The 2021 ACM Awards LIVE Blog
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 2021 ACM Awards LIVE blog, where for the next three hours (gulp), we will follow along in real time, razzing rich and famous people for the way their dressed, praising the few real country music personalities that they actually let on the show, and generally making the whole experience slightly more palatable by poking fun at the whole dog and pony show.
This is all unscripted, so apologies ahead of time for syntax errors, and make sure to bring a thick skin. This is all in good fun, so don’t be a sissy.
To see the nominees, CLICK HERE.
All times Central time.
– – – – – –
WINNERS
Entertainer of the Year – Luke Bryan
Album of the Year – Chris Stapleton – “Starting Over”
Male Artist of the Year – Thomas Rhett
Female Artist of the Year – Maren Morris
Song of the Year – Maren Morris – “The Bones”
Single of the Year – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Duo of the Year – Dan + Shay
Group of the Year – Old Dominion
New Male Artist of the Year – Jimmie Allan
New Female Artist of the Year – Gabby Barrett
Musical Event of the Year – Carly Pearce and Lee Brice – “I Hope You’re Happy Now”
Video of the Year – Kane Brown
– – – – – – – – – – – –
10:11 – The biggest takeaway from the 2021 ACM Awards by far and away will be the remarkable performances by Dierks Bentley with The War & Treaty and Larkin Poe, and Carrie Underwood also joined by CeCe Winans. Some of the best awards show moments we’ve seen in a while. Mickey Guyton also had a moment, and Miranda Lambert pulled triple duty and did well too.
As for the awards, meh. It was a weird mix of winners in a weird year, and unfortunately, there wasn’t really any big win for someone that’s easy to root for. It was a big snoot full of Maren Morris, Old Dominion, Dan + Shay, and Luke Bryan. Only Album of the Year feels like a victory for Chris Stapleton, but still one that’s par for the course.
As for the presentation, the ACMs once again smoked the CMAs. They seemed to take the right tact for the moment, actually remembered an In Memoriam segment, and included a lot of relative unknowns in performances, which was a plus. There also seemed to be much more engagement online compared to the CMAs, and last month’s Grammy’s which felt like a funeral. Still, it was the ACMs, which means you take the little good with the mostly bad.
10:02 – Alright folks, I’m going to compose some final thoughts, recap the winners, go to the instant replay footage of what the hell happened with the Dan + Shay performance, and then call it a night.
Thanks for stopping by, reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and everything else. I appreciate it!
10:00 – I’m sure the explanation will be that in a year with no touring, Luke Bryan deserved it because he was “entertaining” from the American Idol desk. But Luke just doesn’t pull nearly the attention he did years ago. That’s why he took the Idol gig.
9:58 – Luke Bryan winning Entertainer of the Year is the perfect way to end the last hour.
This could have been the perfect year for Chris Stapleton to finally earn it.
Boooo!
9:57 – The 2021 ACM Entertainer of the Year goes to Gomer Pyle!!!
9:54 – With that performance, Little Big Town just invented a new genre of music called mom rock.
9:53 – Where’s a riotous Antifa mob when you need them to disrupt a terrible downtown street performance by the washed-up Little Big Town?
9:51 – This Maren Morris acceptance speech is more lost than Kane Brown on his own 30 acres.
9:50 – WINNER – The 2021 ACM for Female Vocalist goes to Karen Morris.
9:49 – Cool of Stapleton to also mention his backing band, J.T. Cure and those guys.
9:45 – Can’t complain about Chris Stapleton winning Album of the Year. Yeah, sort of a default pick, and I was really hoping Ashley McBryde would win and finally get her moment. But with Luke Bryan and Kane Brown also in the category, it could have gone much worse. 2nd best outcome.
9:43 – WINNER – The 2021 ACM Album of the Year goes to Chris Stapleton for “Starting Over.”
9:42 – Into the mic, Clay Walker. What are you a rookie?
9:40 – I almost want to like Kelsea Ballerini. But she just doesn’t bring much, and the electronic drum beat in what’s supposed to be a stripped-down, organic and acoustic performance sullied the vibe. In fact the whole thing was likely a backing track.
9:39 – Two Kenny Chesney appearances on an awards show is too many.
9:36 – Thanks everyone for following and commenting. 25 more minutes!
9:33 – From earlier, apparently Blake Shelton performed “Austin” because it’s the 20th Anniversary of the song. I want to apologize to my fans, my family, the Academy, and Jesus for not knowing that. I promise to be better.
9:30 – The new Brothers Osborne album didn’t do much for me (“Not For Everyone” I guess). But this song ain’t terrible, shameless name drops notwithstanding.
9:27 – Keith Urban. Seriously dude. You’re 53-years-old. Your public hairs are grey. Friggin’ act like it and stop with this wanky pop shit.
9:26 – Something is wrong with Keith Urban’s face.
9:19 – Oh, how embarrassing! When announcing the 2021 ACM Male Artist of the Year, they mispronounced “Tyler Childers” as “Thomas Rhett.”
