2009 ACM Awards Live Blog

Here we are, three and a half hours until showtime and ready to find out whether Carrie Underwood will dethrone Kenny Chesney as Entertainer of the Year. If the number of links to our staff predictions posted this morning from Carrie fan sites are any indication, the possibility is a strong one.

Various rumors are swirling around of an absent Brad Paisley. Remember back in October, news broke that he was expecting a second child sometime in April. Furthering that speculation, today brought the surprise announcement that Blake Shelton would be performing on tonight’s telecast. Is one funny man substituting for another?

To top it all of, Tim McGraw’s participation in the award show is being called into question after he left rehearsal on Saturday evening. Faith Hill will purportedly perform a tribute to Loretta Lynn and Trace Adkins will be joined by the West Point Choir as he bellows “Til The Last Shot’s Fired” from his newest album. Based on rehearsals, The Tennessean’s Peter Cooper thinks Miranda Lambert’s performance will be a high point in the show. She’ll perform a new song titled “Dead Flowers.”

I hope you’ll join us tonight at 8PM ET/PT (7PM CST) as the 2009 ACM Awards telecast gets underway. If you’re on the West Coast, be sure to hop on over to Country California, where C.M. Wilcox will be live blogging for those on the different time schedule.

5:47 – Brody: Update on the Tim McGraw situation. His publicist confirmed rumors that he’s pulled out of the show due to “major disagreements,” possibly over a dispute about production design. Despite McGraw’s difference of opinions with producers, he will still be participating in tomorrow’s tribute show to George Strait.

5:52 – Brody: Faith Hill will perform Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough.”

6:07 – Brody: Toby Keith isn’t too happy with Peter Cooper. (via NashvilleGab)

6:22 – Brody: Jack Ingram ragged on Jimmy Wayne and Randy Houser via Twitter for wearing makeup, then got powdered himself!

7:00 – Brody: Show time! Brooks & Dunn kick things off with “Play Something Country,” then introduce Taylor Swift. Go figure.

7:04 – Brody: Taylor Swift back to Brooks & Dunn then to Sugarland. Now Carrie Underwood is on stage. I can’t even update before a new performer hits the stage.

7:04 – Juli: Nice rhinestone microphone, Carrie. But did you get a sleeve caught in your limo?

7:05 – Pierce: This is bringing me back to Garth Brooks’ 13-song 5-minute medley a couple of years ago (or was that last year?)… awesome…it’s like listening to live “preview” clips.. cool (not). Does pay-per-view get you the full-length performances?

7:04 – Juli: Gasp! Gary TheVoice and I seem to go to the same eyebrow waxer.

7:12 – Pierce: Kenny kicks off with “Out Last Night” — typical Chesney fare.

7:12 – Brody: After Reba’s monologue things finally slow down for Kenny to perform.

7:15 – Brody: Jennifer Love Hewitt takes to the mic to introduce the winner for “Song of the Year.” And the winner is…

7:16 – Brody: “In Color” by Jamey Johnson.

7:16 – Pierce: Atta boy, Jamey! Hopefully not his last of the night.

7:16 – Juli: Yay, Jamey! Next up: forming a rap duo with fellow hobo Joaquin Phoenix.

7:18 – Brody: Juli, Karlie, Kelly and Pierce are tied for the lead in our staff predictions.

7:23 – Pierce: Heidi up next w/ “J&J”. How did she fly under the radar so much? Typically, a barely top 10 hit doesn’t garner you a handful of nominations. Good for her, though.

7:24 – Juli: Heidi best be careful with her gauzy dress around that open flame.

7:24 – Brody: Heidi Newfield started off a little shaky, but delivered on the chorus.

7:27 – Brody: Darius Rucker is announcing “Top Vocal Group.” Please don’t be Lost Trailers.

7:28 – Brody: Unfortunately, Kelly’s rogue prediction of Randy Rogers Band didn’t pan out. Rascal Flatts claims yet another group trophy.

7:29 – Pierce: During commercial, check out the most recent update on the Big Dog Daddy’s spat with the Tennessean’s Peter Cooper – here (via Chris Willman’s Twitter)

7:34 – Juli: Pfft. Team Peter Cooper all the way.

7:35 – Pierce: Sounds like Peter is going to retract the whole article and apologize.

7:35 – Brody: I’m surprised Toby Keith isn’t playing “She’s a Hottie” after that introduction from Marissa Miller. He opted for “God Love Her.”

7:35 – Juli: I kind of hate myself for liking this song. But I have no problem with hating Toby’s Bret Michaels hat and do-rag combo.

7:39 – Juli: Jamey sounds great tonight on “In Color.”

7:39 – Pierce: Indeed Juli, he’s sounded good every time I’ve heard him. Live, on record, on TV.

7:41 – Pierce: Love how he said “mee-maw” instead of grandma. I believe it’s Willie’s autograph on that guitar.

