Saving Country Music’s 2017 ACM Awards LIVE Blog
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the Saving Country Music 2017 ACM Awards LIVE blog! For three hours we’ll be ranting and raving, running down the winners, and doing our best to highlight the few bright moments in what otherwise promises to be the an annual exercise in embarrassing the true country music fan. Instead of sitting pat, we stand up and let our voices of dissent be heard, and commiserate together until such day that the ACM’s wisen up and start putting talent over commercial appeal.
Understand this is not an exercise for the faint of heart, so bring a thick skin. There’s no time for bruised egos or correcting typos. Get your refresh fingers ready.
If you want to know what to expect, check out this Complete Preview. If you want to see Saving Country Music’s predictions, CLICK HERE. All times Central time.
– – – – – – – – –
WINNERS:
- Songwriter of the Year: Lori McKenna
- Single Record of the Year: Florida Georgia Line, “H.O.L.Y.” Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
- Vocal Event of the Year: Florida Georgia Line featuring Tim McGraw, “May We All;” Producer: Joey Moi; Record Label: Big Machine Label Group
- New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year: Brothers Osborne
- New Female Vocalist of the Year: Maren Morris
- New Male Vocalist of the Year: Jon Pardi
- Song of the Year: “Die a Happy Man,” Thomas Rhett; Songwriters: Thomas Rhett, Sean Douglas, Joe Spargur.
- Vocal Duo of the Year: Brothers Osborne
- Vocal Group of the Year: Little Big Town
- Album of the Year: “The Weight of These Wings,” Miranda Lambert; Producers: Frank Liddell, Eric Masse, Glenn Worf; Record Labels: RCA Nashville, Vanner Records
- Video of the Year: “Forever Country,” Artists of Then, Now and Forever; Director: Joseph Kahn; Producers: Nathan de la Rionda, Jil Hardin, Charleen Manca, Joanna Carter, Chandra LaPlume, Sarah Trahern, Damon Whiteside
- Male Vocalist of the Year: Thomas Rhett
- Female Vocalist of the Year: Miranda Lambert
- Entertainer of the Year: Jason Aldean
– – – – – – – – – –
10:10 – The story of the 2017 ACM Awards will be the launching of Thomas Rhett as the next major country music arena/stadium-level franchise. No way that dude deserves Song of the Year over “Humble and Kind” or Male Vocalist of the Year over anyone. Maybe Single of the Year, but that is as far as Thomas Rhett deserved to go. This is all about Big Machine leveraging behind-the-scenes power to launch a bona fide superstar. Whether it will work or not, we’ll see. Meanwhile it will be hard for Chris Stapleton to see the boost they were hoping for with the new song, and Florida Georgia Line continues to flounder.
Miranda Lambert has now won 8 Female Vocalist of the Year awards at the ACM Awards. Hard to say it’s not deserved, but you wonder when the streak is going to end. Meanwhile, it’s hard to argue in that poor field that “The Weight of These Wings” deserved Album of the Year. Think of all those great songwriters on that album who get to share in that joy. Adam Hood, Waylon Payne, Jack Ingram, Brent Cobb, Ashley Monroe, Mando Saenz, Shake Russel, and Jon Randall.
And Jason Aldean once again walks away with Entertainer of the Year. Horrible. A franchise we thought might be on the ropes gets another boost, though this is probably in response to Aldean’s lagging sales and singles instead of in spite of them.
After a few years of improvement, the ACM’s took a dramatic turn back in 2017. Let’s hope Jon Pardi, William Michael Morgan (where was he), and Chris Stapleton can help right the ship next year.
10:03 – THANK YOU THANK You to everyone who followed along, read, commented, shared, tweeted, liked, friended, and all that other stuff. I am going to compose some final thoughts, run down the winners, catch up with y’alls comments, and call it a night.
10:00 – Welp, Jason Aldean winning Entertainer of the Year pretty much caps off one of the WORST country music awards shows in history, if not THE worst save for a deserved win my Miranda Lambert for Album of the Year (in a weak field). This is one of those awards shows whose horrible reverberations will go for years, just like when Luke Bryan first won Entertainer of the Year.
9:58 – Ha! And once again, the Shania Twain rumors don’t pan out. Still no new single. But keep waiting, ya shmucks!
9:57 – Jason Aldean accepts one of the biggest awards in all of country music in a jacket made of PVC.
9:55 – The ACM for Entertainer of the Year goes to Jason Aldean.
9:55 – Joe Walsh! Save us!
9:53 – #backstreetsback
9:50 – Horrible.
9:49 – Rascal Flatts backstage right now. “Shit, I thought we were country’s boy band?”
9:48 – Wonder how Florida Georgia Line got those holes in the knees of their jeans?
9:44 – Don’t go anywhere, y’all! You still have Florida Georgia Line performing with the Backstreet Boys, you mindless proles. Sponsored by T-Mobile.
9:41 – Holy shit it’s a cowboy hat! Three of ’em! And a fiddle!
See, this is why we’ve got to support Jon Pardi, even if he’s not the greatest. He’s trying in the incredibly restrictive Music Row environment.
9:40 – Reba’s from an era when country singers actually had to be able to sing.
9:39 – Clear play for the Christian market that Music Row has been making for the last couple of years to attempt to make up for all the older country fans they’ve scared away in the last half decade.
Strong performance by both ladies though. Not bad.
9:37 – Do we really call Reba THE Queen of Country Music? How about A queen. Kitty Wells and Loretta deserve a little deference here.
9:36 – Nice shout out for country music’s Gospel influence by Ronnie Dunn. The bros at home have blank stares on their faces.
9:33 – Thanks folks for commenting below. Trying to catch up when I can.
9:29 – Pretty damn surprised Miranda Lambert won for Female Vocalist after Carrie Underwood’s strong year. But I guess you have to account that the eligibility period creeped into when “Vice” was on radio, and when “The Weight of These Wings” was making noise. Still, if you felt like there was a year Carrie Underwood could steal one, it would be this year. Carrie’s fans won’t be happy, and Miranda had that sense.
9:27 – The 2017 ACM Award for Female Vocalist of the Year goes to Carrie Underwood’s gams!
