits for someone to recognize him. After several minutes, his car rattles sadly away.
• In one of the bigger surprises of the night, Music Video of the Year goes to “Jalapeños” by the Bellamy Brothers. Faith Hill is seen crying “WHAT!?” despite not having a video among those nominated.
• Camera suddenly cuts to audience during Aldean acceptance speech, catching Brantley Gilbert unawares. He quickly tightens his jaw and puffs out his chest, attempting to look tough.
• Scotty McCreery malfunctions; curtains close swiftly as smoke billows from his ears.
• Rodney Atkins, who is currently Occupying Wall Street, is unable to attend.
• After several reports of a yeti in the restroom, security enters to find James Otto washing his hands.
• Brad Paisley makes toothless quip about Hank Williams Jr., pats self on back for edginess.
• Coming off of vocal rest for one song, Keith Urban sounds exactly like Kristin Chenoweth.
• Eager to replicate the viral magic of her last awards show appearance, Shania Twain takes the stage on 14-inch heels with a mean case of vertigo.

Reasoning: It’s partially fan-voted.

TOP MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
Darius Rucker
George Strait
Keith Urban

Reasoning: Won it last year, has released a critically-lauded album and toured continuously since then. Safest choice, though I wouldn’t count Rucker out either.

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood
Lee Ann Womack

Reasoning: Won it last year. Swift will be sufficiently recognized elsewhere that they won’t feel the need to give this one to her, and Lambert probably doesn’t have the support to beat Underwood in this category.

TOP VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Randy Rogers Band
Rascal Flatts
Zac Brown Band

Reasoning: It’d be nice to see ZBB take it, but Lady Antebellum has the buzz. I don’t think Rascal Flatts can hold them off for another year.

TOP VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn
Joey + Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

Reasoning: Wholly undeserved on the basis of their work this past year, but they’re breaking up.

TOP NEW SOLO VOCALIST OF THE YEAR *
Luke Bryan
Jamey Johnson
Chris Young

Reasoning: Fan-voted and Bryan is the most vanilla of the lot.

TOP NEW VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR *
Bomshel
Joey + Rory
Steel Magnolia

Reasoning: This video is adorable.

TOP NEW VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR *
Eli Young Band
Gloriana
The Lost Trailers

Reasoning: Fan-voted, young/tech-savvy fanbase, lack of serious competition.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company(s)]
‘American Saturday Night’ – Brad Paisley (Arista Nashville)
‘Lady Antebellum’ – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
‘Play On’ – Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville)
‘Revolution’ – Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)
‘The Foundation’ – Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)

Reasoning: Presence of 3/5 solid contenders shows they’re pretty serious about recognizing actual quality in this category, and Lambert’s album was the strongest.

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company(s)]
‘Need You Now’ – Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
‘People Are Crazy’ – Billy Currington (Mercury)
‘Red Light’ – David Nail (MCA Nashville)
‘Toes’ – Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)
‘White Liar’ – Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)

Reasoning: This song was everywhere.

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]
‘Cowboy Casanova’ – Carrie Underwood
‘Need You Now’ – Lady Antebellum
‘People Are Crazy’ – Billy Currington
‘White Liar’ – Miranda Lambert
‘You Belong With Me’ – Taylor Swift

Reasoning: People really liked it.

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]
‘Boots On’ – Randy Houser
‘Need You Now’ – Lady Antebellum
‘Welcome to the Future’ – Brad Paisley
‘White Liar’ – Miranda Lambert
‘You Belong With Me’ – Taylor Swift

Reasoning: Swift and Paisley had the most elaborate productions, and I expect they’ll be looking to reward someone other than Paisley (the winner two years running) this time around.

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]
‘Hillbilly Bone’ – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
‘Honky Tonk Stomp’ – Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons
‘I Told You So’ – Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis
‘I’m Alive’ – Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews
‘Seeing Stars’ – Jack Ingram featuring Patty Griffin

Reasoning: The most ubiquitous of the lot. Was awarded off-screen last year, so it makes sense that this is where they would recognize an actually country act like Randy Travis. Wouldn’t want to let him talk on TV!

HUMANITARIAN AWARD
Montgomery Gentry

Reasoning: I got this one in the bag.

That was the original description, but what began as a not-so-promising solo live blog attempt was ultimately saved by the surprise participation of several luminaries of the “angering Carrie Underwood fans online” world, including Matt Bjorke (Roughstock), Leeann (Country Universe), Dan (Country Universe), Brady (The 9513), Blake (The 9513, Country Universe, Roughstock, Modern Family), Trailer (Farce the Music), Baron (Twang Nation) and serial commenters Annie, KC, and AikoujOi. Thanks to all who showed up and added their voices to the mix.

