Saving Country Music’s 2015 CMA Awards LIVE Blog
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the official Saving Country Music CMA Awards LIVE blog for 2015! As the festivities transpire at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, we’ll be peering in to offer commentary, snark, criticism, and praise when necessary. The 2015 CMA’s actually have a few interesting moments in store compared to previous years, so hopefully there are some opportunities to cheer instead of jeer. But as always, the point is to offer our spirited dissent and a differing perspective.
This LIVE blog is conducted in a no holds barred, gloves off, free flowing stream of consciousness approach, so bring a thick skin, and a liberal interpretation of syntax. And feel free to pipe up in the comments section below because this is no autocracy.
Get those refresh fingers ready, lock s-foils in attack position, and let’s have a good clean fight!
***49th Annual (2015) CMA Awards Complete Preview***
***2015 CMA Awards Nominees, Picks & Prognostications***
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WINNERS:
- Entertainer of the Year – Luke Bryan
- Male Vocalist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
- Female Vocalist of the Year- Miranda Lambert
- Album of the Year – Chris Stapleton “Traveller” – Producer Dave Cobb
- New Artist of the Year – Chris Stapleton
- Vocal Duo of the Year – Florida Georgia Line
- Vocal Group of the Year – Little Big Town
- Song of the Year – “Girl Crush” – Little Big Town -Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, Liz Rose
- Single of the Year – “Girl Crush” Little Big Town
- Vocal Event of the Year – “Raise ‘Em Up” Keith Urban featuring Eric Church
- Video of the Year- “Girl in a Country Song” – Maddie & Tae
10:30 – So obviously the 49th Annual CMA Awards were a massive win for Chris Stapleton. Who saw this coming? At the same time, it makes perfect sense. I almost feel bad for folks like Eric Church who walked away with a big bag of nothing, when he came into the night as a front runner for the top awards. Chris Stapleton took them all. I think we need to take some time and let it all soak in. I don’t think this means country music is “saved,” but I do think we might point back to this day when independent music began to be put on equal footing as the mainstream, in both public consciousness, and in recognition. Let’s also appreciate there are probably legions of mainstream country music fans pissed off because their favorite artists lost. Luke Bryan’s win for Entertainer felt like a footnote.
Again, a lot to crunch, and I’m sure I’ll have much more to say when it’s all soaked in.
10:23 – Saving Country Music and Charlie Rich would like to congratulate Luke Bryan on his Entertainer of the Year win.
10:22 – Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who stopped by, followed along, read, commented, liked, favorited, reposted, retweeted, etc. etc. I will be composing some final thoughts, and recapping all the winners, and then we’ll be out of here for the evening! Also will catch up with all your comments!
10:20 – Sorry folks! Site completely crashed right at the end of the CMA Awards, but it’s back now!
9:58 – Luke Bryan “They say to rap it, I ain’t rappin'” Truer words never spoken. At least he gave a shout out to Stapleton for his “uplifting” night. Everybody loves Stapleton.
9:57 – Luke Bryan wins the CMA for Bad Rapping Middle Aged White Guy of the Year.
9:54 – With no disrespect to Stapleton whatsoever, this may be a year that with no clear front runner, the voting of the CMA was so spread out across all the other nominees, Stapleton had just enough support to beat everyone else. It’s similar to how Beck won Best Album at the Grammy Awards earlier this year. Chris Stapleton’s sweep is nothing short of historic. This has never happened in the history of country music for an artist like Stapleton.
9:52 – Chris Stapleton getting choked up tanking all of his family and friends, clearly overwhelmed as he comes to the conclusion that it’s the biggest night of his life.
9:50 – Holy fucking shit.
9:50 – WINNER The CMA for Male Vocalist of the Year goes to Chris Stapleton. Oh. My. God.
9:48 – Jennifer Nettles never met a note she couldn’t sing on top of.
9:46 – It’s great to see so many older artists on this year’s presentation, but I’m just not feeling any of these performances. Make a moment. Say something. It’s all midgrade country rock songs.
9:41 – Don’t know about y’all, but I just saw George Strait in a Cavenders Boots commercial. Little victories.
9:40 Your Saving Country Music Alternative Female Vocalist of the Year is Jamie Lin Wilson!
9:38 – Miranda Lambert gives a nice shout out to Chris Stapleton. “I’m going to go home and practice” she says. Maybe just slightly depressed she did not win Album of the Year. Lambert was considered a front runner.
9:37 – WINNER The CMA for Female Vocalist of the Year goes to Miranda Lambert. It’s her sixth, SIXTH in a row.
9:34 – Man, a lot of the songs were seeing from folks this year are the third and fourth singles from these artists, and they just feel a little flay. “Riser” is decent, but they should do their best song from the year, not whatever already dead single they’re trying to push.
9:31 – The girl playing with Dierks Bentley is violin maestro and YouTube star Lindsey Stirling.
9:27 – I know Musgraves is polarizing to some folks, but can you really watch that and say it’s not so much better than most of the rest of the stuff we’ve heard tonight? Could have done without the whole My Little Pony thing at the end though. Something for the kiddos maybe.
9:25 – Is it just me or does Musgraves sound even better when she’s not wearing pants?
9:25 – Holy shit. Marry me Musgraves.
9:23 – Great. Political humor.
9:20 – Ha! Jason Aldean’s steel guitar player has the easiest job in showbiz. Am I am bad person for hoping for a Michael Jackson-style accident with Aldean’s flaming mic stand?
