Before CMAs, Garth Brooks & Carrie Underwood Honored Randy Travis
As an addendum to all of the brewhaha last week surrounding Garth Brooks winning the 2019 CMA Entertainer of the Year over Carrie Underwood, a little context is perhaps needed. Though Stan armies love to war back and forth about who deserves what awards, and the media loves to seize on drama for clicks, behind the scenes things are often a lot more moderate and congenial. This is illustrated in how just days before the CMA’s, the two superstars up for the 2019 CMA Entertainer of the Year got together to honor a legend of country music.
Each year during the week before the CMA’s, the performance rights organizations (BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC) hold their annual galas and awards shows for country artists in Nashville, handing out certain accolades for accomplishments over the year, as well as lifetimes achievement awards. Though these events go much farther under-the-radar than the CMA event and are meant more for the industry than the general public, the stars turn out nonetheless, and that was true this year as well.
On Sunday, November 10th, SESAC held their annual event, and Ray Wylie Hubbard was being honored for penning the song “Desperate Man” with Eric Church. Hubbard was in attendance at the party at the Country Music Hall of Fame performing “Desperate Man” for the assembled crowd, and Eric Church surprised everyone by showing up to the event to toast his “Desperate Man” co-writer. “He’s equal parts poet, bluesman, singer, songwriter, entertainer, troubadour, but he’s entirely my friend and my hero,” Eric Church said of Hubbard.
On Tuesday night, November 12th, Dwight Yoakam was honored with the BMI’s President’s Award at that annual gala. Margo Price and Bob Weir performed “Fast As You” in honor of Dwight, and The Highwomen sang “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere.” “I wrote primarily because I needed things to sing, and it’s flattering to be given this award tonight, it’s flattering to be honored by BMI,” Dwight said.
But on Monday (11-11) is when arguably the biggest stars turned out when both Garth Brooks and Carrie Underwood showed up to honor Randy Travis, who was receiving ASCAP’s Founders Award at ASCAP’s 57th Annual Awards. Carrie Underwood sang “Promises” in honor of Randy Travis, and Garth Brooks sang “Forever And Ever, Amen.” “This man saved country music single handedly…. I wouldn’t be standing here if it weren’t for Randy Travis,” Garth Brooks said as Randy took the stage to receive his award.
This isn’t the first time Garth Brooks has spoken glowingly of Randy Travis. He regularly credits Randy for opening the door for artists like him and the others in the “Class of ’89” that took country music to its commercial peak. Garth Brooks also said that he believed Randy Travis should have been placed into the Country Music Hall of Fame before he was.
And though Carrie Underwood might seem like a strange name to honor Randy Travis on the surface, the two also have a close history. It was Randy Travis who first invited Carrie Underwood to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. Since then Carrie has been the only mainstream country star to consistently honor her Grand Ole Opry dues by making regular performances on the show, and though it’s undeniable her music is more pop than country, she also has taken of her time over the years to honor the greats of country music past, just like she did at the 2019 ASCAP Music Awards when cameras weren’t rolling.
In the aftermath of the 2019 CMA Awards, everyone wants to pit Carrie Underwood against Garth Brooks, as if there must be some anger and animosity there. It’s fair to criticize Garth Brooks for not having the presence of mind to at least mention Carrie Underwood in his Entertainer of the Year acceptance speech, as well as the women of country who the 2019 CMA Awards was meant to honor. But when it comes to the artists themselves, of course the both wanted to win, and neither wanted to lose. But they both love and respect Randy Travis, and that’s what country music is all about.
Skyler
November 17, 2019 @ 12:45 pm
Good to hear something positive to come out of all of this. But it is kind of unfair to point to Garth’s presence of mind. Yes he definitely did not bring up Carrie, but to say about the women of country when Garth named only 3 singers, and 2 were women of country, that is a little misleading. But either way can we all just be happy Keith Urban didn’t win.
Trigger
November 17, 2019 @ 2:51 pm
I don’t think Garth Brooks did anything necessarily wrong. He’s under no obligation to say anything. I just think he could have avoided a TON of drama for himself and country music by understanding and anticipating the moment better. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve the award. That doesn’t mean he deserves to get trounced by Carrie Underwood fans. It’s just an observation.
Skyler
November 17, 2019 @ 3:13 pm
I agree at least your weighing both sides instead of just picking in Garth because I don’t necessarily think it a a bad thing Garth is still winning awards now. At least there is still a legend figure still getting recognition by country music.
CeeCeeBee
November 17, 2019 @ 1:20 pm
It’s a shame stans want to pit them against each other. Garth should have mentioned her and probably Eric Church as well. He campaigned for the award, he wanted it, he didn’t deserve it, but it’s not his fault he won, it’s the fault of the same people who are at fault for “Girl” winning AotY – the CMA voters – whoever they are.
I get the feeling most of these stars aren’t that consumed by awards and are pretty friendly. Don’t they always tell us “country music is a family?”
Chris
November 17, 2019 @ 2:01 pm
I’m still amused that people are shocked that someone who was nominated for Entertainer of the Year won it.
