Why Lee Ann Womack’s 2015 CMA Nomination is Especially Sweet
In recent years the unveiling of the nominees for the annual CMA Awards has become an exercise in disappointment and false hope to the point where it’s questionable if it’s even worth paying attention unless you happen to be rooting for country music’s turn towards the dark side. But the 2015 nominees includeed a few surprises and glimmers of promise that all of the clamoring for more recognition of older artists, female artists, and performers with a little more substance has not fallen on deaf ears.
Seeing Chris Stapleton nominated for Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as Album of the Year and New Artist of the Year was a welcomed surprise. Though they may prove a long shot, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard’s nomination for Musical Event of the Year was a nice gesture by the CMA’s. And seeing all female-lead performers get the noms for Video of the Year was another positive sign that at least an effort is being undertaken to be more inclusive.
But possibly the most heart warming was to see six-time CMA winner Lee Ann Womack re-emerge in the Female Vocalist of the Year category.
READ: 2015 CMA Awards Nominees, Picks & Prognostications
It was fifteen years ago, at the 2001 CMA Awards where Lee Ann won the Female Vocalist of the Year for the first and only time, primarily off the strength of her blockbuster song and now country standard, “I Hope You Dance.” To put it in perspective, it was the George Strait and Alan Jackson-performed “Murder on Music Row” that won Song of the Year during that season. Maybe it speaks to the dearth of females to nominate in the category that Lee Ann has re-emerged in this top-level distinction, or maybe it’s recognition of the hard work she and husband/producer Frank Liddell put into Lee Ann’s first new record in six years, The Way I’m Livin’.
“That news hit me pretty hard in the heart,” Lee Ann says about the nomination. She was driving to her mother’s house in east Texas when she received the call. “I am and always will be a country music singer. It’s what I do”¦ It’s what I love”¦ and it’s the thing that truly makes me feel alive. Having the CMA recognize that after the year I’ve had since ‘The Way I’m Livin” came out really does my heart good.”
The nomination comes after a period when Lee Ann parted ways with her major label, and took some time to reassess the direction she wanted her career to go. “I followed my heart,” she says. “I trusted the music, and I believed that if we let the music dictate everything else would fall into place. It’s been a different year from any other I’ve had since ‘Never Again, Again,’ but in a lot of ways I have the same kind of excitement I had when my first single came out. I didn’t know and every day was an adventure, but oh the things we’ve done!”
And it’s not just the Country Music Association that has taken notice. The Americana Music Association nominated Lee Ann in both the Artist of the Year and Album of the Year categories for their 2015 awards. Lee Ann’s nominations on both the independent and industry side of the country music world show the wide appreciation and respect for her music.
“I am so grateful to my husband Frank (Liddell) for believing in what this could be and encouraging me ”¦ His co-producers Glenn Worf and Chuck Ainlay, and all the incredible musicians who came and played and tracked in a whole different kind of way,” Lee Ann says.
One of the special ingredients of The Way I’m Livin’ was using music from songwriters who did not pen their material by committee, but through personal moments and reflection.
“When you get songwriters like Julie Miller, Hayes Carll, Adam Wright, Mando Saenz and Mindy Smith, Neil Young, Bruce Robeson, Brent Cobb, Brennan Leigh and Kenny Price, who wrote ‘Tomorrow Night in Baltimore’ for Roger Miller, it’s not letting those writers down. What they bring inspires me. This nomination is as much about them as anyone.”
It still may be an uphill battle for Lee Ann to win the Female Vocalist CMA come November. Miranda Lambert—who Lee Ann shares Frank Liddell as a producer with—has won the distinction the last five years running, and has to be considered the front runner. But Lee Ann will give fans of Americana, traditional country, and music of more substance someone to root for on the night.
Gena R.
September 11, 2015 @ 4:29 pm
Great piece, Trig! I’d forgotten about the Americana awards. 😀
Melissa
September 11, 2015 @ 4:29 pm
Sweet and well-deserved. I listen to this album often; you can tell a lot of care went into it. Miranda will probably win, but I’m glad an honest effort like this (and Traveller) didn’t escape notice.
