Saving Country Music 2016 CMA Awards LIVE Blog
Welcome baseball fans to the Saving Country Music LIVE blog for the 50th Annual CMA Awards! For those few who aren’t watching the Chicago Cubs face the Cleveland Indians in one of the most anticipated Game 7 World Series matchups in the last century—or perhaps are looking for a way to either keep up with the CMA’s without watching, or read a recap after the game, thanks for stopping by. We’ll be raising hell and running down the winners and big events of the evening while trying not to pretend there isn’t an arguably more important event going on simultaneously.
So stretch out those refresh fingers, rosin up your mousing palms, and get ready for some off-speed frivolity and hijinks headed your way. And as always, feel free to step up to the plate and participate yourself below in the comments section.
***50th Annual (2015) CMA Awards Complete Preview***
***2016 CMA Awards Nominees, Picks & Prognostications***
WINNERS:
- Entertainer of the Year – Garth Brooks
- Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
- Female Vocalist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
- Album of the Year – Erich Church’s “Mr. Misunderstood”
- Song of the Year – Lori McKenna’s “Humble and Kind”
- Vocal Duo of the Year – Brothers Osborne
- Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town
- New Artist of the Year – Maren Morris
- Musician of the Year – Dan Huff
- Single of the Year – Some song from Thomas Rhett
10:35 – RECAP: Overall, I think we have to tip our hat the the CMA Awards for really trying to take the 50th Anniversary seriously. Yes, the majority of the older performers constituted only about 8 minutes at the very beginning of the presentation, but it was still such a sight to see them all in one place, and on national television, reviving all of those classics, and when the most people were tuning in likely thinking they were going to see Beyonce. Smart trick, CMA’s.
Also, throughout the program they kept coming back to older performers and classic medleys, while giving a full performance to George Strait and Alan Jackson. All classic country fans have ever asked for is a place at the table and equal time. And for once, that was granted. Of course we can expect next year it will go back to the regular format, but perhaps they’ll include a bit more classic country now. I also think the rating might be a bit better than we expect. I was surprised by the amount of interest on social media, and here on the LIVE blog during a difficult night.
But the biggest story is how the CMA’s gave the mother of all snubs to Florida Georgia Line, and Brothers Osborne were genuinely surprised to win. That will be the biggest moment in their career, and shows just what the industry, and country music’s peers think of bands like Florida Georgia Line. Bro-Country is dead, and has been for a while except an errant song or two.
And Chris Stapleton once again has a big night. All that star power he was up against for Male Vocalist, and he still walked away with it, for a second year. And “Fire Away” deserves all the attention it can get, and the Video of the Year win.
10:28 – Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who stopped by tonight, especially with the World Series going on. Thanks to eveyone who commented or just followed along. Thanks to everyone who tweeted, retweeted, liked, shared, etc. Sorry for the outage in the middle. Still not sure what happened there. I’m going to compose some final thoughts, run down the winners, and go watch the end of the World Series. Thanks so much!
10:22 – Not totally surprising that Garth won. The model was set when the award was given to George Strait a few years back for his farewell tour. Don’t want to see Entertainer of the Year completely turn into a touring award, but that is where it is headed. Rest assured, Luke Bryan fans are crying. He was completely shut out, despite being one of the biggest concert draws, except for Garth. Garth has set records, and the CMA’s recognized that. Meanwhile radio loses another notch of relevancy. Has to be one of the best results for true country fans.
10:19 – Garth Brooks comes up on stage to “Man Against Machine.” He thanks a lot of his touring people, because that is what this award is solely predicated upon. “We’re so lucky to be a part of this thing called COUNTRY MUSIC!” Garth says.
10:18 – The CMA for Entertainer of the Year goes to Garth Brooks. Wow.
10:17 – Taylor Swift takes the stage to hand out the award for Entertainer of the Year. Luckily, Kanye West is nowhere in sight.
10:16 – The World Series is tied 6-6 in the 8th. We very well might get done here before the end of the game.
10:13 – Brad Paisley takes the stage at a piano of all things. He hits a few of the keys on the melody of “Today” before picking up the telecaster. On the background, once again we see images of country legends accepting awards from years past. This is what the ACM Awards missed when they celebrated their 50th.
10:12 – For those who care, I am 9 for 10 on my predictions of winners (find the link at the top). The only one I missed was Brothers Osborne for Vocal Duo of the Year.
10:10 – Chris Stapleton winning for Video of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year sets up well for him to get votes for Entertainer of the Year. In such a spread field where anyone could win, you have to like his chances here.
10:09 – So obviously we’re going long here, either by design or accident.
10:09 – “I’d give my time to Dolly if they’d let me,” says Chris Stapleton.
10:07 – The CMA for Male Vocalist of the Year goes to Chris Stapleton!
10:06 – Sharon Stone handing out a country award is about as appropriate as when she uncrossed her legs in ‘Basic Instinct.’
10:05 – Let Dolly speak!
10:03 – Dolly Parton then takes the stage in a long yellow dress to accept her Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement award. Vince Gill helps her on stage. “I would have cried but I didn’t want to mess up my eyelashes. Receiving the Willie Nelson award, it’s a ‘High” achievement for me,” she says. Another Willie pot joke.
10:02 – Really great performance of “I Will Always Love You.” Two guns up.
10:00 – Carrie Underwood and Martina McBride come out on stage to do “I Will Always Love You.” Reba and Jennifer Nettles, and Kacey Musgraves join in, each singing a part of a the verses. Carrie Underwood takes the the lead on the iconic chorus.
9:58 – Ha! Reba comes out and misses her cue singing “9 to 5” “I saw Dolly and got distracted” she says and starts mid verse. There’s a whole string section on stage backing the band up. Kacey Musgraves comes out in a poofy white dress singing “Here You Come Again.”
9:56 – No doubt Pentatonix has talent, but this Bobby McFerrin stuff feels so gimmicky.
9:55 – Lily Tomlin, who starred beside Dolly Parton in “9 to 5,” comes out to present Dolly with the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award.
9:51 – Great moment for Rhiannon Giddens with Eric Church. He bestowed that same moment to Valerie June a few years ago. Say what you want about him, he does a lot to shine a spotlight on worthy artists.
9:50 – During the unfortunate LIVE Blog outage, Brothers Osborne were named Vocal Duo of the Year. I don’t care what you think about Brothers Osborne, THIS IS MASSIVE. It doesn’t matter who it was, it matters that it WASN’T Florida Georgia Line, especially in a year when they released a record. This is their relevancy slipping away folks! Brothers Osborne shouldn’t have been able to compete with them. It’s a HUGE sign that things are changing.
9:46 – Eric Church comes out to perform his current single “Kill A Word.” The AMAZING Rhiannon Giddens is with him in a red dress. “Words” are imposed on the backdrop.
9:45 – Brad Paisley announces that Dan Huff was the winner of Musician of the Year.
9:43 – The CMA for Female Vocalist of the Year goes to Carrie Underwood, ending Miranda Lambert’s 6 year run.
9:42 – Vince Gill comes out to present Female Vocalist of the Year.
9:40 – Watch the drummer during the Florida Georgia Line performance. This is totally being played to backing track.
9:39 – You know while Florida Georgia Line is performing here, they know they’re goose is cooked after they inexplicably lost to Brothers Osborne. The Nickelback of country music in every way.
