2008 CMA Awards Live Blog

Here we are on the verge of “Country Music’s Biggest Night,” and like Toby Keith, I’ll be watching from home (in protest over once again being snubbed in the nomination process). But not to worry, dear fans–I’ll be channeling my frustration and anger into three hours of pure snark…I mean, uh, thoughtful insight…as I live blog the big event.

No matter what you think of the current state of country music, or the voting politics that may have left brilliant songwriters like Toby and me on the sidelines, the fact remains that the CMA Awards are our genre’s highest honor. Winning one brings people to tears; it’s a moment that every country songwriter and artist dreams of.

What will tonight’s big surprises be? Can Miranda dethrone Carrie and ride the momentum of her critically acclaimed sophomore album Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to a Female Vocalist of the Year win? And speaking of Carrie, how many times will she change her outfit over the course of the show? Will Kellie Pickler continue her trend of ever-increasing cuteness?

And of course, there’s the topic that has everyone talking–who will the Surprise Guest be? Will it be, as has been rumored, Bruce Springsteen? Bruce’s rock sound could help balance out some of the stone-country acts that will be performing, like Kid Rock and The Wailers. Or, could it be an exclusive first performance by Joe the Plumber and his band the Leaky Pipes?

Hey, this is the CMA Awards–anything can happen.

I’ll be here to respond to your comments starting at 6:30 CST (7:30 EST). Until then, be sure to check out our CMA Awards Preview, and see if you can beat the predictions from The 9513’s senior staff.

6:31 – Jim Malec: Here we go kids! ABC’s coverage of the CMA “Red Carpet” has just started. Isn’t Julianne Hough adorable? I’m not sure who is more adorable–Julianne or Kellie. OMG, it’s totally like, such a hard choice.

6:39 – Jim Malec: So, just how big of an Alan Jackson fan are you, Julianne?

6:43 – Jim Malec: OMG! It’s Miley!

6:44 – Jim Malec: Julianne Hough and Miley Cyrus are talking about their dogs. I officially want to go cry.

6:45 – Brody: From the CMT red carpet show, Alan Jackson reveals that if he could only choose one category to win out of the four he’s nominated for, it’d be album of the year.

6:46 – Jim Malec: Brad should probably explain to all the non-Belmont alumni out there that a “rider” is part of a touring contract.

6:47 – Brady An interesting factoid regarding Eddy Arnold: The only CMA he won was Entertainer of the Year the first year the awards were doled out. Think they’ll mention him tonight?

6:50 – Jim Malec: Morgan is actually doing a decent job with the Red Carpet hosting duties. He seems very comfortable.

6:56 – Jim Malec: It’s interesting that Rascal Flatts hasn’t even made an appearance on the pre-show.

7:00 – Jim Malec: Ladies and gentleman, welcome to your 42nd annual CMA Awards! I sure hope Dale Watson wins Male Vocalist of the Year!

7:01 – Jim Malec: It’s cool that to open the show the CMA chose two of its most talented artists. This performance of “Start a Band” is a million miles away from openers of the past.

7:05 – Jim Malec: It’s true–Carrie Underwood is not made of wax!

7:07 – Jim Malec: What better way to start off Country Music’s Biggest Night than with a Dolly Parton boob joke.

7:08 – Brady: A factoid on George Strait: He was nominated 7 years in a row from 1985 to 1991 for Entertainer of the Year, winning his only two Entertainer awards in ‘89 and ‘90, before a 4 year dry spell.

He then went on another 7 year nomination streak from 1996 to 2002 and again, had another 4 year period without an appearance in the category. His nomination this year marks year two of his third streak.

7:09 – Jim Malec: Brad: George Strait is so old that he remembers when Sugarland was a trio.

Too far?

7:10 – Brady: They’re bringing out the celebrities early. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman come out to talk about their new movie, Australia…

7:10 – Jim Malec: Here comes the award for Single of the Year. Presented by some chick with really straight hair.

7:12 – Brady: Single of the Year: “I Saw God Today,” George Strait

7:12 – Jim Malec: Kelly and I start off the night one pace behind on our predictions. Can’t say George winning was a big surprise, considering how well “I Saw God Today” did on the charts.

7:15 – Jim Malec: Commenter are reporting that tonight Special Guest is rapper Lil Wayne. I was kinda hoping it would be rapper Two Foot Fred.