Albert
September 11, 2015 @ 4:44 pm
Even it this nomination puts Lee Ann’s name out there in front of folks who may not be aware of her talent and track record…. it will be a WIN .
Kale
September 11, 2015 @ 4:47 pm
Carrie should win. She’s done more than Miranda this time.
hoptowntiger
September 11, 2015 @ 6:44 pm
Not taking the bait ….
Kale
September 11, 2015 @ 7:18 pm
I can’t even bait a hook;)
Seriously, Carrie had Something in the Water, and also had that Greatest Hits album come out, not that that means anything, but how can anybody say Miranda outdid Carrie this year? Carrie was the woman who did the most, so she should win. Carrie should also be up for Entertainer of the Year. I honestly think Carrie should WIN Entertainer this year. She’s also one of the hosts, so that should mean something. WHY exactly does Miranda always win? I like her, I really do, but I don’t get it.
Adrian
September 12, 2015 @ 10:07 am
I’d also be curious to see who wins more awards for the rest of their career after their divorce, between Miranda and Blake. It was clear that the whole was more than the sum of the parts when it came to fame and fortune. I wonder who gained more from the union.
Lee
September 11, 2015 @ 4:51 pm
I’m fine with Miranda winning. Carrie can win next year after a new album. What I want is Stapleton to win Male & Album!!! If they can give it to Kasey one year why not Chris? He has been working for years and his voice is a absolute gift from above.
Nick Brown
September 11, 2015 @ 4:52 pm
You know, I remember the first time I heard Lee Ann on the radio, she was being interviewed on a program called “Country Hitmakers” with Hoss Burns back in the 90’s.
Long time ago, that’s for sure.
bamstrait
September 11, 2015 @ 5:40 pm
Lee Ann’s cd is the only one I own of this years nominee and damn proud of it. True country.
oh oh oh Lil Dale, thank I'm gunna hafta slip u off take a chanse tonite n untie the not there's more to life then wut I got
September 11, 2015 @ 5:58 pm
trigg Im sarry, I red this artickel bout Steve earl n I got scared an didnt no ware else to turn. http://www.vdare.com/articles/plc-and-pc-singer-steve-earle-use-minstrel-song-to-down-the-flag-they-both-used-to-exploit
hoptowntiger
September 11, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
I thought I found an error when I read the article. I would have bet my last dime Womack also won Female Vocalist in 05. However after checking Wiki, I’m reminded it was Gretchen Wilson who took home the trophy that night. Although, I remember it being a huge night for Womack though; she won Single and Album of the year.
John Wayne Twitty
September 11, 2015 @ 9:01 pm
She is great. This was one of the few albums I’ve looked forward to being released in a LONG time. “Send It On Down” is one of those phenomenal songs that only the album buys will hear, and that’s a shame. Her voice is one of my favorites.
Austin
September 12, 2015 @ 12:29 am
You are dead on about Send It On Down. Chris Knight is probably one of, if not the, most underrated writer of his time. Lee Ann does a great job with the song! I think it is honestly the best track on the record. The whole album is a really good listen though.
JohnWayneTwitty
September 12, 2015 @ 6:16 am
Youtube has a video of her singing it with her band. I got chills on the “even if I was I wouldn’t be no catch” line. You can hear it in her voice and see it on her face that she was invested in the song and felt it that lyric. Very refreshing to see someone perform a song that way.
Mike2
September 12, 2015 @ 7:08 am
Send it on down the line was actually on the radio this summer, so it’s possible non-album buyers heard it.
John Wayne Twitty
September 12, 2015 @ 7:43 am
That is awesome. I haven’t listened to country radio at all in well over a year, so I didn’t know that. People probably didn’t know what station they were on, what with it not having computer drums and poor rapping.
Chris
September 12, 2015 @ 11:28 am
Because “country” (pop #4 or Bro AC) radio isn’t playing enough country or women (and none over age 32) and even if they were they hardly play any slow songs, Send It On Down didn’t chart so not many people heard it on the radio. It got a small number of plays for a short time.
