The 2019 CMA Awards LIVE Blog
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 2019 edition of the Saving Country Music CMA Awards LIVE blog! It is here that as the presentation unfolds, comments, observations, criticisms, accolades, and smart ass remarks will be doled out in real time and unfiltered for you to follow along with. We’re working without a net here, so be advised that syntax errors and swear words might work themselves into the mix. This is not for the faint of heart and at times insults will fly, but it’s all in good fun. So bring a thick skin and stretch out your refresh fingers, because it’s going to be a wild ride.
For a run down on what you can expect, including presenters, performers, what songs will be performed, nominees, and predictions, please check out the 2019 CMA Awards Complete Preview.
And of course, YOUR feedback and observations are very welcome, so please feel free to pipe up in the comments section.
WARNING: Language
All times Central time.
WINNERS
- Entertainer of the Year – Garth Brooks
- Album of the Year – “GIRL” by Maren Morris
- Male Vocalist of the Year – Luke Combs
- Female Vocalist of the Year- Kacey Musgraves
- Group of the Year – Old Dominion
- Duo of the Year- Dan + Shay
- Song of the Year – “Beautiful Crazy” by Luke Combs
- Single of the Year – “God’s Country” by Blake Shelton
- New Artist of the Year – Ashley McBryde
- Video of the Year – “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves
- Vocal Event of the Year – “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus
- Musician of the Year – Jenee Fleenor
10:27 – This felt like a very weird CMA Awards. Overall, there were way more legends, and way more talented artists performing, while the denizens of Bro-Country weren’t even invited. Tributing women was a good theme choice for the CMAs. Everything was in place to have a great night. But the presentation just felt flat throughout. The jokes fell flat, some of the performances sounded washed out, the teleprompters were on the fritz, and it just failed to find any positive momentum. Arguably the best performance was by Pink of all people, and Kelsea Ballerini. The collaborations were often too busy to find a “moment” that gave you goosebumps. There were many fine performances, but few that will be memorable. Social media chatter was super light.
As for the winners, there will be a lot of disappointment that Eric Church nor Carrie Underwood won for Entertainer of the Year, and Garth did yet again. It’s hard to say Garth did not deserve it, but only Garth and his very closest fans wanted him to win. Everyone else was rooting for someone else. Luke Combs gets two big awards, and like Garth said, will be vying for Entertainer of the Year in the coming years. Kacey Musgraves was a surprise for Female Vocalist, and will receive few complaints except from Carrie Underwood fans, who were left with nothing to celebrate tonight. And Lil Nas X did ended up showing up, but didn’t take the stage. Maren Morris is who they are grooming as the woman for the future in country, but the problem is she isn’t country. There’s a lot to unpack with these awards.
It’s great that they paid tribute to women, but we also want to push forward the women who tribute country music. Kacey Musgraves said, “I Love country music,” and those words mean something. Carrie Underwood is the epitome of pop country, but she’s always shown respect to the genre and its institutions. If women are going to find their fair share in mainstream country music in the future, it’s going to take more than 30-second token performances and tributes on award shows. But country music at least showed that it cares, and it’s listening.
10:12 – THANK YOU to everyone for following along, sharing, and commenting! I’m going to give some final quick thoughts, recap the winners, and call it a night.
10:08 – I’m really surprised Garth did not have more self-awareness in that situation, and understand the night was supposed to be about celebrating women. Remember, in 1996, Garth Brooks won Artist of the Year at the American Music Awards, and turned down the trophy because he felt Hootie and the Blowfish deserved it. He tried to turn down his Hall of Fame induction until Keith Whitley and Randy Travis got in.
That said, if you judge Entertainer of the Year as a touring award, Garth deserved it, and better it go to him than Keith Urban.
10:03 – I hate to say I told you so, but when I first made my predictions for Entertainer of the Year, I believed it was between Carrie Underwood and Garth. I thought momentum was well behind Carrie during the voting period, but as we seem to say every year, Entertainer of the Year is a touring award now, and that’s why Garth won. Eric Church never had a chance, and didn’t want it, in my opinion.
9:59 – Garth Brooks doesn’t even mention Carrie Underwood. He mentions Kelsea Ballerini, and Luke Combs, and Reba McEntire while hugging the award like a baby. Let the think pieces ripping apart misogynistic country music begin.
9:57 – WINNER – The 2019 CMA Entertainer of the Year is Garth Brooks.
9:55 – Slightly surprising, but hard to not say it’s deserved for Kacey Musgraves to win Female Vocalist. With the success she had with ‘Golden Hour,’ it has placed her in the top tier of country women, and now she will forever be remembered as the top woman in mainstream country in 2019.
9:54 – Sorry folks, Willie knocked out the site for a sec. Folks are really worried about Willie’s health. Back to full speed now!
9:52 – WINNER – Kacey Wins Female Vocalist of the Year. “I love country music,” she says.
9:42 – It’s okay to say it folks. Willie Nelson didn’t sound good, and really struggled. He’s 86-years-old, and has breathing issues. We should still all be thankful for every second we get to spend with him on this mortal coil.
P.S. Server is starting to get swampy. So please be patient if you have connectivity issues.