9:17 – WINNER – The 2021 ACM for Male Vocalist of the Year goes to Thomas Rhett.
9:15 – I’ve always believed in Mickey Guyton, and I’ve always had a soft spot for her, especially since she’s from my hometown of Dallas. I just wish the rest of the industry would have recognized her talent when it was all about the music, and her music was more country.
This was a great performance.
9:11 – As for the Dan + Shat win for Duo of the Year, it was very predictable, but might have been cool to see Brooks & Dunn or Maddie & Tae surprise us.
9:08 – LOL! Florida Georgia Line’s official appearance on the 2021 ACM Awards comes via a fucking T-Mobile commercial. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
Turds.
9:06 – Just a little curious about all the love for Carly Pearce’s and Lee Brice’s “I Hope You’re Happy Now.” I guess it’s Curb Records calling in all of their favors since Brice is about all they have left on their roster.
9:03 – WINNER – The 2021 ACM for Vocal Duo of the Year goes to Dan + Shat
9:01 – This Leslie Jordan dude been all in my social feeds lately. Not sure why I should care about him.
8:59 – Correction: I believe Bobby Braddock just produced “Austin,” didn’t write it. But still.
Curious why Shelton is performing it now.
8:57 – Blake Shelton is singing his first hit “Austin.” Hard to not admit it’s a great song. Bobby Braddock knows how to write ’em.
8:52 – Well, no rebellious moment of country protest for Alan Jackson where he shakes his fist at the powers that be, but a really solid performance from the Mother Church that certainly helped class this presentation up and instill it with some actual country.
8:46 – Alan Jackson. From the Ryman. Let’s go to church.
8:45 – Ashley McBryde should finish this performance by doing a cannonball into the Cumberland.
8:42 – Ashley McBride shows up to sing the murder ballad “Martha Divine.” She’s up for FOUR awards, incl. Album of the Year. I’d say she’s the front runner, but the way the song awards went so wierd, who knows.
8:38 – Nice, we get a rather abbreviated, but still important In Memoriam segment at the end of the Kenny Chesney performance. See CMA’s, how friggin hard is that?
8:37 – Got to admit, this Kenny Chesney song ain’t terrible. Still, he’s looking more like Gollum every year.
8:35 – Kenny Chesney? I thought he was intubated in a retirement home in the Bahamas.
8:34 – Strange win for Single of the Year. I thought Gabby would get it. Not sure “I Hope You’re Happy Now” had much impact.
8:33 – Carly Pearce: “I love country music more than anything in the whole world.”
8:32 – WINNER – The ACM for Song of the Year goes to Carly Pearce and Lee Brice for “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”
8:31 – Goodness, that’s a short, short skirt. You can almost see Martina’s McBride.
8:30 – Jimmie Allan shouldn’t be allowed to dress himself.
8:25 – As some are pointing out in the comments section, Larkin Poe also performed with Dierks Bentley and The War & Treaty on “Pride (In The Name of Love).” With CeCe Winans, Jon Randall, Jack Ingram, Elle King, there’s been a lot of deserved face time for some cool independent folks tonight.
8:21 – Will never take for granted getting to see Jack Ingram and Jon Randall on national prime time television. Good on Miranda Lambert for always elevating the names and voices of deserving songwriters.
8:18 – Luke Combs is worth rooting for and better than most. But man, he sure can turn in a generic song on your ass.
8:17 – Luke Combs looks like the guy you’ve gotta meet to get the keys to the gate of a deer lease.
8:13 – Dan + Shay just had an Ashlee Simpson-style syncing moment meltdown on national television. Maybe there’s a technical explanation, but can’t help to hope it does their career in.
8:09 – Um, what the HELL ?!? Everyone else seeing this? Either Dan + Shay is singing to a backing track, or there’s some MAJOR sync problems.
8:08 – Some folks like to joke they don’t know which one is Dan and which one is Shay. But the truth is they’re the same person.
8:07 – This Eric Church performance is fine. But man, don’t envy him having to follow up Carrie.
8:04 – Didn’t think anyone would top Dierks / War & Treaty, but Carrie Underwood took us to church.
8:02 – Damn, we’re getting like four songs from Carrie Underwood. Hopefully she’s eating into Dan + Shay’s time. Now she’s laying into “How Great Thou Art,” which she kills.
8:00 – Sometimes Carrie Underwood’s voice can be a little “much.” But it’s perfect for Gospel. Send it to the rafters!
7:59 – CeCe Winans can go ahead and make her country album any darn time she wants to.
7:58 – Also cool to see Carrie singing a Gospel song standing in the center of the Opry circle. That’s a feature that’s been missing from many of these award shows over the years.
7:56 – Carrie Underwood starts off her performance with an a capella version of “Amazing Grace.”
Her new gospel album is worth the trouble folks.
7:55 – Dolly!
7:50 – Dierks and The War & Treaty just turned in the performance of the night so far. Unexpected and welcomed. Bravo!
