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.
Jake
November 4, 2015 @ 7:26 pm
Florida Georgia Line is living proof that dumb luck exists in the world
john morley
November 4, 2015 @ 7:42 pm
This is not country music. Does anyone know what a pedal steel guitar sounds like. Elton John and Grateful Dead are/ were more country than most of the people on this show.
acapellaluv
November 21, 2015 @ 7:34 am
***There’s no rule that country songs MUST have instruments in it!!***
I like Ptx in pop music, but was surprised they didn’t have HOME FREE (World’s 1st Country A Cappella Band/Sing Off 4 Winners) perform a tribute to the Oak Ridge Boys, when they did a awesome video collab. w/them on ‘ELVIRA’ (1+ Mill.You Tube vws) & may go on a World Tour w/The Oaks!!..Country music started w/guys just sittin’ ’round singin’ &
Home Free can SING!!!! **They recv’d 2 Standing ovations @Opry debut!!
****New album COUNTRY EVOLUTION: #4 Billboard Country debut!!****
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YOU TUBE:…HOME FREE….[[w/Headphones!!]]
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‘Elvira’-w/The Oaks
‘Good OL’ Country Harmony 10/8-orig. -live
‘Summer In The Country’-orig.
‘Children, Go Where I Send,Thee’-w/Kenny Rogers -new
‘Colder Weather’-live
‘Seven Bridges Road’
‘Champagne Taste On A Beer Budget’-hilarious orig.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:26 pm
It’s such a shame that under Mr. Obama the economy has tanked so much that we had to reduce to only two stooges. FGL is atrocious as ever.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:27 pm
Oh wait, there’s the third stooge. Cole Swindell is only marginally less annoying than FGL
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 7:29 pm
shame on CMA for giving Duo of the Year to FGL. Maddie and Tae deserved it. The Fuck.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:33 pm
As I’ve stated before, Maddie and Tae are no different than Cole Swindell. They’re a product created by Scott Borchetta to trick the traditionalists into giving him your money “because hey it insults brocountry”
Even if they’d won it wouldn’t signify anything for the state of Country Music, except for the fact the traditionalist crowd had been taken for big bagels.
You can’t trust Scott Borchetta as far as you can throw a cathedral, at least not about music.
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 7:44 pm
dude, really. Who the fuck cares about Scott Borchetta? as long as it’s good country music, with strong fiddles and steel guitars, I will be supporting it. and Maddie and Tae have been capable to make me cry with their song After the Storm Blows Through. Please don’t you dare to compare them to Cole rat faced swindell again.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:47 pm
Great, buy their music, you have my blessing.
But every time somebody buys a Maddie and Tae CD the guy who gave us FGL, RaeLynn, and Thomas Rhett gets a dollar.
Every time the guy who gave us FGL and Raelynn gets a dollar, he produces another awful “Country” star that torments us on radio.
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 8:01 pm
Scott Borchetta don’t need my dollars because he is likely the richest guy on the planet thanks to Taylor Swift. moreover your point is quite dumb. According to you I should stop buying Gary Allan and George Strait records because Sam Hunt is on their same label? I should stop buying Kacey Musgraves records because somehow the money I invested on them will go to Luke Bryan? come on dude wake up!!
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 8:06 pm
Maddie and Tae presented themselves as “anti-bro-country” by attacking the brocountry acts. BUT Scott Borchetta promoted brocountry AND he promoted them. Maddie and Tae are not contributing to the benefit of Country Music, they are fake; it’s all very clever marketing by Borchetta and he’s fooled a lot of traditionalists into thinking these girls were on their side.
He’s deliberately playing both sides of the coin to fool the traditionalists.
George Strait and Sam Hunt are different because they aren’t part of a farce being perpetrated on the record buying public.
Lorenzo
November 4, 2015 @ 8:18 pm
you really annoyed me with your stupid and idiotic theories. The problem you’re talking about (M&T being fake because promoted by the same label that promotes some Bro country) has been solved in November 2014 when M&T released their EP and proved that they wanted to bring some authenticity to country music. And their album proved it even more. You sicken me. Fuck Scott Borchetta and your theories. There’s just one way to judge an artist: listening to their music. and your little stupid theories have still to prove me that M&T’s debut album is a bad album.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 8:23 pm
Let me explain
Once there was a bad king, and nobody liked the bad king. His hair was greasy, his robes were torn, and everyone wished he had never been born.
Then one day a change occurred, and before the sunset everybody had heard, a new king had come into the land, but the old king had them eating right out of his hand.
He’d cleaned up his shirt, and trimmed up his hair, and he looked like a new man standing there.
And everyone thought that a new king was here, but ’twas just the old one, he’d fooled them all, and their lives still sucked.