9:19 – Leave it to Jason Aldean to bring flamethrowers and redundant wallet chains to wizz all over our Chris Stapleton parade.
9:15 – Chris Stapleton for Male Vocalist of the Year? Why the hell not I guess. The calculus has completely changed. Writing all those hit songs for other has resulted in incredible name recognition and respect from the industry who apparently were ready to look beyond commercial performance and reward talent. We may not be watching the launching of a new country star. We may be watching the launch of a country superstar.
9:13 – Nothing against Miranda, but this song doesn’t do much anything for me. Oh God and why do all of these performances have to be bisected by a Bon Jovi guitar wank off?
9:13 – Your Saving Country Music Alternative Group of the Year is the Turnpike Troubadours!
9:11 – All of a sudden, Little Big Town is one of the big winners tonight, and it’s all because of a fabricated controversy over “Girl Crush.”
9:10 WINNER – The CMA for Vocal Group of the Year goes to Little Big Town (another SCM predicition).
9:08 – Wow, Pentatonix is like a snark buffet ready to feast on. If they weren’t tributing the Oak Ridge Boys, I might feast on it.
9:04 – I think Luke Bryan’s performance is a good time to dedicate a moment of silence to Joey Feek of Joey + Rory who is in the final stages of her life after suffering from abdominal Cancer.
9:02 – Yes, Eric Church released a new album. We know. It’ll be dealt with in due course.
8:57 – See, The CMA’s talked a big talk about giving women a bigger stage this year, but they’re still getting pushed on the side acoustic stage and pulling teleprompter duty for the radio winners. Both Maddie & Tae and Kelsea Ballerini got that treatment.
8:55 – Screw Blake Shelton for using his relationship with that girl from No Doubt as a springboard for publicity, especially after all the “respect our privacy” bullshit.
8:53 – Looks like we got any technical issues squared away folks, sorry if you’re having trouble loading the site at times. Everybody in the world is trying to figure out who Chris Stapleton is at the moment.
8:50 – Sportsball cross marketing talking head nonsense.
8:46 – This is turning into an HUGE night ladies & gentlemen. A lot to take in in real time. But wow. A lot to be happy about, including that Kelsea Ballerini’s performance got cut off for commercials.
8:43 – Dave Cobb was just on the stage at the CMA Awards. Dave Cobb was just on the stage of the CMA Awards.
8:42 – WOW WOW WOW! The CMA for Album of the Year goes to Chris Stapleton’s “Traveller”! Also goes to producer Dave Cobb!!
8:40 – Kiefer Sutherland has morphed into a just slightly less pathetic version of Kevin Bacon.
8:40 – Lost Boys Kiefer Sutherland > Kiefer Sutherland who would agree to be a part of the candy ass CMA Awards.
8:39 – The only thing keeping me from wholesale hating on on Fall Out Boy is the lead singer keeps reminding me of a svelte Austin Lucas.
8:37 – See folks, remember Timberlake, and now you see this? It’s master and pupil.
8:35 – Well at least Thomas Rhett found some proper duds. On his album cover he looked like he should be bummin squares in front of the Salvation Army.
8:32 – Your Saving Country Music Alternative Vocal Duo of the Year is Randy Rogers & Wade Bowen!
8:28 – Eric Church is always at his best when it’s just him and his guitar. Good way to start off the performance. Need to give this a few more listens, but not hating this song so far. Kind of Mellencamp.
8:26 – Eric Church comes out to sing “Mr. Misunderstood” from his surprise album released this morning to his fan club. It’s now available on iTunes. Will have more on this after the awards.
8:25 – WINNER Florida Georgia Line wins the CMA for Vocal Duo of the Year. Finally one of my predictions comes true.
8:24 – Shouldn’t Cole Swindell be out in the concourse selling Luke Bryan thongs to overweight divorcees with bedazzled jeans right now?
8:24 – Cole Swindell is presenting and not performing because there’s seven other artists EXACTLY like Cole already performing tonight.
8:24 – These US Girls Soccer Players have more moxie and are more country than the entire Bro-Country canon combined. #CMAawards
8:21 – Did Florida Georgia Line just perform? I already forgot.
8:20 – Ha, awesome! Florida Georgia Line douche guy totally rocking the man bun. (hair joke, take a drink)
8:17 – Might be some latency in the site folks. Getting slammed after the Stapleton / Timberlake performance. Keeping it together with duct tape. If it goes down, it will likely come right back up. Be patient.
8:15 – P.S. I have super secret sources telling me Justin Timberlake is recording a country album in Nashville this week. Story coming up later this week.
8:13 – Justin Timberlake is a little too much here. If he’s going to go country, he’s going to have to learn subtly and modesty, but he’s not calling himself country . . . yet.
8:11 – Justin Timberlake is still a pop performer playing country. But the difference is country music needs him more than he needs country.
8:10 – We just witnessed Chris Stapleton become a country star folks.
8:09 – Now we know why Stapleton was given such a sweet performance slot. Also, I may be wrong, but on certain years, the New Artist has been announced before the presentation and not televised.
8:07 – So appreciate folks, Stapleton is singing a song made famous by David Allan Coe, and written by Dean Dillon. And he’s singing the hell out of it too.
8:06- Hello to everyone participating in the comments section, thanks for chiming in! I’m trying to read during the commercial breaks.