7:47 – This is super cool. Dierks Bentley singing “Pride (In The Name of Love)” bluegrass style with the War & Treaty. Originally from U2, Dierks covered the song on his great 2010 record “Up On The Ridge.”
7:45 – Maren Morris: “Hopefully this song brought you some peace.”
Actually, it boils my blood and makes me want to head downtown and loot storefronts/flip cars.
7:44 – Ashley McBryde / Miranda Lambert / Chris Stapleton got screwed.
7:43 – WINNER – The 2021 ACM for Song of the Year goes to Maren Morris for “The Bones.”
7:42 – Huh Huh. They said Luke “Dick.”
7:42 – Man, when is this Amish hat fetish gonna go away?
7:40 – Gabby Barrett’s got some good songs. It’s the production that does them in. This stripped-down Bluebird performance ain’t half bad.
7:38 – Ooh, War & Treaty with Dierks. Could be fun.
7:31 – Ugh, Lady A is still a thing?
Would rather hear from the real Lady A they filched their name from.
7:30 – The only reason for Maren Morris’s entire music career is simply an excuse to have interns scour her social media to find mean comments to couch her as a victim.
7:27 – Somewhere there’s a peacock farm with a bunch of pissed off bald birds right about now.
7:25 – Writing a country song about a deceased dog is a pretty easy way to turn in a weeper. But damn if it don’t work.
7:25 – Damn, Miranda Lambert IS going to be everywhere like a bad rash tonight. She opened the show, is singing harmony for Stapleton, and is supposed to appear with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall later.
7:24 – 24 minutes into a country awards show and we see our first cowboy hat. Thanks Chris Stapleton.
7:20 – Look if Thomas Rhett wants to go country, I’m not gonna get in the dude’s way. Guarantee there’s some marketing calculus to all of this, but hard to see it as anything as a sum positive, even if they lyrics still feel derivative.
7:17 – For the record, so far I am 3 for 3 in my awards predictions so far. Got both New Artists Awards, and Group of the Year.
7:14 – No clue why Old Dominion continues to win these damn awards. Such a nothing band. I guess because the Group category is so weak.
7:13 – WINNER – The ACM for Group of the Year goes to Old Dominion.
7:12 – Boy, Blanco Brown looks like a walking joke, but I’ll be respectful since he’s recovering …I won’t make a joke about his big bag of nothing.
7:10 – Let’s not forget that not to long ago, Kane Brown got lost on his own property and had to call the police to be rescued. Some really bright folks in this new crop of “country” artists.
7:08 – Really happy Chris Young was able to get some time off stocking shelves at Home Depot to perform tonight.
This dude still has a music career?
7:06 – Someone help me. What’s the name of the rare Asian bird Keith Urban trained to perch on the top of his head?
7:05 – History is being made tonight. Mickey Guyton is the first ever black host of the ACMs, and Keith Urban is the first ever washed-up pop Aussie douche canoe to host. So proud.
7:03 – Miranda Lambert: “No, I think the fringe needs to be longer. No, longer than that. No, even LONGER. I want this shit to be a tangle hazard for a toddler.”
7:01 – Elle King could kick the ass of every single male performer you’ll see tonight ‘cept Alan Jackson, and drink ’em all under-the-table too.
6:59 – If Ashley McBryde wins for Album of the Year, which I think there’s a good chance of, then it will make it all worth it.
6:56 – Seriously, I’m not exactly sure why I’m doing this exercise anymore. These awards shows (and the live blogs) used to be one of the biggest events all year. Especially over the last year, interest in these things has plummeted incredibly. I’m not sure how much longer they will even be televised, except what else is network TV gonna show? COVID killed the awards show.
I guess I keep doing them because if I have to watch, I might as well make it fun for myself.
6:51 – Some awards have already been handed out. Gabby Barrett won for Best New Female Artist, and Jimmie Allen won for Best New Male Artist. Kane Brown won for Video for the Year for a video nobody remembers, and Carly Pearce and Lee Brice won for Musical Event of the Year for “I Hope You’re Happy Now.”
Also Morgan Wallen won the 2021 David Alan Coe Award for equity in country music.
Matsfan/Jatsfan
April 18, 2021 @ 5:00 pm
Ha! Morgan Wallen/DAC…good one Trig! Strong start.
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 5:05 pm
Luke Bryan I bet will win Entertainer of the Year because of the Crash my Playa festival from early 2020, plus American Idol during the pandemic & for releasing a new album.
Based on the criteria & who he’s up against… Luke Bryan kinda deserves it the most..
Anthony
April 18, 2021 @ 5:05 pm
Wasn’t sure if you were going to do a blog this time, Trigger, but glad to see that you are.
DS
April 18, 2021 @ 5:07 pm
God I can’t stand Keith Urban, he has less than zero personality
Clint Bond
April 18, 2021 @ 5:08 pm
You can hear the sound of remotes clicking this off. Terrible start
KathyP
April 18, 2021 @ 5:09 pm
Vaccinated but still have to wear the face diaper, er mask? Why bother. I don’t get the point
DS
April 18, 2021 @ 5:11 pm
How long are we going to have to wait to hear a country song tonight?