The problem is that Scott Borchetta doesn’t care about music, or art. He’s using Maddie and Tae to fool the peasants into thinking he does, but it’s a ruse, the minute there’s a new trend he’ll sacrifice all our heritage that is Country Music for money.
Hasn’t he done enough to our heritage and traditions???!?!?
Kale
November 4, 2015 @ 8:41 pm
I like your example, but it’s not the point. We all know Borchetta doesn’t care. Nobody is debating that. He’s not fooling anyone, because we’re not listening to him anyway. This isn’t about Borchetta. This is about better alternatives to shitty music. Borchetta himself doesn’t care, but Maddie and Tae might. We shouldn’t judge, belittle, or not support these girls just because of whose label they’re on. They are their own people.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 7:58 pm
To my ears, they are MUCH different than Swindell. I mean, I don’t love their music, but it sounds like country music to me.
Kale
November 4, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
Your cynicism really bugs me. M&T winning would at least mean FGL didn’t win. Their music is so much better and more country than FGL’s. Plus, we need more women winning awards. We need to abolish this male dominated business, where a dude can throw on a ballcap, turn on a drum machine, and be an instant star, while no woman whose name isn’t Carrie or Miranda can even get recognized. M&T > Bro-Country.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 8:16 pm
But that change towards quality music and respect for women needs to come from outside. Scott Borchetta has proven he doesn’t care about either with the artists he is directly responsible for.
He’s only making better music and using women because it can make him more money and this way he can change with the trends.
A fox who fights and runs away will live to fight another day.
We need people who actually care about the quality of our music, and respecting our women. We need that change to come from the outside.
Kale
November 4, 2015 @ 8:23 pm
From people who “country” radio would never play? Sure, there are many artists outside the system who kill many of these puppets in album sales, but radio and the stupid iTune’s streaming trends count too. People like Borchetta are in charge of all this. Nothing changes unless they want it to. Someone would have to overthrow Borchetta somehow, or find a way to manipulate him. That can only come from within the system. The system must be overthrown from within.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 8:25 pm
The system doesn’t need to be overthrown. It will collapse on its own, if the recent numbers have been an indication. Country Radio is plummeting like a chicken wing into Gary Levox’ stomach. We just have to wait until the bubble breaks. Country Radio is imploding.
Applejack
November 5, 2015 @ 2:18 am
Obviously, Scott Borchetta is willing to cash in on music that’s not actually country, but I bet you he’s also more than willing to make money on music that is country, if he thinks it will sell.
Also, the one good thing people usually say about Borchetta is that, traditionally, he gives the artists on his roster the latitude to make their own creative decisions for the most part. In this case, he seems to have chosen two girls who are interested in making music that actually sounds country. And if people genuinely enjoy their music, how is it a “trick?”
Personally, I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a fan at this point, but they seem to have a lot more personality than the various interchangeable bros. I do think they have they potential as a popular country group.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:30 pm
I’m surprised the stage lights didn’t reflect off Cole’s bald head and cause one of the lighting guys to crash down onto the stage.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 8:03 pm
Thank God Church has his shades on! (Eye roll)
george
November 4, 2015 @ 7:30 pm
Hey Mr Church u know what i dont understand? Why u wearing sunglasses inside a studio?
Kale
November 4, 2015 @ 7:59 pm
The light hurts his eyes. I don’t like the guy, but I gotta stick up for him whenever I see this.
Harrison
November 4, 2015 @ 7:31 pm
Anyway you slice that song, regardless of genre, it’s a bad ass song with a damned heart felt message. I love that shit.
BrettS
November 4, 2015 @ 7:31 pm
Well at least one cool thing about Eric Church’s performance…. He name dropped Ray Wylie Hubbard… Which I’m sure those words have never been uttered on the CMA’s.
Seth
November 4, 2015 @ 7:38 pm
Sounds like Church or someone in his band is a closet Wilco fan…..not a bad thing.
mike2
November 4, 2015 @ 7:32 pm
Never thought I would here ray Wylie Hubbard’s name on the cma stage
Melanie's
November 4, 2015 @ 7:35 pm
eric is sometimes too mainstream. But he knows his music
Chris31
November 4, 2015 @ 7:34 pm
Who was singing with girl singing with Chris Stapleton and JT.
Alison Williams
November 4, 2015 @ 7:38 pm
Morgane Stapleton (Chris’s most amazing and talented wife)
Chris31
November 4, 2015 @ 7:55 pm
Alison.. Thanks! She did a great job.
Six String Richie
November 4, 2015 @ 7:34 pm
The melody of “Mr. Misunderstood” sounds similar to “The River’s Workin'” by Steve Azar. Or maybe it’s another song. But the first minute of the song sounds stolen from somewhere!
Seth
November 4, 2015 @ 7:40 pm
Listen to Wilco’s ‘Misunderstood’…..Sounds like a slight tribute of some kind….