I made a few minor edits for readability, but basically you should read this with the expectation that it will be a semi-disorienting chat session rather than a formal live blog. Without further ado…

• 7:05 PM: CountryCa Welcome to the 2009 CMA Awards Live Blog: Pacific Edition!
• 7:13 PM: CountryCa We’ll get started shortly before 8.
• 7:16 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Since I’m in the pacific timezone, I’ll be joining ya this year.
• 7:16 PM: CountryCa Awesome, Matt. Glad to have someone who’s actually watching the show!
• 7:18 PM: AikoujOi I’m gonna follow this for as long as I can
• 7:21 PM: CountryCa Good to have you, AikoujOi. Who do you all think will win Entertainer?
• 7:23 PM: AikoujOi I dunno honestly
• 7:23 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) So you just can’t stand Taylor twice, eh? I’ll send some RS West coast readers to here via twitter.
• 7:24 PM: CountryCa My money’s on David Kersh.
• 7:25 PM: CountryCa I’d watch the show if I could. I’m without TV for a while.
• 7:25 PM: CountryCa Luckily, I don’t suspect I’ll miss a whole hell of a lot.
• 7:25 PM: AikoujOi what are the nominations for Entertainer? I’m willing to bet Taylor Swift is one of them
• 7:26 PM: CountryCa Kenny, Keith, Brad, George, Taylor.
• 7:26 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) haha, have you tried to get some sort of feed via the computer?
• 7:26 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Did you see my predictions @ Roughstock?
• 7:26 PM: CountryCa Been looking around, but came up with nothin’ (re: feeds)
• 7:27 PM: AikoujOi Judging on the fanbase and the trend in Nashville, it’ll be either Keith or Taylor
• 7:27 PM: CountryCa I was just looking at your predictions, Matt. Slowly. Since it seems they’re spread out over about 24 posts. ;-)
• 7:28 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) haha, yes, 5 posts.
• 7:28 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) but it was designed to get people comin’ back and it works.
• 7:28 PM: AikoujOi I predict Sugarland will win Duo of the Yeat
• 7:29 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) What’s a Yeat? I kid, I kid…
• 7:30 PM: CountryCa I’m guessing Brooks and Dunn for duo.
• 7:30 PM: CountryCa Based on the timing. They’re breaking up next… yeat.
• 7:31 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Perfect, I will predict “of the yeat” all night now…Actually I agree CM…
• 7:31 PM: CountryCa Anyhow, we should talk about how the West Coast is way better than the whole rest of the country.
• 7:32 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) haha, we could. Seattle has 2! of the Top 15 radio stations in the country according to Country Aircheck.
• 7:33 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) I’m feeling like writing ! like Shania! Tonight, In honor of the Seattle Mariners! resigning! Ken Griffey, Jr! again! Then again, maybe not…
• 7:34 PM: CountryCa I vote for not.
• 7:34 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) I’ve ignored twitter and other sites since 5pm to not know who won CMA Awards…
• 7:35 PM: CountryCa Yep, gotta go on lockdown.
• 7:37 PM: CountryCa For those just checking in, show starts in about 23 minutes.
• 7:37 PM: CountryCa Feel free to propose a discussion topic to fill this time.
• 7:37 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) What non country tunes/artists are you diggin’ at this time…
• 7:38 PM: AikoujOi I have a few non country tunes
• 7:38 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Me personally, I’ve been enjoying the new Swell Season “Strict Joy” record and the Cage The Elephant self-titled disc…
• 7:38 PM: CountryCa I like Norah Jones.
• 7:39 PM: CountryCa I’m pretty bad about keeping up with anything that isn’t country.
• 7:39 PM: AikoujOi hahaha yeah
• 7:40 PM: AikoujOi Kinda the same way too
• 7:40 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) It’s a curse, I tell ya. A curse. Then again it’s a good way to listen to something that’s not about small towns and tractors from time to time
• 7:40 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Also, it gives me appreciation or lack thereof when artists cover rock songs. Like “Use Somebody.” That cover by a newcomer doesn’t do it for me.
• 7:40 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Margaret Durante
• 7:41 PM: AikoujOi Terri Clark is a really good country singer. She doesn’t sing about tracter and small towns or somethimg
• 7:41 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) If anybody is gonna cover that song, Sugarland should do it.
• 7:41 PM: CountryCa Sugarland can cover anything.
• 7:41 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) oh I know. I also have been diggin’ Steve Wariner’s Chet Atkins disc. Classy record, right there.
• 7:41 PM: AikoujOi Even Terri Clark? Would be interesting lol
• 7:42 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Yes, as long as it’s not Kristian singin’ it.
• 7:43 PM: CountryCa Have you heard him doing “Holly Jolly Christmas” on that holiday disc?
• 7:43 PM: CountryCa His enunciation is so weird.
• 7:44 PM: CountryCa “Have a haw-ally jaw-ally Christmas…”
• 7:44 PM: AikoujOi hahahaha
• 7:44 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Yes, it is weird but I don’t mind his voice from time to time
• 7:44 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) I just wouldn’t want him to sing Use Somebody…
• 7:44 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) or Terri Clark.
• 7:45 PM: CountryCa 15 minutes until showtime!
• 7:45 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Have any of y’all heard Jace Everett’s “Red Relevations?”
• 7:45 PM: CountryCa Is it a communist manifesto?
• 7:46 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) hah, nope. good ole fashioned rockabilly record.
• 7:46 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) with “Bad Things” tacked on because of “True Blood” using it as the theme
• 7:47 PM: CountryCa I think “Bad Things” is all I’ve heard from him.
• 7:49 PM: CountryCa So.
• 7:49 PM: CountryCa Who are you guys wearing?
• 7:49 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Well The damn record was one of the best I’ve heard this year…
• 7:49 PM: AikoujOi 11 more minutes until the fun starts here lol
• 7:49 PM: CountryCa I should check it out, Matt.
• 7:50 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) I was gonna wear the Jon Gosselin line until I decided I didn’t wanna look like a douche….so I decided on the Rory Feek line from Tractor Supply…
• 7:51 PM: CountryCa Sounds like a wise decision.
• 7:51 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) The Jace Everett record is on eMusic
• 7:51 PM: CountryCa Country Weekly was nice enough to RT my live blog announcement, so we should get a few more people yet as the show starts up.
• 7:52 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) that’s nice. I also posted it…
• 7:52 PM: AikoujOi ok cool
• 7:52 PM: CountryCa Thanks, Matt.
• 7:53 PM: AikoujOi 7 more minutes can’t wait for the humor
• 7:54 PM: CountryCa Now’s the time to start gathering your supplies for the three hours ahead. Water, snacks, earplugs, Dale Watson records.
• 7:54 PM: CountryCa Whatever you think you might need.
• 7:54 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) Dave Serby Records work too.
• 7:55 PM: CountryCa Blasphemy.
• 7:55 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) really? you don’t like Serby?
• 7:55 PM: KC Hi everyone
• 7:55 PM: CountryCa Well, he’s not Dale Watson.
• 7:55 PM: CountryCa But then, neither is Chuck Norris.
• 7:55 PM: CountryCa Hi KC!
• 7:56 PM: AikoujOi Kept saying my post looked like spam, I was trying to say hi
• 7:57 PM: CountryCa Huh, that’s weird.
• 7:59 PM: Matt Bjorke (Roughstock) it’s almost ‘game time’
]]> http://www.countrycalifornia.com/2009-cma-awards-live-blog-pacific-edition/feed/ 12 http://www.countrycalifornia.com/cma-awards-what-do-you-say-west-coast/ http://www.countrycalifornia.com/cma-awards-what-do-you-say-west-coast/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:52:04 +0000 C.M. Wilcox http://www.countrycalifornia.com/?p=2235 I like giving those out on the West Coast something to do during the show, but it’s unclear if I’ll actually be able to watch the live broadcast this time around. I’d still be up for hosting a live blog/chat and offering quips on the show I’m not seeing, as well as general comments on the meaning of life.