I miss Stevie Gaines
April 18, 2021 @ 5:16 pm
Just watched Kane Brown followed by Blanco, looking for my crack pipe as I type this…
George Wilmington 3rd
April 18, 2021 @ 5:23 pm
Leave it to the douche with the Confederate States Flag to associate two black guys with a crack pipe.
George Wilmington 3rd
April 18, 2021 @ 5:28 pm
Maybe wrong on the flag can’t make out the details on this image but a dumbass comment either way.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 5:37 pm
Triggered much?
George Wilmington 3rd
April 18, 2021 @ 5:40 pm
Not triggered, because I don’t expect anything less from the 50% of this site’s readers that are trailer trash. The other 50% are good people with good taste in music but when the comments section always has bullshit like the above kind of ruins the experience of good music discussion. I come to this site to read about Country music not uninformed views of people who ain’t ever crossed the county line.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 5:44 pm
How tolerant. /s
George Wilmington 3rd
April 18, 2021 @ 5:51 pm
Don’t need to be tolerant of racism….
How dumb do you have to be to think that someone should be tolerant of intolerance.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 5:59 pm
What was racist about his comment?
If it is racist, it is on the same stereotypical level as your stupid trailer trash comment. But one side is fair game and the other side is protected.
The hypocrisy is hilarious. Keep bending the knee to wokeness.
George Wilmington 3rd
April 18, 2021 @ 6:13 pm
My ‘wokeness’???
My trailer trash comment was intentionally intolerant to show the contrast to the comment he made. That is why I am one of the likes on your comment about tolerance because I was happy to see you recognize what that word means. Neither side is fair game its just funny to see a backwards ass snowflake like yourself get upset when intolerance comes your way.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:23 pm
LOL.
Talk about a load of bull. I can visualize the hamster scrambling in your brain.
Daniel Cooper
April 18, 2021 @ 5:18 pm
DS, depends when Stapleton and AJ perform
Michael
April 18, 2021 @ 5:12 pm
Several iconic venues being decimated on live television tonight.
Tig
April 18, 2021 @ 5:14 pm
Who even likes old dominion…. aka the creepers
Adam
April 18, 2021 @ 5:50 pm
There’s no way that guy hasn’t forced himself on drunk college chicks a time or ten
Gabe
April 18, 2021 @ 5:14 pm
When Keith was introducing the next presenter I could have sworn he said “Blanca”
Albert
April 18, 2021 @ 5:17 pm
I wish Mickey Guyton was being recognized for her talent instead of her color. She has made incredible music for years, but has only received recognition lately as the token black female.
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 5:38 pm
I hate to say it, but you’re right. I was talking about her in 2015 when barely anybody knew who she was.
Jim
April 18, 2021 @ 5:17 pm
Geez does Keith look different facially?
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 5:18 pm
Really wish that Jon Pardi could be a performer.
Sad Fact, he’s never sang one of his songs at any Big stage award show… He’s only been asked to sing either with Thomas Rhett or Alan Jackson on their song or to do a Joe Diffie tribute last November.
He actually did sing “Dirt on my Boots” at the 2017 CMAs but it was on the little Version stage for a minute before a commercial.
He deserves more!!
Anthony
April 18, 2021 @ 6:47 pm
Agreed. Pardi is the real deal, so it’s odd that so many borderline or non-country performers are prioritized ahead of him. And I like Miranda Lambert more than most, but if she’s getting three performance slots tonight, surely Pardi could be given one.
Hey Arnold
April 19, 2021 @ 7:05 am
Him opening the show with Tequila Little Time would have been a better fit than Deuce Bigallow/Happy Madison collaboration of Elle King with Miranda Lambert
hoptowntiger94
April 18, 2021 @ 5:18 pm
I didn’t know you were doing a blog! I tuned in to see Miranda and Elle. I’ll hang as long as can (hopefully when Miranda performs again).
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 5:39 pm
Apparently she’s performing three times.
St Joan
April 18, 2021 @ 6:40 pm
Is Morgane okay? I love that woman
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 6:41 pm
She’s probably fine. Just at home with the kiddos. But good theory that maybe Miranda was filling in for that performance.
St Joan
April 18, 2021 @ 8:11 pm
I had read on a Miranda board earlier today that she would be filling in for Morgane last minute
NPC
April 18, 2021 @ 8:40 pm
A “doula commitment”… baby must have known it was something she could afford to miss.
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/why-miranda-lambert-performed-chris-stapleton-wife-morgane-acm-awards-2021
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 8:51 pm
(Googling “doula”)
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 5:19 pm
The last 2 singles from Old Dominion flopped at radio
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 5:22 pm
Thomas Rhett is insulting country legends with this garbage song.