WBK
November 4, 2015 @ 7:34 pm
Alright, time to take a leak. Thomas Rhett and Sell Out Boy are next and I don’t feel like losing brain cells.
johnson
November 4, 2015 @ 7:36 pm
Thomas Rhett does his best Bruno Mars!
Patty
November 4, 2015 @ 7:37 pm
One last thing…just had a Facebook “friend” post: Who is this Chris guy on the CMA’s? Never heard of him or his song and I listen to country every day.”
… Actually, you don’t.
leubanks5937@aol.com
November 4, 2015 @ 8:32 pm
who the hell is he? never, never, heard of him
Kale
November 4, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
That’s because he’s country, and country radio doesn’t play country music.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 7:39 pm
On the “Master and Pupil” thing about Timberlake, if Timberlake is a master, then Thomas Rhett is Dan Hibiki.
Josh
November 4, 2015 @ 7:40 pm
Just bought and listened to the new Eric Church album. Not gonna lie, it’s really good. Sounds like his album Carolina.
Harrison
November 4, 2015 @ 7:45 pm
It’s absolutely awesome. I can’t stop listening to it.
Bobsled
November 4, 2015 @ 7:55 pm
Ditto.
It’s like sinners like me part 2.
Phenomenal album top to bottom.
Harrison
November 4, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
I’m just speechless on how great this album is. The songwriting really is astonishing for a mainstream radio artist.
I honestly feel like I need to thank this dude for not crushing my hopes for his next album like Zac brown
NCW
November 4, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
It’s a WOW album. The note he sent to his fan club members was pretty damn cool too. He wrote 18 songs in 20 days and cut 10.
Spoony
November 4, 2015 @ 8:20 pm
That doesn’t exactly sound promising. I’ll probably give it a try anyway.
Ryan
November 4, 2015 @ 7:40 pm
Thomas Rhett has a look on his face like all of us viewers….. How the hell did this happen and let’s get it over with.
Otto
November 4, 2015 @ 7:43 pm
Well, Stapleton got two… Let’s hope this is the wind of change for Country music.
Hunt
November 4, 2015 @ 7:44 pm
As much hate as Church gets on this site he clearly has more talent than 99% of mainsteam artists.
I like to think it wasn’t a coincidence he gave us a new album to listen to while this other garbage is playing
Congrats to stapleton!
Jackie Treehorn
November 4, 2015 @ 7:55 pm
That ain’t sayin much dude (as far as church is concerned that is).
Justin
November 4, 2015 @ 7:45 pm
Even Kiefer Sutherland seems more country than Rhett and especially Sam Hunt.
Tiffany
November 4, 2015 @ 7:46 pm
Wow!!! Double congrats to Chris Stapleton for Album of the Year, well deserved!
mike2
November 4, 2015 @ 7:46 pm
Dave cobb!!
Trigger
November 4, 2015 @ 8:00 pm
Dave Cobb was on the CMA Awards stage. Just let that sink in.
judd
November 4, 2015 @ 8:02 pm
maybe next year when sturgill’s album drops cobb can win another one at the cma’s!
Let the dynasty begin!
BrettS
November 4, 2015 @ 8:08 pm
That’s huge Trigger
Applejack
November 5, 2015 @ 2:32 am
Getting to see Dave Cobb up there on that stage made it all worthwhile. It honestly felt like a small rmomeny of revolution, didn’t it?
Now Dave Cobb is the proud owner of a dang CMA award. Crazy!
Jessica
November 4, 2015 @ 7:46 pm
Have I died and gone to heaven?!?! I couldn’t be happier for Stapleton.
stinky
November 4, 2015 @ 7:59 pm
+1! only way this gets better is if sturgill and little joe were up on that stage performing.
judd
November 4, 2015 @ 8:03 pm
AS of tonight Stapleton is now the man as the alternative to bro country.
But we all know its still sturgill’s world and we arnt to fight in it.
Justin
November 4, 2015 @ 7:49 pm
I guess the major market radio station award went to the station that played Sam Hunt the most the past year.
Golddust
November 4, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
Since I listen to that station, I can definitely say Sam is WAY overplayed. No surprise there. Fingers crossed they’ll start playing a lot more Chris!
Austin
November 4, 2015 @ 7:49 pm
Country music’s coming back boys and girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ryan
November 4, 2015 @ 7:53 pm
Brad paisley played a feel good song like he typically does. Great guitar player and a genuine guy that made his way through the bro country era and didn’t sell out too bad.
KC
November 5, 2015 @ 7:51 am
When this bro-country concludes and is over, Paisley will walk through the smoke and destruction of his fellow musicians mostly unscathed.