9:36 – Sorry folks, absolute catastrophic website failure we’ve been working very hard at solving. Perhaps a malicious attack, perhaps not. Everything appears to be working now. Hopefully it remains that way. My apologies for the inconvenience.
8:57 – The CMA for Vocal Group of the Year goes to Little Big Town.
8:50 – Sorry folks! The website crashed. Thanks for your patience.
8:45 – The CMA for Vocal Duo of the Year goes to Brothers Osborne. This. Is. Huge!
8:42– Give the CMA’s some credit for mixing in performances like this throughout the presentation. It has been a decent mix of new and old, and George Strait and Alan Jackson actually get a FULL 3-minute performance.
8:40 – Alan Jackson takes the stage singing “Remember When” while images of passed on country legends are displayed in the background, and then snippets of older artists accepting CMA awards play as George Strait walks out on stage.
8:35 – We go to commercial with the Oak Ridge Boys singing “Elvira.” We do get a bit of classic country mixed in throughout the presentation. A bit, that is.
8:34 – Brad Paisley drops the nugget that Taylor Swift will show up to present Entertainer of the Year. Aka the Cubs just scored again, but stay tuned. 4 to 1 now in the top of the 5th.
8:33 – Then a bunch of teenagers dressed in black holding candles show up? But the candles aren’t lit. A little awkward. But Lori McKenna is crying again.
8:31– McGraw is performing in black behind a huge screen showing the faces of people behind him. This is a much better presentation than what they tried at the ACM Awards.
8:30 – Tim McGraw comes out to sing Song of the Year “Humble & Kind” that I screwed up and called a Garth Brooks song earlier.
8:28 – Oh, here’s Matthew McConaughey, a.k.a. someone over 45-years-old at this shindig that Florida Georgia Line actually recognizes.
8:26 – Always like to see Miranda on national TV if for no other reason than steel player Spencer Cullum Jr. gets some face time. Who is that guy holding the acoustic guitar in black glasses?
8:25 – Carrie Underwood introduces Miranda Lambert, who starts off “Vice” A Capella.
8:20 – So much for the show opening with Beyonce and the Dixie Chicks. Good bait and switch move by the CMA’s to get folks to tune in early, and stay tuned in until Queen Bea graces us with her presence. Cubs 3, Indians 1 in the bottom of the 4th.
8:19 – Yawn.
8:18 – Really don’t have an opinion on this new Little Big Town song except it’s pretty obvious from the lyrics that Taylor Swift wrote it. It’s just a generic pop breakup song. Looks like the rumor Swift may show up to sing along were unfounded.
8:15 – “We gave it to the fans first,” says Eric Church about “Mr. Misunderstood,” which he sent out to tens of thousands of people in his fan club before it went on sale. Church has said previously Album of the Year is the only award he cares about. In a very weak field, it’s hard to argue with that pick.
8:13 – The CMA for Album of the Year goes to Eric Church for “Mr. Misunderstood.” Well deserved considering the nominees.
8:11 – Usually Carrie Underwood is one of the reprieves of these awards shows, this performance so far has easily been the worst aside from Jason Aldean’s screeching. There’s more kinked hair than in Ronnie Dunn’s dressing room.
8:10 – Carrie Underwood comes out looking like a sadomachochistic 80’s new wave artist. What the hell is this?
8:08 – Thanks to everyone piping up in the comments section. Reading them when I get a free second!
8:06 – Your Saving Country Music alternative New Artist of the Year is Dori Freeman!
8:04 – I always know it’s fall when there’s a nip in the air, and Garth Brooks is repackaging his Greatest Hits into a box set again.
8:02 – Here we go with the rapid-fire medley again. “Mississippi Woman, Louisiana Man,” “Rose Garden,” “Golden Ring,” all get 20 seconds. Good to see Rory Feek get some face time out in the crowd.
8:00 – Garth Brooks is sure looking puffy these days. He’s a red sweater vest and mustache away from becoming the Ken Bone of country music.
7:59 – Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood come singing the classic duet “Jackson,” into Roger Miller’s “Chug A Lug,” and then into Crystal Gayle’s “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue”.
7:57 – Barbara Mandrell comes out of retirement to make an appearance, and she looks great!
7:56 – Maren Morris: “Last year I sat in a bar across the street and watched this show.”
7:55 – The CMA for New Artist of the Year goes to Maren Morris.
7:54 – Any irony in Jennifer Garner talking about the poor victims of the hurricanes with about 14 carats of diamonds dangling from her index finger?
7:50 – Pretty bad when the music on the commercials is better than the music on the show #BadCompany
7:49 – I’d give my right nut for that SS on the red carpet.
7:48 – I could get behind Maren Morris easier if she’d lose the whole diva attitude in her movement and inflections. This is a decent song, but I’m not a fan of this rendition. Even the McCrary Sisters and Preservation Hall Band can save it from her attitude. Sorry.
7:45 – Pretty cool to see all the country legends in attendance as well. Ha! Loretta and Crystal get caught snacking when the camera gets to them. Hey, not their fault this thing goes down right at dinnertime.
7:44 – Pretty forgettable performance from Dierks Bentley and Elle King.
7:43 – I appreciate the effort by Dierks on “Different For Girls,” but I just don’t think the hook of this song delivers.
7:40 – Lori McKenna’s win for “Humble & Kind” is the first solo-written song win Song of the Year in five years. She also shared the award last year for “Girl Crush.”
7:36 – Holy shit Jason Aldean is awful here. Make it stop. Who thought this was a good idea?
7:35 – Jason Aldean comes out with Brooks & Dunn, and immediately fucks up the classic country melody of “Brand New Man.”
7:33 – Lori McKenna, a mother of five, is crying. She wrote the song all by herself … Music Row.
7:32 – The CMA for Song of the Year goes to “Humble & Kind” written by Lori McKenna, performed by Tim McGraw. Excellent pick.
7:31 – Garth Brooks is SO jealous he didn’t get to ride on the Peter Pan stirrups during the Kealsea Ballerini performance.
7:28 – Kelsea Ballerini is the worst. So plastic, always smiling. No self-doubt, no humanity. That is what keeps her from being the next Taylor Swift.
7:25 – Your Saving Country Music alternative Single of the Year is “The Dogs” by Justin Wells!
7:22 – Thomas Rhett is wearing a gold band around his bowtie to match ONE gold band around his right shoe. His lack of symmetry is making my OCD go crazy.
7:21 – The CMA Award for Single of the Year goes to Tom Rhett for “Die A Happy Man.”
7:19 – I barely recognized Peyton Manning without him kissing Papa John or schlepping insurance.
7:18 – Worst joke ever: “Don’t drink that or you’ll have to take a Wikileaks.”
7:17 – Huh. A Willie Nelson pot joke.
7:15 – Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood telling canned jokes at the moment. One funny moment is when Brad Paisley says the awards is rigged. Otherwise, you can fast forward the DVR through this portion.
7:14 – So that opening montage constituted all of the official “legends” that were announced as performers. By my watch, none of them got more than 30 seconds. But I will say it was cool to see them all, and for the CMA to put them all on at the start. But don’t worry, Beyonce is waiting in the wings.