Perhaps one or two people who will definitely be watching the show (in this time zone) would like to try their hand at live commentary? It’s easy, I promise. Let me know if you want to give it a shot.

In a spur-of-the-moment CMA Fest live blog a few months back – one that never appeared on this site – I tested out the ScribbleLive system, which seemed to make the whole experience pretty seamless. The main perk is that updates appear automatically without having to constantly refresh the page. There’s also a way of pulling in live tweets so that we can get a whole bunch of other voices (of people who are actually watching the show) in the mix. It’s a big improvement over the way we’ve done these things in the past.

Let me know what you think. If there’s interest, I’ll set it up. The show airs at 8pm Pacific Time.

By the way, Jason Aldean will be performing. And apparently that’s a big deal.

]]> http://www.countrycalifornia.com/cma-awards-what-do-you-say-west-coast/feed/ 4 http://www.countrycalifornia.com/improving-the-acm-awards/ http://www.countrycalifornia.com/improving-the-acm-awards/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 19:06:32 +0000 C.M. Wilcox http://www.countrycalifornia.com/?p=1785 What’s the #1 thing the ACM could have done to improve last night’s awards show? It can be something they should have included, something they should have left out, or something they should have handled differently. Pointing out that most of the show sucked doesn’t count as a response. Let’s try to be constructive here.

My first thought was to get rid of fan voting, but I’m honestly not sure that the results would have been much better if the voting had all been done by industry folks, so I won’t go with that one.

Instead, since I think that the show was slanted pretty heavily toward new sounds in “country” music (though Adkins, Johnson, and Womack offered reprieves), I think they should have given the Miley Cyrus performance slot to Loretta Lynn to balance things out a bit. Not bloody likely, but it would have brought a legendary element to the show that was sorely missing. As it was, Reba and George were pretty much the token legend types (with careers dating back to the ’70s), and the songs they performed weren’t exactly radical departures from the rest of what was being played on the show. Loretta would have dug in her heels and offered a legendary performance – not just a safely contemporary performance by someone who happens to have been around for a long time.

So, there’s my fanciful suggestion. What’s yours?

