2007 CMA Awards Live Blog

We gave you our predictions yesterday and some of you chimed in with your own, so today we’re going to be hosting a live blog for the duration of the CMA Awards show and have a few questions answered along the way. Who made the best predictions? Will the new Hall of Fame members even be mentioned? What about the late Porter Wagoner? Will there be any memorable performances? And just who will come away with the crappiest performance of the night? I already know who I’m banking on to take home that last award. Grab a snack, your laptop, turn on your TV, and join us in a couple of hours right here and participate in the lively (hopefully) discussion.

Update: 2007 CMA Award Winners

• Entertainer: Kenny Chesney
• Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
• Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley
• Horizon: Taylor Swift
• Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts
• Vocal Duo: Sugarland
• Album: George Strait, It Just Comes Natural
• Single: “Before He Cheats” – Carrie Underwood
• Song: “Give it Away” – Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon & Jamey Johnson
• Musical Event: “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” – Tracy Lawrence, Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw
• Music Video: “Online” – Brad Paisley

6:54 Well, it’s only a few minutes until show time. Anyone here yet? Kevin is live blogging over at Country Universe as well.

7:00 It’s shooowwwtime and we get to hear my favorite band perform “Still Feels Good.”

7:03 The only thing country about Rascal Flatts’ performance is the video montage of past CMA winners playing in the background.

7:06 Miranda is really pushing the crazy image, huh. Look at that hair.

7:08 The only thing I can say is wow! She went a little overboard with her act. Maybe there was a little too much current flowing through that mic.

7:09 Here we go with the first award. Single of the year goes to “Before He Cheats” by Carrie Underwood. I figured the voters would go for something with a little more substance, but it would have been the safe pick.

7:18 I think George forgot to play is guitar while singing “How About Them Cowgirls.” He’s probably focusing on being a little more lively.

7:21 Montgomery Gentry up presenting the award for Song of the Year and the winner is “Give It Away”. I’m 1 for 2.

7:22 Haha, great acceptance speech by Jamey Johnson. He thanked his ex-wife.

7:27 Taylor Swift just got done performing “Our Song” with a funky move with her guitarist. Instead of the typical heart to heart, is was more like crotch to crotch. A couple of commenters didn’t like her performance. It was rather lackluster, the same can’t be said about her guitar, though. That thing sparkles.

7:30 So it’s turning out to be 2 parts show, 1 part commercials. Seriously, this is going to turn out to be a whole hour of commercials. No wonder they couldn’t find time for the new Hall of Fame members.

7:32 Brad Paisley really did bring a marching band to the show. How can he not win Entertainer of the Year?

7:35 Taylor and Kellie Pickler join Brad on stage for his performance of “Online.” A couple of rogue French Horn players went crazy dancing.

7:40 Sara Evans introduced Alison Kraus before her performance of “Simple Love.” I thought it was just me, but everyone is commenting on the audio quality.

7:45 Hmm, looks like Sara Evans is the new host as she introduces Big & Rich. I think they just name checked Porter Wagoner before they kicked off their circus show.

7:49 Jason Michael Caroll, Bucky Covington, and Luke Bryan up to present Vocal Group. This one is a snoozer. Can anyone guess who won? Rascal Flatts.

7:52 Rascal Flatts trying to be edgy is hilarious.

7:53 Rodney Atkins really dressed up for his performance of “These Are My People”, huh? He looks like he’s having fun, though.

8:00 Carrie Underwood performs “So Small” in a dress that Disney must have had a hand in picking out.

8:04 Vince Gill was a little too deferential to The Eagles in his intro. It’s not like he’s a slacker himself or anything, but I guess that’s how Hall of Famers do it.

8:08 Over a third of the way through the show, I’m still wondering why there wasn’t time for the HOF members. Nothing to this point has been worth sitting around for. It feels like they’re rushing as many performances and appearances as they can between commercials and they had Vince Gill introduce the Eagles. Does that qualify as a slap in the face?

8:12 Whoever that host is, her fake accent is annoying. ABC sure is taking liberty in rotating these actors unrelated to country music. I guess they gotta pimp their regular TV programming.

8:14 Ronnie Dunn looks more comfortable than anyone that’s taken the stage tonight while performing their single, “God Must Be Busy.”