9:41 – Kacey and Willie proving even Kermit the Frog is more country than Sam Hunt.
9:39 – I’m getting baked just watching this Willie Nelson / Kacey Musgraves performance.
9:37 – WINNER – The CMA for Male Vocalist of the Year goes to Luke Combs.
9:36 – That’s Eric Church’s common co-writer and solo artist Jeff Hyde. Eric always shares his spotlight on these shows.
9:35- A little disappointed Eric Church isn’t performing his current and excellent single “Monsters,” but this performance is pretty great. Notice how some of the best performances are when all the overproduction is stripped away, and you allow an artist to have a “moment.”
9:33 – The Album of the Year field was really weak this year, and that gave Maren Morris the easy route to a win. Don’t mean any disrespect to the legacy of her producer busbee, but it didn’t deserve a trophy.
9:29 – Your “tribute” is one song? No wonder Kristofferson didn’t cancel his club date to be there for their 2-minute, 45-second token.
9:27 – Thank goodness they put Chris Janson on the blues harp for this tribute. Kris Kristofferson doesn’t know who the hell he is.
9:26 – Digging this rendition of “Me and Bobby McGee” in tribute to Kris Kristofferson. John Osborne and Joe Walsh can shred, and Dierks and Sheryl Crow are doing it justice.
9:25 – Sheryl Crow had to cancel two other appearances at tributes tonight to perform this Kris Kristofferson tribute. She also just flew into Nashville today after another tribute yesterday, and will be leaving right after this performance for two more tributes.
9:21 – Maren Morris does not deserve the COUNTRY Music Association Album of the Year. It might be a fine pop record, but there’s not a shred of anything country on that title. When Kacey Musgraves won last year, it was a deserved recognition for a woman who had devoted her life to country music. Maren Morris doesn’t care about country. She sees it as a burden, and it’s an insult to the actual women of country to give her that award.
9:20 – WINNER – The CMA for Album of the Year goes to “GIRL” by Maren Morris.
9:19 – Bobby Bones is the greatest DJ in country music. Just ask him.
9:15 – The only reason this “We Were” song is even half decent is because it was written by Eric Church and is being played on a nice ass vintage Martin. Otherwise, I wish they would deport Keith Urban post haste and send him back with the Koala bears. Such an embarrassment he’s the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year.
9:12 – So I missed it, but according to For The Birds and CeeCeeBee in the comments section, Brothers Osborne shot Blake Shelton a look when Miranda Lambert sung, “drunk dialed your ex-husband” during “It All Comes Out in the Wash.”
9:10 – Dolly Parton getting religious on us!
9:08 – Dolly singing “Have a Little Faith in Me” solo now. This is what we needed! Written by John Hiatt, by the way. Great stuff.
9:05 – No offense to these new Dolly collabs, but I would have preferred her rip through one of her classics.
9:03 – Save us Dolly!
9:01 – Thomas Rhett just doesn’t raise the pulse whatsoever. I might as well be watching grass growing. It’s Wonder Bread served with tap water. It’s not even distinct enough to get angry about.
9:00 – One more hour!
8:57 – MVP of the night so far, the Blanco Brown murse.
8:56 – Maren Morris did a fine job in her performance. Maybe one of the better vocal performances of the night. But 100% pop. Pink was more country, and still probably has the performance to beat. Sad commentary on the state of country.
8:53 – Blake Shelton is a tool, but I don’t totally hate “God’s Country.” Cool little cameo by CMA Musician of the Year Jenee Fleenor. All the audio feels washed out though, taking the mustard out of all of these performances.
8:51 – In my mind, I’m visualizing Mike and the Moonpies jumping out of the crowd to kick Old Dominion’s ass. Yes, I’m that shallow. But damn if Mike and the Moonpies ain’t badass.
8:50 – WINNER – Old Dominion wins for Vocal Group of the Year.
8:49 – Morgan Wallen looks like an asshole on your front stoop looking to date your daughter. Meanwhile Cody Johnson shows us the first bona fide cowboy hat all night.
8:47 – My OCD going crazy during this Maren Morris performance. “Someone’s going to have to pick up all of those flowers!” Actually, it’s probably just one big carpet.
8:46 – If Maren Morris doesn’t win anything tonight, she’s going to flash her side boob on Instagram in protest, and then tongue lash us all for objectifying her for looking.
8:44 – Wow, they actually acknowledged the Hall of Fame inductees this year.
8:42 – Thanks to everyone commenting below! Reading when I can!
8:40 – One thing to be thankful for this year, NO Sam Hunt, NO Florida Georgia Line, NO Jason Aldean, NO Luke Bryan. Just think about that for a second, and we got performances from Reba McEntire, Brooks & Dunn, and Dolly, Willie, and others coming up. We are truly moving on from the Bro-Country era.
8:37 – This Brooks & Dunn / Brothers Osborne mashup is a little too rock and frenetic for me. Would have enjoyed more twang from this pairing. But at least it’s got some energy.
8:35 – Save us Brooks & Dunn!
8:33 – Jerry Douglas should have walked off stage halfway of that train wreck, flipping double birds over his shoulder.
8:31 – Um, this Halsey chick can’t sing on tune. At all. Woof woof!