7:10 – Alan Jackson performs for about 17 seconds, then everyone comes out singing “Forever and Ever” with Randy Travis standing center stage who finishes the song with an elongated “A-Men!”
7:09 – Apparently Ricky Skaggs went as Ben Franklin for Halloween and didn’t have time to change out of his costume.
7:08 – Clint Black sings “Killin’ Time,” then Ricky Skaggs comes out with a blistering 30 seconds of “Country Boy.”
7:06 – Reba sings the hook of “Fancy” and then the great Dwight Yoakam comes out singing “Gutar, Cadillacs.” At this pace we’ll be through all the legends in the first five minutes. Can’t type quick enough to keep up.
7:05 – Someone should tell Charlie Daniels that Cole Swindell is pro Iran just so we can see Charlie whip his ass on national television without missing a note on the fiddle.
7:05 – The Charley Pride sings a bit of “Kiss An Angel Good Morning.” Yep, 30 second snippets of songs like we were expecting, but still good to see these folks at all, especially at the beginning of the show. Alabama also performs, and Charlie Daniels comes out as a fiddlin’ son-of-a-bitch playing “Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
7:03 – Wow, two classic country performances in a row. Roy Clark comes out with Brad Paisley playing Buck Owens’ “Tiger By The Tail” . Then Carrie Underwood sings 30 seconds of “Stand By Your Man.”
7:02 – Thanks to Sturgill Simpson for making this first performance possible 😉
7:01 – Show starts off with a montage of folks who’ve won in past years accepting awards. Oh and look at this, the very first performance of the night is Vince Gill playing Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” with Merle’s son Ben Haggard on Telecaster.
7:00 – And here we go!
6:59 – Word from the red carpet is Chase Rice handed his keys to Charley Pride and told him “don’t scratch it, or screw with my stereo settings!” and then promptly vomited his designer drugs into to bowl of Tim McGraw’s plastic hat.
6:58 – For those not clued into the late breaking news today, it was announced Beyonce will be performing tonight, likely in the first 8 minutes, and with The Dixie Chicks. Also uncorroborated rumors that Taylor Swift might make an appearance, possibly with Little Big Town since she just wrote a song for them. So there’s that. And pretty much all the major networks have decided to show reruns tonight instead of compete with the World Series. Could be a rough one for the CMA’s.
6:50 – Cool shot from yesterday’s rehearsals showing us some of the country music legends that will be performing tonight.
6:45 – Just a quick addendum before we get started here. Frankly, I feel a little deflated compared to how I normally feel going into most live blogs with the realization that many will be watching the World Series Game 7 instead of the CMA’s tonight. I don’t blame anyone for making that decision, and if I didn’y run a country music website, I probably would make that decision as well, and I’m not even a huge baseball fan.
Nonetheless, the CMA’s must go on, and I’ve heard from a few folks who’ve said they’re looking forward to following along here while they follow the game. So in that spirit, I will probably be doing just as much describing what’s going on as the usual snark and criticism that the live blogs are known for. Hopefully there will still be plenty of snark and frivolity, but I also want to be mindful of the folks trying to keep up while enjoying the baseball game.
Golddust
November 2, 2016 @ 6:27 pm
Miranda’s back!
Michael
November 2, 2016 @ 6:28 pm
Ans she has the Blake Shelton stink off of her.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 6:31 pm
With a fresh scent of Anderson East to take his place
Jacob Ware
November 2, 2016 @ 8:25 pm
Miranda is really talented, but I think the Anderson easy thing is a marketing device to attract east Nashville hipsters. I think this resurgence of country music is gonna die down when all the hipsters jump into the next cool thing.
NPC
November 2, 2016 @ 6:27 pm
“Can somebody let Billy Ray out?” No, Carrie, that’s quite all right…
Warthog
November 2, 2016 @ 6:28 pm
The Beyhive can keep Beyonce. We’ve got Miranda, we’re good.
Columbo
November 3, 2016 @ 1:57 pm
I am ashamed that the CMA’s had Beyoncé on. She hates cops and openly says so.. totally against what CMA’s and the community of what we support. Beyoncé on CMA wow !
KathyP
November 2, 2016 @ 6:28 pm
Catching up here between innings. I was lucky enough to get the free download when it was released. I listened to Mr. Misunderstood earlier today for the first time in a while. Definitely the best thing he’s ever done. Best thing released this year. Well deserve, Eric Church.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 11:18 am
I need to listen to that album. I can’t stand his stupid little ego stuff (I refer to him at Ego Church) but I LOVE his voice and he has some killer songs.
I knew he wouldn’t win single or song but I liked Record Year better than Die A Happy Man and Talladega was one of the best songs I’d heard in a while.
NPC
November 2, 2016 @ 6:29 pm
ALL RIGHT ALL RIGHT ALL RIIIIIIIGHT!
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 6:31 pm
Timmy! 🙂 I love this song…
KathyP
November 2, 2016 @ 6:32 pm
General comment, acoustics suck. I like Garth and Trisha together but I could hardly make out the lyrics and I know the lyrics.
Kelsie Ballerina (whatever her name is) – caught a 10 second clip. Go home, child. You’re out of your league. Missed Aldean, which I guess isn’t much.
Back to WS. Cubs 4-other guys 1.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 11:19 am
I’m a traditional country guy all the way, but I love “Peter Pan” and thought Kelsie did a great job. I even like that dancing with the stars crap in the background and I’m straight. I may be biased because I think Kelise is hot.
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 6:33 pm
The national media, reporting on the show, is calling the Beyonce song “country” as they justify her appearance tonight.
Bless their hearts.
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 6:37 pm
I have a weird feeling they’re saving Bey for last so people will watch the whole show. o_O
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 6:39 pm
Good, that’ll piss a whole bunch of people off.
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:43 pm
LOL!
Well, not quite the end, but at the top of the 3rd hour — close enough. 😀
JB
November 3, 2016 @ 5:04 am
I have to get this out. Bey and the Dixie Chicks came in and shit all over anything good that happened in the hours leading up. That was absolutely horrible and does not resemble country AT ALL.
Yul
November 3, 2016 @ 2:11 pm
I cant believe they had Beyonce. I was so disappointed in the CMAs for that.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 6:35 pm
Okay Nashville, the young girl you originally knew as Taylor Swift is long gone. LET HER GO, YOU DUMBSHITS!
Michael
November 2, 2016 @ 6:39 pm
But the Ratings man, THE RATINGS!
Mainstream Country is like the boyfriend that thinks they are still together long after they have broken up with her
Jimmy Fitch
November 2, 2016 @ 6:36 pm
Oak Ridge Boys could never ever hold a candle to the Statler Brothers
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 6:39 pm
True story.
Stephanie G.
November 2, 2016 @ 6:36 pm
Back-to-back great performances by Miranda Lambert and Tim McGraw, two people who can actually SING. That feels like a win.
RWP
November 2, 2016 @ 6:37 pm
Just let me know when The Band Perry comes on!
justin casey
November 2, 2016 @ 7:57 pm
they’re still in the parking lot they were told they were going on before beyonce
ssshhhhh no one say anything
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 2, 2016 @ 6:40 pm
Sweet Jesus “Elvira” is one of the most retarded songs ever.
Can’t believe anyone gave that song a greenlight for this performance.