8:18 More name checking goodness with Jason Aldean playing “Johnny Cash.”

8:20 Ughh, the big CASH sign in the back didn’t have anything to do with the song or Jason Aldean.

8:21 Hey look, a real cowboy is on stage. Blake Shelton joins Ty Murray and Jewel to introduce Vocal Duo. The award goes to Sugarland. Shocking, but they’re definitely deserving. They definitely weren’t expecting that.

8:28 Haha, Dwight Yoakam has been the most entertaining host yet. Somebody give this guy a job. He’s a bit goofy, but hey, I like him. Sugarland went Johnny Cash on us. They’re all decked out in black singing “Stay.”

8:32 Jennifer Nettles might actually start crying just like in the video, but damn, she sounds good.

8:34 I gotta congratulate the CMAs for recognizing Porter Wagoner and the man who did it, Dwight Yoakam. I told y’all this guy needed the job. His jacket even had “HI” stitched on the inside. And the crowd gives him a standing ovation. Pure class. Country music misses you, Porter.

8:36 Album of the Year goes to George Strait with It Just Comes Natural. Congrats to George.

8:38 Brad Paisley’s “Online” picked up the Music Video award earlier in the evening.

8:44 LeAnn Rimes looked like she was wearing a track uniform or something. It looks like the have the words to Martina’s song flashing in the background. Sing-a-long anybody?

8:46 It would be nice to see Hank Thompson get a mention as well, but I figured it would be asking too much considering the recency with which he passed away.

8:49 Keith Urban performs “Everybody.” It’s a yawn worthy performance and I always thought the lyrics sounded a little juvenile. You can tell he wants to rock out, though.

8:53 Carrie Underwood is still coming off as being disingenuous while announcing the Horizon Award. The winner is Taylor Swift. You wouldn’t suspect that from her earlier performance.

8:57 Looks like Tracy Lawrence/Tim McGraw/Kenny Chesney picked up Musical Event of the Year award before the show. Just from the searches landing on The 9513 for “Find Out Who Your Friends Are”, we knew that song was huge.

9:01 LeAnn introduces Reba then segues directly into her duet. Reba doesn’t look bad for being 30 years into her career. At least we’re hearing something different than “Because Of You.”

9:05 Haha, Matt says “No no no, “Boondocks” is not a “classic”.”

9:08 Whoa, I didn’t know Jamie Foxx was at the show.

9:09 Dierks Bentley is presenting Female Vocalist. The wife likes Dierks with short hair and he has her cracking up. Carrie wins. What a shocker. The wife said she needs a new hairdo. I think she forgot to ask for world peace in her acceptance speech.

9:11 Whoooaaaa, would you look at that. The CMA listened and is recognizing the Hall of Fame members. Props to them.

9:13 Ralph Emery is the only one actually wearing his HOF medal, if that’s what it is.

9:18 Kimberley Williams dishes the dirt on Brad Paisley while introducing the great Kenny Chesney. Hopefully he’ll put on a worthy performance. What happened to the trademark tight jeans?

9:23 Kimberly Williams is one of the top hosts of the night. Josh Turner is performing “Firecracker” and the wife is swooning. She took off her wedding ring. I think I’m going to have to turn the TV off.

9:34 You know what I wonder? I wonder what Kellie Pickler’s mom thinks every time she hears that song.

9:37 All I can think about is Kid Rock’s boxers hanging on Gretchen Wilson’s grammy as they present Male Vocalist.

9:38 And the winner is Brad Paisley.

9:46 The performance we’ve all been waiting for. Rascal Flatts and Jamie Foxx. Country music’s finest.

9:48 Oh no, LeVox and Foxx just gave each other a man hug on stage while performing. Nothing quite like falsettos and man hugs.

9:50 Foxx kissed LeVox on the neck and now they’re holding hands.

9:53 Jim asks the quintessential questions: “Girl pants and man hugs? The Eagles? Jamie Foxx? Are we watching VH1?”

9:54 Hereee’s Reba. Time for Entertainer of the Year. The moment we’ve been waiting for so we can all turn off our TVs, the winner is Kenny Chesney. Figures Paisley couldn’t win on a night like tonight.

9:56 Congrats to Matt for wiping the floor with our sorry predictions. Thanks to everyone who showed up and y’all have a goodnight.