8:30 – Lady Antebellum is a musical sedative. They are the pumpkin spice-scented candle of country.
8:29 – Again, Halsey will get more face time here with Lady Antebellum than New Artist of the Year Ashley McBryde did.
8:26 – Man. The presentation feels a little wonky tonight, teleprompters are clearly running behind, and there is NO pulse behind this event on social media. Not sure if it’s due to impeachment proceedings or something else, but this entire thing is just feeling flat at the moment. Let’s hope the 2nd half gets some lifeblood behind it.
8:25 – Dan + Shay just won a duo award over BROOKS & DUNN!! If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to suspend this Saving Country Music CMA Awards LIVE blog to go flip some cars downtown.
8:23 – Dan + Shay suck.
8:23 – WINNER – The CMA for Vocal Duo of the Year goes to Dan + Shat … I mean Shay, SHAY! (sorry, dad joke).
8:22 – Wow, Midland is pure shit in their presentation. “You had ONE task!”
8:20 – “Girl Crush” feels a little dated, but not yet classic. But I thought this was a great way to showcase these women’s talent.
8:19 – Lindsey Ell can rip on the guitar when she wants. Cool they also are flashing up the names of the performers as they work through this multi-artist performance of Little Big Town’s “Girl Crush.” This feels much more organic than the opening medley.
8:17 – A more mature song from Kelsea. Not entirely opposed to that performance.
8:16 – Looked from the comp to the TV, and could swear Kelsea Ballerini was performing topless.
8:15 – Man, these monologue jokes are bad. Timing is bad. Love these women, but they needed more rehearsal and better writers or something.
8:13 – Midland and Cody Johnson would have also been good picks for New Artist of the Year. It was a stacked category. But I think it means more to Ashley McBryde than it would have to either of those two. Cody Johnson isn’t “new,” and Midland is doing fine.
8:09 – Luke Combs is 29, balding rapidly, pushing over 300, and could drag just about anything out of any Nashville bar he wanted. Music is an amazing thing.
8:07 – It’s amazing what Luke Combs can achieve with a chicken leg permanently lodged in his aorta.
8:06 – Carrie Underwood’s “Drinking Alone” is fine, and she killed it as always. Just a little too loungy for my taste. But a solid performance.
8:01 – Ashley McBryde’s acceptance speech and about meeting John Prine. “He said, ‘You’re real good. You’re no Reba. But you’re real good.’ I cherish those little moments that are like that, that are truth and guidance from voices that we respect and admire. And I’m thankful for that and for this, and for the opportunity to step up. Thank you.”
7:57 – Apropos that Old Dominion played in front of an empty hall. That’s exactly what would happen if they had to make it on talent as opposed to gerrymandered radio play.
7:56 – I’d wish for all Old Dominion fans to be stricken with gonorrhea, but chances are I’m too late.
7:55 – HUGE win for Ashley McBryde, a woman of country that deserves way more attention! Great speech too!
7:54 – WINNER – The 2019 CMA for New Artist of the Year goes to Ashley McBryde!
7:52 – Jim Gaffigan has a front butt.
7:50 – …that said, this Pink song is better than 90% of the stuff on country radio, and Chris Stapleton is proving why he’s not just a bearded anomaly, his a generational singer with an incredibly soulful voice that blends well with anything. The best performance of the night so far. Simple and classy.
7:48 – So for context here, this Pink song is a Pinks’s current single, not a country single. Not sure why she gets a full performance slot, when someone like Ashley McBryde, The Highwomen, Maddie & Tae, or someone else could have received one. I get you have to attract non country fans, but she could have sung on a country artist’s single.
7:43 – So I guess Reba McEntire isn’t worth any production behind her performance like everyone else. Just a prerecorded track and the default stage setup. She sounded great though.
7:41 – Absolutely love Reba, and “Fancy” is an iconic song. But this performance feels a little weird. Where’s the band? Do like the strip poker costume changes. Let’s just hope we don’t get down to layer five.
7:39 – The wireless mic is always a little awkward.
7:37 – Fine performance by Miranda Lambert, but felt a little perfunctory. Would have preferred to seen one of her better “Wildcard” songs, but smart to perform the single.
7:34 – “If you throw your salad at the couple at the next table and hightail it before the cops arrive… Don’t sweat it…”
7:30 – “Beautiful Crazy” is a very mild song. But at least Blake Shelton didn’t double up on the song awards. “Rainbow” by Kacey Musgraves was the only better option, but at least it won for Video of the Year.
7:29 – WINNER – The CMA Song of the Year goes to “Beautiful Crazy” by Luke Combs.
7:28 – Lol. Shot of Luke Combs chewing bubblegum, bored out of his gourd after Dan + Shay.
7:27 – During the Sugarland hiatus, Jennifer Nettles has been using her voice as a Class B industrial strength paint remover.
7:25 – Just sayin’ …
7:24 – There was a spread in Billboard today literally touting Dan + Shay as “boyfriend country.” Perhaps that’s why I don’t get their music because I don’t have a boyfriend.
7:23 – I am a professional country music writer person. Dan + Shay has been around for seven years, and have had six #1 songs on country radio and counting. I still can’t tell you which one is which. That is how forgettable they are.