Jackie Treehorn
November 4, 2015 @ 7:54 pm
I accidentally turned this absolute horror of an awards show on at the precise moment when that mentally vacant, no-talent, auditory rapist Thomas Rhett was on the stage with fallout boy (for what fucking reason that collaboration was necessary on on a “country” awards show, I’ll never know). Holy shit balls. THAT was the most appalling assault on country music’s roots I’ve witnessed to date.
#itsbeenoverforalongtime
Stranger
November 4, 2015 @ 8:04 pm
I like your style, dude.
mark
November 4, 2015 @ 7:58 pm
seems like there’s a lot of out of tune singing in these performances.
tode
November 4, 2015 @ 8:00 pm
where’s BIRDCLOUD ?
Wicket
November 5, 2015 @ 9:02 am
I like birdcloud the best #indianerthanallofyall
sir topemhat
November 4, 2015 @ 8:00 pm
Chris Stapleton’s Facebook page just gained several thousand more likes since his performance tonight! I’m getting goose bumps.
judd
November 4, 2015 @ 8:00 pm
why not have lee ann Womack sing a song?
nascarfan999
November 4, 2015 @ 8:03 pm
I get the slam on the cross promotional sellout with the ABC College Football guys, but considering Paisley’s song is driven around rotting for your favorite college team, i think it was very fitting. Certainly way more fitting than the Nashville girl doing a backstage show or appearances by Keifer Sutherland or Miss America.
judd
November 4, 2015 @ 8:05 pm
This luke bryan song makes me need to take a mind shower. So bad. I wouldn’t let my kid any where near this song
nascarfan999
November 4, 2015 @ 8:05 pm
Anyone else shocked that Brad got both main stages for Country Nation sending Blake to the back of the crowd stage (and unfortunately then sending Maddie & Tae to the tiny stage in the middle)?
Chase
November 4, 2015 @ 8:07 pm
Is it just me or do Luke Bryan’s songs seem to indicate that he is a very sexually deprived man? They are all pretty much about sex.
Jimmy
November 4, 2015 @ 8:08 pm
Prayers for Joey Feek of Joey + Rory
ChrisNSC
November 4, 2015 @ 8:10 pm
WTF was that???
Hunt
November 4, 2015 @ 8:10 pm
Was that Rascal Flatts or a melted stick of butter?
Brian
November 4, 2015 @ 8:11 pm
Ok, long time reader and first time commenter here. Congratulations to Chris Staplton on his big wins tonight. I just had a feeling things might be changing for the better when I seen that “music has value” sign behind Ol’ Hank.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 8:17 pm
I have real mixed feelings about Hank Jr., but I am LIVING for that message on that drum set tonight.
leubanks5937@aol.com
November 4, 2015 @ 8:26 pm
who the hell is he? never, never, heard of him
WBK
November 4, 2015 @ 8:59 pm
You just proved yourself as a troll. If you’re even a bad country fan who only listens to radio, you’d know who Hank Jr. is.
Warthog
November 4, 2015 @ 8:11 pm
Face it: we’re gonna have a “country” acapella group by next year. I’m calling it.
Reid
November 4, 2015 @ 8:19 pm
We already have one. Check out Home Free.
Koozie
November 4, 2015 @ 8:11 pm
As odd a source as it may seem, CBS Sports NFL Analyst Jason La Canfora (an early middle aged dude from my high school in suburban Maryland) is tweeting some scathing criticism of the current trends in “country” music. He’s on Twitter at @jasonlacanfora if you want to see
Harrison
November 4, 2015 @ 8:12 pm
In general, little big town sucks, but damn Karen Fairchild is a dime and a half. Absolutely a beautiful girl. It’s a shame her music is trash 99% of the time.
Gena R.
November 4, 2015 @ 8:13 pm
I may be sick of Miranda winning all the Best Female Artist awards, but I do like this song (“Bathroom Sink”).
Chris31
November 4, 2015 @ 8:14 pm
Is it just me or does Karen Fairchild from Little Big Town seems like she could be a real hard to deal with…..
Harrison
November 4, 2015 @ 8:16 pm
I would wife her regardless
Justin
November 4, 2015 @ 8:20 pm
As long as I don’t ever have to hear “Pontoon” again.
nascarfan999
November 4, 2015 @ 8:14 pm
Seriously, if you are gonna bring out an acapella group to salute the Oak Ridge Boys, can’t you bring out the Opry performing group that recorded a cover of Elvira with the Oak Ridge Boys, Home Free? For anyone who hasn’t heard, it is way better than what we heard tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wgm9gZs1hYw
Brett Dale
November 4, 2015 @ 8:14 pm
Anyone who says girl crush is promoting the gay agenda, watches a little too much fox news.
Spoony
November 4, 2015 @ 8:26 pm
Quite the non-sequitur there, hotshot.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 8:15 pm
My Facebook feed has me so sad. All these proclaimed country music lovers who won’t shut up about how awesome Justin timber lake was while completely ignoring Chris Stapleton’s existence.