Actually, it’s MIRANDA LAMBERT.
“Carrie can sing me under the table, we can agree on that,” says Miranda.
9:25 – All the douche Bro singers are wearing the same leather jacket (just a different color), singing the same song. Fucking Cole Swindell isn’t even singing into the mic. What a joke.
Cole Swindell, “I Will never forget this moment.” Yeah, neither will we. Unfortunately.
9:22 – By the way, the Thomas Rhett win means Chris Stapleton was completely locked out of the ACM Awards in 2017. Best-selling country artist in years with incredible critical acclaim, and no hardware.
9:20 – This is what we’re seeing here folks: Scott Borchetta and Big Machine are going hard behind Thomas Rhett. He is the new Big Machine cash cow now that Florida Georgia Line are flailing, and Tim McGraw is gone. This is all about launching the next arena-level franchise. Hey, someone has to take over for Kenny Chesney. But Thomas Rhett just doesn’t have the talent for even half this attention. He never should have been taking out of the Music Row publishing house for retread Bro-Country tunes.
9:17 – What’s the over/under on how much Scott Borchetta paid for Thomas Rhett’s Male Vocalist of the Year trophy? Ridiculous. So contrived.
9:16 – See, long still on Rhett’s wife.
9:15 – The 2017 ACM for Male Vocalist of the Year goes to Thomas Rhett?
Fuck.
9:12 – Old Dominion is screaming “Hey!” now? Even the 2012 Lumineers think this is lame.
9:11 – Screw your faux hawk, Thomas Rhett.
9:09 – Once had a jacket like Thomas Rhett’s. A guy got it for free for signing up for a magazine subscription, and then left it in a Pizza Hut. After two years, I filched it from the lost and found to change my oil in.
9:08 – To the one true God, a fern could perform better hosting duties than Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley.
9:07 – Welp, blog hasn’t crashed yet. There’s one positive.
9:03 – Chris Stapleton’s “Fire Away” should have won Video of the Year. Some good songs in “Forever Country” obivously, but it was too busy to really accomplish anything.
9:02 – The ACM for Video of the Year goes to that “Forever Country” montage thing. Sponsored by Xfinity. Don’t forget that. Xfinity Xfinity.
8:59 – Err. A little pitchy Tim and Faith. Whatever.
8:57 – I’ll leave Faith Hill and Tim McGraw alone. Not into this adult contemporary schlock, but it’s not the problem. Harmless music for 47-year-old divorcees to listen to in the bubble bath.
8:53 – Hard to say Miranda Lambert didn’t deserve Album of the Year. You may not hearing it represented much on radio moving forward, but isn’t that the way for all of the better efforts?
8:52 – Bobby Bones is a tool in an ugly suit by the way.
Though he is learning how to keep his nose clean better.
8:49 – Miranda Lambert producer Frank Liddell’s advice to songwriters: “Tell the truth, it’s more interesting.”
8:48 – The 2017 ACM for Album of the Year goes to Miranda Lambert for “The Weight of These Wings”
8:46 – I don’t know folks. Hate Luke Bryan, but I’m kind of feeling this song.
Actually I’m not, it’s more formulaic pap. Boring at best.
8:42 – If you’re wondering how Sturgill Simpson feels after being snubbed from this garbage:
8:40 – Here’s 90 seconds of a shitty Brett Eldridge song, and then he pops a balloon with a tiny person in it. Um, point? Is this a country music awards show?
8:38 – Need to spend a little more time with the Chris Stapleton song to formulate my thoughts, but obviously a very guitar driven, upbeat song. Felt like it was searching for a direction or melody a little bit, but we’ll revisit it later. Better than anything else that has happened, sans Miranda maybe.
8:36 – Anderson East needs to work on his awards show poker face instead of playing tongue pool.
8:36 – Dave Cobb playing acoustic guitar.
8:34 – Thank GOD Stapleton, save us front that ear screw Kelsea Ballerini torture.
8:33 – STOP SAYING BOY !!!!! Fuck me.
8:32- Is this the Kelsea Ballerini song that says “boy” 32 times or something? Ha! Garbage. Only a Jonas Brother guitar solo could make this worse.
8:32 – Cam forgot her top, Kelsea Ballerini is missing her bottoms. Keeps you distracted from the music at least. She’s got so much nothing.
8:30 – Correction, I meant to sat Stuart Smalley below, not Jack Handy. My apologies to the Jack Handy family.
8:24 – You know Kellie Pickler is a Saving Country Music Album of the Year alumni, but she’s annoying me tonight. All that coaching for her reality show on CMT has made her more plastic than personable in my opinion.
8:21 – Perhaps now that the Brothers Osborne have some hardware behind them, maybe they’ll get a chance to be unleashed. They have some questionable songs, but I think that at the core of this act is something mainstream country could really use.
8:20 – See … 🙂
8:18 – The ACM for Vocal Group of the Year goes to Little Big Town. I’m announcing this before the award.
8:17 – Whoah, more horns. And more horns. That’s enough horns to give Sturg a woody. Too bad this pseudo-reggae UB40 garbage is a waste of all their breath.
8:16 – Did Lady Antebellum steal Sturgill Simpson’s horns? Those bastards.
8:14 – Thanks everyone piping up in the comments section. Reading when I can.
P.S. : Something must have gone wrong, because we were in commercial for a very very long time.
8:04 – Got nothing on this Little Big Town performance. This song feels like something I’d hear on Yo Gabba Gabba. Jack Handy self-affirmation bullshit.
8:03 – I know she’s married to a hockey player who could kick my music blogging ass. Get off my back! We’ve got to find the beauty in this thing wherever it exists.
8:02 – Okay shut up y’all, Carrie Underwood’s gams are back.
8:01 – Keith Urbane gets TWO songs? Seeing him play guitar just reminds us he actually has talent, but for some reason refuses to use it for anything.
7:58 – The black and white motif is perfect for this Keith Urban song because it’s incredibly bland.
7:57 -Keith Urban sucks.
7:53 – Seriously, another loss by Florida Georgia Line for Vocal Duo of the Year despite being the clear commercial winner proves the well has been poisoned on them. They may still give them the lower tier awards to get Scott Borchetta off their back, but the industry has moved on.