8:02 – Going back to the Stapleton win, that’s massive. And he’s still up for two more awards, and Album of the Year may be the one he was most likely to win going in. If you want to look at the glass half empty, his label may have block voted him into New Artist, which would hypothetically lessen his chances for Album of the Year. It’s extremely unlikely he wins Male Vocalist, but who knows now. Big win.
8:01 – …and then here comes Steve Vai to sling his penis all over the stage. Ugh.
8:00 – The audio on these performances have been pretty washed out so far. Not my favorite song from Carrie, but hearing her sing is refreshing.
7:58 – HUGE upset for New Artist. That was Sam Hunt’s or Thomas Rhett’s running away.
7:57 – WINNER Wow. The CMA New Artist of the Year goes to Chris Stapleton.
7:56 – Go Stapleton! Fingers crossed.
7:55 – Thanks for showing us how to be 50 and fabulous Little Big Town.
7:53 – Wow, Ziggy Stardust stands in with Little Big Town on “Girl Crush.”
7:51 – Okay, the Chevy commercial turned out to be a pretty cool feature on the young women of country. Though I got no love for Kelsea Ballerini.
7:49 – Did Brad Paisley just do a Chevy commercial before the commercials? C’mon.
7:48 – Your Saving Country Music Alternative for Song of the Year is Cody Jinks’ “David”!
7:47 – Okay, I am happy Liz Rose is getting some face time. That’s the mother of Caitlin Rose. She’s the blonde one talking first.
7:46 – WINNER The CMA for Song of the Year goes to “Girl Crush” by Little Big Town. Again.
7:44 – They still have a Miss America? This chick just came out on stage in a freaking tiara. The hell.
7:43 – Sam Hunt’s got a big bag of nothing. That talking bullshit is absolutely unbearable. Steve Martin, about that banjo . . . .
7:41 – Why is Sam Hunt dressed like a Catholic altar boy? Because he’s molesting country music?
7:35 – This Kenny Chesney song isn’t even about the beach, and they still had to beach it up with the stage setup. Is this a country awards show or Peter Pan theatrical playworks? Forgettable performance, Chesney.
7:34- When you get out-countried by Kenny Chesney, you know you’ve strayed. What’s up with Chesney’s dad slacks, though? Someone get him a Wrangler endorsement.
7:33 – What especially sucks is Zac Brown Band is an amazing outfit of musicians, and instead we get a performance of chord strumming and epileptic lights.
7:32 – Zac Brown comes out and plays “Beautiful Drug,” aka reaching through thousands of TV screens and ripping the hearts of loyal fans all across the nation and stomping on them for a big payday. Awful, embarrassing, The Benedict Arnold of country music. Can’t even joke about it.
7:29 – Kinds words said for Little Jimmy Dickens as a montage plays of his skits on the show over the last few years. Urn thing a little creepy though.
7:28 – Thank goodness, commercial break.
7:25 – Your Saving Country Music Alternative for Single of the Year is Whitey Morgan’s version of “Watin’ ‘Round to Die”!
7:24 – “Girl Crush” would have never cracked the Top 20 if some dumb rednecks didn’t think it was about lesbians singing. There was nothing brave about it. “Calculated” was more like it. Nothing like a little fake drama to drive streams.
7:23 – WINNER The CMA for Single of the Year goes to Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush.”
7:22 – Martin should have brought his banjo, Paisley. Sad when a comedian is the most country thing on this country show.
7:22 – Steve Martin is probably the best musician who will take the stage all night. Should take his banjo by the neck and go all Tonya Harding on the knees of some of these Bro-Country bastards.
7:20 – William Shatner drops an S-bomb on live TV. At least it raises a pulse.
7:19 – Please, Bill Shatner, beam us out of this flat opener.
7:18 – Still hard to hate on Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood. If it was Florida Georgia Line hosting this bitch, I’d want to slap them both across the cheek with a huge giant bull scrotum.
7:16 – This monologue feels quite flat compared to previous years. Just a run through of current event tropes without any developed punchline. “Luke Stagefaller” is a good nickname for Luke Bryan though.
7:15 – Ashley Monroe gets 1.5 seconds of face time. Be thankful for the small victories, I guess.
7:12 – None of these mainstream Kool-Aid drinkers know what the whole “tomato” brushup was about. And of course, Trump.
7:11- Confirmed it was Jaren Johnston playing with Jr. Since they’re both on Big Machine, it makes sense.
7:10 – Tell me one thing that was country about that song and I’ll eat my hat.
7:09 – This “John Cougar, John Denver, John 3:16” mess is awful, but I have to admit the bass part is the best part. Too bad Urban has a dead chupacabra perched on his head. (first hair joke, take a drink).
7:06 – Wow, they’re going right into the Mellencamp and Keith Urban performance next. They’re knocking out the 50-plus performers first before the Centrum Silver wears off and the Cialis kicks in.
7:05 – Hank Jr.’s been mum on the ills of country, but sources say he did slam Kelsea Ballerini as a Muslim who hates America backstage.
7:04 – Watching Eric Church perform with Hank Jr. is like watching Hitler play golf with Netanyahu. I’m not sure which one is Hitler or Netanyahu, but it sure is a strange clashing of worlds.
7:03 – You can tell when Hank Jr. is really feeling a performance when the streaks of Just For Men start streaming down his face.
7:02 – That might be Jaren Johnston from The Cadillac Three playing guitar with Hank Jr.
7:01 – You had to know Star Wars and Donald Trump would somehow play into the opening monologue.