🙁
Seth
November 4, 2015 @ 8:18 pm
Has Brad Paisley finally jumped the shark? Or are we well past that moment?
Tiffany
November 4, 2015 @ 8:19 pm
In award shows past, I’ve always rooted for LBT and/or TBP. But, after what TBP is doing with their music and image here lately, I’ll gladly take the LBT win. Now, I can finally go to bed…lol I’ll check and see who else wins tomorrow. Thanks for your blog, Trig, have a good night.
Pete Marshall
November 4, 2015 @ 8:20 pm
I am glad Maddie and Tae won 1 and Chris Stapleton won 2 awards, and Little Big Town won 3 awards. I am hoping neither Miranda Lambert and Garth Brooks don’t win any awards.
Jim Bob
November 4, 2015 @ 9:26 pm
Your support of little big town does not amuse me. Neither does your improper use of double negatives. Go on back to your city, boy, this ain’t your town
Pete Marshall
November 5, 2015 @ 11:04 pm
Jim Bob: I have my opinion and you have your opinion. I do like Little Big Town but if you don’t like them that’s fine each is own . Miranda Lambert is overrated but I Like her, and I don’t really care for Garth Brooks; so what I’m not being negative about them. No need to write this comment about me sir and I am very sensitive. Let’s carry on please!
Chris31
November 4, 2015 @ 8:23 pm
I feel like i have heard this Jason Aldean song before…..and I still don’t like it.
leubanks5937@aol.com
November 4, 2015 @ 8:23 pm
Who in the hell is this guy? He wins an award with no one ever hearing him on the radio? WTF talking about Chris Stapleton.. never heard of him
Trigger
November 4, 2015 @ 8:32 pm
Well get with the program and figure it out.
leubanks5937@aol.com
November 4, 2015 @ 8:40 pm
what program? i listen to the radio here all of the time… NEVER HEARD OF HIM
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 8:44 pm
Well go get a CD player, buy some CDs by this guy, or Ricky Skaggs, or Bob Wills, and I bet you’ll never want to listen to the radio again.
Cristy Tripp
November 4, 2015 @ 8:44 pm
So you think that only the best quality music is what you hear on the radio?
WBK
November 4, 2015 @ 8:51 pm
Well he just won three awards…trust me you’ll be hearing a lot more of him. BTW, the best country music is not the crap they play on the radio. Just so you know
Cristy Tripp
November 4, 2015 @ 8:35 pm
Are you for real?
Kale
November 4, 2015 @ 8:50 pm
I gotta call “troll” on him. At least, I certainly hope so… If not, why is he here?
Clovis
November 5, 2015 @ 7:32 am
Congratulations on finally getting to discover one of the best voices in country music today!
BrettS
November 4, 2015 @ 8:24 pm
Surely Sturgill and Isbell are next doing ” Amarillo Highway “.
Gena R.
November 4, 2015 @ 8:24 pm
KACEY! 😀 Looooove “Dime Store Cowgirl.”
Angela
November 4, 2015 @ 8:26 pm
see I loved Bathroom Sink!! Its a real song…but I can totally see it being a female driven song…Its a song that I feel only women will understand.
Its was one of my top 3 off platinum!
Elin
November 4, 2015 @ 8:27 pm
So here in Colorado we’re one hour behind the rest of you all. Where I am, Chris Stapleton and JT absolutely tore it up 5 minutes ago and now Florida Georgia Line just won Duo of the Year. I feel the Stapleton/JT performance must have been an awesome, very realistic dream.
WBK
November 4, 2015 @ 8:28 pm
Damn Kacey Musgraves is hot…doesn’t hurt that she can do something else on guitar besides stand and play chords.
NCW
November 4, 2015 @ 8:32 pm
Thank God for DVR. I’m watching that performance again at the moment.
judd
November 4, 2015 @ 8:33 pm
Trigger could we see isbell getting love at the ACMS? It seems the door is open now.
But I know Stapleton has been a songwriter for a while so I guess its a different scenario than isbell and sturgill.
Austin
November 4, 2015 @ 8:34 pm
Trigger, have you noticed the Eric Church advertisement on your website saying “the next album you’ll hate”? Coincidence? I think not..
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 8:36 pm
I scrolled up and there it was. At least it’s not Luke Bryan ads. I kept flagging them as inappropriate and it looks like finally they went away.
NCW
November 4, 2015 @ 8:35 pm
Does anyone else feel like country radio programmers may take another look at their playlists tomorrow morning?