]]> http://www.countrycalifornia.com/improving-the-acm-awards/feed/ 9 http://www.countrycalifornia.com/2009-acm-awards-live-blog-pacific-edition/ http://www.countrycalifornia.com/2009-acm-awards-live-blog-pacific-edition/#comments Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:51:18 +0000 C.M. Wilcox http://www.countrycalifornia.com/?p=1783
• 6:49 PM: Just over an hour to showtime. Is this thing on?
• 6:56 PM: I’m trying out ScribbleLive, which will hopefully make this a bit easier than last time.
• 7:00 PM: The post should update without you having to continually reload the page.
• 7:16 PM: I’m so not following the rules on how to throw an ACM party: www.cmt.com
• 7:51 PM: Less than 10 minutes to showtime.
• 7:53 PM: Which performances are you looking forward to? Johnson and Lambert are tops for me. Should be interesting to see Heidi Newfield perform on one of these too, if only for the novelty of it.
• 7:56 PM: I’m also pretty excited to see The Lost Trailers win Top Vocal Group.
• 7:59 PM: I hope you’re ready for it…
• 8:00 PM: … because the show begins NOW!
• 8:02 PM: And we’re beginning with a medley, kicked off by a rock song about “Play[ing] Something Country”… encouraging sign
• 8:02 PM: This is like the ADD version of the whole show.
• 8:04 PM: Carrie appears to be dressed in an oversized Kleenex
• 8:05 PM: Oh God, it’s Rascal Flatts
• 8:06 PM: And Gary stole his shirt from Elvis.
• 8:07 PM: At least we can be sure the hosting will be top notch.
• 8:08 PM: “Kenny Chesney from the Caribbean, Keith Urban from Australia”
• 8:08 PM: Uh… is that what Kenny’s saying these days?
• 8:11 PM: Fan voting, boo.
• 8:11 PM: Kenny’s doing “Out Last Night”
• 8:12 PM: And he’s back to sleeveless shirts. Don’t think he has worn them on the last few shows.
• 8:12 PM: This song bores me to tears. Nice enough sound, but the lyrics.
• 8:13 PM: The song said he’s from East Tennessee, but Reba says the Caribbean.
• 8:13 PM: I just don’t know who to believe.
• 8:15 PM: Alan didn’t look too impressed when they showed him.
• 8:15 PM: Song of the Year
• 8:16 PM: I’m betting on George, but hoping for Jamey.
• 8:17 PM: Jamey Johnson gets it! And James Otto is joining him onstage, since he’s one of the writers.
• 8:17 PM: Otto is about 11 feet tall from what I understand.
• 8:18 PM: “Up next, Miley Cyrus and Toby Keith”
• 8:18 PM: Please, let it be together.
• 8:20 PM: 1/9 of the way into it now. How was the first 11%?
• 8:21 PM: I’m told that George had an odd expression on his face when Jamey won. Anyone notice it? I’ll have to look again afterwards.
• 8:23 PM: Heidi Newfield doing “Johnny and June”
• 8:24 PM: A ring of fire onstage! How unanticipated.
• 8:25 PM: I was going to say she looked pretty tan or warm or something before.
• 8:25 PM: Perhaps too many rehearsals… have also scorched her eyelids.
• 8:25 PM: Prohibiting her from opening her eyes all the way.
• 8:26 PM: I’ve heard she can be pitchy live, but that seemed pretty much like the record.
• 8:27 PM: What “great group” was Darius part of?
• 8:27 PM: Top Vocal Group now
• 8:28 PM: Rascal Flatts! OMG!
• 8:29 PM: Gary LeVox thanked God, who was unavailable for comment.
• 8:33 PM: I have this sneaking suspicion most of my predictions will be way off.
• 8:35 PM: Some supermodel is introducing Toby Keith, who’s performing… “God Love Her”
• 8:36 PM: I understand Ethan Hawke is standing by to make up stories about what goes on backstage.
• 8:38 PM: Is it just me or is Toby shaking a lot? Not his voice. His face.
• 8:38 PM: Well, his voice too, but that’s normal.
• 8:39 PM: Jamey Johnson performing “In Color”
• 8:40 PM: The performance seems designed to replicate the music video.
• 8:41 PM: Except with a bunch of women swaying in a circle around him… seriously, no guys. What’s with that?
• 8:42 PM: Okay, so maybe there are a few guys. But it’s all women right in front.
• 8:42 PM: So close that they’re almost enveloped in his beard.
• 8:47 PM: Jamie Foxx is onstage… doing something. It’s not clear just what yet.
• 8:49 PM: Apparently he’s there to make all the white people (i.e. almost everybody) uncomfortable with a series of race jokes.
• 8:50 PM: George Strait performing “Troubadour”
• 8:50 PM: Whew, it’s not “River of Love”
