2009 CMA Awards Live Blog

It’s only a couple hours ’til show time, folks, and we at The 9513 are all abuzz with questions. Will Tim McGraw’s return to the CMA stage (he last performed at the 2005 awards) be a successful one? Will Taylor Swift stymie Kenny Chesney’s attempts to bring home a fifth Entertainer of the Year award? And what to make of host Brad Paisley’s recent tweet regarding his co-host’s dress, which allegedly doubles as a festive scarf?

Now, maybe you tune in to the CMAs because your favorite artist is nominated or because there’s a performance you want to catch. Maybe you’re just waiting for an onstage trainwreck so you can revel in the sweet, sweet, schadenfreude. Whatever your reasons for watching, watch it with us.

If you’re on the West Coast, check in on the live blog anyway, just so you know what you’re not missing. And East Coasters, should you decide to flip over to Glee or that History Channel special on Jack the Ripper, we’ll keep you filled in. For viewers of legal age, feel free to take part in the always entertaining award show drinking game, in which you imbibe every time someone on your television cries, changes his/her outfit, thanks a religious figure of his/her choosing, or woodenly reads from the teleprompter. But please exercise some caution: after all, it’s a three hour show, and you don’t want to be rushed to the ER with acute alcohol poisoning before Kid Rock sings.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll roll your eyes at the copious amounts of filler…it’s CMA time!

The 9513’s 2009 CMA Awards Predictions

Live Blog below the fold.

10:07 – Jim Malec: As we all sign off, I’ll invite everyone to keep the discussion going in the comments section of this post. Thanks y’all, and, for the love of God, kindly keep it country.

10:04 – Jim Malec: I’d also like to thank everyone who stuck with us in the comments as we experienced some server delays due to huge traffic.

10:03 – Jim Malec: I’d like to thank Pierce, Karlie and Juli for a job well done. I really enjoyed working with you tonight, as always.

9:57 – Jim Malec: As we exit the 43rd CMA Awards, one thing is for certain: Taylor Swift is the queen of the moment, and she wields an immense measure of power. Soon, she will no longer be a teenager, and she’s hinted at changing musical directions as she gets older. She has many pathways open to her, and which one she chooses to take will have a major impact on the direction of the music the follows her. In some ways, we are at her mercy.

9:58 – Pierce: Well, that’s it… I’m calling it a night folks. I’m going to go listen to some Alan Jackson and George Strait albums to help restore my faith. George Jones, on behalf of everyone 21 and under, I’m sorry… Goodnight!

9:57 – Karlie: Well, there we go.

9:55 – Pierce: I had a sneaky suspicion… the way they were hyping it almost made it too obvious. I should have reflected as much in my picks…

9:55 – Jim Malec: It’s a big warm and fuzzy moment as Taylor Swift brings her band up on stage.

9:54 – Jim Malec: Anyone who thinks Swift is faking it is crazy.

9:54 – Jim Malec: And the 2009 CMA Entertainer of The Year goes to… Taylor Swift.

9:51 – Jim Malec: As we approach Entertainer of The Year, I have a hard time thinking it’s going to anyone other than Swift.

9:49 – Juli: That Kenny Chesney/Dave Matthews performance was blessedly short. 11 minutes to go, folks.

9:47 – Pierce: The most fratastic performance of the evening for sure…

9:43 – Karlie: For once I buy Taylor’s Surprised Face.

9:40 – Jim Malec: Female Vocalist of the Year isn’t awarded just based on singing ability–it’s given to an artist who happens to be a Female Vocalist. That’s how I make sense of what just happened.

9:40 – Juli: I’d feel the same way if Kris Kristofferson hugged me too, Taylor Swift.

9:38 – Karlie: Lee Ann and Kris, FTW.

9:37 – Jim Malec: Jon, from the comments: “And the Greencards take the stage at the station Inn…”

9:37 – Juli: Maybe if the old man had raised his kids right, he wouldn’t have to leave his money to some yahoo he met in a bar. I hate this song.

9:37 – Jim Malec: Just throwing this out there: Isn’t it odd that “Shuttin’ Down Detroit” didn’t get a song or single nod?