No, I wouldn’t have picked him, but I wouldn’t have picked Carrie either.
jbear123
November 17, 2019 @ 2:25 pm
“And though Carrie Underwood might seem like a strange name to honor Randy Travis on the surface” why is it strange? She has as much respect and admiration of Randy as anybody else whose passionate about Country music. Just because the type of music she makes is more modern and has more pop/rock influence doesn’t make her any less a fan or worthy of honoring someone she clearly looks up to. She’s recorded one of his songs on her album, performed with him over the years and has spoken very highly of him, she clearly has a lot of repsect for Randy. So I’m not sure why you’d suggest her taking part in his honoring is strange, doesn’t seem strange to me at all.
Trigger
November 17, 2019 @ 2:56 pm
You have to recognize that within the population of more traditional country fans, they are baffled why anyone would consider Carrie Underwood eligible of any country award because she’s not really country, fair or not. I think the example of Carrie taking of her own time to honor Randy Travis when the cameras weren’t rolling is an example of why you can’t just lump her in as just another pop interloper in country.
Folks have to understand that we all bring different perspectives to country music, and to specific artists.
kiwicountry
November 17, 2019 @ 2:41 pm
You know I’ve thought about it more Trigger since it all went down and it’s actually troubling. The result doesn’t bode well given the state of Country music at the moment (more non-country vs actual country) and the issue surrounding what’s played on the mainstream radio. If EOTY has become an award that’s given out based on what artist has brought in the most money then there is a bigger problem here. That to me is what we should really be talking about. Since when has the money been the determining factor? Country music is supposed to be about real people telling real stories, talent, hard work and integrity. Everyone is supposed to be in it because it’s their passion, their drive, it’s in their blood, not because of the pay check.
If all it’s about is money then it’s lost everything pure and good, it’s lost it’s integrity. The music is supposed to be the soundtrack to people’s lives, not empty words to empty music designed to get some rich greedy record exec his 2nd boat. I absolutely think in other years Garth deserved the crown, but not this year, that’s not to take away from what a wonderful artist he is or tear down how valuable to the genre he is (cause he is). But to simply give him an award based on a numbers game overlooking the hard work and effort being put in by others who through the 1 year period really were outstanding at representing what the genre stands for in all facets is wrong and achieves nothing except to keep feeding the greed monster already causing issues within the genre.
This is why there needs to be a push back, if awards start to be based on money and greed over talent and hard work then the artists and the fans don’t win, the greedy record companies do and Country music comprises everything it stands for and is supposed to represent – that’s not a sacrifice I am willing to make just to feed the pocket of someone who already has more than enough.
Hey Arnold
November 17, 2019 @ 5:11 pm
Luke Combs = 107k physical sales…. 177k units for 1st week sales
wayne
November 17, 2019 @ 7:51 pm
Carrie comes across to me as a “golly gee me”fake and phony country music entertainer. Kind of like a more mature version of Swift and a bit more digestible.
Having said that, it appears her honoring legends is authentic. That is to be commended.
Concerning ETOY award, one good thing from it being about $$ is it takes subjectivity out of it. Be careful what you wish for. If it is out pure subjectivity and statement-making, Morris may get it next year. Ugh!
By the way, it was Church who was robbed, not Carrie. And I can barely stand any if them, including Girth Garth especially.
nzcountrymusic
November 17, 2019 @ 8:18 pm
Wayne I actually had the pleasure of meeting Carrie in person and I can tell you there was nothing fake about her. She was genuinley warm and kind, when I told her my mother had cancer she took an active interest and asked me if she was having treatment and how she was feeling. She was totally down to earth. She has in no way put herself out there as fake in anything I have seen her do, she has from the very start been an emassador of the genre just like she is with her faith. She has real friends who are normal people and unlike Taylor Swift doesn’t have a girl celeb squad full of models and famous A listers. Yes she’s mates with Miranda and has toured and done shows with other female country stars but Carrie is in no way at all the Miss Hollywood type. She loves her family & her friends, and making music, she’s not a very complicated person at all. So not sure why you feel she’s fake. If it’s just cause you feel her music isn’t country that’s harsh especially considering none of us actually know her personally.
wayne
November 17, 2019 @ 8:25 pm
nzcountrymusic,
It’s just how she comes across to me. It’s an impression. Her authenticity is more known by those that really know her. So my comments are an observation about how she “appears”.
Certainly it has nothing to do with her music. There are many artists who I think are as authentic as can possibly be and I cannot stand their music. So no, my comment isn’t because I do not like her music. Again, it is just an impression I get. And of course, impressions can be entirely wrong.
As for Swift, well, that is another discussion entirely.
Kevin Smith
November 18, 2019 @ 6:23 am
Bob Weir and Margo Price singing a tribute to Dwight?! Really?! That’s the best they could come up with to honor the greatest neo-traditionalist in the last 30 plus years? Seriously?! Gotta be one of the strangest things I’ve heard of in terms of pairings, in years.Whose idea was that? How did that conversation work? Bizarre.
Good to hear Ray Wylie getting some love. And ditto with Travis.
HankThrilliams
November 18, 2019 @ 8:11 pm
It must have been a bitch for Paul Williams to find a 12 dwarf suit to wear