• 8:51 PM: The ACM seems to have their act pretty together with the sound.
• 8:53 PM: George is too cool. Joey + Rory enjoyed that performance.
• 8:54 PM: Did Jack Ingram say “their prospective categories” instead of respective?
• 8:54 PM: Top New Artist is Julianne Hough… holy cow.
• 8:54 PM: Did anyone call that?
• 8:57 PM: Let’s do some fan voting. Who should have won Top New Artist?
• 9:00 PM: If you said Zac Brown Band, you are correct.
• 9:00 PM: Or Jake Owen, really. Anyone but Hough.
• 9:01 PM: David Copperfield’s demeanor does not match his cowboy hat.
• 9:02 PM: Copperfield has a magical box that produces teenage girls. Kinda creepy.
• 9:04 PM: If there was ever any doubt about Swift’s country credentials… uh, there still is. Now more than ever.
• 9:06 PM: But she puts on some pretty ambitious performances at these shows.
• 9:06 PM: Taylor’s getting an award from Reba.
• 9:06 PM: Crystal Milestone award?
• 9:06 PM: Swift then asked “Are you serious!?”
• 9:07 PM: At which point Reba said “Nope” and snatched away the award.
• 9:07 PM: Lady Antebellum performing “I Run to You”
• 9:08 PM: Uh, Reba didn’t really snatch away the award… by the way.
• 9:09 PM: I just like to incorporate Fake News into live blogs.
• 9:10 PM: KC points out that Hough’s win does not bode well for anyone not named Carrie Underwood in the Entertainer category.
• 9:13 PM: Man, I should have drank before the show. It’d be way better.
• 9:13 PM: My comments would probably also be hilarious/indecipherable.
• 9:14 PM: Miranda Lambert commercial… for cotton. Odd.
• 9:15 PM: Hal says: “You should start drinking now. Every time someone on a major label gets an award, take a drink. Every time Reba hiccups like a hillbilly, take a drink. Every time an artist who won an award last year wins an award this year, take a drink.”
• 9:15 PM: You heard the man, folks. Start now.
• 9:16 PM: Lee Ann Womack is even singing “Solitary Thinkin.” What better time?
• 9:17 PM: Pointing out the obvious: this lady can sing.
• 9:18 PM: I don’t think I could sing like that on 10-inch heels.
• 9:19 PM: But that is purely speculation.
• 9:19 PM: What is this lady’s dress? Red, white and blue something or other.
• 9:19 PM: Top Vocal Duo… here comes a Sugarland win?
• 9:20 PM: Sugarland. Called it. Thank you very much.
• 9:21 PM: Jennifer Nettles’ neckline is down around her pelvis.
• 9:23 PM: I didn’t mean to comment so much on clothing, but people certainly do wear some strange things to these shows.
• 9:23 PM: Keith Urban performing “Kiss a Girl”
• 9:26 PM: Well, he always gives 100%, so that’s commendable. Still not big on this song.
• 9:27 PM: Audience shot of Kidman bobbing head slightly to song, which qualifies for her as dancing.
• 9:28 PM: Are we really just halfway through? Geez.
• 9:30 PM: New song from Miranda should be coming up when these commercials are over, so that’s something to look forward to.
• 9:31 PM: Think I’d be hammered by now if I had actually run with Hal’s drinking game idea.
• 9:33 PM: Miranda performing “Dead Flowers”
• 9:36 PM: What do you guys think? I think she could have chosen a better (or at least more immediately striking) one to perform on the show. Might grow on me later… maybe? Not too excited about it right now.
• 9:37 PM: Humanitarian Award to Leann Rimes.
• 9:39 PM: John Rich is “Shuttin’ Detroit Down” solo acoustic
• 9:40 PM: I think I’d laugh if Jared Ashley jumped onstage and confronted him.
• 9:41 PM: Probably a good call to do it solo, as his voice is so thin that it’d get drowned out by a band.
• 9:42 PM: His guitar was “Made in the USA,” by the way. In case you were wondering. Which you weren’t. But it was… just so you know.
• 9:47 PM: Just what this show needs: a goodly dose of Billy Ray Cyrus.
• 9:48 PM: Engaging in a little shameless self-promotion.
• 9:48 PM: Miley Cyrus on a country awards show. The moment we’ve all waited for!
• 9:48 PM: I believe something may be on fire. That’s a lot of smoke.
• 9:49 PM: Well, I’m glad someone came along to make Taylor sound like a good singer.
• 9:52 PM: Hal says: Just like on the Price is Right, if Miley gets to the top of the staircase you don’t win a prize.
• 9:52 PM: Montgomery Gentry doing “One in Every Crowd”
• 9:55 PM: I wonder how Montgomery Gentry went about telling all their band guys that they’d be standing offstage in the front row for this performance?