7:21 – As a whole, I think the opening montage in tribute to country music women was really cool and well done. I just think the real way to support women is to give them full performance slots and let them have a “moment” as opposed to 30 seconds. It was a little too frantic for my taste when it comes to actual performances, but each woman did the best with the short time she was given.
7:18 – Blake mentions Earl Thomas Conley, who passed away this year. Say what you want about Shelton, he’s been a big supporter of Earl’s legacy for years.
7:17 – Yay! Let’s support country women! Now here’s an award for Blake Shelton!
7:17 – WINNER – The CMA for Single of the Year goes to Blake Shelton’s “God’s Country.”
7:11 – Dolly mentioned Brad Paisley, who got inched out this year after 11 years of hosting with Carrie Underwood. Apparently he’s on vacation tonight.
7:10 – “Dolly’s rack is so much bigger,” Carrie Underwood cracks! HA! Dolly Parton has big Boobs!
7:08 – Sarah Evans sang something, now Martina McBride is singing “Independence Day” as all the women join in. Terri Clark is up there too. Truth is Pink will get more screen time than any of those women just did.
7:06 – Gretchen Wilson sings “Redneck Woman,” and then Crystal Gayle comes out to sing “Don’t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue.” These 30 second quick hit performances feel more like tokenism than allowing any performance the opportunity to breathe and for any of these artists to have a moment. The Millennials can’t even Google the names quick enough to figure out who these women are.
7:04 – Highwomen singing Tammy Wynette’s “Good Girls Gonna Go Bad.” Pretty damn cool to see someone like Amanda Shires on national television. Then Tanya Tucker comes out and sings a bar of “Delta Dawn.”
7:03 – Loretta Lynn! She in the front row as Little Big Town and others sing “You’re Looking At Country.”
7:02 – Carrie Underwood’s gams for Entertainer of the Year!
7:01 – The show starts off with a cold open of hosts Carrie Underwood, Reba McEntire, and Dolly Parton singing together.
7:00 – Here we go!
6:56 – Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus just took the podium as the crowd was filing in to accept their Musical Event of the Year trophy for “Old Town Road,” so they are on site.
6:53 – Fiddle Player Jenee Fleenor has won for Musician of the Year. She is the first woman to ever win in the category.
6:52 – So far I am 2 and 0 with my predictions, so I’m feeling lucky. If form holds, Chief will be walking away with Album of the Year, and Carrie Underwood will be ending the night crying pretty.
6:50 – We’ve already had some early winners. Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus walk away with Musical Event of the Year with “Old Town Road,” and Kacey Musgraves won for Video of the Year for “Rainbow.”
6:48 – Some quick housekeeping: Due to the high volume these live blogs regularly receive, certain features of the site will be disabled during the presentation, including the “like” capability on comments. This will be restored as soon as traffic volumes return to normal. Every effort is made to keep the site up, but in the event of an outage (it happens sometimes), we WILL get the site restored. Please be patient. Constantly refreshing in these circumstances can sometimes make matters worse, so instead, wait a minute or two, then refresh to see if service has been restored.
elemeno p in the hizzle
November 13, 2019 @ 5:54 pm
foist comment
Mary bailey
November 13, 2019 @ 8:04 pm
This blog sucks. Waited 45 min for updates. Thought I would follow you. Never again
Ralph McGinnis
November 13, 2019 @ 8:08 pm
Did you refresh the page? It updates when I do it.
Benjamin
November 13, 2019 @ 5:59 pm
ERIC CHURCH FOR ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR OR WE BOYCOTT
Mary bailey
November 13, 2019 @ 6:41 pm
I agree he deserved it
Mary bailey
November 13, 2019 @ 6:48 pm
I agree
Ralph McGinnis
November 13, 2019 @ 6:00 pm
Congratulations to Jenee Fleenor.
Farmer
November 13, 2019 @ 6:07 pm
The opening has been pretty great!
PaulFranklinForInstrumentalist
November 13, 2019 @ 6:08 pm
I like this opening format. It mitigates the concern that the massive ensemble might overshadow the actual women (and songs) themselves.
Tyler Wayne
November 13, 2019 @ 6:10 pm
Gretchen Wilson is on the cmas. This is not a drill
The Dot
November 13, 2019 @ 6:10 pm
“Red carpet” sucked. I’ve seen more stars at Costco.
Could do without the audience reactions during this way too short opening. Do they really feel like women will be satisfied with 8minutes and then pushed to the side of the stage?
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 6:23 pm
I’d rather have two marquee performances by women than 22 quick ones.
Basklops
November 13, 2019 @ 7:01 pm
For the sake of public forum decorum, I am going to suspend disbelief and assume I didn’t see that double entendre you didn’t make
Me
November 13, 2019 @ 6:11 pm
The non-cynical side of me wants to love this.
This cynical side of me says “This is all transparently silly.”
Therhodeo
November 13, 2019 @ 6:11 pm
Martina was a better Carrie long before Carrie was Carrie.