7:51 – Wow, we’re hearing why Rascal Flatts decided to pre-record their performance a few years back. Pitchy, off pentameter. These guys look like their five-year old daughter’s dressed them from their mother’s clothes.
7:50 – Hahaha! Rascal Flatts has officially been relegated to the “other” stage. How embarrassing the chubby one is wearing the same leather jacket as Jason Aldean, just in blue.
7:48 – Solid performance by Miranda Lambert. Not an amazing moment, but really strong. She just proved why she deserves to win Album of the Year, regardless of what else happens tonight.
7:48 – I like this song, but Miranda performing it is basically waving the white flag on reaching the top of the charts with her radio career.
7:46 – Miranda Lambert’s “Tin Man” was co-written by Lambert and Jack Ingram. Miranda is hoping to make a “moment” here instead of giving just another performance of just another single.
7:44 – Kane Brown had the simplest job of the entire night, and still figured out how to fuck it up.
7:43 – The ACM for Vocal Duo of the Year goes to Brothers Osborne.
Take that Florida Georgia Line!
7:42 – Yawn.
7:40 – This red leather coat Jason Aldean is wearing is something your English teacher would wear on casual Friday in 1987.
7:38 – Would love to hang out with the wax Luke Bryan on a nice, steamy Texas summer day.
7:36 – Meant to say this before, but I bet they show Thomas Rhett’s wife more than any other spouse tonight. My theory is they know he’s a black hole, and so they push her because she grades better in focus groups than anything Thomas does.
7:35 – Still can’t believe Thomas Rhett’s “Die A Happy Man” beat out “Humble and Kind” for Song of the Year. Clearly Big Machine has been lobbying hard for this awards cycle, trying to reset after shuttering Dot and losing Tim McGraw. That’s also likely the reason for Florida Georgia Line winning to pre-telecast awards. We might be witnessing the worst awards show ever transpiring, both in the winners and in the performance.
7:33 – They randomly hand Maren Morris her New Female Vocalist of the Year trophy, surprising her. Shows just what an afterthought the ACM’s have made of their New Artist awards.
7:32 – “Oh, we’re supposed to stand up for that? Oh, okay…”
7:30 – Still surprised Maren Morris’s “80’s Mercedes” stalled. At least it had some attitude. This song is cold pizza.
7:29 – By the way, that Oscar La La Land wrong envelope bit was funnier than anything from Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley yet. And it wasn’t that funny.
7:28 – Massive upset by Thomas Rhett. Bullshit.
7:27 – WHAT ?!? Thomas Rhett’s “Die A Happy Man” beats out Lori McKenna’s “Humble and Kind” For Song of the Year? EMBARRASSMENT!
7:25 – David Copperfield is still alive? And not in rehab?
7:24 – They’re totally pumping crowd noise in this thing a la the New England Patriots.
7:22 – Dierks Bentley’s ACM Awards outfit came in a bag that said 5 for $10.99 with a BONUS 6th T at Target.
7:21 – Whose leg I gotta hump to get “Up On The Ridge” Dierks Bentley to come back?
Godawful.
7:19 – I was gonna say thank God we got all the worst performers out of the way with the opening montage, but looking at the run sheet it looks like Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean and the lot will all likely perform again.
7:15 – Seriously, what’s up with these douche pants Sam Hunt’s wearing with the pouch in the front? What an embarrassment to marsupials.
7:13 – Dude, seriously. Worst opening awards show monologue ever. Dierks and Luke have the chemistry of Chernobyl.
7:12- Keith Urban’s trying to revitalize his street cred with the Ryan Adams safety pin jean jacket.
7:11 – Man, this opening montage from Dierks Bentley and Luke Bryan is totally bombing. Jason Aldean, get those tow chains ready.
7:09 – Love Chuck Berry, but he just got more tribute time on the ACM’s than Guy Clark and Ralph Stanley combined.
7:08 – Joe Walsh! Some real talent on the ACMs.
7:06 – I wonder what Sturgill Simpson feels about this opening “medley.”
7:04 – Just focus the camera on Carrie Underwood’s gams for the next three hours. They’re more impressive than anything else we’ll see tonight.
7:03 – The only thing “HOLY” here is Florida Georgia Line’s $1,200 fashion-ripped jeans.
7:01 – Perhaps Jason Aldean can use those friggin tow chains hanging from his belt to pull this car wreck out of the ditch.
7:00 – Here we go!
6:58 – Seriously, this feels like the most under-anticipated awards show I’ve ever experienced in almost 10 years of doing this. No buzz on social media or anywhere else. Feels like eveyone just wants to get it over with.
6:56 – Will Shania Twain show up? Will she perform? Will anyone give a shit that isn’t watching Wrestlemania tonight?
6:53 – Ever had that nightmare where you’re walking down the red carpet of the ACM Awards and forgot to wear a shirt? Yep, that just happened to Canary Yellow Cam.
6:50 – Won’t lie. I’m about the most unexcited and uninspired to conduct one of these LIVE blogs than I’ve ever been. There’s just nothing to get excited about with this presentation except perhaps a new song from Chris Stapleton. I think the ACM’s just got tired of even trying to appeal to older and more traditional country fans and just said screw it. Hopefully there is some big surprises.
6:45 – So the last few times we’ve executed the LIVE blog there have been some technical difficulties, from the site completely crashing due to massive waves of traffic, to it not updating properly. An extensive amount of work, effort, and resources have gone into making sure everything goes off without a hitch this time, which still guarantees nothing. But if there are some bumps in the road, we’ll get them ironed out. We always do. Just hang tight. These are the rigors of independent web publishing.
Brad
April 2, 2017 @ 6:44 pm
Can we have Taylor Swift back? PLEASE. At least she had good lyrics and she actually rocked that sparkly guitar Ballerini barely strummed.
Dave
April 2, 2017 @ 7:40 pm
Compared to Ballerini, Swift is Loretta Lynn.
Gena R.