Stupid producer 1: alright, we’ve got the guy who looks like Santa, the big guy who inexplicably can play any instrument, and all the other old farts lined up for the first five minutes
stupid producer number 2: yeah, but now we have to do all these old fart songs or Sturgill Simpson will reveal his final form and kill us all. what do we do? we can’t have good music on an awards show! it just isn’t done!
Stupid Producer 3: alright, we can still make the music suck like we always do, let’s make sure that one talented duo has Aldean go on with them and drag them down… and make sure somebody sings that “hoom-papa” song. That’s an old fart song.
Stupid Producer 1: I’d rather we had them sing “Husbands and Wives”
Stupid Producer 2: We can’t! We already had them do three “songwriterly” songs today. Anymore songwriterliness and Jason Aldean will go into septic shock and he’s a big money maker. We have to make sure we can still milk his brand to buy another house next summer. He’s malleable, we can’t afford to lose him.
stupid producer 3: just don’t look directly at Chris Stapleton, we’ll be fine!
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 6:42 pm
King George. Nuff said.
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:38 pm
King George & AJ! 😀 Was hoping for “Murder on Music Row,” but “Remember When” and “Troubadour” are lovely tunes.
Farmer Brian
November 2, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
I was hoping for Murder on Music Row as well. Can’t have it all I guess, but I’m glad both got a chance to play some good country and honor the past greats.
Orgirl1
November 2, 2016 @ 10:06 pm
Really great to hear both Alan J. and George Strait. They sounded great. I could do without all the actor presenters, athlete presenters, etc. They and Beyonce were the most annoying.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 11:22 am
AJ and Strait was my favorite performance of the night. So great to see the #1 and #3 greatest country artists of all-time performing together.
and then #6 and #10 all-time Dolly and Reba and Carrie who may be the third greatest country singer ever. Just incredible. Sidenote: I hate liberals but Kacey Musgraves sounded fantastic imo.
witness
November 2, 2016 @ 7:35 pm
Site is finally back up!!!
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 7:36 pm
Testing testing testing
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 7:37 pm
Back! Can’t wait to see Trig’s comments on Beyonce and then Stapleton with Dwight.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 7:38 pm
Chris Stapleton and Dwight Yoakam was a pretty interesting combo but I liked it
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:39 pm
I thought they were so good together. 🙂
Stephanie
November 2, 2016 @ 7:43 pm
Damn I’m actually REALLY sorry I misssed that! Hope I can find a video tomorrow.
Parth Venkat
November 2, 2016 @ 8:13 pm
yeah i am kind of bummed i didn’t see the show now … them doing seven spanish angels sounds awesome
Stephanie
November 2, 2016 @ 8:27 pm
That’s what they sang!!?? God I really missed out and here I sit watching the Cubs blow a pretty big lead! I may die of stress before the night ends.
Parth Venkat
November 2, 2016 @ 8:29 pm
Should probably ask someone watching (not me) but i think from Rita’s twitter it was …
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 7:38 pm
Oh….DOWN GOES FGL!
Orgirl1
November 2, 2016 @ 7:38 pm
Site back up!
Biscuit
November 2, 2016 @ 7:39 pm
The Stapleton/Yoakam part was really good.
witness
November 2, 2016 @ 7:40 pm
The blonde hair dude in FGL looking more country than the other is a very surprising development.
Austin Lee
November 2, 2016 @ 7:40 pm
How fuckin cool is that that Brothers Osborne beat FGL! The tides are turning! And Eric Church won! And Lori McKenna! I can’t really complain other than Thomas winning and Beyoncé
seak05
November 2, 2016 @ 7:40 pm
Enjoyed Beyonce and Dixie Chicks, would’ve loved a Dixie Chicks song too. And still more country than whatever Luke just did.
Dustin
November 2, 2016 @ 7:41 pm
Chris Stapleton and Dwight Yoakam may be the best thing I’ve seen on the CMA’s ever
Jonathan
November 2, 2016 @ 7:55 pm
It was great! Luke Bryan should have felt completely embarrassed to perform that shitty song of his right after.
Stephanie
November 3, 2016 @ 5:46 am
I just finally caught it and I honestly got tears. I’d be hard pressed to think of a song more evocative of my childhood and Dwight Yoakam and Chris Stapleton are two of my very favorites. Wonderful. Thank you for that, CMAs. ??
Meaghan
November 2, 2016 @ 7:41 pm
I know that Tim is a Crossfit/paleo nut, but I assume that FGL’s weight loss is from all the cocaine.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 7:43 pm
I wonder how they were able to get the original formula for coca cola
Warthog
November 2, 2016 @ 7:41 pm
Brian Kelly’s Halloween costume? Douchey John Anderson.
Justin
November 2, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
Did the site get slammed by the “Beyhive?”
Orgirl1
November 2, 2016 @ 7:51 pm
I was thinking the same thing!
Michael
November 2, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
I wonder if we could keep Beyonce, ship them back Aldean, Bryan and FGL and maybe they won’t notice the difference.
justin casey
November 2, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
did tyler’s mic drop out at the beginning or did he miss the lyrics
Casey K
November 2, 2016 @ 7:42 pm
I blame Luke Bryan or FGL for the site going down. J/K. FGL going down!! Yes!! So happy for Brothers Osborne, love those guys.
Stephanie G.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:43 pm
Something I never thought I’d say: Tonight Beyoncé was more country than Carrie Underwood.
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:48 pm
I was pleasantly surprised; I thought Bey and the Chicks sounded like they were trying for a Carolina Chocolate Drops kinda thing (loved hearing that snatch of “Long Time Gone” in there!).
Stephanie G.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:53 pm
I thought the Dixie Chicks would go into Travelin’ Soldier. For some reason that was a natural pairing with Beyoncé’s “Daddy Lessons” in my mind.
Michael
November 2, 2016 @ 7:48 pm
Beyonce is originally from Texas.
Justin
November 2, 2016 @ 7:55 pm
Yeah, but Houston. Not exactly Amarillo.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 11:25 am
I’m confused I thought the Dixie Chicks were ashamed to be from Texas?
Paul
November 4, 2016 @ 12:11 am
This is so old and stupid by now. What Natalie Maines said was quite right.
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:45 pm
And there goes Miranda’s winning streak.
Justin
November 2, 2016 @ 7:45 pm
Even if the ratings are OK for the CMAs, I have a feeling based on all the “I’m only watching the stupid CMAs for Beyonce” Tweets I’m seeing that it will only be because of Beyonce.
seak05
November 2, 2016 @ 7:47 pm
I like Eric, but I really wish he was singing back-up to Rhiannon on this, rather than the other way around
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:49 pm
Agreed! 😀
justin casey
November 2, 2016 @ 7:47 pm
also i wasn’t here when brothers osborne won but that is such a big deal congrats to them well deserved
justin casey
November 2, 2016 @ 8:00 pm
everyone in my house laughed when i yelled out WHAAAT when brothers osborne
i responded they’re my favorite band i get to be happy
Warthog
November 2, 2016 @ 7:48 pm
RHIANNON GIDDENS ON THE CMAS!!!
Never thought I’d see the day.
Warthog
November 2, 2016 @ 7:50 pm
Also, good on Eric Church giving Rhiannon a solo part when “Kill A Word” was released as a single.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 7:52 pm
Don’t know the overall opinion of “Kill a Word” but I love that song because of how it speaks to how I’ve been feeling these past couple months.