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 8:42 pm
I’m actually oddly nervous about what will happen when they start playing Stapleton on the radio.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 4, 2015 @ 8:48 pm
You know, when we’re all old, and there’s an exhibit at the blogger hall of fame about Trigger, and Albert turned into that crazy pet rock guy (haha) and I’m winning an Oscar for my portrayal of Martin Van Buren in an HBO miniseries, we’ll all be talking about where we were the day Chris Stapleton saved Country Music
Me, I’ll just tell them I was in my parents kitchen, correcting people on the internet.
stinky
November 5, 2015 @ 12:06 am
i’m not very optimistic. sure, chris will get more play but mainstream radio is too far gone, imho. i thought “that lonesome song” would change things for the better, but we’ve seen where things have spiraled to since then.
but that dave cobb sure can country music.
Adios Muchacho
November 4, 2015 @ 8:36 pm
As a song…Dimestore Cowgirl is better than a lot of what we heard tonight.
Vocally…it just wasn’t good. Freaking Florida Georgia Line sounded more on point than she did. She also had no presence – looked hot, but didn’t command the stage the way superstars should.
johnson
November 4, 2015 @ 8:36 pm
Musgraves was great visually but lacking in song and vocals. Dirks was just boring and average.
hoptowntiger
November 4, 2015 @ 8:37 pm
I’ll agree with your Musgraves assessment (not the songwriter one). I don’t really care for that song (too narrow in it’s scope), but I enjoyed her performance. Where were her pants?
hoptowntiger
November 4, 2015 @ 8:38 pm
Carrie Underwood fans ….. The winner is Miranda Lambert, again, again, again, again, again and again.
Elin
November 4, 2015 @ 8:39 pm
Fall Out Boy and Thomas Rhett. What. The. Fuck. That’s all I can say.
Justin
November 4, 2015 @ 8:39 pm
Wow, I think Miranda just dissed all the bro-country dudes that sang tonight. Ha
Warthog
November 4, 2015 @ 8:39 pm
By the way, did Eric Church namedrop Ray Wylie Hubbard and Jeff Tweedy earlier?
Namedropping is namedropping, i guess, but you gotta admit, that’s better than the constant “Willie, Hank and Cash” namedropping so prevalent in country today.
hdhd
November 4, 2015 @ 8:39 pm
Trigger, I’d love to see your take on Bobby Bones taking full credit and acting like a hero on Twitter for playing Stapleton a couple of times.
Trigger
November 4, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
Yeah, I also hear he was smack talking Stapleton, Sturgill ,and Isbell and possibly yours truly on Tuesday. Haven’t had a chance to go back and listen yet. But if he’s saying he’s responsible for Stapleton now, he’s completely delusional.
hdhd
November 4, 2015 @ 8:51 pm
He seems to be claiming that he’s been yelled at for months by “the suits” for playing him
WBK
November 4, 2015 @ 8:40 pm
Am I the only one who thought Miranda seems sad and depressed? She looks like she’d rather not be there.
stinky
November 4, 2015 @ 8:46 pm
agreed. it seemed like she was hoping they would not call her name. bless her heart.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 8:40 pm
Trigger- out of curiosity, what would Dierks’ best song have been?
I was thrilled he didn’t do Drunk on a Plane or one of the other throwaways. My love for Dierks has run so deep that, while he’s in the doghouse with me right now, I can’t help but harbor a soft spot.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 8:43 pm
Or wait, is Riser his current single? I didn’t even know that.
hoptowntiger
November 4, 2015 @ 8:42 pm
Oh, boy! Trig, you typed Musgraves instead of Lambert. You aren’t getting married anytime soon.
Eduardo Vargas
November 4, 2015 @ 8:43 pm
I still think Dierks’ Riser has a chance to continue to rise, and gain prominence. It’s not dead yet
Gena R.
November 4, 2015 @ 8:45 pm
Oh, this takes me back (Reba and B&D)…
johnson
November 4, 2015 @ 8:48 pm
Reba and B&D look really old for this crowd.
KeepItCountryKids
November 4, 2015 @ 8:49 pm
The CMA for Botched Botox of The Year goes to….
Ronnie Dunn!
Denver
November 4, 2015 @ 10:24 pm
I was thinking they stretched his face a little too tight.
ElectricOutcast
November 4, 2015 @ 8:50 pm
Yeah I’ll stick with the Justin Boots that Wade Bowen gave me for Christmas last year
Elin
November 4, 2015 @ 8:51 pm
Brad Paisley is on but I am finding myself distracted by the dancing stuffed animals.
Chris31
November 4, 2015 @ 8:52 pm
Am i dreaming…im dreaming aunt I….i’m about to wake up….
Waymore38
November 4, 2015 @ 8:53 pm
That’s great Chris Stapleton is getting the recognition he deserves. The tide is a slowly changing in the mainstream country!!!
stinky
November 4, 2015 @ 8:54 pm
hot damn what a night!
David Robinson
November 4, 2015 @ 8:54 pm
What a night, Trigger! So happy for Stapleton!