April 2, 2017 @ 6:44 pm
“8:38 – Need to spend a little more time with the Chris Stapleton song to formulate my thoughts, but obviously a very guitar driven, upbeat song. Felt like it was searching for a direction or melody a little bit, but we’ll revisit it later. Better than anything else that has happened, sans Miranda maybe.”
Go figure, I had to miss this during my ‘Last Man on Earth’… (Poor Gary! 🙁 )
Anna
April 2, 2017 @ 6:45 pm
I like how Kelsea Ballerina grabs a guitar for the last 30 seconds of her song. As if she can truck us into believing she’s an actual musician…too bad she wasn’t actually playing it
Sam Hunt Steve
April 2, 2017 @ 6:45 pm
Jon Pardi looks to be our last hope for a country performer. Hopefully he plays something decent.
Matthew Rutledge
April 2, 2017 @ 6:45 pm
Saw Stapleton was asked to hand in a performance that was more “uptempo”.
wayne
April 2, 2017 @ 6:47 pm
Luke singing a country song? Wow!! Wonders never cease.
Chase
April 2, 2017 @ 6:48 pm
Kelsea Ballerini sucks.
Sam
April 2, 2017 @ 6:48 pm
Chris Stapleton being done means I’m checking out for the night. Great job Trigger! Will definitely be doing this again for all future awards shows. Keep doing what you’re doing man!
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 6:48 pm
TWOTW…..WOW !!
NPC
April 2, 2017 @ 6:49 pm
“GO AWAY BOBBY BONES” -Bobby Bones
Jack Williams
April 3, 2017 @ 6:30 am
Thank you for that.
Jim L.
April 2, 2017 @ 6:53 pm
The Backdoor Dudes coming up soon… oh joy.
Big Red
April 2, 2017 @ 6:53 pm
Since Jon Pardi is set to perform, is that a good indicator that he’ll win New Male Vocalist?
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 6:54 pm
Fuck that Liddell guy, there ain’t nothin’ wrong with the songwriters making these great songs. Go back to the old folks home grandpa.
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 6:56 pm
Looking forward to my boys Tyler and Brian and the BACKSTREET BOYS!
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 6:57 pm
I like Bobby Bones more now bc he’s dating Lindsay Ell (slightly more)
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 6:58 pm
The production on TWOTW isn’t great for radio either, you can’t really hear the words on half the songs..and that’s not radio’s fault. Miranda did get a big radio debut with “Vice”. But yeah, overall the stand out song is Tin Man. I’m not sure it has any good radio fodder.
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 7:07 pm
I think the entire album proves that ML isn’t the least bit interested in playing the hip, trendy, vacuous radio game right now , seak . I think she had to unload this stuff in song and did it for Miranda …not radio , advertisers , labels etc. Thank God folks who CAN get attention with honest stuff DO it sometimes.
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:11 pm
Oh, don’t kid yourself, Miranda’s album is absolutely hip, it’s totally East Nashville. East Nash is what is hip right now, radio is uncool. And if the label didn’t think it would make them money and win her awards, they wouldn’t have put it out.
Country
April 2, 2017 @ 9:31 pm
I was going to say country radio is the least hip around right now. Miranda’s album ticks all the hipster boxes.
bman
April 2, 2017 @ 7:01 pm
So. Drunk now. But heres my analogy. Willie is a campfire. Sturgill and Jason are kerosene lanterns and the rest of these folks are scented candles. Except Miranda she might be beeswax.
Jtrpdx
April 2, 2017 @ 7:04 pm
Assuming you are referring to Jason Eady ☺️
bman
April 2, 2017 @ 7:07 pm
Isbell, Also Chris Stapelton is in that catagory.
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 7:04 pm
”Miranda Lambert producer Frank Liddell’s advice to songwriters: “Tell the truth, it’s more interesting.”
THAT may be the most worthwhile and meaningful phrase uttered all evening . THAT is a diplomatic way of calling out the posers who THINK they are singing country music .
Golddust
April 2, 2017 @ 7:07 pm
Perfect little dig. 🙂
wayne
April 2, 2017 @ 7:06 pm
Miranda’s boyfriend looks like what most country music sounds today.
Gena R.
April 2, 2017 @ 7:07 pm
“9:03 – Chris Stapleton’s “Fire Away” should have won Video of the Year. Some good songs in “Forever Country” obivously, but it was too busy to really accomplish anything.”
My sentiments exactly. :\
Chase
April 2, 2017 @ 7:12 pm
Great video about Domestic violence.
Chase
April 2, 2017 @ 7:08 pm
Why can’t Tim McGraw sing those kinda songs?
Jtrpdx
April 2, 2017 @ 7:09 pm
It’s really weird that the West coast version isn’t on for another hour. Or maybe it’s just portland. My wife is visiting her sister back east (the sister likes pop country), and I told her jokingly that if she watches this crap, I am going to give her Sturgill tickets for the two nights he is playing here in September to a friend. But now, I kind of want to see the trainwreck live!
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 7:09 pm
My boy Thomas again! “Craaaaaaving You”!.
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 7:09 pm
I LOVE Thomas Rhett. No …wait a minute ….I mean I HATE Rhett . Yeah ……sorry ..that’s what I meant
S.
April 2, 2017 @ 7:10 pm
The sad thing is, there are country artists who dress as ridiculous as Luke and Dierks just did…
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 7:13 pm
”Once had a jacket like Thomas Rhett’s. A guy got it for free for signing up for a magazine subscription, and then left it in a Pizza Hut. After two years, I filched it from the lost and found to change my oil in.”
haaaaaaahaaaaa
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 7:14 pm
hey ….now reggae is country too . damn I love country music …er no wait …I mean I HATE country music ….er …no ….shit I’m so confused
Jonnie tuffshit
April 2, 2017 @ 7:15 pm
At least Rhett didn’t try any dance moves
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 7:16 pm
YES!!!!! TRhett gets male vocalist! Booyah.
bman
April 2, 2017 @ 7:16 pm
When did country music start wearing sissy shoes and no socks?
PCS22401
April 2, 2017 @ 7:18 pm
That Thomas Rhett was the last straw. G’night all. Enjoyed it as usual. Will catch up on the rest tomorrow!