• 9:55 PM: That had to be an awkward conversation.
• 9:57 PM: Brady says: There’s something a little strange about a song talking about “the climb” or having to work to reach a goal and then riding a geriatric escalator to reach the top of the “mountain.” What kind of a message is that?
• 9:59 PM: I’m digging ScribbleLive. How’s the automatic post reloading thing working for you guys?
• 10:00 PM: Carrie performing “I Told You So” in a theater curtain.
• 10:01 PM: Which is at least an upgrade from the Kleenex we saw earlier.
• 10:04 PM: Darn, I wanted to see Carrie try to walk offstage in that dress.
• 10:05 PM: Top Male Vocalist
• 10:05 PM: We haven’t done any awards in a while, have we? Lots of performances.
• 10:06 PM: Brad Paisley gets Top Male Vocalist.
• 10:07 PM: Funny Little Jimmy Dickens joke.
• 10:09 PM: What new blood should they inject into the Top Male Vocalist category next year? Any suggestions? Josh Turner, maybe?
• 10:12 PM: Reba doing a new song… “Strange”
• 10:13 PM: Confession: Reba’s facial expressions when she sings have always bugged me.
• 10:15 PM: Top Female Vocalist
• 10:15 PM: Come on, Miranda. Please.
• 10:16 PM: or Lee Ann Womack.
• 10:16 PM: Either of those would be fine.
• 10:16 PM: But it’s Underwood, naturally. Will she go on to win Entertainer too?
• 10:20 PM: Trace (doing “Til the Last Shot’s Fired” now) always sings great.
• 10:21 PM: The superfluous soldier choir is waiting in shadows.
• 10:23 PM: Still pretty affecting to have them there, I guess. People are in tears.
• 10:25 PM: We’re on the final stretch now, folks.
• 10:25 PM: ~35 minutes remaining.
• 10:26 PM: I’m betting it will be life-changing.
• 10:26 PM: Is anyone else debuting a new song?
• 10:26 PM: Haven’t really cared for any of the new ones that were supposed to be a big deal.
• 10:28 PM: It looks like Reba is wearing a portion of Carrie’s theater curtain.
• 10:29 PM: Sugarland (i.e. Jennifer Nettles and That Guy) doing “What I’d Give”
• 10:30 PM: Hal says: Does Mr. Sugarland ever appear with his assumedly bald head revealed?
• 10:32 PM: Jennifer is wailing on that electric guitar… (cough)
• 10:33 PM: Nettles gets a Crystal Milestone from Reba
• 10:34 PM: Single of the Year
• 10:34 PM: There’s an audio/visual hitch
• 10:34 PM: Trace Adkins gets Single
• 10:36 PM: Uh… they just went out to commercial with “Who will win Female Vocalist?”
• 10:37 PM: Didn’t we just do that one? Not very suspenseful.
• 10:41 PM: 20 minutes left.
• 10:41 PM: Time to get serious about Entertainer. Who will get it? Does Carrie have it in a lock?
• 10:42 PM: Here’s Blake Shelton’s fill-in performance of “She Wouldn’t Be Gone”
• 10:43 PM: Album of the Year
• 10:44 PM: That Lonesome Song… please.
• 10:44 PM: I think he’s got it on this one.
• 10:45 PM: Oh snap, it’s Taylor Swift
• 10:46 PM: I guess the album has sold about 56 million copies already, but really.
• 10:47 PM: That was majorly disappointing, and now they’re following it up with a Rascal Flatts performance. Wow. Might as well club me in the face with a bowling pin.
• 10:48 PM: At least The Voice shrieks a little less on slower songs.
• 10:52 PM: I’m still holding out hope for a The Lost Trailers win in the Entertainer of the Year category.
• 10:54 PM: A side effect of this antidepressant is “confusion”
• 10:54 PM: Not sure if I’d rather be depressed or confused.
• 10:56 PM: Matthew M… even sober, can’t spell his last name.
• 10:57 PM: Oh, the last four minutes of the show… great time to add a long anecdote, presenter.
• 10:57 PM: That time won’t come out of anyone’s speech.
• 10:57 PM: At least it was a good anecdote.
• 10:58 PM: Entertainer of the Year
• 10:59 PM: Carrie Underwood (in a Kleenex again)!
• 11:01 PM: So, here’s the deal. I DVRed the show to watch it an hour later, and the recording cut off Underwood’s speech halfway through. Did she drop any pearls of wisdom in the latter half?
• 11:03 PM: There goes Chesney’s only category.
• 11:04 PM: As we wrap up here, I’d like to take a moment to thank you all for hanging out. Definitely made it more interesting for me… hopefully for you, too.
• 11:05 PM: Feel free to stay around and discuss. See you next time.
• 11:06 PM: Have a nice night, everyone.