7:50 – Pierce: Jamie Foxx introducing George Strait…say what you want but I liked his enthusiasm!

7:50 – Juli: And George is actually playing his guitar instead of just holding it!

7:50 – Brody: Jamie Foxx just announced that he’ll be performing “You Look So Good In Love” at the George Strait tribute tomorrow.

7:53 – Brody: Joey + Rory got some camera time!

7:53 – Brody: But now, Jack Ingram, his powdered face and Jason Aldean are announcing the Top New Artist award. Julianne Hough wins.

7:54 – Pierce: :( (insert dead female country legend) just rolled over in her grave.

7:55 – Juli: Shoot, Pierce, this might have killed any of the alive female country legends!

7:55 – Brody: Wow, no one on the staff predicted Julianne Hough for that win.

7:57 – Juli: Julianne Hough wins and the Phils are down four. What a bummer all around.

8:00 – Juli: And here’s Outfit Number Two for Reba.

8:01 – Pierce: I’m a sucker for allusions… David Copperfield zaps Taylor into existence… kind of.

8:03 – Juli: With all her songs about Joe Jonas, Taylor Swift is beginning to remind me of Lili Taylor’s character in Say Anything. “Joe lies…when he cries!”

8:02 – Pierce: Didn’t really connect with that performance at all… totally over-dramatic. Taylor presented with “Milestone” award for selling (out) more records than anyone else this year.

8:07 – Brody: Lady Antebellum up now with “I Run to You.”

8:08 – Brody: Sidenote: Hillary Scott celebrated her birthday on Friday night. She turned 25.

8:10 – Pierce: Lady A is very talented… really nice harmonies.

8:11 – Pierce: Miranda looks stunning in Cotton (commercial). I think I’m in love.

8:15 – Juli: Man, do I love Lee Ann Womack. She sure sounds great here with “Solitary Thinking.”

8:17 – Brody: She does sound good, but is she pulling a George Strait with her guitar?

8:16 – Pierce: Agreed, Juli. I love the understatedness… a refreshing departure.

8:19 – Juli: This Just In: Kenny Chesney is wearing a shirt with sleeves.

8:19 – Brody: Somebody whose name escaped me is announcing Top Vocal Duo. Sugarland wins.

8:22 – Brody: From the comments: Jessica – Note to Kristen – Justin Timberlake wants his wardrobe back.

8:22 – Juli: Take it easy on the Botox, KP.

8:24 – Juli: Keith Urban’s song about kissing girls comes in at a distant third to Jill Sobule’s and Katy Perry’s songs about the same topic.

8:30 – Pierce: Ok, I know this isn’t Twitter, but here’s a comment from one of our followers:

Musicality101Ok: I know I’m a mom, a wife .. but something about Keith Urban makes me feel like a schoolgirl! It’s fun having a crush at 40!

8:30 – Brody: Is it just me or do these award shows run an hour and a half too long? Maybe all that turkey I ate earlier is catching up to me.

8:31 – Juli: I don’t even have the tryptophan to blame, Brody. This is going on forever.

8:33 – Pierce: Miranda singing the aforementioned “Dead Flowers”–this is something different for Miranda. Not sure I like it.

8:36 – Juli: Oh, and here’s Rascal Flatts. Fitting that Home Depot awarded those tools.

8:38 – Pierce: Too soon for any Leann Rimes jokes?

8:39 – Juli: John Rich tries for a Woody Guthrie-esque statement on his guitar. FAIL.

8:45 – Brody: It’s almost been a half hour since an award was announced.

Miley needs to take away Billy Ray’s allowance.

8:50 – Juli: Miley rides a magical staircase while supported by Inspirational Backup Singers Clad in All White? There is not enough High Life in the world to get me through this.

8:50 – Pierce: Thank goodness that band kicked in to drown out Miley’s voice. I’ve got thunderstorm warnings at the bottom of my screen, but that song was a real disaster.

8:52 – Juli: And the hits just keep on coming with Montgomery Bear-Killer.

8:54 – Brody: Brady just told me we have over 200 people reading right now. Thanks to everyone who showed up, we’ve still got an hour left before we call it a night

9:01 – Pierce: Carrie back on with “I Told You So” — what’s the over/under on a Randy Travis appearance?

9:00 – Brody: The girlfriends says Carrie’s dress makes her look like a crimson Jabba the Hut.

9:00 – Juli: Hee, the closed captioning just called her “Terry Underwood.”

9:01 – Juli: Brody: more like Jabba O’Hara…

9:02 – Juli: How many rhinestone emblazoned microphones does Carrie Underwood have?!?

9:03 – Pierce: I think she sounds good on this–better than the album version. Not quite as over-blown.

9:05 – Brody: Top Male Vocalist goes to Brad Paisley.