PSU Guy
April 2, 2017 @ 7:18 pm
9:08 – To the one true God, a fern could perform better hosting duties than Luke Bryan and Dierks Bentley.
I laughed more at a five second snippet of a drunken Big and Rich dancing awkwardly to Keith/Carrie’s “The Fighter” than at any actual attempt at humor from Dierks, Luke, or otherwise. That’s probably not good.
Also, Thomas Rhett just won male vocalist of the year…given how this show has gone, that’s not remotely surprising to me.
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 7:18 pm
I love seeing Shitpileton get nothing….
Golddust
April 2, 2017 @ 7:19 pm
And now that pop has totally taken over the show, I’m changing the TV channel, but I’ll be checking the blog to catch the snark. 🙂
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:19 pm
Where’s the dumpster fire gif when you need one
Mary
April 2, 2017 @ 7:19 pm
Thomas Rhett winning Male Vocalist of the year just confirmed the ACM Award 2017 was the lamest award show ever! He new he did not deserve it.
Garrett Roe
April 2, 2017 @ 7:21 pm
Only one thing they got right: Video of the year. Great video, great song
David
April 2, 2017 @ 7:22 pm
It’s 9:20. I believe the only awards left are Female Vocalist and Entertainer.
Please give Carrie both. Please…..
Géo russ
April 2, 2017 @ 7:22 pm
Who is picking these winners????
The most talented ones never win. It’s all a big fix.
Corncaster
April 2, 2017 @ 7:22 pm
Glad I missed this crap.
tommytakedown
April 2, 2017 @ 7:25 pm
I appreciate all you fine folks sitting through this bullshit year after year so I don’t have to.
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 7:25 pm
”By the way, the Thomas Rhett win means Chris Stapleton was completely locked out of the ACM Awards in 2017. Best-selling country artist in years with incredible critical acclaim, and no hardware.”
you’d almost think the fix was in wouldn’t you ?
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:27 pm
Ok Trigger, but to be fair, Chris hasn’t done a ton since last ACM’s. He sold a ton of albums, yes…but he already won album last year. Honestly, nobody who was nominated should’ve won MVOTY (Eric should have).
justin casey
April 2, 2017 @ 7:27 pm
thomas rhett beat stapleton for male vocalist
eww
Chase
April 2, 2017 @ 7:35 pm
I feel like the song Die a Happy Man is the only reason he won because of the romantic of the songs.
justin casey
April 2, 2017 @ 7:49 pm
i really liked die a happy man at first but i got sick of it really quick thanks to radio
Mary
April 2, 2017 @ 7:28 pm
The Dierks Bentley and Cole S performance just left a bad test in my mouth.
Shana
April 2, 2017 @ 7:28 pm
I’m embarrassed for Dierks Bentley. For so many reasons. But mostly for joining that dumpster fire Cole Swindell performance
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
My buddy Cole knocked it out of the park.
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
Ok, it’s official, these ACM’s are so bad I miss Blake. Also Eric Church and Sturgill are the happiest people right now for not being associated with this crapfest.
nascarfan999
April 2, 2017 @ 7:29 pm
I get the disdain for Thomas Rhett, but to your point on Stapleton getting shut out, what has he done since last year’s awards? I can’t say he deserved to win anything this year. The one you could make the argument for is Fire Away, but I think the Forever Country video did deserve to win (come on, tell me it didn’t remind you how much you are missing the CMAs right now vs. this sideshow).
Trigger
April 2, 2017 @ 7:47 pm
Yeah, fair. But it’s really more a story of how Thomas Rhett got gerrymandered into winning a friggin’ Male Vocalist of the Year award. That will be a blemish on country music history.
Fish Camp Barbie
April 2, 2017 @ 7:30 pm
Who’d be the winner in a claw hammer fight between Sam Hunt and Cole Swindell?
All of us.
Trigger
April 2, 2017 @ 7:46 pm
Burn!
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:31 pm
I would really enjoy this Miranda win a lot more if she hadn’t won it last year. Also if I didn’t know she was the only WME artist in the group. But whatever, she had the best performance of the evening.
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:34 pm
Trigger, Miranda did a lot more this year when she won, then she did last year when she also won. But as Thomas proved, it’s not actually about who deserves it..at least Miranda is good.
Trigger
April 2, 2017 @ 7:36 pm
Especially at the ACM Awards. There’s more horse trading going on this year than at Churchill Downs.
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:37 pm
True statement
Houston Erwin
April 2, 2017 @ 7:32 pm
Not going to lie, im so glad Miranda won over Carrie, even though she has been basically absent on the radio the past year. Carries music has become cramp has become crap.
Renee
April 2, 2017 @ 7:34 pm
I love Miranda, but 8 years in a row is just absolutely ridiculous. This is why outside of her wins for her albums I cannot take her wins seriously.
Justin
April 2, 2017 @ 7:36 pm
Tommy Rhett won best male vocalist! AWWW YEAH
Gena R.
April 2, 2017 @ 7:37 pm
REBA! 🙂
Chase
April 2, 2017 @ 7:38 pm
Reba is great!
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 7:43 pm
there’s no question Reba can still deliver the goods ……killer performance by these two superb vocalists with a message that, regardless of your faith or lack there-of , was stunningly moving
David
April 2, 2017 @ 7:40 pm
I’m torn about Miranda’s Female Vocalist win. On the one hand, she released a very deserving, critically aclaimed record while Carrie has released some of the most pop songs of her career. On the other hand, this is her eighth (I think) win, and it’s gotten so old seeing her win year after year.
Géo russ
April 2, 2017 @ 8:18 pm
My sentiments exactly! I’m not even familiar with any of her songs. All I know is she used to be Blake Shelton’s wife LOL
Sammie
April 2, 2017 @ 8:54 pm
Then you aren’t country fans! Miranda Lambert has been a relevant artist way before she dated Blake. Bless your heart.
Géo Russ
April 3, 2017 @ 7:29 am
I agree she has been around a long time. I did like some of her earlier songs. Just not heard anything lately that would contribute to her continuous string of awards.