7:00 – And here we go!
6:58 – This will not be the first time Justin Timberlake has played the CMA Awards. He played with N’Sync in 1999 who collaborated with Alabama. It sucked. Nice Hammer pants, J-Timb.
6:51 – And of course the big news of the day is that Eric Church dropped a surprise album, which might somehow play into tonights performances. Along with Jr., he’s got his own performance slot. And Blake Shelton is dating that girl from No Doubt. Officially. So there’s that.
6:50 – Notes from the Red Carpet: Alfred E. Neuman (a.ka. Scotty McCreery) officially wins the Saving Country Music Worst Dressed. Also Kelsea Ballerini’s date is a Cancer patient from St. Jude. All snark aside, sweet move by Kelsea.
6:47 – Just in case you’re not up on the news, the big performances folks are talking about and looking forward to are Hank Williams Jr. and Eric Church leading off the show with Waylon’s “Are You Ready For The Country” written by Neil Young. Then later Chris Stapleton will perform with Justin Timberlake. Also don’t count out a surprise. Last year, Vince Gill was given the Irving Waugh award and there was a nice presentation for him that wasn’t announced beforehand.
6:45 – A couple of awards were already given away this morning. “Raise ‘Em Up” from Keith Urban featuring Eric Church won for Vocal Event of the Year. That means the one nomination for Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard’s Django and Jimmie did not fruit any hardware. Also, Maddie & Tae’s “Girl in a Country Song” won for “Video of the Year.” As much as I enjoy the message of that song, the video is positively unbearable.
For all nominees, awards, and presenters, performers and predictions, you can find links up top.
Evan
November 4, 2015 @ 5:59 pm
“And Blake Shelton is dating that girl from No Doubt.” Do you suppose God gave him her, too?
Adam
November 4, 2015 @ 6:00 pm
Looking forward to the live blog coverage and hoping Hank Jr. And Eric Church live up to my expectations!
Chase
November 4, 2015 @ 6:00 pm
I’m just watching for Carrie Underwood.
Bomber
November 4, 2015 @ 6:02 pm
God that star wars thing was dumb
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 6:03 pm
I seriously considered updating everyone on what I was doing during all of this
8:15 eating pizza
8:30 fed the cat
9:11 changed my socks
Seriously, I think every SCM commenter would rather watch me change my socks and talk goofy to my cat than watch Thomas Rhett.
Bomber
November 4, 2015 @ 6:10 pm
Keith Urban……..
hoptowntiger
November 4, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
I tuned in to see Jr.; stayed long enough to see Ellen and Tom Waitts cover a Mellencamp song.
Trigger
November 4, 2015 @ 6:41 pm
Ha!
Adam
November 4, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
There is such a thing as too much Keith Urban. I know that now.
J Wallace
November 4, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
Can’t believe that ruined that guitar with #HankAndEric.
NCW
November 4, 2015 @ 6:12 pm
Listened to that new church album this evening. I already have my take on it. Will compare it to your review in about a week. Mum until then.
Bomber
November 4, 2015 @ 6:13 pm
Donald Trump reference! I heard it first! I win!
Melanie
November 5, 2015 @ 9:47 am
Donald Trump wins-more free publicity 🙂 Cool with me.
GeneL
November 4, 2015 @ 6:14 pm
Turned it on saw they were playing up too the new Star Wars movie and turned it off. I like the Star Wars movies but it is so cheap and cliché it annoyed me. Have fun watching it I’ll read your post later.
Eric G
November 4, 2015 @ 6:16 pm
What makes me really hate the “3 Johns” song by Urban is it’s about American culture… during the 60s-80s… Keith Urban isn’t American. #MakeCountryMusicGreatAgain
Chase
November 4, 2015 @ 6:18 pm
Brad and Carrie are awesome together.
Chris31
November 4, 2015 @ 6:18 pm
Buns me up that Sam Hunt got a little face time.
BEH
November 4, 2015 @ 6:20 pm
Can’t wait to get home tonight and read this while having a cold one. Until then, back to work I go! The big question for the next couple years is: Will No Doubt be the band every new country act name drops in their songs?
bogdam
November 4, 2015 @ 6:21 pm
well fla ga line hosted an awards show last year is that awards show still happening this year
BrettS
November 4, 2015 @ 6:23 pm
Sadly, nobody there knows who Bob Wills is
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 6:25 pm
Thought the same thing! It was crickets when she said that.
Melanie
November 5, 2015 @ 6:56 am
Yes it is sad seriously. Just for the record, I’m not watching this tripe. The comments are more fun anyway.
Melanie
November 5, 2015 @ 9:54 am
Isn’t it something when the supposed outlaw idol of all these bro acts, Waylon Jennings, had the class to not only know who Bob Wills was but also give him due respect in a song “Bob Wills Is Still The King”? See, Waylon was a MAN, he knew he could break some rules in the era of the Nashville Sound without disrespecting those who had gone before him and the music they made. He had that kind of self-assuredness. The real outlaws merely went outside the system to make their own music, they didn’t try to destroy everything which brought them to where they were.
I respect kd lang for the same reason, even though we’re poles apart every way except musically.
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 6:27 pm
giorni think the opening monologue was way funnier than last year and quite entertaining.
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 6:32 pm
*I
Martha
November 4, 2015 @ 6:27 pm
Loved the message on Hank’s drummers bass drum. And Jason Aldean always looks sweaty and bloated.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 6:33 pm
Total agreement on both!