Low IQ music for low IQ people.
hoptowntiger94
April 18, 2021 @ 5:23 pm
I heard a terrible song by Ashley McBryde about styrofoam last month.
DS
April 18, 2021 @ 5:33 pm
I don’t hate this Lady A song
MJ
April 18, 2021 @ 6:53 pm
Now that Alan Jackson’s performed, it must be all downhill. No way they top it.
DFT
April 18, 2021 @ 5:27 pm
I did not hate that Thomas Rhett performance.
Matsfan/Jatsfan
April 18, 2021 @ 5:30 pm
Me either. Didn’t see that coming.
DFT
April 18, 2021 @ 5:28 pm
Stapleton and Lambert sound good together. I’d listen to more of that.
Tracy
April 18, 2021 @ 7:11 pm
“Hard Staying Sober” and “Nobody’s Fool” are Miranda album tracks with Stapleton on BGV. The latter I believe penned by Stapleton. Some of my favorites of hers.
hoptowntiger94
April 18, 2021 @ 5:30 pm
I couldn’t get out of the room in time. Gutted.
Anthony
April 18, 2021 @ 5:33 pm
At first, I thought Blanco Brown’s bag was concealing an oxygen tank, or some other medical device. But no — seems it’s just a stupid fashion choice. It’ll be awkward for him if Alan Jackson shows up wearing the same bag.
Meanwhile, the Chris Stapleton/Miranda Lambert duet is the only thing I’ve enjoyed so far.
Gabe
April 18, 2021 @ 5:35 pm
I thought this was supposed to be a country awards show? What’s Lady A (formerly known as lady antebellum) doing here???
Daniel Cooper
April 18, 2021 @ 5:36 pm
Think I just had a heart attack. Someone other than Alan Jackson is using a fiddle tonight. Sure, it’s Lady A, but small victory.
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 5:37 pm
Lady A with the fiddle.
Actually a decent song. Very Lonestar circa 2002 vibes
WienerFinger
April 18, 2021 @ 5:37 pm
Ms. Liebig is gonna stroke out after that Maren comment.
Kate
April 18, 2021 @ 5:39 pm
Really missing morgan wallen
Sara
April 18, 2021 @ 5:42 pm
Gabby is soo much better than maren
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 6:29 pm
Agreed.
Jim
April 18, 2021 @ 5:42 pm
What happened to Keith?
AdamAmericana
April 18, 2021 @ 5:44 pm
Came, saw, went away and puked and then listened to Morgan Wade as an antidote.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 5:45 pm
Maran Morris is garbage.
Garbage choice for Song of the Year.
Shut up and get off the stage. Bring on Alan!
George Wilmington 3rd
April 18, 2021 @ 5:46 pm
Isn’t that Maren song like 3 years old now?!
Officer McLoughlin
April 18, 2021 @ 5:52 pm
I was really rooting for Bluebird to win Song. Damn it.
DS
April 18, 2021 @ 5:47 pm
Dierks looking like David Spade
Tracy
April 18, 2021 @ 5:49 pm
Maren Morris winning tells me all I need to know about how crappy this show is gonna be.
Mike
April 18, 2021 @ 5:50 pm
Actually, it boils my blood and makes me want to head downtown and loot storefronts/flip cars.
100% Spot on Trigger
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 5:53 pm
Rioting is only allowed when it is protesting the shooting of a criminal.
Though protesting that awful song is justified.
Dave
April 18, 2021 @ 6:55 pm
Seriously, eat shit.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:56 pm
You really want attention, don’t you?
Quit making martyrs out of criminals and quit burning down cities.
George Wilmington 3rd
April 18, 2021 @ 5:53 pm
Damn, Dierks with the War and Treaty was like a palate cleanser for the soul!
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 5:53 pm
Blake Shelton:
THIS IS NO MACHINE YOU’RE TAKING TO
Tyler Wayne
April 18, 2021 @ 5:53 pm
Larkin Poe was with dierks as well!!
Peezer
April 18, 2021 @ 5:55 pm
Larkin Poe sighting. Returning to their bluegrass roots.
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 5:56 pm
I’m getting vaccinated because Dr Dolly told me to.
Jim
April 18, 2021 @ 6:00 pm
If this is country music I’ll eat my hat! What the hell is going on here!
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:00 pm
If she told you to jump off the bridge, you would do the same thing. She is not a deity.
Jesse David
April 18, 2021 @ 6:00 pm
Dierks had Larkin Poe playing the mandolin and dobro too. That was really cool. I love those girls.
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 6:24 pm
Good catch!
Dr. Donut
April 18, 2021 @ 6:02 pm
So many good country singers are sitting on the sidelines to make room for these ‘country singers.’ Makes me ill.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:02 pm
Nice to have Gospel music present again in Country music.
About time.
hoptowntiger94
April 18, 2021 @ 6:03 pm
This seems real authentic. Carrie Underwood could do Gospel all the time. I normally can’t stand her voice, but this works. Reba… this is how you do Gospel.