Géo russ
April 2, 2017 @ 8:19 pm
My sentiments exactly! I’m not even familiar with any of her songs
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 7:41 pm
I don’t normally like Pardi, but Dirt On My Boots is KILLIN’ it! I love it….party hardy bebeh.
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:41 pm
I miss Reba singing, I miss Reba hosting, I just miss Reba.
Justin
April 2, 2017 @ 7:42 pm
And…Jon Pardi’s on the side stage and the audience is comatose.
Amanda
April 6, 2017 @ 1:25 pm
I’ll bet Sam Hunt was studying at the setup during Pardi’s performance, looking at the fiddle and steel guitar, and thinking, “what the hell are these things?”. Dirt on My Boots is not his best song, but Jon Pardi is amazing, and by god, he’s actually country. He, Reba, Miranda, Carrie’s Church Bells, Maren’s I Could Use a Love Song (not country in the slightest but still good, good music is good music and therefore should be praised and rewarded), Stapleton, and Brothers Osborne saved this awards show from being the biggest dumpster fire in country music history.
nascarfan999
April 2, 2017 @ 7:43 pm
Is it just me, or are they doing a horrible job of stage management? Half of the acts are getting relegated to the side stage, the crowd, or the freaking concourse while the two main stages seem to be barely used (i.e. when Lady A’s horns took both of them for no real reason).
Chase
April 2, 2017 @ 7:44 pm
How did Jon Pardi win New Artist when he has had songs come out since 2012?
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:46 pm
I like Jon Pardi, but I don’t like Dirt on my Boots.
Géo russ
April 2, 2017 @ 8:21 pm
And here I thought that was a Jason Aldean song. No wonder I thought it was a little off the beaten path for him
hoptowntiger94
April 2, 2017 @ 7:48 pm
This doesn’t make me a good person, but I love to hear Carrie Underwood fans cry! They cried during the Taylor Swift era, they are crying durning the Lambert era.
David
April 2, 2017 @ 7:55 pm
I like Carrie Underwood. I know Miranda was deserving after “The Weight of These Wings”. My problem is she keeps winning…and winning… and winning. At this point I don’t care if Carrie wins or not, but can someone not named Miranda Lambert get a chance? Please? (Except Ballerini. She’s terrible.)
Gabe
April 3, 2017 @ 7:45 am
I’ve come to the hard realization that Carrie might never win again but at least she keeps winning at album sales, single sales and touring numbers. Miranda continuously winning is really setting her up for a hard fall when ACM and CMA move on to another female because unlike Carrie her numbers aren’t impressive
he
April 3, 2017 @ 11:19 am
Carrie has more ACM wins than taylor and we all know taylor was winning awards for ratings AND THE BIG MACHINE CONNECTIONS in country music. taylor was not winning for any talent that included vocals or song writing since we all know carrie and Miranda destroy taylor on those aspects
hoptowntiger94
April 3, 2017 @ 1:33 pm
Thank you for the memories!
Amy
April 3, 2017 @ 8:48 pm
Taylor has more Grammys, AMAs, Billboard Awards, PCAs, CMAS, etc than Carrie.
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 7:48 pm
YEAH!!!! FGL and the Backstreet Boys…..killin’ it! Love this pairing.
Justin
April 2, 2017 @ 7:51 pm
How bout our boy Tommy Rhett winnin best male vocalist! Better than Stapleton any day. I think “T-Shirt” and “Vacation” must have won it for him, 2 of the best country songs of the last decade.
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 7:53 pm
Hell to the yeah. I love T-Shirt and Vacation. Vacation is my summer lake jam song….
Justin
April 2, 2017 @ 7:49 pm
Finally, FGL gets to be the pop boy band they’ve always wanted to be.
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 7:49 pm
damn…..is it hallowe’en again already ? FGL ..( F uckin G oofy-L ookin )
wayne
April 2, 2017 @ 7:50 pm
FGL and BBB. One of the more country sounding songs of teh night. Well, it’s cream of the crap.
Josh
April 2, 2017 @ 7:50 pm
Backstreet Boys, still more country than Sam Hunt
The Ghost of Country Past
April 2, 2017 @ 7:53 pm
More time is being given to Backstreet Boys songs than Jon Pardi or anything else genuinely country. I feel like my soul is crumpling up and dying.
Géo russ
April 2, 2017 @ 8:15 pm
I agree completely. It’s supposed to be a country awards show
witness
April 2, 2017 @ 7:53 pm
I’m always here for Everybody. Great song
hoptowntiger94
April 2, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
Country Music Newest, Lowest Point.
We came so far to see it all unraveled tonight.
justin casey
April 2, 2017 @ 7:54 pm
the back of the hippie fgl guy’s vest says artist
ha
Mary
April 2, 2017 @ 7:55 pm
I loved the Backstreet boys when I was younger. But this feel like artists that no longer get air time in all Genre shows (deservedly so) are given a bigger stage than in country award shows. Just disrespects the talented country music artist.
The Ghost of Country Past
April 2, 2017 @ 7:55 pm
We need to Joe Walsh the taste of the performance out of our mouths….
Gena R.
April 2, 2017 @ 7:56 pm
Yay, Joe Walsh! 🙂
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 7:57 pm
JASON WINS ENTERTAINER……..YES!!!!
Justin
April 2, 2017 @ 8:00 pm
AWWW YEAH, “gonna watch ya girl twirlin on my tailgate in the corn field…”
Go Jason, wallet chain and all!
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 8:01 pm
STURDS…pass me that last donut will ya ?…….
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 8:04 pm
How about no Fat Albert. 🙂
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 8:10 pm
aw shucks don’t be like that, Sticks . yer boy won an award didn’t he ?
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 8:13 pm
How about if you call me sticks again I will stick one of them down your mouth so you’ll shut the fuck up….Get it right. I go by STUD, STUDS, OR STUDLEY…..Not Sturds, Stitz, Sticks, or whatever the fuck else you come up with. Get it right FFS.
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 8:22 pm
ok Stan ….you go ahead and have that last donut and I’ll shut the %$#@ up
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 8:27 pm
Ok Cuthbert. Wouldn’t want to make your diabetes act up again.