9:34 – Jim Malec: Curly Currington is singing “People Are Crazy,” and judging by the song’s three nominations, I’d have to agree.

9:35 – Pierce: I’d RT elisa if this were twitter

9:34 – Jim Malec: Elisa, from the comments: “May I say that this is the most incredibly boring awards show that I have ever seen! Aside from an incredible Jennifer Nettles performance, it has been really dull.”

9:32 – Jim Malec: What’s more, I maintain that this song is beneath Reba’s legacy.

9:31 – Jim Malec: Reba just doesn’t have it tonight. This is a strange, semi-shrill vocal performance.

9:30 – Jim Malec: Next up? Reba performing “Consider Me Gone.”

One half of an hour left to go. Is this when the country music portion starts?

9:25 – Pierce: That may be the first time I’ve seen George with a mic in his hand.

9:24 – Jim Malec: Seriously, did something happen with Roy Clark that I missed? How disrespectful is this?

9:23 – Karlie: Wrong, Karlie. Wrong.

9:22 – Pierce: This performance is comparable to Mandrell… but McBride can’t play the steel guitar.

9:22 – Karlie: And by “what I think this means” I mean “George Jones is yet again invited to do a brief stint on the CMAs.”

9:21 – Jim Malec: Martina was singing “Country When Country Wasn’t Cool,” but the performance lacks charisma.

9:22 – Juli: I like Martina a lot better when she’s not singing about babies or angels or how special I am and how she just calls me hers.

9:21 – Karlie: Does this mean what I think this means?!?!?

9:20 – Jim Malec: So basically Roy Clark gets no love?

9:20 – Karlie: Just read that Jason Aldean has spent more time at #1 than any other country artist this year.

9:19 – Jim Malec: A very rudimentary performance from Aldean.

9:17 – Jim Malec: We’re back, and Jason Aldean is singing “Big Green Tractor.” Call me crazy, but I don’t mind this song. Nice to hear some melody.

9:13 – Pierce: in this house we choose to mute “big green tractor”

9:16 – Karlie: @Juli agreed.

9:13 – Juli: This commercial with Jane Lynch is the best moment of the night.

9:12 – Jim Malec: And we still have to endure Dave Matthews.

9:10 – Jim Malec: Brad takes home male vocalist. Not surprising at all, but really, who had the bigger year–him or Rucker? I think the Association missed on this one.

9:09 – Jim Malec: Given recent controversies, hard to imagine having LeAnn Rimes here…especially making jokes about how attractive country’s men are.

9:10 – Juli: That’s a really bad opening statement for Homewrecker Rimes…

9:08 – Pierce: Jim, I can recall when some performers have done two songs, but not both solo… usually one solo and one accompanied.

9:08 – Jim Malec: “Fifteen” is a really good song, but, wow, she just does not sound good live.

9:09 – Juli: There is nothing on Earth more frightening than the mass of teenage girls currently on my television.

9:06 – Jim Malec: Does anyone out there know how many other performers have done two songs on the same CMA Awards show?

9:01 – Jim Malec: Brooks and Dunn turn down Jennifer’s invitation to come on stage. They looked really unhappy about something.

8:59 – Jim Malec: What? Sugarland? Shocking.

8:58 – Karlie: @Jim Yeah, Kid Rock didn’t even work in “You can find me in a record store, it won’t take you long/I’m right after Jennings and Jones/Over in another section across the store.”

8:59 – Jim Malec: Next up, vocal duo of the year. Joey + Rory anyone?

8:58 – Jim Malec: Nice to see Jamey getting a standing O. Hey, was that the first one of the night?

8:57 – Jim Malec: I love Jamey and I love that song, but the whole Kid Rock thing was just a distraction.

8:56 – Jim Malec: What, exactly, does Kid Rock add to this performance?

8:54 – Pierce: Let me reiterate… Kid Rock is the latest inductee to the Music City Walk of Fame… I’m not going to shut up about that out that injustice.

8:55 – Jim Malec: It was my happy place, too, until Kid Rock had to bring John Rich into it.