Paul
November 13, 2019 @ 6:12 pm
Sara Evans is still gorgeous As ever!
musicfan
November 13, 2019 @ 6:15 pm
I have a feeling it’s all downhill from here…
PaulFranklinForInstrumentalist
November 13, 2019 @ 6:17 pm
Ugh these opening monologue jokes are so cringe
Cory Schwent
November 13, 2019 @ 6:20 pm
Who are these people? Blake who? He related to Ricky Van Shelton? Whose the schmuck with the Tom Cruise sunglasses on inside? How come Kathy Mattea didn’t get to sing??
PaulFranklinForInstrumentalist
November 13, 2019 @ 6:22 pm
Dear Blake,
If you want to “thank the songwriters,” then fucking thank the songwriters. You do know their names, don’t you?
Hey Arnold
November 13, 2019 @ 6:33 pm
You just salty that Jenee won
PaulFranklinForInstrumentalist (also, Jenee is Great!)
November 13, 2019 @ 6:59 pm
Haha not at all! I love Jenee’s playing! She’s great (obviously) and her harmonics are interesting/progressive while still being respectful to the context of the fiddle in country music. Also, it’s great the CMAs gave a win (not to mention even a nomination) to a person who’s not a man!
BigJaker
November 13, 2019 @ 6:22 pm
Say what you want about Blake Shelton, he’s still a total douchebag.
Mary bailey
November 13, 2019 @ 7:01 pm
Why do you hate blake
Mike
November 14, 2019 @ 8:15 pm
Because he’s a total douchebag.
Hey Arnold
November 13, 2019 @ 6:24 pm
Cue my annual “drunk ” commenting…
SOmE dAYs YoUR’e LiVIng. SoME DAyS WE BrEAThiNG. SOme DaYS we LiVInG
me
November 13, 2019 @ 6:27 pm
I don’t need to listen to any Dan and Shay song but they do the whole harmony thing well.
Bill from Wisconsin
November 13, 2019 @ 6:38 pm
They sing fine but itz not country!
Weston
November 13, 2019 @ 6:28 pm
Dan and Shay lip syncing?
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 6:47 pm
Maybe. I’ll have to go back and double check.
EJAYC
November 13, 2019 @ 10:34 pm
I think many of them were and do. Too perfect of a night.
Cory Schwent
November 13, 2019 @ 6:28 pm
Is that Dan + Shay? Lol. I’ve been turning it down when the “superstars” get up to “perform”
Levi Genes
November 13, 2019 @ 6:31 pm
“7:24 – There was a spread in Billboard today literally touting Dan + Shay as “boyfriend country.” Perhaps that’s why I don’t get their music because I don’t have a boyfriend.”
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Oh damn I laughed at that. Hahahahahaha!
For the Birds
November 13, 2019 @ 6:32 pm
The year of women … with all male winners. Eye roll. They’ll give a token award to Carrie (the least interesting woman in country not named Kelsea) and the rest of it is total lip service. Sigh. At least the East coast media is happy to celebrate these women if their own industry won’t.
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 6:47 pm
But Crystal Gayle got to sing 20 seconds of a song!
liza
November 13, 2019 @ 6:38 pm
What’s with all the stupid age jokes?
Tyler Wayne
November 13, 2019 @ 6:40 pm
I will be the first person to support women in county music but the vagina looking walkthrough on the stage is too much
Kevin
November 13, 2019 @ 6:45 pm
It’s all I see
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 6:46 pm
I think that’s supposed to mimic a CMA Award, but now I won’t be able to unsee that.
Tracy
November 13, 2019 @ 7:43 pm
Relieved I am not the only one who noticed that!
EJAYC
November 13, 2019 @ 9:30 pm
Was Carrie the bean?
Cory Schwent
November 13, 2019 @ 6:41 pm
Some girly is up “performing” a song about a car wash?? While Garth stands up in the front row with a smirk on his face because it’s all his fault…. I can’t take it anymore, I’m betraying somebody, I don’t know who, but I’m guilty. Time to turn the channel and watch Ken Burns Baseball reruns.
PaulFranklinForInstrumentalist
November 13, 2019 @ 6:43 pm
Reba slayed that. All hail
Penny
November 13, 2019 @ 6:44 pm
If I could age half as good as Reba has I’ll be happy. Damn she’s still got it.
Mary bailey
November 13, 2019 @ 6:44 pm
Yes I agree
Gabe
November 13, 2019 @ 6:44 pm
7:34 – “If you throw your salad at the couple at the next table and hightail it before the cops arrive… Don’t sweat it…”
lol… this is funnier than some of these monologues
Matt
November 13, 2019 @ 6:45 pm
I was interested to see if Miranda Lambert would build off of The Weight of These Wings with Wildcard, but I guess she thought she needed more radio play.
For the Birds
November 13, 2019 @ 6:45 pm
Miranda and Reva have more charisma than everyone else combined.
Jim
November 13, 2019 @ 6:46 pm
“If you break up the greatest country band of a generation… Don’t sweat it…”
Officer McLoughlin
November 13, 2019 @ 10:03 pm
Five years from now I’m anticipating an episode of My Crazy Addiction starring Evan Felker and Tide Sticks
Matt
November 13, 2019 @ 6:54 pm
Why can’t they let Natalie Hemby and Jamie Lin Wilson go out there instead of Reba and Pink? They could have their moment now.
hoptowntiger94
November 13, 2019 @ 6:54 pm
That version of Fancy felt more Bobbie Gentry (at least in the beginning) than Reba. I thought it was awesome.