DS
April 18, 2021 @ 6:03 pm
I wish Carrie had sang her version of Victory in Jesus, but that performance was still great
Officer McLoughlin
April 18, 2021 @ 6:03 pm
Is this Hillsomg or the ACMs? Ten minutes of hymns? Thanks I hate it
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:07 pm
Gospel has been a part of country music since the beginning.
Deal with it or get out.
Officer McLoughlin
April 18, 2021 @ 9:04 pm
I will post as I please. Deal with it. Or call Mama.
CountryKnight
April 19, 2021 @ 9:35 am
Get your own material. Though I am flattered by your thievery of mine.
Daniel Cooper
April 18, 2021 @ 6:10 pm
The video and audio not matching up on this Dan and Shay performance is really distracting and funny at the same time
CeeCeeBee
April 18, 2021 @ 6:13 pm
As to Miranda performing three times, honestly, I’m relieved. It could have been Maren Morris.
The Bones winning song of the year? All the decent songs cancelled out each other’s votes.
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 6:17 pm
Was a weird field. One of the few major categories I didn’t make a prediction for.
Ryan
April 18, 2021 @ 6:31 pm
Trig, can i ask how you will be reviewing eric church’s latest project? Will it be one big project or each cd/vinyl on there own. Assuming you will review it of course. Thanks.
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 6:43 pm
I’m still going back and forth whether I will review each volume separately, or all of it together since that’s how it’s meant to be taken. I’m leaning towards the latter, but I may haul off and review the first one soon. We’ll see.
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 6:15 pm
Luke Combs killing it with the most generic song to ever grace the all genre Billboard charts.
I don’t get the massive hype for this song at all. Very Hallmarky.
Better Together & Forever After All… Basic titles. It’s been said a million different ways before in better songs.
Luke needs to challenge himself moving forward on his next album. His songs are starting to sound the same.
Derek Sullivan
April 18, 2021 @ 6:17 pm
Eric Church gets bookended by the best and worst performance of the night. Eric Church has an elite backing band. When they do get credit it’s mostly Cotton but Church asks they to play a ton of different genres and they are mostly up to the challenge.
Kevin Davis
April 18, 2021 @ 6:18 pm
Even though I just watch the castrated duo known as Dan and Shay, this has been a mostly good country awards show. Stapleton and Lambert did great, Dierks did phenomenal, and Carrie had the performance of the night (so far), and we still have Alan Jackson to come. Eric Church was good, and, yeah, Thomas Rhett for the first time actually didn’t make me angry. Now Luke Combs is on. This is rather good, even if we have to deal with pop artists like Maren Morris and Old Dominion.
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 6:19 pm
Luke Combs
“The strings on this ole Gibson Gui-tar”
– every song of his
NPC
April 18, 2021 @ 6:44 pm
“Sonething-something beer” -also every Luke Combs song
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 6:56 pm
Lipstick on my coffee cup.
I wear my heart on my sleeve
hoptowntiger94
April 18, 2021 @ 6:20 pm
My mother only knows Carrie Underwood as the Sunday Night Football song lady and complains about hearing it during football season. She loved the Carrie Underwood performance and couldn’t believe it was Underwood.
mark
April 18, 2021 @ 6:24 pm
nothing for little big town?
seems impossible.
Tballs
April 18, 2021 @ 6:25 pm
They never once did a close up of jack ingram. Maybe. Somewhat of an Alan Jackson no stick drummer situation!
St Joan
April 18, 2021 @ 7:27 pm
I noticed that too! And, you could still hear him playing while Mickey was talking. Surely Ingram wouldn’t agree to pick synching?
Marc
April 18, 2021 @ 6:26 pm
Nice job DanShay Simpson….
Anthony
April 18, 2021 @ 6:27 pm
Dan + Shay, there are eight billion people in the world, not “a couple.” And most of them are more country than you.
This Miranda Lambert acoustic trio sounds great, though. In His Arms is a good song.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:47 pm
Carly Pearce: “I love country music more than anything in the whole world.”
She will be selling out to pop in two years.
CeeCeeBee
April 18, 2021 @ 6:30 pm
That Lambert/Randal/Ingram performance was beautiful.
We all wanted some real country music. We got it there.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:31 pm
Can we trade Jimmie Allen and Darius Rucker for 5 more years of Charley Pride?
Joseph Stein
April 18, 2021 @ 6:32 pm
I know it doesn’t fit the narrative here, but Keith Urban brought Larkin Poe with him on his tour and they were great.
He’s got a good idea for talent for his concert openers.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:33 pm
“Five-deep with our hands up, just singin’ along to a hip-hop song.”
Sounds country to me!