8:54 – Jim Malec: Hey, it’s Kid Rock, but at least we get to hear “Between Jennings and Jones.”

8:54 – Karlie: Ahhh. My happy place.

8:53 – Jim Malec: Yes! Here comes Kid Rock! I’ve been waiting for this.

8:51 – Pierce: Yikes… this is why I’m not so sad to see B&D going.

8:50 – Jim Malec: Brooks and Dunn’s final CMA Awards appearance…until their unexpected, shocking reunion at the 2013 show.

8:49 – Jim Malec: Blake Boldt, from the comments: “Swift is now the fifth female act (Anne Murray, Patty Loveless, Dixie Chicks, Lee Ann Womack) to win Album of the Year.”

8:47 – Karlie: Randy Houser put very little enthusiasm behind that announcement.

8:44 – Jim Malec: Juli and CM correctly call it.

8:44 – Pierce:(silence)

8:43 – Jim Malec: Album of The Year goes to…Taylor Swift.

8:40 – Pierce: that kid will grow up to be little jimmy dickens

8:42 – Jim Malec: I’ll be honest, little kids just don’t amuse me like the rest of the world. Call me heartless.

8:41 – Jim Malec: Oh my gosh, what is Randy Houser wearing? Did he get that as Bell’s Outlet?

8:39 – Jim Malec: Jennifer is just letting loose on “Keep You,” it is truly an epic performance.

8:30 – Pierce: Kristian Bush is the best mediocre guitar playing accompanist everr!

8:29 – Juli: Can Zac Brown and his fiddler come back out?

8:26 – Pierce: OK… Farce the Music needs to get on this song.. please…

8:28 – Karlie: I’m not getting any connection between Tim McGraw and the lyrics he’s singing. He sounds fine, there’s just nothing there.

8:27 – Jim Malec: “Southern Voice” is the most pointless song we’ll hear tonight.

8:26 – Jim Malec: Oops…someone forgot to turn Tim McGraw’s mic on.

8:25 – Jim Malec: Fair warning: I have been tasked with including the word “Pesky” in tonight’s live blog.

8:23 – Pierce: @Jim Hmm, yeah… he just seems a little weak. You call that a solo?

8:23 – Jim Malec: What is up with this dragging mid-tempos? This is as boring as the Duaghtry song.

8:22 – Karlie: @Jim Guyliner is the new fu manchu.

8:22 – Jim Malec: I’ll repeat what I said earlier–Keith Urban does not look good tonight, and his voice sounds weak. Hope he’s OK.

8:20 – Jim Malec: We just had a reader find this blog by searching google for “Charles Kelley eyeliner.”

8:20 – Pierce: Oh yeah… that was epic.

8:20 – Jim Malec: Oh my God, it’s Little Jimmy Dickens. LJD just pulled a Kanye!

8:20 – Juli: Little Jimmy Dickens makes everything better, even tired Kanye jokes.

8:18 – Jim Malec: @Pierce: Vince was great, I’ve got nothing bad to say about Vince.

8:17 – Jim Malec: J.R. Journey from the comments: “Still not sure why Vince Gill was added to that song? Anyone else?” — Yes, because if you don’t include Vince it makes no sense having it on the damn show.

8:18 – Pierce: Maybe I just have my Vince blinders on… but I thought that was pretty good… (don’t fire me, please.)

8:15 – Jim Malec: @Karlie: Perhaps.

8:14 – Karlie: Perhaps Daughtry should have sang harmony on a Vince Gill song.

8:13 – Jim Malec: Including “Tennessee” in a song doesn’t make it country. This is boring adult contemporary music.

8:12 – Pierce: Alright… it’s official.. everything Vince Gill touches turns to gold.

8:11 – Karlie: The third American Idol alum so far tonight. Is Kelly Clarkson or Taylor Hicks in the house?

8:11 – Juli: I would like this Daughtry song if it had less Daughtry.

8:11 – Jim Malec: I find it hilarious that in order to make this seem more country, there’s a giant “Tennessee” screen in the background.

8:11 – Pierce: This should be interesting..

8:10 – Jim Malec: Kudos to Brad for working a Little Jimmy into his act. And, from Dickens to Daughtry.