Justin
April 2, 2017 @ 7:57 pm
This is saying something I think…They think mainstream country is so bad now, may as well just put pure pop music on the stage. Or maybe they really want to take “country” in the pop direction.
KathyP
April 2, 2017 @ 8:02 pm
I’ve been listening to classic rock lately. It’s a lot more satisfying. Better lyrics, music and usually better voices.
Géo russ
April 2, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
County is the new pop and has been for a long time
seak05
April 2, 2017 @ 7:59 pm
Goodbye ACM awards, you had a nice run, but time to you 6ft under.
KathyP
April 2, 2017 @ 8:00 pm
Joe “life’s been good to me” Walsh couldn’t save us. Sigh.
Gena R.
April 2, 2017 @ 8:03 pm
I’m actually listening to that song now (on YouTube). Classic. 😀
Stud's A Dud
April 2, 2017 @ 8:03 pm
Boy I sure had fun, hope ya’ll did too.
The FGL and BB performance was the icing on the cake. Backstreet’s back ya’ll!
Trigger, I thank you for not heavily moderating my comments and I thank you for giving me a platform.
This, if you can’t tell, is and will remain satire. Thanks for having me, be back next time for the CMA’s!
David
April 2, 2017 @ 8:03 pm
Jason won Entertainer? Um, okay…
Evan
April 2, 2017 @ 8:04 pm
Two of the Backstreet Boys are from Kentucky (lead singer Brian Littrell and his cousin Kevin Richardson) and some of their songs once they were past their 1999 peak (e.g. “Drowning” and “Incomplete”) certainly have a country feel. I think it’s worth noting that the “God Your Mama and Me” performance saw the audience with lots of smiles but that’s it. When “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” broke out, that place was rocking. I saw many a country star singing along and dancing.
Trigger
April 2, 2017 @ 9:07 pm
Just being from the South doesn’t make you country.
You’re right about everyone going crazy for the Backstreet Boys though. That’s the music they all wish they could perform.
Justin
April 3, 2017 @ 9:08 pm
“You’re right about everyone going crazy for the Backstreet Boys though. That’s the music they all wish they could perform.”
Yeah, they all wish they could be pop stars, *especially* FGL, lol.
Jim L.
April 2, 2017 @ 8:04 pm
Sat thru 3 hours of shit, just to hear 2 decent songs. And see Carrie’s legs.
Sam Hunt Steve
April 2, 2017 @ 8:10 pm
Figured I would say that I was correct on my prediction that Lambert and Aldean would walk away with the big awards.. Overall, what a turd of an awards show.
David
April 2, 2017 @ 8:10 pm
Just want to point out the blog didn’t crash at all tonight. Good job. 🙂
Géo russ
April 2, 2017 @ 8:11 pm
Entertainer of the year thumbs up for Jason Aldean This guy has put out more great songs then any artist I know. However, I have to say I think this award is running a year or so behind I think AlDean was at his peak a year or two ago and should’ve won back then. Keith urban has put out some of this best works in the last year I could see the disaappointment on his face tonight. Hang in there Keith I’m sure you’ll get your turn in another year or two You are one of the most talented all around musicians that country has to offer.
Lil Dale
April 2, 2017 @ 8:12 pm
1. speek to a gurl is the bigest peace of shit song ive everr hurd and im not just sayin that
2. tomass rett is doin reel good
2. I wood luv’ta get’ta see cam nekkid
3 trig just caz they dont bow down to chris stapaldan evry time he shows up to wun of thees awards shows dont meen its not cuase its a scam tomass rett did a lot beter then stapaldan
4, just like how laty a made havin horns in cuntry music sound beter than ole sturgiss simson
Kevin Davis
April 2, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
Miranda had the best performance of the night, even outmatching the great Chris Stapleton. She did it with just her voice and her guitar — no gimmicks. It was the most country moment of the night, by far.
This was the worst country awards show of all time, no doubt about it. This was a complete embarrassment, and the dimwits who put this shit together haven’t got a clue. Time will vindicate us. We will — everyone — look back at this as the lowest point in country music history and certainly in the once noble history of the ACM Awards. In the meantime, this is completely depressing.
Justin
April 2, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
Maybe they’re planning on putting Backstreet Boys on country radio. Would be more “country” than some of the stuff on there.
hoptowntiger94
April 2, 2017 @ 8:14 pm
Trig, what gives?
Over the last couple of years, country music has made so much progress and reached many new milestones – Sturgill, Isbell, Jinks, Turnpike Troubadours, Margo Price. Unfortunately, none of that progress or those achievements were on display tonight. That award show felt dated, a bro-country throwback to 2011. It wasn’t even balanced sans Stapleton and Lambert. Did the ACMs just give up? Is there a backlash on the horizon for the few good times we experienced?
Jim L.
April 2, 2017 @ 8:23 pm
Blame Scott Borshitta.
hoptowntiger94
April 2, 2017 @ 8:25 pm
It does seem like he went all in on this award show.
Trigger
April 2, 2017 @ 8:56 pm
I may have more on this soon. But no special awards, no tributes. The oldest artist was Joe Walsh. I do think they just gave up.
albert
April 2, 2017 @ 8:17 pm
”! And once again, the Shania Twain rumors don’t pan out. Still no new single. But keep waiting, ya shmucks!”
THIS may be the only redeeming feature of the whole night .
LuckyStrike
April 2, 2017 @ 8:18 pm
9:09 – Once had a jacket like Thomas Rhett’s. A guy got it for free for signing up for a magazine subscription, and then left it in a Pizza Hut. After two years, I filched it from the lost and found to change my oil in.
LMAO!!! HAHA!!
Kevin Davis
April 2, 2017 @ 8:23 pm
Also, it’s worth noting that Eric Church had the best album of his career, and he got nothing for it from the ACM — not even a performance slot. By contrast, the CMA gave him album of the year. The CMA Awards are far from perfect, but the CMA is a far better institution than the ACM.
hoptowntiger94
April 2, 2017 @ 8:28 pm
It will be interesting to see the CMA nominations/ show.
Miranda will be heavily nominated. Beyond that, who knows.
If the ACMS want to be the pop stuff and the CMAS want to represent the traditional, I’d be ok with that. But, we’ll have to wait and see.