Big Cat
September 12, 2015 @ 5:03 am
Seen Lee Ann many times and love her. Love Miranda too when she sticks to her roots.
However, the Chris Stapleton contradictions on this site crack me up. Everyone needs to decide if they applaud him for his singing (Traveler) or despise him for his bro country song writing. My vote is who gives a shit, I love the guy. But the constant contradictions crack me up. The guy is like the SCM yo-yo. Lot of overthinking around here”¦”¦
JohnWayneTwitty
September 12, 2015 @ 6:19 am
He wrote some bro songs to establish himself, much like a minor league baseball player toils in AA and AAA, waiting for the majors to call him up. He got to the majors and hit a bases empty grandslam on the first pitch.
Albert
September 12, 2015 @ 9:11 am
In songwriting , often your co-writer dictates the way the lyric will go . That is , someone writing a bro tune ( BAD tune ) may want the input of a Chris Stapleton to keep it on the rails, somewhat . Chris , as a ‘ hired hand’ , so to speak , is then committed to the intent and parameters of the lyric as they’ve been established , should he decide to co-write . In other words , if someone is writing a dumbed-down lyric and a CS wants to jump on board , it will likely still be a dumbed -down lyric but , hopefully , one that , at least , rhymes and makes a bit more sense . It doesn’t mean it wont stink . Your Man ..(.Josh Turner) was a HUGE song with a trite , cliche , generic , overall shitty lyric . Its almost hard to believe Josh and Chris could have cranked out that crap and actually want their names on it . But again , it was a dumbed-down lyric for a dumbed down audience and it successfully hit its mark . In its defense , its a great dance tune in a club and show-cases Josh’s low end range . But that’s about it .
Chris
September 12, 2015 @ 11:40 am
Also every songwriter writes some bad songs. The gatekeepers used to do a good job of keeping most of them out and now they flood the gates. They should be telling writers, “that song isn’t good enough, do you have any better?” Not “give us more of those generic cheesy pop songs.”
Albert
September 12, 2015 @ 6:06 pm
“They should be telling writers, “that song isn”™t good enough, do you have any better?”
THIS is exactly what I regularly e-mailed our local country station . I suggested , diplomatically , that as the last stop for any song ( radio ) the station has the last say . They hold the power . That is , the radio station CAN say ” This song is not good enough for our station…send us better material ” Sounds too easy doesn’t it ? Unfortunately they are, seemingly, not the least bit concerned with what they play if another station is already playing it . In fact , I’m not sure most of today’s stations would know a GOOD song if it bit them . Most of the DJ’s here in Vancouver, Canada did NOT grow up on country music and very often its a DJ who’s been at other stations where it may be pop or ” easy listening ” retro rock or Lord knows what. They have no reference . Radio should be standing their ground but again ….if the songs are geared to the lowest common denominator and the station makes money off of that , they aren’t going to change a thing . In their minds ..IT AIN’T BROKE .
Trigger
September 12, 2015 @ 9:47 am
Only problem with that analogy is that he continues to write for others, including some questionable material.
And I don’t think it’s wrong to be able to see an artist both ways. It may be “yo-yo,” but it’s also honest. Stapleton lives in two separate country worlds at the same time.
Chris
September 12, 2015 @ 11:36 am
Actually he established himself as a critically acclaimed writer long before bro-country was conceived on a tailgate. The bros would do better to stop selling out to generic pop and go to great country writers like him more often instead of the usual 3 or so big bro-country writers. The last time I heard Lee Ann’s timeless song I Hope You Dance, this line really stood out and it’s more important now than ever (attention bros, Music Row and country radio):
When you come close to sellin’ out, reconsider.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV-Z1YwaOiw&t=2m1s
Big Cat
September 14, 2015 @ 9:28 am
Chris, I think you missed my point. I love CS and spin his recorded music a lot. But as Trigger points out above the guy is living in two worlds. CS gets both lauded and trashed around here. I love CS so no need to convince me.
Chris
September 14, 2015 @ 6:08 pm
Gotcha. My reply was to JohnWayneTwitty’s.