ElectricOutcast
November 4, 2015 @ 8:55 pm
Unpopular opinion time: I want Garth Brooks to really win Entertainer of the Year and I hope the voters played their cards right.
Anybody got a problem with it can kiss my ass.
Ryan
November 4, 2015 @ 8:56 pm
So glad for chris and the future of country music. Say what you want about Luke Bryan but he was so excited for chris to win that award
Gena R.
November 4, 2015 @ 8:58 pm
Yay, Chris! 🙂
I guess that was the end of Blake’s Male Vocalist winning streak…
Brett Dale
November 4, 2015 @ 9:22 pm
Machine 2
Garth 0
How many tickets does Garth have to sell to win Entertainer of the year? 20 Million?
Luke is a better entertainer than Garth? Come on Now!, thats insane.
everyone shut up
November 4, 2015 @ 9:26 pm
i love this blog so much
Six String Richie
November 4, 2015 @ 9:27 pm
Eric Church totally reads this website. He made an ad specifically for it. That’s funny.
Stephanie
November 4, 2015 @ 9:32 pm
What’s with that ad? Because poor poor Eric Church is such an outsider who gets no love or something? Wtf?
Harrison
November 4, 2015 @ 10:30 pm
It says “mr. Misunderstood, the next album you’ll hate”
stinky
November 4, 2015 @ 9:35 pm
i’m already pumped for 2016 when taylor swift introduces the world to sturgill simpson
Kale
November 4, 2015 @ 9:44 pm
She wouldn’t do that, but Keith Urban and John Mayer both like him. Sam Hunt claims to, but I bet he was trying to win us over in vain. Either way, Sam wouldn’t want to help out someone who is the antithesis of every horrible thing he stands for, and a threat to his success. I’m sure Sam, Thomas, and their fans will be blowing up the Internet about how they got cheated out of New Artist by someone nobody has ever heard of, who isn’t “evolving” music the way they are lol! Keith Urban might help him out though. He is far more reasonable than most, and he doesn’t really have anything to lose at this point.
stinky
November 4, 2015 @ 10:03 pm
i obv wasn’t being serious. i thought timberlake overdid it, but that was such an awesome thing he did for chris.
Kale
November 4, 2015 @ 9:36 pm
Is it not strange that Carrie’s singles always perform better than Miranda’s, but Miranda always wins? The CMAs are clearly rigged. I hate to approach FuzzyTwoShirt’s cynically conspiracy theory area after combatting him this whole time, but I betcha they only let Chris Stapleton win to appease us Old Farts.
Fuzzy TwoShirts
November 5, 2015 @ 6:22 am
“betcha they only let Chris Stapleton win to appease us Old Farts.”
Now don’t you think that’s just a little unrealistic? hahahahaha
On the Carrie/Miranda thing: Carrie Underwood has a cushion of almost obsessive fans, whereas Miranda I think has a more moderate fanbase, and a lot more critical acclaim. Carrie performs well on radio because her fans make it happen.
And on the Stapleton thing: If the CMAs were rigged, which they very well could be, then what would the powers that be gain through Stapleton’s sweep? He’s not major label (well he wasn’t but between Sturgill and now this Dave Cobb is a legitimate power player) and he’s not commercial (although I’m getting “Traveller” down at the recordstore today)
I just don’t see the establishment as benefiting from a Stapleton win, and given the way they’ve treated the Old Farts in the past there’s no reason to think they’re trying to appease us. Although just to be safe I didn’t watch.
Nathan
November 4, 2015 @ 9:39 pm
As someone raised on ’70s and ’80s country, I find this CMA awards show to be an absolute disgrace. Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn and Reba were about all I found during the entire three hour show that merited spending any time on it at all. Almost everything I heard, with few exceptions, wasn’t anywhere close to being country. There is real country music currently in circulation but the CMA awards show won’t get anywhere near these artists. What a disgrace that country music has come to what we witnessed on the CMAs this night.
Marco
November 4, 2015 @ 9:41 pm
This feels like the time Michigan lost to Appalachian State.
JB
November 4, 2015 @ 9:52 pm
Still sitting here on my couch relishing the juxtaposition of Chris Stapleton’s talent to Sam Hunt and Florida Georgia Line. His placement in the program couldn’t have been better. And JT’s harmonies were so tight. The mainstream establishment got downright embarrassed tonight.
Nathan
November 4, 2015 @ 10:15 pm
I’m open to the possibility of promise with Chris Stapleton. Kale, in an earlier post, brings up the question of the CMAs being rigged. No matter what one thinks of Toby Keith, Toby has publicly stated that He won’t attend CMA award shows because He can’t beat the politics involved. As far as Bobby Bones is concerned, if memory serves me right, He took a pot shot at Collin Raye after Collin went on Fox News and expressed concern over the direction of country music. If I remember correctly, Collin was stating the obvious and that is the need for country music to get back to being country music. I have to wonder if Bobby Bones even knows what authentic country music is (hey Bobby, if you don’t know what authentic country music is then perhaps you should leave it alone!) I don’t put any stock in anything Bobby Bones says.