9:06 – Juli: There’s nothing in the world I want more than for Brad Paisley and Jimmy Dickens to have a reality show.

9:07 – Brody: Kudos to Brad for being a champion of Little Jimmy Dickens.

9:10 – Pierce: Another contribution from one of our Twitter followers:

michrod“: my soon to be whatever”…. haha. Brad Paisley baby will one day see that video where he was referred to as a “whatever”.

9:14 – Brody: I swear Reba’s been working out. Look at those guns.

9:14 – Brody: Oh yea, she’s debuting her new single, “Strange.”

9:15 – Brody: Top Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood.

9:16 – Juli: I was hoping Lee Ann Womack would win it, but really didn’t see this one going any other way.

9:19 – Brody: Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Reba’s workout partner–Trace Adkins.

9:19 – Karlie: Oh wait–the West Point choir isn’t backing Trace up on “I Wanna Marry for Money?”

9:22 – Juli: I covet Trace’s shiny hair. And that was right up there with Lee Ann and Jamey for the night’s best performances.

9:23 – Brody: The Phillies could use a grand slam like that right about now.

9:23 – Juli: I hate you ;-)

9:24 – Karlie: I’m late to the party, but I’ll take this commercial break to say I caught the Raleigh stop of the New American Voices Tour this weekend–and the guys did an awesome job.

9:25 – Pierce: Awesome, Karlie! How was that venue? I’ll be seeing them in Nashville on Tuesday.

9:28 – Karlie: Reba and George Clooney would probably have a similar dynamic as Sugarland…one singer, one showman.

9:29 – Juli: I’d just like to be a fly on the wall when they talk politics.

9:30 – Juli: I wish Jennifer Nettles would stop looking at me like that. It makes me feel dirty.

9:30 – Brody: Sugarland is performing “What I’d Give.”

9:31 – Juli: And is she wearing a Ring Pop?

9:31 – Pierce: Yikes, they aren’t even giving Kristian a mic anymore. I bet him, Dave Haywood, and Kix Brooks go to group therapy together…

9:33 – Juli: They just hand those Crystal Milestone Awards out like M&M’s, huh?

9:33 – Karlie: Will they be selling Crystal Milestone Awards at Wal-Mart tomorrow?

9:34 – Brody: The ACM Single Record of the Year goes to Trace Adkins for “You’re Gonna Miss This.”

9:35 – Brody: Nice call Pierce. The only staff member to predict that one right.

9:36 – Pierce: Thanks, Brody. Do I get a raise?

9:36 – Juli: These dancing bottles are better Dr. Pepper spokesmen than Chuck Wicks.

9:36 – Karlie: I can see how Trace and Jamey would get along well. They don’t say much, but when they do…

9:38 – Brody: From the comments: Andrew – Trace: “Glad I’m an Idiot” Line of the night.

9:38 – Karlie: Pierce–the NAVT Raleigh venue turned out great, except for the see-through fish tanks that separated the men’s and women’s bathrooms. But that’s another story.

9:42 – Brody: Blake Shelton is up with “She Wouldn’t Be Gone.”

9:43 – Brody: Woohoo, Album of the Year coming up.

9:44 – Karlie: Fingers crossed…

9:44 – Brody: And the winner is…Jamey Johnson for That Lonesome Song. Oops, that was wishful thinking. Taylor Swift is the real winner, for Fearless.

9:46 – Brody: I’m sure Ben is happy.

9:46 – Karlie: Fingers uncrossed.

9:46 – Brody: You jinxed it, Karlie.

9:46 – Juli: My dog is snoring beside me with her eyes rolled back in her head. My sentiments exactly, Daisy.

9:47 – Karlie: Brody, I take full responsibility for that. Sigh…

9:48 – Pierce: Hmm, what else is on?

9:48 – Brody: Taylor’s win is followed by Rascal Flatts’ performance of “Here Comes Goodbye.”

9:56 – Karlie: I think if I was an award presenter it would be intimidating for Reba to stand there and stare at me like that.

9:57 – Karlie: I’m a big fan of De-wight Yoakam as well.

9:57 – Juli: Matthew McC is stoned out of his gourd. And who can blame him after having to listen to Rascal Flatts?

9:58 – Pierce: Totally writing down that pick-up line…

9:58 – Brody: The moment we’ve all been waiting for. Entertainer of the Year goes to Carrie Underwood!

9:59 – Karlie: George Strait just looked pissed. Bad camera angle?

10:00 – Brody: Final staff scores:

Ben – IIII

Brady – III
Brody – IIIII
C.M. – IIII
Jim – III
Juli – IIII
Karlie – III
Kelly – IIIII
Paul – IIII
Pierce – IIIII

10:01 – Brody: Thanks for joining us for another successful live blog everyone. If you’re on the West Coast, head over to Country California, where the awards show and live blog are just getting started.