Andy
November 13, 2019 @ 6:57 pm
Agreed with your comments about Pink’s performance. I’m pretending she took Florida Georgia Line’s slot, and I’m okay with that.
Country When Country Wasn't Cool
November 13, 2019 @ 11:05 pm
A high school Pussycat Dolls cover band with laryngitis could have taken Florida,Georgia Line’s spot and I’d be okay with that.
Ralph McGinnis
November 13, 2019 @ 6:58 pm
Yeah for Ashley McBride. I like her.
Lisa
November 13, 2019 @ 6:58 pm
I’m a 30-something woman who grew up on country, and feel like I’m SUPPOSED to be loving the opening. Martina McBride, Terry Clark, Gretchen Wilson, Reba, Dolly….but in a time when women should be relevant in the here and now, they’re just trotting out a bunch of old hits sung by women. I want to see the focus on women so much! But not like this, it just feels so forced and unnatural. The whole WOMEN ARE AMAZING, YAYYYY, let’s talk about our dresses!!! thing just feels silly.
Marty Player
November 13, 2019 @ 6:58 pm
OD and gonorrhea 😂😂 Perfect!
Stephanie
November 14, 2019 @ 7:41 am
my favorite joke of the night, I’m going to have to try to remember that one.
Troy
November 13, 2019 @ 7:02 pm
I understand why Miranda did her current single, but damnit, “Tequila Does” is so much better & country as it gets. She could’ve shown the younger generation what actual country music is supposed to sound like.
Hey Arnold
November 13, 2019 @ 7:03 pm
How pissed do you think Midland are??? 2nd time nominees for that category. Their album sales are poor and their current single MrLonely peaked at like #19 on radio
Hey Arnold
November 13, 2019 @ 7:04 pm
Carrie Underwood or Michael Jackson? Smooth Criminal?
Joe
November 13, 2019 @ 7:05 pm
Maybe it’s just me, but this Old Dominion performance looks more like a Thomas Rhett look-a-like contest, and 1 Thomas Rhett is already too many in country music.
63Guild
November 13, 2019 @ 7:06 pm
Morgan Wallen fans are having a meltdown on twitter because he lost and it seriously made my night even better
liza
November 13, 2019 @ 7:07 pm
That Carrie Underwood performance sucked rotten eggs.
ScottG
November 13, 2019 @ 7:08 pm
Late to the party.
Tyler win yet? Chris Knight perform?
Hey Arnold
November 13, 2019 @ 7:08 pm
Heartache Medication >>>> Beer Never Broke My Heart
ADJ
November 13, 2019 @ 7:09 pm
Hey, Trigger! What do you think of Drinking Alone? While it’s mile’s ahead better than Southbound, personally, I have never warmed up to it. I just think that Low is better, and a better represention for Carrie. Her performance of it on Colbert was great, too.
I miss Ronnie,Toy and Levon
November 13, 2019 @ 7:11 pm
Front butt+1
hoptowntiger94
November 13, 2019 @ 7:11 pm
If Kathy Mattea can have that much fun listening to a Luke Combs song, my I should give him a second chance.
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 7:13 pm
🙂
Kevin Davis
November 13, 2019 @ 7:12 pm
I really can’t into any of Carrie’s music for a number of years now. This performance was as forgettable as it gets. It’s a shame because she has so much to work with. I love her in many ways, but she’s part of the problem in the country genre right now and has been for a while.
liza
November 13, 2019 @ 7:25 pm
Carrie’s song should have been sexy. She just doesn’t move well – she’s stiff. It reminded me of her performance in the Sound of Music. That’s all aside from the fact that it shouldn’t have been performed on the country music show.
Matt
November 13, 2019 @ 7:12 pm
I laughed out loud at the chicken leg.
Bill from Wisconsin
November 13, 2019 @ 7:14 pm
How about an SCM awards show? Would beat the heck out of CMA.
Matt
November 13, 2019 @ 7:16 pm
An acoustic guitar and a person!!!! Just do that.
Kevin Davis
November 13, 2019 @ 7:23 pm
Kelsea Ballerini’s performance was vastly more enjoyable than Carrie’s. And I’m actually not that surprised, not because Kelsea is great but because Carrie is so disappointing now.
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 7:36 pm
Kelsea was not bad. One of the better performances so far.
Garrett Roe
November 13, 2019 @ 7:28 pm
Chicken Leg in the aorta…oh my god 😂😂 best quote of the night
Guy Smiley
November 13, 2019 @ 7:30 pm
No Pulse, its tyhe number 1 trend on twitter.
Mike
November 13, 2019 @ 7:30 pm
Shay at least acknowledges Brooks and Dunn. Dan than says Shay is his favorite singer. That’s for the sanity so I don’t piss off my wife with my comments
Tyler Wayne
November 13, 2019 @ 7:30 pm
Is it just me or does this lady a song sound just like ironic by alanis in the verses
Jared
November 13, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
What is this? I’ve heard enough snap tracks and seen enough non-country artists. Awful. And Thomas Rhett hasn’t even performed,
Jim L.