Important:
There has been some confusion as to the time of the show. Since CBS and the ACM list 8pm as the official start time, I’m assuming that that’s when the show will be airing for most people, so that’s when the live blog will be happening. In some areas on the West Coast (including mine), the show may be coming on at 7pm. If that’s the case for you, you can either do your own thing or DVR the show and start it an hour late (that’s what I’m doing). Check your local listings and figure out what you want to do from there.

Also, Quotable Country is being pushed back a day (to Monday) to make room for all the doozies I’m sure we’ll hear on the awards show tonight. I’m counting on you, John Rich.

Here’s what you need to know about how to read the list: The asterisk (*) denotes my predictions. Bold for already-announced winners. Italics for incumbents (2008 winners). Simple as that.

I’ll see you here tonight, I hope. Feel free to hit me with your questions or predictions in the comments.

2009 ACM AWARDS NOMINEES

Entertainer of the Year

• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Carrie Underwood
• Keith Urban*

Top Male Vocalist

• Kenny Chesney
• Toby Keith
• Brad Paisley*
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist

• Miranda Lambert
• Heidi Newfield
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood*
• Lee Ann Womack

Top Vocal Group

• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town
• Rascal Flatts*
• Randy Rogers Band
• The Lost Trailers

Top Vocal Duo

• Big & Rich
• Brooks & Dunn
• Joey + Rory
• Montgomery Gentry
• Sugarland*

Top New Male Vocalist

• Jamey Johnson
• James Otto
• Jake Owen

Top New Female Vocalist

• Sarah Buxton
• Julianne Hough
• Ashton Shepherd

Top New Duo or Group

• Eli Young Band
• The Lost Trailers
• Zac Brown Band

Top New Artist

• Jake Owen
• Julianne Hough
• Zac Brown Band*

Album of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

• Back When I Knew It All – Montgomery Gentry (Columbia Nashville)
• Carnival Ride – Carrie Underwood (Arista Nashville)
• Fearless – Taylor Swift (Big Machine)
• That Lonesome Song – Jamey Johnson (Mercury Nashville)*
• Troubadour – George Strait (MCA Nashville)

Single Record of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

• “Gunpowder & Lead” – Miranda Lambert
• “In Color” – Jamey Johnson
• “Johnny & June” – Heidi Newfield*
• “Waitin’ On a Woman” – Brad Paisley
• “You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins

Song of the Year [Award to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• “I Saw God Today” – George Strait
  Writers: Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby*
• “In Color” – Jamey Johnson
  Writers: Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller, James Otto
• “Johnny & June” – Heidi Newfield
  Writers: Deanna Bryant, Heidi Newfield, Stephony Smith
• “Waitin’ On a Woman” – Brad Paisley
  Writers: Don Sampson, Wynn Varble
• “You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins
  Writer: Ashley Gorley and Lee Thomas Miller

Video of the Year [Award to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)]

• “Johnny & June” – Heidi Newfield
• “Just A Dream” – Carrie Underwood
• “Love Story” – Taylor Swift
• “Troubadour” – George Strait
• “Waitin’ On A Woman” – Brad Paisley

Vocal Event of the Year [Award to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company]

• “Another Try” – Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood
• “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” – Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire
• “Down The Road” – Kenny Chesney with Mac McAnally
• “Life In A Northern Town” – Sugarland featuring Little Big Town & Jake Owen
• “Start A Band” – Brad Paisley with Keith Urban

It seems like I’ve been hearing about the CMA Awards nonstop since the nominees were announced two months ago. Predictions, editorials, and history lessons were all good fun, but at a certain point it got to be too much. The awards season, like the election season, wore on too long. I was burnt out weeks ago. Unlike the election season, the end result was not change or the making of history; in this show, the winners were the safe bets. It was like the world’s longest build-up to the same old thing.

Last night, I was thankful for small favors – Taylor Swift not being acknowledged (beyond nomination, at least) for her vocal prowess, the sparse “Stay” rightly being rewarded, some of the performers not sucking. Today, in the sobering light of morning – okay, in the sobering light of almost-noon – I’m reminded of just how irrelevant the proceedings of the night were to me. When I sat down to write this, I didn’t pop in a CD by Carrie Underwood or Rodney Atkins – I popped in a CD by Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, who have approximately zero chance of being featured on the CMAs despite putting out one of the best (and most unabashedly country) albums of the year. Because apparently someone thinks I would rather watch Kid Rock and Lil Wayne.

I’m glad to see the wrap-ups posted today because that means the awards season is finally over and I can go back to doing what I do best: not caring about the CMAs.

I’ll be back just before 8pm Pacific Time to get this party started.