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 7:52 pm
Seems like every male performer is flat tonight, some more than others, including King George. Aldean the worst, predictably.
Derek Sullivan
November 2, 2016 @ 7:55 pm
I know people love Rhiannon Giddens, but I think Eric’s album cut of Kill A Word is much better than this duet.
Orgirl1
November 2, 2016 @ 7:55 pm
I wanted Kacey to win, but oh well. Maybe next year. I feel like she is such an underrated singer. ?
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 11:26 am
She was great singing tonight in the Dolly thing.
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 7:58 pm
“Great moment for Rhiannon Giddens with Eric Church. He bestowed that same moment to Valerie June a few years ago. Say what you want about him, he does a lot to shine a spotlight on worthy artists.”
I remember that Valerie June duet too; dude’s got good taste. 🙂
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 8:00 pm
Aw, nice to see Kacey as part of the Dolly tribute. 😀
Stephanie G.
November 2, 2016 @ 8:02 pm
“Here You Come Again” sounds really right sung by Kacey Musgraves. I’m liking this Dolly tribute (minus Jennifer Nettles but I get why she was included).
Orgirl1
November 2, 2016 @ 8:13 pm
Agree- Kacey sounded great
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 8:02 pm
Someone, somewhere, is saying, “Why are they singing a Whitney Houston song?”
Beat
November 3, 2016 @ 12:16 am
Shoulda been Linda Ronstadt.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 8:04 pm
Always the gentleman, Vince Gill
Orgirl1
November 2, 2016 @ 10:11 pm
I wish he had played a bit more, but oh well.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 8:07 pm
Okay that was a HUGE relief
seak05
November 2, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
Chris Stapleton is great. He will probably win this award for the next several years. Chris released basically no new music this year. He shouldn’t have won. The whole several year streak thing is ridiculous and annoying, regardless of the winner.
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
Go, Chris!
Golddust
November 2, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
What do you know? A vocalist actually won! That voice, that voice, that voice! Yay, Chris Stapleton!!!!
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 2, 2016 @ 8:12 pm
So if anyone cares while the blog was down:
I saw that Beyonce and Thomas Shitt were up, so I changed the channel and watched Pokemon.
Changed back, saw Puke Bryan, and went back to Pokemon.
Came back to see Stapleton win male vocalist.
Michael
November 2, 2016 @ 8:18 pm
Beyonce was alright. Made Bryan and FGL look even less country than previously.
Dennixx
November 2, 2016 @ 8:14 pm
Oh boy Cleveland ties it up!
liza
November 2, 2016 @ 8:17 pm
Cubs – Cleveland tied 6-6 🙁
sbach66
November 2, 2016 @ 8:21 pm
This is on Maddon. Completely mismanaged pitchers last night and tonight.
Stephanie
November 2, 2016 @ 8:28 pm
No fucking kidding that’s exactly my thoughts.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 2, 2016 @ 8:20 pm
totally fine with Garth getting entertainer. at least it makes a bit of sense since he puts on a great show.
and Luke Bryan gets nothing. just like he should have gotten when he came to Nashville. nothing.
seak05
November 2, 2016 @ 8:20 pm
BOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! WME strikes again.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 8:21 pm
HOLY SHIT!!!
justin casey
November 2, 2016 @ 8:22 pm
i’m a lifelong garth fan but what the hell
justin casey
November 2, 2016 @ 8:37 pm
not even a negative what the hell just wasn’t expecting it
Stephanie G.
November 2, 2016 @ 8:22 pm
Thanks for the live blog, Trigger!
Golddust
November 2, 2016 @ 8:26 pm
First time in years I’ve watched the whole show. Maybe, just maybe, the tide is really starting to turn and country music, real country music, is on its way back. I sure hope so! Good job honoring the past and not just focusing on the present. A few things I could have done without, but on the whole, I am glad I stuck with it!
Jim Bob
November 2, 2016 @ 8:27 pm
Now that Stapleon’s won a shitload of awards, do you think The Voice will ask him to be a contestant?
seak05
November 2, 2016 @ 8:29 pm
Blake has half the contestants singing Stapleton songs
seak05
November 2, 2016 @ 8:29 pm
Sales also lose relevancy. Carrie (& er Luke) both had platinum albums this year, and singles that sold very well. Not sure I want to diminish sales. And Carrie also had a very high grossing tour (again as did Luke).
Jacob Ware
November 2, 2016 @ 8:30 pm
Garth huh? Well could be worse, Chris stapleton could have won. But there isn’t as much money to be made off that this year.
Biscuit
November 2, 2016 @ 8:33 pm
Compared to the past few years, there were some good moments tonight. I enjoyed the Stapleton/Yoakam set, Garth/Trisha medley, Rhiannon Giddens/Corey Hart, the opening piece with classic country artists, Dolly (shame though she works a lifetime and isn’t afforded some time for a proper speech}, George Strait/Alan Jackson and the Beyonce/Dixie Chicks song was ok There were some cringe worthy moments as well but this is the first time in a very long time I hung with the telecast all the way through (mostly) primarily due to the inclusion of older artists.
Jacob Ware
November 2, 2016 @ 8:33 pm
Wait where is the Beyonce critique? I missed it. I ain’t even watching I was just letting you describe everything to me like orsen wells dramatically recounting war of the worlds.
Brett Dale
November 2, 2016 @ 8:40 pm
Well done to Garth, well deserved. Lets be honest here for a second, Garth just doesnt have the biggest tour in country music this year, or the biggest tour for any genre this year, his current tour will end up being the biggest in Music History of any genre.
He’s still the ultimate performer and a great spokesperson for country music.
Justin
November 2, 2016 @ 8:45 pm
This award show despite the Beyonce fiasco and Luke Bryan’s “Move” performance was great and far exceeded my expectations. Best awards show in what 15 years?
It was totally ruined by Garth winning eoty. I hate him so much. I predicted he would win the *50th* country music eoty.
Singles should be a part of why one wins EOTY. How do you win eoty when you can’t even get played on the radio? Don’t forget he played the “baby talking to mom in the womb” card and couldn’t even get it played on the radio. He hasn’t had a number one song in 18 (count them) 18 years. I’m not counting “More Than A Memory” because as Garth said the real test would be when the song went back up the charts after radio literally played it so many times its first week so it would go number one. It got to number two…
How many times did they play his promo? How many times does he have to release the same stuff in the same exclusive box collection before people catch on?
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 9:01 pm
Yes his business practices can be very frustrating, but the difference between him and the current generation of so-called singers in this genre, is that he actually TRIES to make a good song. And apparently shit like that offends Jason Aldean’s personal conscience.
So I’m gonna say this to you just once: TAKE YOUR HATE AND SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS!!!
Justin
November 2, 2016 @ 10:23 pm
Just don’t sit there and whisper to me about how you are walking away and going to retire so you can raise your family and then turn around and file for divorce from the wife (that you bragged on at EVERY award show) so that you could then marry (Ms.) Trisha Yearwood.