8:10 – Juli: Aw, Darius is genuinely moved. Props to him.

8:09 – Jim Malec: Darius seems genuinely moved. Love that energy. We need more of that in country music.

8:09 – Pierce: and he was wrong… congrats Darius.

8:09 – Jim Malec: I predicted this right. I wish it would have gone to Jamey, but it’s tough to beat three #1s.

8:08 – Jim Malec: New Artist of The Year goes to: Darius Rucker.

8:08 – Pierce: Darius predicted earlier this week that ZBB would take this one…

8:08 – Juli: Holy Botox, Batman. I bet the muscles in Naomi Judd’s face haven’t moved since the Clinton administration.

8:07 – Jim Malec: Please sing. Pretty please.

8:07 – Jim Malec: Yay, the Judds!

8:06 – Karlie: I’m not a fan of dance choreography in country music award shows.

8:06 – Jim Malec: @Pierce: I have decided. But I’m not publicly allowed to say. Without getting slapped, anyway.

8:04 – Pierce: I can’t decide whether I’m disappointed over the “girl next door” era being over or not… hmmm.

8:04 – Jim Malec: I’d like to applaud Juli (8:01) for her use of the word “languorous.” Well played.

8:03 – Jim Malec: My better half just gave me evil eyes. I think I’m not supposed to be watching this.

8:01 – Juli: I think I need the fainting couch onstage more than Carrie Underwood and her languorous dancers.

8:03 – Karlie: Carrie is having a Lady Ga Ga moment.

8:03 – Jim Malec: I hate this song, but it sure is hard to hate this performance…

7:58 – Karlie: Um…a financial services commercial came on directly after that award featuring “I Run to You.” Coincidence?

7:59 – Pierce: Wow… I qualify this as a shocker…

7:58 – Karlie: Lady A is inspired by Rascal Flatts. This explains many things.

7:56 – Jim Malec: If the Eagles win I will shoot myself.

7:55 – Karlie: I’m just going to go ahead and call this now: Nickelback will be nominated in this category next year.

7:55 – Jim Malec: Hey, finally, here comes an award: Vocal Group of The Year.

7:55 – Pierce: What is Debra Barone doing at the CMAs???

7:54 – Juli: What’s up with the fake snow?

7:54 – Jim Malec: “Need You Now” is surprisingly honest.

7:54 – Pierce: this looks more like “baby its cold outside” than “need you now”

7:53 – Jim Malec: Country-ness aside, Lady A sounds wonderful.

7:51 – Juli: “Need You Now” is my shameful guilty pleasure song of the month.

7:51 – Jim Malec: Lady Antebellum doing the year’s best pop song, “Need You Now.”

7:51 – Karlie: From “Twang” to twangless.

7:50 – Jim Malec: Polite applause, but no one seems particularly excited.

7:48 – Jim Malec: I know it’s a cliched thing to say, but I swear every year it’s the same damn thing with his CMA performance. Same gestures, same body language, same facial expressions.

7:48 – Pierce: I think I just had a George-gasm..he’s the man.

7:47 – Jim Malec: Here’s King George doing “Twang.”

7:47 – Jim Malec: OK, so it just hit me–is this and awards show? Are they going to give out an award soon?

7:41 – Jim Malec: Who here thinks these guys have more talent in their left left pinkies than 95% of the rest of the performers on this show combined? Anyone?

7:41 – Karlie: I’m not going to lie, this makes me pumped about country music. Way to go, ZBB.

7:41 – Pierce: Uh oh… FCC’s coming for Zac…

7:41 – Jim Malec: OMG, ZBB said “bitch.” Edit that out, country radio.

7:40 – Karlie: Wooo! A bad word! Take that, mainstream radio.

7:40 – Juli: The devil’s fiddle solo is way better than Johnny’s.

7:40 – Jim Malec: No doubt about it though–ZBB is freakin’ for real.

7:39 – Jim Malec: I also don’t know why the pace of this is so fast. It’s a pretty odd performance in my opinion.

7:39 – Jim Malec: Zac Brown sounds kind of mechanical on this.