I know lots of women who think Aldean is sexy and I always feel like I’m taking crazy pills!
(Though I have a very bizarre and shameful crush on the aforementioned Jaren Johnston, so I can now be referred to as “those who live in glass houses.”)
Justin
November 4, 2015 @ 6:27 pm
I just can’t listen to this. I’ve had my TV on my mute since the Brad/Carrie monologue began (about 10 minutes now), and also for the Star Wars skit at the beginning. Should I unmute?
ChrisNSC
November 4, 2015 @ 6:29 pm
Nope, wish I had muted it myself.
Justin
November 4, 2015 @ 6:36 pm
I cringed when the Piggy/Kermit ABC-cross promotion in the audience came up. Ugh.
Hillbilly Sheep
November 4, 2015 @ 6:28 pm
I’m watching a stream of this through a proxy in Scotland at 1.30am, god knows why, it’s so bad !!!
Who are these people !!!
I recognize the names but not the faces. This is not my country music !!
Coop
November 4, 2015 @ 6:29 pm
Can they just fast forward to the Stapleton performance so I can go do more important shit?
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
what the fuck happened to Zac brown’s hair???
Chris31
November 4, 2015 @ 6:31 pm
I’m sure Little Jimmy Dickens would have loved watching Zac Brown piss on country music.
BrettS
November 4, 2015 @ 6:32 pm
Timberlake is sitting there thinkin…….. These people are idiots.. I bet they will give me all their money……
Evan
November 4, 2015 @ 6:32 pm
What a waste of the “band” part of ZBB. Good god this is bad.
ActivePuck
November 4, 2015 @ 6:35 pm
I’m a cord cutter so can’t watch: did his band even do anything for this song?
WBK
November 4, 2015 @ 8:05 pm
They were in the shadows for the entire performance. The spotlight was entirely on Zac…it was pretty pathetic.
Brandon
November 5, 2015 @ 1:31 am
He tried to show off his vocals with that pop song, too bad he’s just another average vocalist.
Tiffany
November 4, 2015 @ 6:34 pm
Even though I’m not watching it on t.v., my twitter feed is going a little nuts right now. Girl Crush took home Single of the Year, so far. So, it should be interesting to see out of the country artists that I do follow, who wins.
Austin
November 4, 2015 @ 6:35 pm
In regards to the ZBB that guitar tone is terrible. Then again all these guitar tones sound like terrible 80s sounds.
ChrisNSC
November 4, 2015 @ 6:36 pm
Damn Zac Brown Band was more country when they were covering Pearl Jam in bars.
Meaghan
November 4, 2015 @ 6:36 pm
The ZBB performance just makes me mad.
MJ
November 4, 2015 @ 6:37 pm
Remember when Kenny Chesney sang that one good song?
Melanie
November 5, 2015 @ 9:58 am
LOL
LR
November 4, 2015 @ 6:41 pm
On a side note, looks like Eric Church’s surprise album got simultaneously released on iTunes with his CMA performance.
Trigger
November 4, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
He still has another performance tonight.
Meaghan
November 4, 2015 @ 6:53 pm
Maybe we’ll get an Amazon release with the second performance. I don’t iTune.
Jacob
November 4, 2015 @ 7:05 pm
are we going to get a nice review on the Eric Church album sometime soon?
Meaghan
November 4, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
Tyler and Brian are looking a little manorexic. Don’t be afraid of the carbs, boys. We all saw what happened to Tim McGraw.
BrettS
November 4, 2015 @ 6:41 pm
Kenny Chesney, I refuse to listen to u anymore unless u cut some more Radney Foster and Randy Rogers songs like ” Somebody Take Me Home “.
Shane
November 4, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Well, I’m glad Whitey Morgan is in town tonight. Only have to sit through this garbage for another 30 minutes before I get to hear some real music.
Chase
November 4, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Isn’t it ironic that Sam Hunt doesn’t want to come on too strong but he wants to take her time?
Hillbilly Sheep
November 4, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Had enough of this shit !! Going to watch ‘Tender Mericies’ instead !!
MJ
November 4, 2015 @ 6:44 pm
Is this the CMAs or the Voice?
Nicole C.
November 4, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
Months-long lurker here…I just bust out laughing at your “molesting country music” comment lol
Harrison
November 4, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
I quit listening to the performance. Instead I bought Eric Church’s new album which is probably the best Mainstream album I’ve heard in a long time. Fucking good shit on there (I know some of you will probably crucify me for saying that but it’s way better than the outsider. Great songwriting and much more country.)
Seriously. Go listen to Mr. misunderstood.
ChrisNSC
November 4, 2015 @ 6:45 pm
Sam Hunt makes a creepy looking priest.
MJ
November 4, 2015 @ 6:46 pm
Darius Rucker comes on to confirm all of our worst thoughts about the state of country music. Good grief, these songs are brutal.
Austin
November 4, 2015 @ 6:47 pm
This is bullshit. Screw the CMA.
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 6:48 pm
this fucking Girl Crush garbage has sicken me. Fuck off. This song is as boring as hell. The best song was Like a Cowboy.
Justin
November 4, 2015 @ 6:55 pm
My TV’s on mute (again) while they sing it. Hopefully no more Girl Crush tonight, lol.
Eduardo Vargas
November 4, 2015 @ 6:49 pm
Boring as hell performance from Sam Hunt- Even worse he got the full time slot.