And then there’s that time Chris Gaines tried to play professional baseball. And then there’s the every year of “well I might come back, I don’t know…I’m gonna release a single…but I’m not coming back…when *we* finish raising the kids…” Blah, blah
What’s the difference between a tattoo and Garth Brooks? Nothing. They never go away and they always need attention.
Jen
November 3, 2016 @ 5:28 am
Lol! HE’S doing four nights in Richmond, VA next week, I believe. Excessive much? NOT much of a fan. Liked his earlier stuff, but after hearing his latest disgusting single, I’ve decided he’s more of a douche than previously thought! Don’t get me started on his attitude about HIS music. I bought his CD second hand (like I do all my CDs.) THESE clowns have enough money. They don’t need mine!
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 10:46 am
Jen,
Thank you.
One of my biggest regrets in life is buying a few Garth Brooks albums and helping him reach highest of all-time solo artist status. I should have just stopped at the McDonald’s album where his face is painted like the American flag that literally has all of his ten songs on there.
I hope he never passes The Beatles.
I would just go to youtube if I wanted to listen to him but his stuff is blocked because “he wants to support songwriters”/more like “I wanna pass The Beatles.” #GostTunes no ITunes #Walmart only #Targetonly…again blah blah blah
Brett Dale
November 2, 2016 @ 9:14 pm
Boy Justin, Someones got issues. Garth deserved this, again, hes always been a great spokesperson for county music. His songs stand the test of time, and entertaining is more about touring than singles.
Justin
November 2, 2016 @ 10:32 pm
Garth was the father of bro-country…he laid the foundation for what we have today. Btw everything about your post was in the past tense.
Were we awarding 50 years or last year?
Garth Brooks: Last 18 years: 0 #1 songs…677,200 albums sales of Man Against Machine…you read that right.
Luke Bryan 2 #1 songs this year…3 last year…1,051,200 albums sales of latest album…
Shouldn’t album sales/songs be a bigger part of it? Or at least a part? Sidenote: don’t get me wrong I can’t stand Bryan…but he deserved it…and I said the same thing when Strait won it (and I think Strait is the greatest ever and he’s one of my all-time favorites).
Tim
November 3, 2016 @ 9:20 am
Garth was not near the father of bro-country. Garth came in very country, and still is, but he stole the antics and energy of Chris Ledoux (a very country guy). None of it was bro-country. The industry jumped on Garth’s success and tried to duplicate it, and in that process started to spit out formula music through a good looking face.
Then the industry decided, it is time to be a little “bad boy” when Taylor hit the scene cause no one could compete with her, so enter—- bro-country (the industry tried to sell it as “Outlaw” but it was far from the spirit of Waylon’s outlaw era).
Garth was not the down fall of country, or start of bro-country. A greedy industry trying to steal Garth’s style and energy, and a culture that moved from depth to instant/immediate gratification was the down fall.
Garth winning, along with Stapleton winning, and the shut out of Byran and FGL have nothing to do with “deserve”. They are a signal that the nickel dime/bubble gum/teenie bopper music is over. At least as far as the industry shoving it down our ears. If Bryan and FGL can make it without the full industry machine…more power to them, but I doubt it.
As far as Garth’s other endeavors, everyone needs to cool it. The guy took risks, and the guy challenged himself. All we true country ever want from an artist is not to be cookie cutter. Garth hardly has ever been that.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 10:53 am
He does not appeal to just country fans though. That’s the problem. His onstage antics led to what we see today from Bro music.
I think Garth Brooks is very talented as a singer an musician and entertainer. He’s the fifth greatest country singer of all-time. He’s not moving up my list. And yes personally I don’t like him.
I predicted the Stapleton win as well. I get what the awards are doing and I love the Stapleton win. He didn’t deserve it either. He can’t even get a song to go #1. Despite the awards show trying to save country…it’s dead.
Garth’s shtick is annoying
Drawshot
November 3, 2016 @ 1:12 am
In recent times, not being able to get your song played on the radio has been a sure-fire sign that you’re a genuine country artist. You mean it as a criticism, I see it as a compliment.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 10:56 am
I agree with that overall…but Garth’s new singles have sucked (again I realize we are doing a *50th* show so then yes- Garth’s singles beat Luke’s singles over 50 years).
I don’t like Luke Bryan. I don’t like Luke Bryan. I don’t like Luke Bryan.
Still, he was commercially the EOTY.
Gena R.
November 2, 2016 @ 8:46 pm
“Not totally surprising that Garth won. The model was set when the award was given to George Strait a few years back for his farewell tour.”
That was my thought, too. :\
nascarfan999
November 2, 2016 @ 8:55 pm
For me, it is not just that the Brothers Osborne won over FGL, but they did it while FGL was releasing what is likely 2 of their best 4 songs in history with Holy and May We All (with Dirt and Cruise as the others). THAT really speaks volumes.
ElectricOutcast
November 2, 2016 @ 9:03 pm
“Don’t want to see Entertainer of the Year completely turn into a touring award, but that is where it is headed.” My opinion, I think it already turned that way after Kenny Chesney kept winning for a few years
Jen
November 3, 2016 @ 5:31 am
Kenny had many straight number ones to his credit, at the time, as well. He didn’t win it just because.
hoptowntiger94
November 2, 2016 @ 9:15 pm
Trig –
You were right. I really enjoyed the show. I can take Luke Bryan and some FGL with some of my favoite country artists mixed in.
Two things:
Because of the crash, we didn’t get your take on Beyonce and Dixie Chicks.
And do you think there will be a CMA 100th anniversary?
I’ll hang up and listen to your response.
Trigger
November 2, 2016 @ 9:30 pm
Hey Hoptowntiger,
Honestly I was in a mad scramble and I didn’t catch enough of the Beyonce / Dixie chicks performance to give an opinion, and I totally missed the Chris Stapleton / Dwight Yoakam performance. I was trying to pay attention, but when the site is down and I know thousands of folks are trying to reach it, I go into panic mode and can only focus on one thing. Really frustrated by the outage. I have spent incredible time and money to make sure these things don’t happen, and even though there was a lot of folks refreshing, I’ve had bigger crowds and done fine. It’s one of the rigors of being an independent website owner.
I do think there will be a 100th Anniversary of the CMA, but we’ll all be wearing jetpacks while watching it.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 11:35 am
I’ve come to the conclusion that these award shows do two things: 1. Try to gain as many people as they can to watch; 2. Troll. Number two is the only way to describe the Beyonce deal. What was she saying “shoe” or “jew” or “chew”?…she just kept singing the same thing over and over again. The Dixie Chicks were just fuel to the fire. Like Paisley said: “stay tuned to the performance we’ll all be talking about tomorrow.” aka good or bad and that was bad. Give credit at least it wasn’t someone washed up noncountry artist this time. Beyonce is popular…
We won’t make to 100…probably not even 75th anniversary. It’ll go to strictly online at some point and then fade away.
Sarah
November 2, 2016 @ 9:44 pm
Linda Ortega was apart of Carrie performance. She was playing guitar and was backing vocal.
Orgirl1
November 2, 2016 @ 9:59 pm
Well overall, this year’s CMA’s were pretty decent. Eric Church, Brothers Osbourne, Lori Mckenna, Chris Stapleton, Die a Happy Man. Could have done without Beyonce.
lizzy
November 2, 2016 @ 10:11 pm
Lindi Ortega played guitar and was doing backing vocals for Carrie.