7:38 – Pierce: Love ZBB but this is just too predictable…

7:38 – Karlie: Zac has crazy eyes.

7:38 – Jim Malec: Zac Brown Band doesn’t get to do its own song. They’re covering “Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

7:36 – Karlie: Imagine that: Strip down the production for a second, and the artist sounds great.

7:36 – Jim Malec: I actually think he sounds better here than on the record. Brad’s singing it with more passion that usual.

7:34 – Pierce: Brad in his standard trendy tshirt and cowboy hat.

7:34 – Jim Malec: I meant “Welcome To The Future,” obviously.

7:34 – Karlie: I wonder if the people in the audience can hear Brad?

7:34 – Juli: Brad’s not sounding too great, but I dig the Pac Man graphics.

7:33 – Jim Malec: And here comes Brad Paisley with “American Saturday Night.” So far he sounds spot on, as always.

7:31 – Jim Malec: And we are having some server issues, folks. We doubled our capacity since last year, and you’re still rocking our sox off.

7:28 – Jim Malec: @Pierce: Well, to be fair that’s not saying much.

7:24 – Pierce: Indeed… best performance of the night…

7:27 – Karlie: Hoping Jamey comes back out to reprise his role as the preacher in the “White Liar” video.

7:27 – Jim Malec: This is Miranda best awards show performance, by far.

7:26 – Juli: So far Miranda sounds better than Taylor and Darius.

7:25 – Jim Malec: I really like the arrangement choice for “White Liar.” Miranda sounds great, and comfortable, and restrained. This is a solid vocal.

7:25 – Jim Malec: And now a performance from Miranda Lambert. She’s doing “White Liar.”

7:24 – Jim Malec: Carrie’s staying far, far away from Jamey Johnson…

7:24 – Karlie: Happy Veterans Day to JJ.

7:23 – Jim Malec: Really, really happy my prediction for “People Are Crazy” turned out to be wrong.

7:23 – Karlie: Woot! Clapping as if Jamey Johnson could hear me.

7:22 – Jim Malec: And the awards for Song of The Year goes to…”In Color.” Amen for Jamey Johnson!

7:23 – Juli: Yay Jamey!

7:22 – Jim Malec: And now “Song of The Year.” So basically, let’s get the most artsy of the awards out of the way first.

7:20 – Karlie: Darius’ dancing movements remind me of the Ricky Bobby interview on the Talledega Nights movie when he doesn’t know what to do with his hands.

7:21 – Jim Malec: The audio is terrible, but Darius is good enough that it still wasn’t a total trainwreck.

7:18 – Pierce: I want an explanation as to why awards shows always have awful sound…

7:18 – Karlie: Is it funny to anyone else that the word “Alright” is plastered behind him? No? OK, just me.

7:18 – Jim Malec: I appreciate the fact that Darius Rucker seems really passionate about his music.

7:17 – Jim Malec: Next up: Darius Rucker.

7:17 – Pierce: Wait… why did they show Leann? Did she have swine flu?

7:16 – Jim Malec: Yes, we all know Carrie Underwood is hot. And here comes another parody. These are funny but they will wear thin pretty soon.

7:15 – Jim Malec: Gotta figure this early win looks good for Lady A’s chances everywhere else.

7:13 – Pierce: I’m a little worried about all this Taylor EOY hyping… it sure makes a good story…

7:13 – Karlie: Definitely didn’t see that coming. I think I’d already forgotten about that song.

7:12 – Jim Malec: That’s somewhat shocking–and all 12 The 9513 staffers whiff.

7:11 – Jim Malec: Lady Antebellum takes single of year for “I Run To You.”

7:10 – Pierce: Look! It’s the most recent Music City Walk of Fame honoree… I kid you not.. no pun intended..

7:11 – Jim Malec: Here comes the award for single of the year.

7:10 – Karlie: Kid Rock looks like Shooter Jennings dressed like Molly Shannon in Superstar.

7:10 – Jim Malec: Kid Rock: as perverted as usual.

7:09 – Pierce: Sorry I’m late to the show… did I miss much?

7:09 – Karlie: I think Ronnie just mouthed “No way” when they said they wished they could stop the break up.