If Kacey Musgraves gets snubbed with a 30 second thing- I’m PROTESTING!!!!!
Ben
November 4, 2015 @ 6:49 pm
Wheres Charlie Rich when you need him…
Melanie
November 5, 2015 @ 10:02 am
Post Of The Night, lol
chris Lewis louie
November 4, 2015 @ 6:51 pm
Eric church should have had that in the bag
Chris31
November 4, 2015 @ 6:52 pm
Trig….i have to agree with “David”. Probably not favorite song of the year. Loved hearing him sing it live this past spring.
Jake
November 4, 2015 @ 6:52 pm
I get the feeling this may be Brad and Carrie’s last year. They’ll opt for a newer act to host, with more mainstream b.s. like Sam Hunt or that Kelsae girl. At that point the show will be totally unbearable
Rosalie
November 4, 2015 @ 7:34 pm
I’m thinking maybe they host one more year (50th is next year) and then they’ll give it up
Melanie
November 5, 2015 @ 10:03 am
If what I’m reading in the comments is representative of the show, that might be for the best.
judd
November 4, 2015 @ 6:52 pm
Maybe one day we can see some real country artist up for awards or performing.
yes I know we actually have some tonight but I mean more.
too bad strugill cant get a set singing life of sin or turtles.
Isbell singing 24 frames
Wheres pokey when you need him!!>!>
ChrisNSC
November 4, 2015 @ 6:52 pm
Those ladies won a big award and they had to cut them short so Paisley could do a Chevrolet commercial?
Evan
November 4, 2015 @ 6:53 pm
I swear the larger part of Chevy’s advertising budget goes straight to Nashville to pay off songwriters to shoehorn the name into LITERALLY EVERYTHING. But I guess they decided that was too subtle this year.
linda m constance
November 4, 2015 @ 6:55 pm
Where’s my Alan Jackson?????
Hillbilly Music Lover
November 4, 2015 @ 6:57 pm
What’s really interesting about “Girl Crush” is that Billboard magazine reported back in March that, after doing research including contacting several radio stations’ program directors, there was NO evidence of the “banned from radio” that the sole anonymous blogger from Texas reported. I cannot help but think that was a marketing ploy. And boy, did it work.
PS — do you have a Go Fund Me account to help us pay for your therapy after you endure three hours of this (explicit deleted)?
judd
November 4, 2015 @ 6:58 pm
WE have HOPE!!!
I’m nota big stapleton fan but this is a sure fire win!!!
Patty
November 4, 2015 @ 6:59 pm
That made the first wretched hour worth watching!!! CHRIS STAPLETON!!!
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 6:59 pm
yessss! Chris Stapleton!!!!!
Coop
November 4, 2015 @ 6:59 pm
How fucked are the audio engineers for the performances on some of these no talent assholes? We’re seeing who actually has talent, regardless of if it’s actually country music.
sbach66
November 4, 2015 @ 6:59 pm
There is a God.
chris Lewis louie
November 4, 2015 @ 6:59 pm
I now have faith in country music again!
Jonathon
November 4, 2015 @ 7:00 pm
Man I think even Chris Stapleton was surprised. I know I damn sure was. Score one for the old farts and jackasses.
Liza
November 4, 2015 @ 7:17 pm
So was Sam 🙂
Justin
November 4, 2015 @ 7:03 pm
I can’t believe they didn’t give New Artist to Sam or Rhett. I mean, I’m pleasantly shocked.
Brock
November 4, 2015 @ 7:03 pm
Anyone know of a streaming link to watch the awards live?
Trigger
November 4, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
Not sure Brock, if I see one I’ll try to let folks know.
Liza
November 4, 2015 @ 7:15 pm
Try http://abc.go.com/watch-live
Able
November 4, 2015 @ 7:04 pm
Wow, a big win for Chris Stapleton.
In the words of Ron Swanson: “Awards are stupid, but they’re less stupid when they go to the right people.”
hoptowntiger
November 4, 2015 @ 7:05 pm
I don’t know why Stapleton winning is such an upset or surprise. He’s been a Nashville insider for years. These awards are always about who you know and he’s been writing songs for all these bro acts for years now. The greasy palm or some sort of saying applies here.
Okredneck
November 4, 2015 @ 7:06 pm
If this is country music I quit. Thank god for old cd’s.
stinky
November 4, 2015 @ 7:06 pm
awesome for chris! he was on good morning america this morning doing a dodge ram commercial and wins a silverado tonight. i’ll take it if you don’t want it, chris.
Coop
November 4, 2015 @ 7:08 pm
Fuck yea! Stapleton! Who’s the lady?
Sarah
November 4, 2015 @ 7:13 pm
His wife
Coop
November 4, 2015 @ 7:09 pm
Goddamn this feels like a Super Bowl win!
ChrisNSC
November 4, 2015 @ 7:10 pm
Hello back Trigger. Thanks for giving us this forum. And hello everyone out there tonight.
Tiffany
November 4, 2015 @ 7:10 pm
Hooray for Chris Stapleton! Glad to see him win an award.
Jake
November 4, 2015 @ 7:10 pm
This is how modern country should “evolve”
Rachel
November 4, 2015 @ 7:11 pm
Well, this puts every person in that building in their rightful places.