Denver
November 4, 2015 @ 10:17 pm
I would like to make a humorous statement that the biggest winner of the night was us. But really we fucking won. Chris Stapleton left with more recognition than any other artist. Sam Hunt didn’t win. Sam Hunts a looser.
Harrison
November 4, 2015 @ 10:32 pm
Shoutout to Eric if he actually reads this because that ad is funny as hell. Mr. Misunderstood is great rock on bro.
Kyle S
November 5, 2015 @ 12:40 am
I just don’t understand why Chris Stapleton is classified as country and why he is the “country music savior” to trigger and most other posters. The man is obviously more talented that anyone that stepped foot on the stage tonight but his sound and voice don’t represent country music to me. A great country song is the result of a great melody and if you listen to his new album, the melodies don’t exactly go anywhere (the exception being traveller). He can sing his ass off but this doesn’t appeal to me on a song with a pandering and flat melody.
He is a soul artist through and through- his sound is better accompanied by the memphis horn section than a steel guitar and fiddle. Critics will say I need to stop looking at country as a narrow genre. Country does, however, have defining characteristics that I look for in a song (tight melody, twang). Back in the “golden age of country” Chris’s music wouldn’t be featured on the CMAs. It would and does correlate closer to bluesy soul. Is Chris’s music better than most other non- country artists that make “country music” today? Yes. Is Chris’s music the second coming of great country music? No.
When I want to listen to country I want to listen to country.
David
November 5, 2015 @ 1:17 am
Your analysis of Stapleton is spot on. As somebody who champions quality roots music, Traveller was up there with the year’s best but each listen cements its bluesy & soulful credentials. The good news is the CMA have at least recognised an album & singer with depth & substance. It’s a significant move in the right direction & MAY herald more alignment with your country music ideals which are admirable in their intent.
Jeremy
November 5, 2015 @ 9:47 am
All I can say is if you don’t think his voice blends well well with a fiddle you have to listen to the first two Steeldriver albums. That stuff was pure gold.
Frank the Tank
November 9, 2015 @ 12:47 am
Agreed. I’m glad he won rather than the alternatives, but I’m having a hard time getting into his album. He’s obviously a great singer, but I guess the music just isn’t my style.
Applejack
November 5, 2015 @ 1:05 am
After the CMA closing credits, Nashville’s ABC affiliate cut to a live feed of Little Big Town speaking to the press in the media room backstage. I didn’t hear the beginning of Karen Fairchild’s remarks since they cut to her mid sentence, but she was comparing “Girl Crush” to more lightweight songs like “Day Drinking”:
“…But we wanna get to the heart, the substance on our records, and we don’t often get to do that. And tonight, I think it speaks volumes… “Girl Crush” … Chris Stapleton… Kacey Musgraves up there… and yet we’re not always we’re hearing that music on the radio, and I think the tide’s turning. I think everybody wants to hear it. So… it’s time.”
I thought that was a really nice sentiment, and a good thought to close the evening on. Also, it amused me that she said it with the tone of a patient parent gently scolding a child who knows he’s been acting stupid.
Big Cat
November 5, 2015 @ 5:05 am
Trigger, honestly I enjoyed JT. Not a fan of his music but the dude has serious chops and obvious talent. He doesn’t hide who he is. I’d rather see JT being JT than all these cracker jacks claiming they are country.
I’ll reserve judgement on a JT country album but if he does it, he won’t put on a cowboy hat.
RD
November 5, 2015 @ 5:46 am
Chris Stapleton was pretty good, but that version of Tennessee Whiskey was not what I want to hear. Of course, Coe did it 100 times better. I have absolutely no interest in hearing Justin Timberlake sing in his Backdoor Boys voice, look at his odd facial contortions or watch him prance around the stage with an un-miked acoustic guitar. He had to fight himself from breaking out into a fully-choreographed dance routine. What the fuck was he doing with his hands and face? His weak pansy voice is not suitable for country music. His stage presence or lack thereof is nauseating. He will not make a good country album and he will not be good for country music.
Anthony
November 5, 2015 @ 7:20 am
What a historic night for country music. The JT and Stapleton duet, amazing. It wasn’t some awkward mash up or anything like that, JT fit in so perfectly and it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. The CMA’s made a huge statement with Chris Stapleton. I was kind of hoping the Male Vocalist would go to Eric. I’m not discrediting Stapleton by any means, he deserves just as much respect as anybody, but I can understand on a certain level the idea of him already taking that award over someone like Eric kind of trivial. Words cannot describe how hot Kacey Musgraves was.