Justin
November 2, 2016 @ 10:38 pm
I guess we know who the real entertainer of the year is…the one the fan’s elect right? Luke Bryan (ACM Awards).
I wished Alan Jackson would retire and/or then comeback so we could give him a pity EOTY award…
Drawshot
November 3, 2016 @ 1:07 am
I guess that would depend on how you define “fan”, wouldn’t it? If you define it as some clueless, tune-deaf lover of shallow, non-country noise….sure.
Luke Bryan and his ilk are to country music, what MacDonalds is to fine dining. If you like that kind of thing, good for you – just stop polluting the country genre with it.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 11:00 am
I don’t like Luke Bryan. And I totally agree with what you are saying about their fan-base. But refer to album sales above in my post (and remember Garth only allows people to buy his music one way) and see who sold more albums last year…and who had more number one singles…
Again, speaking of McDonalds…if you brought the McDonald’s greatest hits Garth album…you can stop there. That’s all of his songs.
Luke Bryan won at the ACMs because old people (Garth’s fanbase) don’t know how to vote online.
Justin
November 2, 2016 @ 10:41 pm
Instead of “Golden Ring” Garth and Trisha should’ve done “D-I-V-O-R-C-E”
#TBT: https://youtu.be/GRpmwSPQMvs
at
November 2, 2016 @ 10:52 pm
I wasn’t a huge fan of the not-so-country “Dirty Laundry” but appreciated that Carrie Underwood invited Lindi Ortega, Lindsay Ell, Runaway June, and other female musicians to play with her.
Garth performing “Don’t Close Your Eyes” and Lorrie Morgan watching was so heartbreaking. Good to have Keith Whitley remembered.
So many great moments. I really hope this encourages the CMA to continue to step up their game and bring more traditional offerings and pay respect to the legends. I just felt a lot of genuine love and admiration between the artists tonight.
Studley Dudley
November 2, 2016 @ 11:04 pm
This year fucking sucked.
And no Triggy poo, Bro Country ain’t dead. My boys from FGL just gettin’ started.
at
November 2, 2016 @ 11:17 pm
Post CMA findings: the young people who came out with Tim McGraw holding candles were students of a teacher who recently passed, Ben Ellis. You may have seen The story on social media. He was a Nashville teacher battling cancer and his students surprised him by serenading him outside his home. Touching story and worth searching for.
Diana
November 3, 2016 @ 12:03 am
So overall I enjoyed the show, my favorite part was when FGL didn’t get vocal duo of the year. But I was disappointed that Garth won, last year he should have won, but not this year. I was hoping that Carrie would win, her music has been selling well and her tour has been selling well, particularly the part that was in the eligibility period.
albert
November 3, 2016 @ 12:41 am
Beyonce is a great singer and a helluva performer .AND she has no business performing at a 50th Anniversary Country Music show in a spot where so many other dedicated life-long country artists could have performed . Artists who have played the proverbial country honky -tonks , roadside taverns , shitholes and dives doing the music they love and believe in just to earn a shot at the big -time ….that’s who deserved that spot.Yeah yeah yeah I know…ratings and all that other crap . Bullshit . The show is advertised as a show honouring the best in COUNTRY music over 50 years . Let Beyonce have the Superbowl and Grammy’s and American Music Awards and the Video award shoes. But G___damit…how does she get to do the CMA show in THIS of all years with so , so many deserving country artists left out ? I’m sure any of us can think of at least 3-4 if not a dozen country artists who could have and should have been given Beyonce’s spot ( Judds , Travis Tritt , Loretta , Patty Loveless , Kenny Rogers , Don Williams and on and on and on …) Beyonce gets all the exposure she needs .
Jen
November 3, 2016 @ 5:36 am
Not to mention, Bouncy bitch doesn’t even respect our flag our country, or our police officers! I can’t stand her, especially after hearing what she did at last super Bowl!
Benny Lee
November 3, 2016 @ 6:26 am
OK, that was off-topic.
Including her performance on the CMAs, she’s spent a total of 5 combined minutes focused on country music.
There are untold THOUSANDS of performers who have spent their entire adult lives focusing on country music.
That’s why Beyonce on the CMAs, let alone the 50th anniversary CMAs, is so wrong.
Jen
November 3, 2016 @ 6:42 am
How is it off topic? He mentioned Boobonce, and I was commenting my feelings about her. Totally NOT off topic for this particular post! HE mentioned the CMAs, and Super Bowl. I simply kept the conversation going, though I didn’t mention CMAs, hence “Not to mention”….still on the subject. Thank you for reading and responding.
Benny Lee
November 3, 2016 @ 11:53 am
He said, “Let Beyonce have the Superbowl and Grammy’s and American Music Awards and the Video award sho[w]s.”
And you went off about how she allegedly “doesn’t even respect our flag our country, or our police officers!”
I don’t follow the big Bey, so I don’t know what that’s all about, but statements like yours can easily lead to racially or politically charged arguments, and I thought we were all talking about music.
Jen, sorry to pick on you. I’ll let it be now.
Jen
November 3, 2016 @ 12:06 pm
The reason I mentioned that is because any true country artist/entertainer will respect our country, our flag, and our police. Someone of her ilk does not belong anywhere near a country music stage. That also goes for FGL and any other idiot that can’t respect them, country or otherwise. I have no use for anyone ho would promote such “artists”, because we the people are who put them where they are, and most true country fans happen to respect all three, and we expect our entertainers to do the same. Or at least to not disrespect them so blatantly in public. Her SB performance was an ode to the black panthers, one of the most hateful racist groups in this country, and it was nothing more than grandstanding while race baiting. I do not respect anyone who would do the things she as done, and I can only hope after this, she just fades into obscurity, along with FGL and the rest of the bro country morons.
Orgirl1
November 3, 2016 @ 9:00 am
Agree. It was beyond annoying that she was there. And how could she sing lyrics to “Long time gone?” Who’s bad idea was that? Is that supposed to be some twisted piece of irony? F her for singing those words, her very presence was the exact anti-meaning of the song. She should not have been there AT ALL. Cmas were decent this year but they just couldn’t do one awards show without pissing off country fans.
albert
November 3, 2016 @ 10:01 am
Kind of a shame , really , that the Dixe Chicks aligned themselves with this Beyonce bullshit . I’m a big DC fan and first off , they didn’t NEED her .They deliver big time all on their own and always have. Secondly , I am not saying that the Bush stuff way back when was right or wrong …just that it did impact their careers beyond what anyone might have imagined and its been a long road back to folks’ good books for them . Shoot yourself in the foot once , that’s an accident , maybe . Shoot yourself in the foot twice ..SHAME ON YOU !!! This will not bring real country fans back to the Chick’s fold . MY guess is that they were relying on the Beyonce fan base tuning in for exposure . If THAT was the case , they are now at the mercy of the VERY short attention spans of pop culture fans . ( …Who were those girls , again ? …the ones that sang the Beyonce song with her on that stupid cowboy show ..? )
TS
November 3, 2016 @ 12:22 pm
The Dixie Chicks have been covering Beyonce’s “Daddy Lessons” on their tour in the past year. It’s no surprise at all that they performed at the CMAs with Beyonce. Maybe I’m biased towards the Dixie Chicks, but for a group that has been outspoken in their politics and honest about their music, I don’t see them making a grab towards money or fame – they probably earned a massive windfall from their tour.