Justin Brachas
November 4, 2015 @ 7:11 pm
Surprised to see Eric dropped a CD today as well, nice surprise to a lucky group
Liza
November 4, 2015 @ 7:11 pm
You’re calling, Trig. Little Big Town was great compared to previous performances. Yay Chris! And I’m loving Chris and Justin.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:11 pm
So I decided to read “The Strange Case of Jekyll and Hyde” (NOT the awful ZBB album but the original novel upon which was based a wonderful stage musical) instead of “Windjammer Run”
Got to the end, Oh haha Jekyll was Hyde all along.
not surprised at all.
Check the SCM live blog
Oh my gosh! Somebody talented actually won an award?!?!?!?
Very Surprised!
Go Stapleton!
Meaghan
November 4, 2015 @ 7:12 pm
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I would buy the hell out of a Justin Timberlake country album. I love these two together.
Kevin
November 4, 2015 @ 7:14 pm
Good lord. That performance was one of the best things to happen to the CMAs in a long time.
NCW
November 4, 2015 @ 7:15 pm
Drop the mic. Show over.
Smokey J.
November 4, 2015 @ 7:16 pm
I just know tom rhett and all the wanna be r and b singers are burning up with jealousy seeing chris on stage killing it with JT. The talent differential between this performance and the others is soooo obvious. Cancel the rest of the show and let them play all night.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 7:24 pm
I didn’t care for Timberlake, but I definitely am BLOW AWAY by how completely inescapable the quality difference is when you see Chris Stapleton perform back to back with these other jackasses. I can’t imgine that A LOT of people aren’t noting that same thing.
Stephanie
November 5, 2015 @ 6:20 am
I was watching it again this morning, and Justin Timberlake isn’t really my thing overall, but it struck me that not only are the “artists” who consider themselves real country probably shamed by the awesomeness of Chris Stapleton, but the pop country guys probably felt pretty damn schooled last night too, when they see the difference when an actual, talented pop star performs.
Patty
November 4, 2015 @ 7:16 pm
Performance of the night! They sang the hell out of those songs!!! Sorry Trig, I’ll read the rest of the blog tomorrow. Turning it off. No way it gets better than that!!
Meaghan
November 4, 2015 @ 7:16 pm
JT and Stapleton performance was worth sitting through all the bullshit that preceded it.
Hurley
November 4, 2015 @ 7:18 pm
That was incredible. Currently rewinding for a second viewing. Just witnessed a star.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:19 pm
Hmm maybe R.L. Stevenson was onto something.
What if there’s actually a medicine out there in the bowels of pharmacology that instead of splitting good and evil splits talent away from no talent?
What if Luke Bryan is the no talented part that got split from somebody like Chris Stapleton??? The Hyde unto Stapleton’s Jekyll?
NCW
November 4, 2015 @ 7:20 pm
I would hate to be the person to follow that. Apparently the sound guys got that one right.
Greg
November 4, 2015 @ 7:21 pm
Chris to GA FL line… Can’t think of a bigger drop off in talent.
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 7:21 pm
and when I tought everything was going great I have to see these fgl douches and the stupid ponytail of the uglier one. meh.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 7:28 pm
I can actually dig a man bun, personally, but what the fuck is up with that other one’s head? Who let him out of the house like that?
Donny
November 5, 2015 @ 6:24 am
Man buns are pretty digusting, figure it out
Gena R.
November 4, 2015 @ 7:22 pm
Aaagh, I missed it — I switched over to L&O:SVU after Chris’s Best New Artist win (congrats to him, by the way!). Pleeeeease let his performance with JT be put up online tomorrow…
Gena R.
November 4, 2015 @ 9:23 pm
Guess I didn’t have to wait until tomorrow!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KkoYOexplQ 😀
chris Lewis louie
November 4, 2015 @ 7:22 pm
I would take Memphis soul infused country over bro country or country rap anyday.
Michelle Scott
November 4, 2015 @ 7:22 pm
This is not about country, will not watch again. Really, Sam Hunt doesn’t get best new artist and Mr. never heard of him does. Politically correct takes over CMA. Jason Timberlake, John Mellencamp is CMA confused? Worst show ever!!!
hoptowntiger
November 4, 2015 @ 7:22 pm
I’m going to say one last thing about Chris Stapleton and be done with it forever – Stapleton is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and he’s going to break all your little outlaw hearts.
Hillbilly Music Lover
November 4, 2015 @ 7:34 pm
I COMPLETELY agree with you. If he were clean-cut instead of sporting the “outlaw look” (long hair and a scraggly beard) he’d be blasted for his pop-rock sound. I had never heard him, so I went to You Tube and randomly picked songs. I was 0-for-3 in finding something that sounded even REMOTELY country. His blues version of “Tennessee Whiskey” was painful, and “When the Stars Come Out” could be ANY modern “country” singer and nobody’d know the difference.
I need to go listen to Dale Watson to clean my ears out.
Stephanie
November 5, 2015 @ 6:29 am
I don’t think you’re really being honest if you say that the only thing separating Stapleton from the mainstream crap is his look.
So I’ll agree, when I first head Chris Stapleton, my immediate reaction was “I don’t think this is really Country enough for me.” But I gave it another chance and just fell so hard for his music. First of all, that voice is just plain moving. And I’m so glad to hear music of quality that really makes me feel something. And now that I’ve listened to the whole album many times, I’ve found that to me, it is a lot more country than I initially gave it credit for.
I can understand him not being your cup of tea (barely though, lol, I have a hard time accepting that people wouldn’t like this album.) And who knows what his future hold, but there is no denying that its a huge step in the right direction.