7:49 – Eleven minutes until showtime. I’ve never been so excited in all my life.
7:53 – I watched the CMT red carpet thing and learned that Taylor Swift’s dress weighs like 400 pounds, but I’m not sure that I believe it.
7:58 – Be still, heart.
8:00 – COUNTRY MUSIC’S BIGGEST NIGHT HAS BEGUN!
8:03 – Red and white/blue guitars. Already with the subliminal patriotic messages. I’ll confess to being baffled by the heart on Brad Paisley’s chest.
8:05 – KC: “What’s with the commercial for the show on the screens in the background while they played? Like people there don’t already know who’s there.”
8:06 – Brad Paisley has a reddish tie and Carrie Underwood is wearing a blue/white dress of some sort. I see what they did there.
8:09 – Kristian Bush was shown in the audience looking like an unkempt Charlie Chaplin.
8:12 – I’m surprised by the Strait single win. And Tony Brown is sweaty.
8:17 – Kellie Pickler is doing the Swift cowrite in a very distracting outfit.
8:20 – It’s weird seeing Brad Paisley so stiff as he reads off the prompter.
8:22 – Oh no, here come the unnecessary Good Time dancers. The thing I like about Alan Jackson is that he only uses about 4 square feet of stage space.
8:26 – “Stay” gets Song of the Year and Miley Cyrus looks like a waitress at a Mexican restaurant in that dress.
8:32 – I’m excited to see Miranda do “More Like Her.”
8:36 – Lady Antebellum always sounds pretty good, but so far this is like the night of distracting video screen imagery.
8:41 – KC thinks Miranda will be the best of the night. I wouldn’t be surprised.
8:44 – So far, Brad and Carrie haven’t been distracting, which is all you can expect from them in a first-time hosting gig. And this Martina song bores me. How’d she get a performance slot on the show? She’s been MIA for a while.
8:47 – I think Martina pushed herself a bit too hard, working the stage more than usual and uncharacteristically missing a couple notes.
8:51 – I was coming here to say it, but KC beat me. Regarding the new Rodney Atkins song: “Goody, more patriotism for you.”
8:53 – Rascal Flatts wins Vocal Group? What a shocker.
8:54 – Joe Don is the odd man out without a flowered pattern on his jacket or shirt.
8:56 – This Richard Simmons yogurt commercial is less annoying than Rascal Flatts.
8:59 – 1/3 of the way through. Are we having fun yet?
9:01 – I wonder where you apply to get a job as a dancer in period costume for a Taylor Swift award show performance.
9:03 – Long live Underwear Boy. And here comes Kid Rock…
9:07 – Kid Rock and Kristian Bush should start a hat club. And I love the American flag graphics on the screen, because this is America, by God, and I don’t want to not be reminded of it for a second of this show.
9:08 – KC: “I’m surprised they haven’t acknowledged the troops yet.”
9:14 – I know this is supposed to be a “River of Love” and all, but I’m not feeling it. I’d rather have seen George do pretty much anything else.
9:18 – Oh, neat, a song about being country. And I do believe Jason Aldean just said “mamma jamma.” (Bonus points: red, white, and blue graphics.)
9:23 – As Lady Antebellum made their way onstage to claim New Artist, I think I saw Randy Travis and his wife off to the side in the front row. Weird that he got such prime seating. Anyhow, I was glad to see Lady Antebellum take that category.
9:29 – I thought that was the introduction to a Jerry Reed tribute, but it turns out it was the whole thing. Guess it’s better than nothing?
9:34 – Ronnie Dunn and Alan Jackson should have a competition to see who can be the more laid-back singer. And Reba’s presence in that duet felt mostly unnecessary.
9:38 – Glad Sugarland got Best Duo, since they’ve sure done more interesting stuff than Brooks and Dunn lately. Mac McAnally (Musician winner) looks like an Irish lumberjack.
9:41 – Place your bets now. Will Darius Rucker get a standing ovation?
9:43 – A partial standing ovation? What was that?
9:46 – Kudos to Brad Paisley for skipping the distracting video screen usage.
9:50 – George Strait rightly gets Best Album. The return of Sweaty Tony.
9:53 – Josh Turner and Lee Ann Womack should have been performing, not presenting.
9:58 – My viewing partner here at the house thinks Keith Urban’s “Sweet Thing” sounds like a Rascal Flatts song.
10:00 – Military tribute time, folks. Quite a jarring transition from the Urban ditty to this lady’s earnest speech.
10:03 – All of a sudden it’s windy in the theater. Carrie might get blown away.
10:05 – Never been a big fan of the song, but at least she can sing on key.
10:07 – Brad Paisley thinks “Just a Dream” is “what country music’s all about.”
10:08 – It’s the speed round tribute to the latest Hall of Fame inductees by a very greenish Vince Gill.
10:11 – CMA makes the least interesting choice possible for Female Vocalist by giving the prize to Carrie Underwood. Sorry, Miranda.
10:16 – Sugarland is performing “Love” and there are lots of umbrellas onstage. Will it rain? Luckily, Kristian is wearing his hat.
10:18 – I’m not sure what Jennifer’s wearing, but she can sing. I’m told that this song would sound right at home on a Lion King soundtrack.
10:19 – KC: “Kristian should be more like Kix Brooks and stay silent.”
10:22 – James Otto did “Just Got Started Loving You” justice, but they apparently asked him to work a radio award announcement into the end of the song. Awkward.
10:25 – While we’re at commercial, I’d like to point out that that’s only the second most awkward transition of the night. The appearance of a serious military widow in a pilgrim outfit at the end of “Sweet Thing” still takes the cake.
10:28 – We’re quickly approaching the end of the show. Hey, Brad Paisley made a Palin reference! Why isn’t she there?
10:30 – Kenny Chesney whips his head to the side as he completes every line.
10:33 – Who’s this guy and has Kenny lost his mind?
10:35 – Trace Adkins delivers one of the best performances of the night.
10:38 – Reese Witherspoon would make a good host.
10:40 – Brad Paisley won Male Vocalist, but Reese Witherspoon didn’t have a trophy for him, so a woman came out with him to hand the trophy to Reese so she could hand the trophy to Brad. Smooth.
10:44 – Sixteen minutes to go. Is it everything you dreamed it would be?
10:48 – I’m glad the Eagles are still around to remind all the contemporary “country” acts who want to be the Eagles that the slot’s already filled.
10:53 – Who will get Entertainer? My guess is Keith Urban.
10:55 – Shania gets a standing ovation just for being there? Eat that, Rucker.
10:56 – KC: “I wonder if Shania will have trouble with radio now that Carrie is here.”
10:56 – Kenny keeps the Entertainer trophy for another year.
11:00 – Someone forgot to put a “Good night, everyone!” on the prompter for Carrie and Brad, so they just waved awkwardly to end the show.

Thanks to KC for keeping me company in my first live blog. This was fun!