St Joan
April 18, 2021 @ 6:36 pm
I admire how much of a leadership position Miranda takes in showcasing other artists and songwriters There are so many artists I love that she has introduced me to. Chris Stapleton, Patty Griffin, Jack Ingram, Jon Randall, Steve Earle, Waylon Payne, Lucie Silvas, Ashley Monroe and Angeleena, Natalie Henby, Kacey Musgraves, Jessi Alexander, and Foy Vamce are just a few of the artists that I own records by because of her
hoptowntiger94
April 18, 2021 @ 6:36 pm
Is there anything more predictable or tired as Kenny Chesney?
glendel
April 18, 2021 @ 6:48 pm
not the actual reason renee zellw split from him, but could have been the reason, hoptownt. 🙂
Gabe
April 18, 2021 @ 6:43 pm
Did anyone else catch that although Martina announced “I Hope You’re Happy Now” as the winners, the screen said “I Hope”.
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 8:36 pm
Huh…
Nikki
April 18, 2021 @ 6:43 pm
Just found this section! So far, Carrie was it. Some other notable performances for us were….hmmmm…..
Bobby
April 18, 2021 @ 6:45 pm
Got Jason Rowdy Cope on the “in memoriam.” Good of them.
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 8:37 pm
Very cool.
hoptowntiger94
April 18, 2021 @ 6:45 pm
Am I the only one who doesn’t know what the fuck a Larkin Poe is?
KathyP
April 18, 2021 @ 6:46 pm
“Martha Divine,” I love this song. Been a long time since a really great country murder song. I don’t listen to mainstream country radio anymore. Are they playing it?
Derek Sullivan
April 18, 2021 @ 6:48 pm
A good rule is that if it’s not about how much a man loves his girlfriend they probably aren’t playing it.
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 6:46 pm
Kenny Chesney: My precious. MY PRECIOUS.
We’s in NO SHOES NATION .
My Precious
Dear God Trig. This comparison will haunt me now. Thanks….
St Joan
April 18, 2021 @ 6:47 pm
Why did the picking on In His Arms continue while Mickey was talking? Was that pre-recorded?
There seemed to be a backing track during D&S too.
Ashley! Alan!
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:48 pm
Alan with the best performance of the night.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 6:52 pm
Carly Pearce: “I love country music more than anything in the whole world.”
She will be selling out to pop in two years
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 6:58 pm
Actually, she already did that. Lately she’s been going country.
KathyP
April 18, 2021 @ 6:52 pm
Alan Jackson is aging gracefully. That’s a good thing in this age of celebrity. And it wouldn’t surprise me if Keith Urban had plastic surgery. His wife probably has a Rolodex full of surgeons on speed dial. (Snark off)
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 6:57 pm
Alan is only like 8 years older than Keith
Gabe
April 18, 2021 @ 7:01 pm
Damn, I knew Keith was old but I didn’t realize they were that close. Must be because Alan started earlier than Keith (or became more famous anyway)
luna1802
April 18, 2021 @ 6:52 pm
Wow so watched the whole show so far only to miss Alan Jackson as coverage was interrupted due to a tornado warning in our county. Perfect timing
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 6:57 pm
Damn! Hopefully they throw it up on YouTube.
NPC
April 18, 2021 @ 7:00 pm
The CBS app should have the whole show, as well!
luna1802
April 18, 2021 @ 7:05 pm
Hopefully! Loving the blog by the way, hilarious
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:04 pm
Well, A Tornado Warning is a kickass song!
luna1802
April 18, 2021 @ 7:11 pm
Ha! Nice. Good band
Danielle L Twomey
April 18, 2021 @ 6:52 pm
Carrie Underwood is amazing. She gave me goosebumps!
JohnnyD
April 18, 2021 @ 6:53 pm
I really like Alan but Carrie was the absolute best
Keal Franklin
April 18, 2021 @ 6:54 pm
I can change the channel now
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 6:55 pm
Dan plus Shay must be the worst performance of the night, right?
Will the media rip them to shreds like what happened with Garth Brooks?
Hopefully Eric Church will call them out.
Tracy
April 18, 2021 @ 7:05 pm
Miranda definitely needs to say something about it!
Saving Bro Country Music
April 18, 2021 @ 7:10 pm
The official line is that it was an audio sync issue with the broadcast – not them lip-syncing. The Bluebird account said that they were singing live.
So there really shouldn’t be backlash.
Anthony
April 18, 2021 @ 7:20 pm
Dan + Shay are strong vocalists. So, even if they were lip synching — which they weren’t — it would be due to a lack of production capacity for live performance, not to their lack of vocal ability. But the broader, undeniable problem with Dan + Shay is that they’re pop act, not a country one.
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 8:44 pm
If they were lip syncing or even singing to a backing track, the audio being out-of-sync would make it even harder to pick up on. The thing is, it was SO out-of-sync, it had to be some technical glitch, regardless of how much of the performance was live or pre-recorded. The more I think about it, the more I feel it was probably just a technical snafu on CBS’s part.
Hey Arnold
April 19, 2021 @ 1:06 am
Their performance is glitch free on their YouTube channel. They just released it their.
St Joan
April 18, 2021 @ 7:20 pm
Were Miranda, Jack, and Jon there too? I could still hear Jack picking when Mickey was talking. Did anyone else notice that?