November 13, 2019 @ 7:35 pm
I’m not complaining about the Halsey face time.
For the Birds
November 13, 2019 @ 7:37 pm
Ronnie has totally still got it!
My favorite moment so far was when the Brothers Osborne jumped up to look at Blake when Miranda sang the “drunk dialed my ex husband” line.
CeeCeeBee
November 13, 2019 @ 7:46 pm
I noticed that… Didn’t want to me toon it because it will start a lot of Miranda hate, but it was funny.
the pistolero
November 13, 2019 @ 7:38 pm
Man, Dan + Shay are fucking trash, especially that “Speechless” song. I remember hearing Rascal Flatts back in the day and thinking they sucked pretty bad, but Dan + Shay make Rascal Flatts sound like fucking Hank Thompson.
Country14
November 13, 2019 @ 7:38 pm
Can this just become a Brooks & Dunn concert?
Gina
November 13, 2019 @ 7:39 pm
Did Brooks and Dunn rescue a Karoke singer from the Maxwell House Hotel To sing with them? Wow….just…wow…no…..
Tracy
November 14, 2019 @ 4:20 am
TJ Osborne has a fantastic voice. The production on this show was horrible. You could barely hear him. His voice is really low and deep: https://youtu.be/YC62CcAT3mo
Aggc
November 13, 2019 @ 7:40 pm
Anybody else thinking Carrie Underwood is looking more and more like one of the Kardashians?
Once again, Cam’s hair is the highlight of the show.
liza
November 13, 2019 @ 8:07 pm
Carrie’s full transition to a Kardashian happened in 2018. http://www.zimbio.com/photos/Carrie+Underwood/2018+CMT+Music+Awards+Red+Carpet/BRrrqssEHFE
CeeCeeBee
November 13, 2019 @ 7:42 pm
I appreciate the effort to highlight women in country music, but this isn’t the way to do it. For all their lip service, instead of giving performance spots to women who are making great and relevant country music today, we get Pink and Halsey (whatever a Halsey is).
It’s flat because it’s forced and insincere.
OlaR
November 13, 2019 @ 7:47 pm
Boring.
It’s 3.47 am here.
A mix of circus & horror-show.
Where are the steel guitars & fiddles?
It’s still billed as a “country” music award show…dafuk.
JD
November 13, 2019 @ 7:48 pm
Maren Morris is the music equivalent of a cheese ball. She isn’t country and I wish they’d stop playing her on 95.9 the ranch. Just because she’s local doesn’t mean she should be on the station.
the pistolero
November 13, 2019 @ 8:18 pm
Yeah. Frankly, Maren Morris gets a pass from far too many people, who should know better, just because she is from Texas.
MitchP
November 13, 2019 @ 7:48 pm
Great for Ashley McBryde, what a pleasant surprise!
Tara Whiteside
November 13, 2019 @ 7:50 pm
Anyone else having audio problems? Can’t hear any of the performances.
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 7:53 pm
Audio feels washed out to me. Part of the reason for a lack of energy here.
TrashCanJack
November 13, 2019 @ 7:50 pm
What is going on with all of the women with the collagen injected lips?
Aggc
November 13, 2019 @ 8:07 pm
Not a good look.
Trucker
November 13, 2019 @ 7:54 pm
But they still run Blake Shelton out there.
Melody W.
November 13, 2019 @ 7:54 pm
I hate the girls’ version of bro country as much as I hate bro country. Sister country? Girlfriend country? I just call it bad.
B Lee
November 13, 2019 @ 7:54 pm
Maybe MM pregnancy will give her a rack
The Dot
November 13, 2019 @ 7:55 pm
When I went to Nashville in October, I got tickets to Maren Morris at the Ascend. She’s really talented. Never thought I’d say that. She’s got chops. And being in The Highwomen might just bring her back to the promise of My Church.
In other news, I cleaned up cat puke rather than watch Dan +Shay. I feel fortunate.
Michael Ross
November 13, 2019 @ 7:57 pm
I don’t have a TV but this blog and these comments have to be more fun than actually watching the show.
Ralph McGinnis
November 13, 2019 @ 7:59 pm
I agree.
Hey Arnold
November 13, 2019 @ 7:57 pm
Blake Shelton finally utilized Jenne Fleenor’s fiddle skills!!! Usually she just plays the guitar.
Tracy
November 13, 2019 @ 7:59 pm
I am to Brothers Osborne what Hey Arnold is to Jon Pardi, and to say I am pissed right now is an understatement.
Jeffro
November 13, 2019 @ 8:00 pm
Blake is a tool. When the hell is he going to disappear? Dude has no talent and nothing to offer.
Joe
November 13, 2019 @ 8:01 pm
I can’t believe they let real instruments on the stage for a Thomas Rhett performance.
Eddie
November 13, 2019 @ 8:04 pm
He didnt even touch his guitar until the end, where he faked strummed it way late. fucking idiot.
Eric
November 13, 2019 @ 8:02 pm
Does this shitty Thomas Rhett song really repeat the same verse twice or did he fuck up his own song?