7:17 – Brady: Kellie Pickler comes out dressed in a perfectly tailored garbage bag…

7:18 – Jim Malec: Kelly Pickler is dressed a little bit like a go-go dancer for her performance of “The Best Days Of Your Life.” I don’t really mind.

7:19 – Jim Malec: I was wrong about Kellie Pickler being cute. She looks smokin’ hot tonight.

7:20 – Jim Malec: That was a poised and solid performance from Pickler, though her voice is rather limited.

7:21 – Jim Malec: Alan Jackson gives essentially the same performance every year, but somehow I never get tired of watching him stand there and sing.

7:23 – Brady: Sam G: I’d make a comment on how bad Kellie Pickler sounded, but I’m afraid she’d whip me senseless.

7:23 – Jim Malec: Overheard at the CMA Awards planning meeting: “Hey guys–how can we take country music’s classiest night and make it seem like ladies’ night at Joyland? Oh, I know! Let’s have casually dressed line dancers!”

7:24 – Jim Malec: Why is Billy Ray Cyrus wearing a scarf?

7:25 – Jim Malec: Here comes the award I should be up for–song of the year. If “Stay” doesn’t win, I will bang my head against the wall.

7:27 – Jim Malec: Jennifer Nettles picks up a much deserved win for “Stay,” one of the best country songs in recent memory.

7:32 – Jim Malec: We’re up to two outfit changes for Carrie, and counting. Or did I miss one? It’s hard to keep track. Here comes Miranda with “More Like Her.”

7:32 – Brady: Miranda’s stripped down performance sounds better than most tonight. They kinda isolated her with the lights, though, so there’s not much interaction with the audience.

7:33 – Jim Malec: Miranda is so much better when she’s not freaking out. This performance showcases all the best things about her.

7:38 – Jim Malec: Miranda’s performance was solid–very solid. But forgettable. Mostly because it’s a solid but forgettable song.

7:39 – Jim Malec: Lady A is proving why they are going to be a force in country music’s future–this is a tight performance. Their lead singer has some major chops.

7:38 – Brady: Wow! So many people are online that we’re getting slammed. We’ll have to prepare better for the next awards show, but in the meantime, please don’t refresh your screen too often.

Lady Antebellum just got finished performing “Love Don’t Live Here.”

7:43 – Jim Malec: Awards that will not be given on the live broadcast:

Music Video: Brad Paisley – “Waiting on a Woman”

Musical Event: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – “Gone Gone Gone”

Musician: Mac McAnally

7:44 – Jim Malec: Paisley sounds oddly uncomfortable up there. For a guy who is country’s prank king, he’s not very good at reading off a teleprompter. Here’s Martina with her new single “Ride.”

7:46 – Jim Malec: “Ride” is a pretty bad song, but man, can Martina McBride ever sing. And her boots are rather intense.

7:49 – Jim Malec: Are there any awards being given out on this awards show?

7:50 – Jim Malec: Rodney Atkins makes me want to go plow a field in my red, white and blue overalls and John Deere baseball cap. Yay for America!

7:51 – Jim Malec: Heidi Newfield and John Rich. Sorry Heidi.

7:53 – Jim Malec: And the Vocal Group of the Year is…Duran Duran! I mean Rascal Flatts!

7:54 – Jim Malec: I would have made a joke about Jay’s shirt…but he just made it. I guess he knows he looks like an idiot.

7:58 – Jim Malec: I’m still having blurry vision from Jay Rascal’s jacket.

8:12 – Jim Malec: We’re having a little bit of a server meltdown because of the insane traffic right now. Taylor seemed very nervous. That performance was a vocal meltdown.

8:20 – Jim Malec: She may be country, but I’m not so sure about Jason Aldean.

8:22 – Jim Malec: Man, Taylor does not look like a happy camper up there tonight. Lady A picks up New Artist. I think that should be listed as a pretty big surprise, considering they’ve really only had one significant single.

8:23 – Jim Malec: I don’t think Lady A deserved new artist. Like it or not, the award should have gone to Pickler. Should Pickler have been nominated? Was she new? Once you put her up for the award, you’ve got to give it to her if she deserves it, and by all accounts she did. Let me remind you–Lady A has had one and half single over the course of their career so far.