Orgirl1
November 5, 2016 @ 11:21 pm
I’m a DC fan too and I agree, it wasn’t a good call. I’m the same- I would love to see them back in country music but this may have pissed off a lot of fans permanently. Dissappointing but oh well.
I wish DC had performed separately. I agree, I’m not sure how many pop fans they got out of this.
sbach66
November 3, 2016 @ 5:12 am
This just in…
…Justin is not a fan of Garth Brooks.
Justin
November 3, 2016 @ 11:07 am
Hee hee I guess you could say that.
Again- great singer, great musician, has had songwriting success, has large zombie fan base, some big time historical songs (though like what ten number one’s overall in his career).
Fifth greatest country singer ever. He’s not moving up the list and Waylon is still not on it.
Garth is just not my cup of tea. I remember thinking “man this guy is gonna get credit for saving someone from a fire.”
And. then. it. happened. I don’t believe it really happened: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=114292
Donny
November 3, 2016 @ 5:31 am
Would’ve been a solid night if the Indians came back and won but what can ya do.
Orgirl1
November 3, 2016 @ 8:46 am
Agree!
melanie
November 3, 2016 @ 5:37 am
Trigger, thanks for your live blogging. I watched the first 5 minutes of awards but then switched to binge-watching Atlanta. (We obvs don’t care about baseball!) It was great to be able follow along with your commentary.
I generally agree with the Beyonce thing, but I have to say, when I went over to the CMA Facebook page to try and see some video recaps (they were sparse), it was so littered with anti-Beyonce and Dixie Chicks commentary from people using poor grammar, racial incinuations, and “fuck yeah, ‘merica” rhetoric that I found myself defending her appearance (if to only myself). Being a born & bred Southerner, I should be used to it, but man it’s hard to be a country music fan and be counted amongst these prejudiced degenerates.
Annnnnyyywhooo…..just occurred to me this morning, but how in the HOLY HELL did Brandy Clark get no nominations?? Did her record not make the deadline for nomination?
Thanks again!
bnw86
November 8, 2016 @ 12:20 am
They have every right to be angry. Beyoncé has nothing to do with music and shouldn’t be on the CMA’s. This was a slap in the face to country music and country music fans, just another nail in the coffin. The Dixie Chicks should be ashamed of themselves.
Charlie
November 3, 2016 @ 6:12 am
Just wanted to inflate the comment count, mainly.
I totally forgot about the CMAs. Band practice, then Game 7 on DVR. But, if they keep doing shows like this, I’ll be watching in the future.
Thanks for the coverage, even if the snarky comments were necessarily fleeting!
Jamie Lavigne
November 3, 2016 @ 6:33 am
“Kelsea Ballerini is the worst. So plastic, always smiling. No self-doubt, no humanity. That is what keeps her from being the next Taylor Swift.”
Ouch. To be honest, I can’t help thinking the same thing myself Trigger.
I like a small dose of pop country (particularly female vocalists) but, just can’t listen to any Kelsea song.
Very bland, not much to offer. Not my cuppa tea.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 3, 2016 @ 7:55 am
My final thoughts on the event:
it was almost halfway tolerable. maybe.
It’s inexcusable that they shafted the legends the way they did. Thomas Shitt and Keith Urban got to perform, but all Roy Clark and Skaggs got was less than a minute each????!!!!!!
That don’t sit right with Fuzzy Beefaroni TwoShirts.
And Beyonce????????? Let Don Maddox do a fiddle tune!!!!!
I mean it was cool that at least they tried, but the classic video footage could have been extended.
No, I don’t intend to watch again.
Roy Clark made me watch, seeing Roy Clark get shafted by the industry made me want to watch the industry burn.
I will not now, nor will I ever listen to a Country radio station.
I will not buy an album from a major label except through Amazon or Ebay in which case I know that my money goes not to a major label but to someone else.
I will not watch an awards show or watch any music T.V.
You had one chance Music Row to win be back after Flake Shelton and Puke Bryan drove me off (I actually quit on radio during the “Stuck Like Glue and Hillbilly Bone” years, but not the point)
And you failed.
Goodbye forever, Shadow the Hedgehog.
Tom R.
November 3, 2016 @ 3:38 pm
It was better than any CMA show of the last decade when the CMA was determined to cut all ties to “old” country but still very disappointing in limiting the screen time of veterans. Charley Pride (and in a cameo, Roy Clark) were the only pre-1975 stars who got to sing!! If this is a 50th anniversary show supposedly celebrating the history of country music how about letting some of the “old farts” get more than just a seat in the arena.
I’m old enough to remember the 50th Anniversary of the Academy Awards in 1978 and they allowed the oldtime movie stars to present throughout the show and have as much screen time as the “young un’s” even though many of these veteran stars hadn’t been active in the movies for several decades. It would have been nice if the CMA had respected the history of it’s industry as much.
Disappointed with the opening number which moved rather awkwardly from act to act, one of the worst segues to the next act I’ve ever seen in such a medley. And truly shocked that this was “all” of the tribute Merle Haggard received on the show though I should have known better given the way they handled the passing of George Jones and others in recent years.
Not a super fan of the Brookses usually but very pleased that they sang a medley saluting a handful of the icons of country music, Johnny Cash & June Carter, George Jones & Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn, Roger Miller, Lynn Anderson (whose July 2015 death was completed ignored on last year’s show), Keith Whitley, and Crystal Gayle. Certainly many more deserved to be so honored but no way in hell any of the current crop was going to give up a chance to sing their own music and acknowledge the debt they owed to the greats of the past, most of whom they probably don’t have a clue who they were anyway.
Alan Jackson and George Strait were good in their “Remember When/Old Troubadour” medley but it was almost pointless to show flashing images of deceased greats in the past when the camera rarely showed these images and concentrated on the guys and the audience.
CG
November 6, 2016 @ 8:34 am
I watch CMA for country music. I do not appreciate musicians like Beyonce on the CMA. If I wanted to see her, which I don’t, I would watch MTV. And, for her to have the Dixie Chicks with her was a definite slam to America and country music fans who have made it clear that we do not want their music after what they did.
bnw86
November 8, 2016 @ 1:07 am
I can’t believe that so many people have no problem with beyonce performing at the CMA’s. I don’t care how good of a singer she is, what state she was born in or or anything else. She’s has nothing to do with country music and she shouldn’t have been there, period.
So many other country singers are so much more deserving of the spot that was given to beyonce. I’m sick of her, she is everywhere. If I wanted to see beyonce I would watch MTV or BET.
What next rhianna, justin bieber, lady gaga? This I just a slap in the face to country music and country music fans. Just another nail in the coffin. It really does prove how pathetic country music as gotten. That bro country junk is bad enough, but at least Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean can sing country music if they really wanted to.
This pretty much destroyed any chance of me taking the dixie chicks seriously. Natalie Maines said years ago that she didn’t like country music, so I can’t say I’m too surprised that she would sing with someone who is the flip opposite of country and whose performance at the CMA’s is an example of everything wrong with country music today.
Houston Bernard
November 28, 2016 @ 3:51 am
Yeah! I watch CMA for country music and I appreciate for that.