Géo Russ
April 3, 2017 @ 7:34 am
Eric church didn’t get a slot because he had to use two or three slots for the Bad Street Boys LOL
Kun Tree Sucketh
April 2, 2017 @ 8:36 pm
Maren Morris is the new Gretchen (who?) Wilson.
Next year she will be a trivia answer.
Amanda
April 2, 2017 @ 8:40 pm
It was kind of a mixed bag of a show tonight. Really enjoyed Carrie’s opening performance, Miranda, Maren, Brothers Osborne, Reba, and Jon. However, there were artists there tonight who were as out of place as out of place could be. Kelsea, Cole (ugggghhhh I can’t stand him!), Old Dominion, Thomas Rhett, and Sam Hunt need to go. And the Backstreet Boys with FGL? Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot. WTF? What the hell were the ACMs thinking? Hey guys, let’s go get those great country legends The Backstreet Boys to perform!!! Nope, nope, and hell nope.
On another note, I apologize in advance if this next comment of mine comes across as objectifying, classless, or trashy. I do not mean for it to be intended that way, as I am not that kind of person. But damn, Jon Pardi looked sexy as hell tonight! Damn! 😉 He’s lucky I wasn’t there, or I’d get him to come home with me tonight. Hee hee. 😉 But I wouldn’t use a sleazy pickup line to get his attention, I’d be way more genuine than the bros. 🙂 Between him and William Michael Morgan and both Mark Wystrach and Jess Carson from the band Midland, mainstream country is finally starting to get some sexy cowboys who have the amazing talent (and are actually genuinely country) to back up their killer looks. Now if only we could get rid of Puke Bryan, The Florida Georgia Backstreet Wannabes, Sam Hunt, Kelsea Ballerini, and Cole Swindell…….
Closing remark: Sam Hunt sounded gosh-awful tonight. I know in the past I have defended him as a pop artist, but after his performance tonight, he is the literal embodient of embarrassment as a country artist. Screw Sam Hunt and Body Like a Back Road. Sam, go to pop already, you are killing the genre of music that I and so many others love.
Sadie
April 2, 2017 @ 8:51 pm
So you are complaining about Miranda? She is up there by herself playing guitar & singing an emotional COUNTRY song… an that is bad? Sorry but that was the highlight of the night. Guess you want her killing people & being pissed all the time. Sorry but she can and does perform both type of songs.
Amanda
April 3, 2017 @ 6:58 am
Miranda was amazing! Best performance of the night.
Phuqdat
April 2, 2017 @ 10:10 pm
Why in the HELL IS FAITH HILL SINGING IN EBONICS!!!!!!!!???
Paul ATX Sound
April 2, 2017 @ 10:36 pm
I think someone said earlier and hit the nail on the head- This year’s ACMs made me miss Blake Shelton. And if they want to go for total broke with pop, bring back Taylor Swift. Aldean deserved to win Entertainer of the year, and I have to give Jason some credit he is at least trying not to revert back to Aldean Circa Relentless and Wide Open. I was a big fan before he tried his rap experiment and Flyover Country will forever be one of my favorite modern post 90’s country songs That in itself is a good thing. I cannot believe Church who’s current album is his best was totally snubbed. Maybe him and Sturgill were incomplete unison and said good riddance..
The whole show felt dirty minus a few select performances and award winners that were consistently mentioned in the prior comments. Ain’t no way Thomas Rhett fills a stadium. This upcoming year is huge for stapleton and his upcoming new record. Pardon the term His solphmore album will be critcal, and I would be anxious to see if Music Row suits somehow try to make him Jamey Johnson part Deux. Like someone said earlier If the ACMs are Music Row’s version of contemporary fodder awards show and the CMA is the traditional and new authentic country artist showcase, I can make peace with that. As always Trigger, excellent work. I look forward to your post ACM debrief post.
albert
April 3, 2017 @ 12:05 am
PAUL PAUL PAUL …JASON ALLDONE CAN’T HOLD A NOTE AT GUNPOINT .
He has NEVER sung on key at any live TV performance….EVER . He is THE worst ”vocalist” out there . ALLDONE has got to be the guy AUTOTUNE was invented for and for the life of me I wish he’d use it !
This guy is just NOT talented ….whatsoever .
Paul ATX Sound
April 3, 2017 @ 2:23 am
Hey I am not going to argue with you on your points.. just saying considering the Aldean baseline which is extremely low compared to prior albums is at least in step into the positive count. I was a big fan of his I admit years ago, but by taste and understanding of the music row paradigm has drastically changed. Today I classify myself deeply rooted in the neo trad-huge pro Sturg, Stapelton, texas Country sound with East Nash sound laced in between. Just saying my modern country Tastes have evolved.
Géo Russ
April 3, 2017 @ 7:44 am
Hey Albert. You must be one of these people with Highly critical pitch notification. ALDEAN SOUNDED GREAT. I must’ve missed the performance where he was pitchy. There were some live performances tonight that were off A little off. Why pick on Aldean. I guess maybe because your favorite didn’t win?
albert
April 3, 2017 @ 7:59 am
…….make that ” highly critical MUSIC notification” , Geo . ….Aldean has always had difficulty singing on pitch . And his very average voice ( no character , no BALLS ) makes it that much harder to listen .
Watch ” The Voice ” for an hour one night ……9 out of 10 vocalists on that show NAIL it nightly singing live for ” judges ‘ and the stuff they sing is SO much more difficult than the mono-tonish stuff Aldean struggles through. And BTW ….my favourite DID win ….Miranda !
maryslamb
April 3, 2017 @ 1:52 pm
Maybe Blake was missing because the producers wouldn’t give his skank girlfriend a slot..They are joined at the hip now, or would be, if she had any hips.
Justin
April 2, 2017 @ 11:07 pm
Looking through the red carpet arrivals photo gallery, there seems to be a clear positive correlation between how unsubstantial their music is and how much skin they’re showing (women) or how much hair gel they’re using (men).
https://www.aol.com/article/entertainment/2017/04/02/acm-awards-2017-red-carpet-arrivals/22022806/#slide=4968445#fullscreen