Country14
April 18, 2021 @ 6:56 pm
Alan never disappoints
hoptowntiger94
April 18, 2021 @ 6:59 pm
“Drive (for Daddy Gene)” is my favorite Alan Jackson. But man, looking at him makes me feel old. Maybe that’s why I’m not warming up to any of his new music.
NPC
April 18, 2021 @ 7:08 pm
You can tell the past few years have hit him hard; grief is a horrid thing to fight through, but at least he’s back to writing.
Stellar
April 18, 2021 @ 7:41 pm
He wasn’t all that young at the height of his career, like several other greats. And that was a while ago…
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 7:00 pm
Jenee Fleenor, a goddess on the fiddle – is reduced to “guitar player” in Blake’s band. What a waste of talent
Seak
April 18, 2021 @ 7:07 pm
She plays fiddle in his band too, also mandolin. But yeah the number of country bands that don’t even have fiddle players in them any more, even part time is sad. Other then Pardi, combs, and diesels, not sure how many headliners employ one.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:02 pm
Blake>Miranda
NPC
April 18, 2021 @ 7:03 pm
No Luke Bryan, no Jason Aldean, no FGL… as Jerry Reed so eloquently sang, “When you’re hot, you’re hot, when you’re not, you’re not!” Country music has dropped bro-country almost as fast as they dropped disco.
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 7:03 pm
Trig, 20th anniversary of Austin at radio
Joe
April 18, 2021 @ 7:04 pm
Shelton performed Austin because it’s 20th year anniversary this month
Saving Bro Country Music
April 18, 2021 @ 7:05 pm
20th Anniversary of Austin .. a new vinyl (and maybe some merch?) just came out.
I Stan For Moe Bandy
April 18, 2021 @ 7:06 pm
Blake’s about to put out a 20th anniversary vinyl of “Austin”.. I’m sure that’s why it was performed tonight.
Songwriter
April 18, 2021 @ 7:07 pm
“Austin” written by Kirsti Manna and David Kent. It’s interesting, this year artists are taking a chance to reconnect to their roots and their beginnings rather than pander to whatever radio single they happen to have out at the moment.
Carrie, gave me chills, Miranda with Jack and Jon, Blake, Alan.. all nice moments. I’m liking the show
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:07 pm
Dan + Shay are two of the biggest betas ever.
What an embarrassment to a genre known for alphas.
Farmer
April 18, 2021 @ 7:07 pm
Leslie Jordan is a freaking treasure!
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 7:25 pm
He probably is. I just don’t know him. I don’t get out much, apparently.
St Joan
April 18, 2021 @ 8:09 pm
I heard about him from my gay friends – I dont think your his demographic, Trig
Brad B
April 18, 2021 @ 7:08 pm
Blake performed Austin, because it’s the 20th anniversary of it’s release!
Trigger
April 18, 2021 @ 7:24 pm
Ah!
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:11 pm
“Unforgettable performance” aka heavy dose of guilt incoming.
Can’t wait.
James Randall
April 18, 2021 @ 7:13 pm
Who else was cynical enough to think Alan would do a Covid version of Where Were You When The World Stopped Turning?
Daniel Cooper
April 18, 2021 @ 7:16 pm
Trigger,
Slight correction. Curb Records still has Rodney Atkins on their roster as well, easy to forget when you don’t put music out for 8 years prior to ” Caught Up in the Country”
James Randall
April 18, 2021 @ 7:17 pm
Would have been good to see Leslie Jordan joined by Swoosie Kurtz for the Dolly introduction. I may be the only one here who saw that Call Me Kat episode.
NPC
April 18, 2021 @ 7:17 pm
Ingrid got caught in the paper shredder… “What up, fam?” Get out of here.
Hey Arnold
April 18, 2021 @ 7:24 pm
She also said “Aw man” when she saw Rhett won
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:27 pm
To the easily amused crowd of low standards.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:18 pm
That “unforgettable performance” was generic as hell.
Could have been more painful so I will call it a win.
Matsfan/Jatsfan
April 18, 2021 @ 7:22 pm
Not sure which performance you are talking about but if it was Mickey Guyton’s you need to get your hearing checked. That was pretty awesome.
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:30 pm
To the easily amused crowd of low standards.
Matsfan/Jatsfan
April 18, 2021 @ 7:46 pm
You mean like Trigger who called it a great performance?
CountryKnight
April 18, 2021 @ 7:57 pm
It is OK to disagree with Trigger.
Seak
April 18, 2021 @ 7:24 pm
I hope you’re happy now wouldn’t have been my pick, but it was a big seller, and multi-week #1. It was a pretty big single
CeeCeeBee
April 18, 2021 @ 7:39 pm
As long as it wasn’t “The Bones,” I can live with it.
CeeCeeBee
April 18, 2021 @ 7:25 pm
Thomas Rhett beating Luke Combs for Male Artist of the year just made this entire awards show meaningless.