Eddie
November 13, 2019 @ 8:03 pm
That Old Dominion guy wasn’t even playing the guitar, and totally pretended to strum the last chord and was totally late. why was there a drummer? it was a synthesized beat! ugh. what the fuck.
Eddie
November 13, 2019 @ 8:07 pm
*Thomas Rhett not Old Dominion. well they’re all the same…
Levi Genes
November 13, 2019 @ 8:03 pm
Weird evening. Full moon must still be out. My cousin from Southside, Alabama texts me and says, “If Dana and Shaynana pull up in their Subaru, they likely to get slapped”, referring to the Dan + Shay combo. I mockingly told him that’s not nice, and he told me to shut the hell up. He was legit not happy with how his bro-country has become feminized this evening to the point that even the males are softer. I didn’t have the heart to remind him that less than two weeks ago we were sipping bourbon together listening to my red dirt playlist. I don’t listen to this music at all, I think all this music tonight is soft, although some of it has been performed well. Loved the older stuff.
Gina
November 13, 2019 @ 8:05 pm
They couldn’t ignore Brandi Carlisle anymore…thank goodness.
For the Birds
November 13, 2019 @ 8:06 pm
That Girl Crush medley just transformed into A Karen Fairchild Showcase. (The subtitle for the band known as Little Big Town.) I would have vastly preferred to hear these women do their own material. But, if the CMAs couldn’t do that, it would have been cool to see them duet with the current FVOTY nominees. Miranda & Ashley sing “House that Built Me,” Kacey & Maddie & Tae sing, Merry Go Round, etc. It would have been beautiful moment of not passing the torch, but sharing it.
Gina
November 13, 2019 @ 8:09 pm
Awesome idea.
OlaR
November 13, 2019 @ 8:07 pm
What a mess.
Not the best Dolly performance & why not with other country artists?
hoptowntiger94
November 13, 2019 @ 8:08 pm
A fell asleep … what the fuck is happening? Is Dolly performing with the cast of Hamilton?
John
November 13, 2019 @ 8:09 pm
I wonder what george and ricky skaggs etc. think of this mess. I wish someone would speak up. The whole “country music evolving is normal and good” must stop somewhere, and this is a good place.
David Slusher
November 13, 2019 @ 8:10 pm
Given we are only two days after Veterans Day, would have been nice to have some special recognition of the Veterans of ALL USA Military services!!! How about a big “I’M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN”????
None of the folks enjoying the fun and partying would have the freedom to do so, IF NOT for US Veterans for now over 224 years.
For the Birds
November 13, 2019 @ 8:11 pm
Oh look you guys – it’s the most talented person in the room introducing Dolly Parton!
Aggc
November 13, 2019 @ 8:11 pm
Dolly and Reba definitely the best performers tonight. Very few others even memorable.
hoptowntiger94
November 13, 2019 @ 8:12 pm
I go to bail for bed. I’ll read the blog tomorrow morning and YouTube anything important. Thanks for keeping it interesting. I’ll stream Luke Combs tomorrow.
Mick Mullin
November 13, 2019 @ 8:13 pm
I’m freezing my ass off buskin out here
Breeze66
November 13, 2019 @ 8:16 pm
Worst CMA award show I have ever seen. Flat and uneventful. I am turning the channel.
Trigger
November 13, 2019 @ 8:21 pm
Very flat.
CeeCeeBee
November 13, 2019 @ 8:19 pm
Got a name check in the blog!
Yeah, Brothers Osborne jumped out of their seat and started clapping right on the “drunk dial my ex” line and looked over in Blake’s direction.
Could be a coincidence…but it sure looked hilarious.
For the Birds
November 13, 2019 @ 10:01 pm
I was streaming on YouTube TV and rewound that moment so many times! The funniest moment of the night for me for sure.
PaulFranklinForInstrumentalist
November 13, 2019 @ 8:24 pm
Maren Morris GIRL AOTY.
Fuck. This. Shit.
OlaR
November 13, 2019 @ 8:25 pm
Why give a “country” music award to a country music artist when you can give it to a pop singer?
Congrats…Maren Morris.
Bobsled
November 13, 2019 @ 8:26 pm
*”We were’, written by Jeff Hyde, Ryan Tyndell, and Eric Church”.
Fixed it for you
Bobsled
November 16, 2019 @ 9:58 pm
Jeff Hyde, Eric Church, Clint Daniels, and Bobby Pinson are the writers. I was incorrect previously. Apologies.
Bobsled
November 18, 2019 @ 7:31 pm
Oops. Second post lists writers for “some of it”.
I’m confusing myself apparently.
Lola
November 13, 2019 @ 8:26 pm
No way Maren Morris just won album of the year. One of the most pop albums out there. She has no place in country music.
The Dot
November 13, 2019 @ 8:27 pm
Glad Kris skipped tonight. This “tribute” sucks. I’d rather be in Iowa than hear these people stumble through his songs.
CeeCeeBee
November 13, 2019 @ 8:27 pm
“Girl” for Album of the Year??? I never thought they’d sink THAT low just to honor a woman. Hell, if it HAD to be a woman, “Cry Pretty” is a much better choice