Applejack
November 5, 2015 @ 1:46 am
Give it a rest.
Look, if Chris Stapleton puts out poor quality music in the future, that will obviously be disappointing, but that is a possibility with any artist, including Dale Watson, Sturgill Simpson, Hank 3, or whatever hardcore country artist you want to name who shuns the industry entirely and would never make friends with any of those people.
Ultimately the proof is on the pudding, and the guy’s solo music so far is really good. (In my opinion.)
Liza
November 4, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
Why don’t those people know that Florida Georgia Line is a solo act?
ALevs
November 4, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
FGL obviously lip syncing correct? Anyone?
Big Ben
November 4, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
Look…I’m getting sick of the constant bashing of the newer artists and the overdriven rock sound (even have to throw in Steve Vai jabs or saying the current studio guitarists are wanking off). I HATE traditional country as it is known. For the first time in years I can say I like “country”, lol.
I’m a rock guy who loved the bro country stuff and southern rock sounding stuff. I also love the new RNB/EDM stuff.
Work on promoting the people you like instead of bringing perfectly good artists down. You say “Folsom Prison”, I say “High Class”. You say “Hank Sr”, I say “Sam Hunt”… And that’s ok. Quit bashing my side and I’ll respect yours.
Though I must say the twangy acoustic folk/bluegrass stuff or that plinky Telecaster stuff bores the shit out of me. I’d rather go through getting all of my teeth pulled without novocaine and get hit in the boys than sit through a Merle Haggard concert. I think even death would be preferred in my case.
And no, I’m not a teeny bopper clueless about music. I’m heavily involved with music and I have to say, there is plenty of us liking the new stuff. Not every song needs to be serious or have an intense story. Sometimes these lighthearted uplifting “party” songs are just what the doctor ordered.
You don’t have to like the new stuff being called country, you don’t have to like the fact it’s not country (thank god), but you can’t deny it is popular and well liked because it’s good music no matter the genre. Maybe not country but that don’t make it bad.
In other words, promote your Simpsons and Isbells and Stapletons without childishly attack my Rhett’s, FGL’s, or Hunt’s. I never said old country is bad, I said I didn’t care for it. You can do the same for the new stuff without personal attacks or negative subjective opinions on the quality of the music.
Every time I see those damn “We Hate Pop Country” memes on social media I want to punch the screen. It’s unfair and there are more peaceful ways to promote what you consider country music without bashing the new stuff.
I’ve been a lurker for a little bit but I’ve had enough of it. Focus on “Saving Country Music” and not about how bad you think Sam Hunt’s hair is.
Also, I’m prepared for personal attacks from commenters on how I don’t know what I’m talking about or about my choices in music and that’s fine. It just highlights that you can’t make a educated opinion. God forbid someone love “Beautiful Drug” or FGL. Burn them! Oh you like FGL, you must be stupid! I feel sorry for you. Seriously, that’s just dumb.
-ben
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:37 pm
This isn’t about what you like, this is about honesty.
One day I went into Applebee’s and ordered a steak. Then Thomas Rhett came over and served me a burrito and told me that my steak had evolved.
Don’t get it?
You’re entitled to like any kind of music, I like a lot of music besides “old country.” I love Steve Vai and Claytown Troupe and Faith no More and Satriani. But you’re not entitled to call something Country Music when it isn’t, because that’s dishonesty.
Hillbilly Music Lover
November 4, 2015 @ 7:43 pm
What Fuzzy said. You probably laughed when Pat Boone put out an album and called it “heavy metal” because you KNEW better. It’s the same thing here. Furthermore, genres have a scholarly, “textbook” definition, and what’s being played today does not fit that definition.
“London Calling” by the Clash is one of the greatest albums I have ever owned in my life. But all good isn’t country and all country isn’t good.
Jake
November 4, 2015 @ 7:43 pm
Welcome to the site Mr. Borchetta
Melanie
November 5, 2015 @ 7:10 am
You can’t “Save Country Music” when you allow/accept things which aren’t remotely related to country music, to be labeled country. I don’t know what genre you dig the most, but let’s say it’s heavy metal. How would you like it if some lil folkie girl with a guitar came out and sang “Blowin In the Wind” and everyone told you that have to accept it as metal, because metal “must evolve”? That’s how we life-long lovers of country music feel when someone tries that mess, as if we’d be dumb enough to not know the difference. It’s disrespectful to us and to country music. If you wouldn’t even give classic country a hearing, then you don’t like country music, you like pop or rap or whatever gawd-awful mud pie is being served up as “country”. People who love country music know the difference. I don’t understand why people like you even bother with “country” music, except that it’s not country now, so you can tolerate “not country” country.
And get off my lawn!
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
Anyone want to place a wager on who falls of the stage more times tonight, Garth or Luke?
Dr Phil
November 4, 2015 @ 7:23 pm
Line of the night at 7:41…
Thomas
November 4, 2015 @ 7:24 pm
To Brian Kelly of FGL, lay off the coke bruh, it’s not a good look
Meaghan
November 4, 2015 @ 7:25 pm
Tyler and Brian are looking a little manorexic. Don’t be afraid of carbs, boys – we all saw what happened to Tim McGraw.
Nicole C.
November 4, 2015 @ 7:25 pm
Florida Georgia Line for Duo of the Year? Really?
Bobsled
November 4, 2015 @ 7:26 pm
Was that Ellen wearing a colonel sanders costume presenting duo of the year?