8:29 – Jim Malec: Paisley returns from break with a short and sweet tribute to Jerry Reed. And Carrie returns from break with another outfit change.

8:28 – Brady: Wow, I mentioned Eddy Arnold a couple of times, but I didn’t think they’d ever mention Jerry Reed since he’s not in the HoF.

8:30 – Jim Malec: Here’s “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.” But who is that shaggy dog performing with Kix and Reba?

8:33 – Jim Malec: Classy move by Kix and Ronnie giving Reba space for a vocal solo at the end of “Cowgirls Don’t Cry.”

8:34 – Jim Malec: It’s time for vocal duo, and I’m gonna have to go with The Wreckers.

8:37 – Jim Malec: The server seems to have recovered slightly. My ears, however, are still recovering from “Love Story.”

8:41 – Jim Malec: Darius Rucker is performing “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” Vocally, this guy gets what country music is about better than just about everyone else who has performed tonight. But is that Chris Sligh from American Idol playing guitar for him?

8:43 – Jim Malec: What a passionate performance–Rucker has officially won me over.

8:45 – Jim Malec: I really hope Paisley doesn’t trot Andy Griffith out to interrupt him while he sings “Waitin’ on a Woman.”

8:47 – Jim Malec: Paisley’s a good singer, but I’ve gotta be honest–I’m mostly waitin’ for this song to be over.

8:48 – Jim Malec: Lee Ann Womack and Josh Turner are presenting Album of the Year. I have a feeling Lee Ann might be nominated in this category next year for Call Me Crazy.

8:51 – Jim Malec: Never bet against the king. Strait picks up his hundredth win for Album of the Year.

8:54 – Jim Malec: It’s about two hours in to the 42nd CMA Awards, and I’m starting to get nervous–when does Miley perform?

8:57 – Jim Malec: Why is Keith Urban not shirtless on the Hollister wall?

8:57 – Brady: Strait had the best album, but I thought they might go with Jackson. Shoulda gone with my gut.

8:59 – Jim Malec: Urban just seems like he’s having a great time tonight.

9:05 – Jim Malec: We have so many readers right now that it literally just crashed the server.

9:06 – Jim Malec: Carrie Underwood has stepped up and delivered a commanding performance of “Just a Dream”–by far the best of the night so far.

9:07 – Jim Malec: Underwood receives a well-deserved standing ovation.

9:08 – Jim Malec: Paisley is introducing Vina Gill by asking, “Are you sure Vince done it this way?” No one does it quite like Vince.

9:08 – Jim Malec: Vince briefly touches on the new HoF inductees, and is about to announce our Female Vocalist. It’s going to be weird if Carrie doesn’t win after that killer performance.

9:11 – Jim Malec: I’m now officially out of the running in the predictions game.

9:18 – Jim Malec: Nettles is a better singer than Underwood, but I think Carrie connected better with her song tonight. Nettles is doing a fine job on “Love,” but the whole thing is a little U2-ish. And what is up with those umbrellas?

9:29 – Jim Malec: Kenny is performing “Everybody Wants to go to Heaven.” He sounds better than usual tonight–it’s a good, warm mix for his voice.

9:32 – Jim Malec: OK, I get the whole Kid Rock thing, but why the hell do we have a full reggae song on the CMA awards?

9:34 – Jim Malec: Trace is one of the most snubbed artists in CMA history.

9:39 – Jim Malec: Mrs. Reese Witherspoon is very polite.

9:40 – Jim Malec: After addressing all the nominees as “mister,” Reese awarded Paisley as Male Vocalist.

9:54 – Jim Malec: Sorry. The Eagles get the award for least country performance of the night for “Too Busy Being Fabulous.” This is just atrocious.

9:55 – Jim Malec: Shania’s lookin’ good, and gets a standing O.

9:56 – Jim Malec: And Kenny picks up another Entertainer of the Year award. And he, too, notices Shania’s hotness. Classy. But seriously, she’s hot.

10:00 – Jim Malec: There you have it folks–country music’s biggest night has come to a mostly uneventful end. Thanks for making this our most widely-read live blog ever, and for bearing with us as we worked to handle the enormous amount of traffic. Be sure to check back tomorrow for my post-show commentary.