7:08 – Karlie: I agree Jim. She sounds great.

7:08 – Jim Malec: I wish Carrie would actually record something this country.

7:07 – Jim Malec: Carrie’s dress is reflecting off of Brad’s guitar and back onto her face.

7:06 – Karlie: A big shout out to Kanye for getting a Waylon and Willie song on the show.

7:05 – Jim Malec: Wow, I actually thought they were going to sing a country song…instead of using it as a prop for a joke.

7:05 – Jim Malec: So, according to Carrie, Brad Paisley will steal your heart and crush it?

7:05 – Juli: Carrie looks like a space age milkmaid.

7:04 – Karlie: Wow. I’m not really sure what to even say about that.

7:04 – Jim Malec: I have to say her vocals are sorta better than usual, but this whole thing is just really bizarre.

7:03 – Jim Malec: Oh, I guess that’s why they have the lyrics up on the big screen…

7:03 – Jim Malec: Can anyone explain what the hell is happening on stage right now? Or what the hell Taylor is singing?

7:03 – Juli: Hulk smash! Throw chairs!

7:02 – Karlie: Well, they’ve found a way to improve Taylor’s live performances. You can barely hear her. Luckily, the hair swinging makes up for it.

7:02 – Jim Malec: Is this the single worst CMA Awards opener ever?

7:02 – Juli: Stolen from a trip to the Twilight set, perhaps?

7:01 – Jim Malec: Taylor Swift is wearing a vampire/biker outfit.

7:01 – Karlie: I’m having a $50,000 Pyramid moment with this set.

7:01 – Jim Malec: I am actually scared of Taylor Swift right now. But not because of that really creepy intro.

7:00 – Karlie: Here we go. The anticipation is just killing me…

6:59 – Jim Malec: Almost there kids, thanks for helping me suffer through that Red Carpet “event.”

6:58 – Jim Malec: Awww, no strippers tonight? I’m leaving…

6:59 – Juli: Pranks involving strippers are the best pranks of all.

6:57 – Jim Malec: Who is that guy next to Jennifer Nettles, her limo driver?

6:56 – Juli: Keith Urban must be too weak from styling his hair to button his shirt all the way.

6:56 – Jim Malec: Keith Urban doesn’t look especially good tonight. Genuinely hope everything is OK with him.

6:50 – Jim Malec: What Faith Hill is wearing is not so much a necklace as a length of chain. Seriously, for anyone not watching, that thing goes down past her pelvis.

6:49 – Jim Malec: Tim just announced that he’s singing “Southern Voice.” I can hardly wait!

6:48 – Jim Malec: So Katie loves Robin Roberts buns and she also “loves [her] some Miranda Lambert.” Hmm….

6:46 – Jim Malec: Miranda Lambert got that necklace at New York And Co. for $10, so says my better half.

6:45 – Juli: Miranda Lambert totally wants to stab Lance Smith.

6:45 – Jim Malec: What will Randy Travis look like ten years from now?

6:43 – Jim Malec: Lance is now on pins and needles. But not literally. Although that would make more interesting television.

6:41 – Jim Malec: Do you think it’s difficult for Jason Aldean’s wife to find earrings that are bigger than his?

6:38 – Juli: Aw, Jason Aldean has his formal earrings in!

6:36 – Jim Malec: OMG, who doesn’t love little kids! This is the weirdest “interview”…

6:35 – Juli: Did Jimmy Dickens give this kid a loaner?

6:34 – Jim Malec: OK, now raise your hand if you wish the Judds would be performing in honor of their 25th CMA anniversary.

6:34 – Juli: What’s up with Wynonna’s weave?

6:33 – Jim Malec: Awkward, anybody?

6:33 – Jim Malec: And apparently Katie Cook likes Robin Robert’s buns…

6:32 – Jim Malec: Raise your hand if you care what Robin Roberts has to say about country music.

6:28 – Jim Malec: Zac Brown’s necktie: now available for $7.99 at Target.

6:23 – Jim Malec: Wow, boner jokes. The last thing I want to hear is Blake Shelton and Lance talking about their “bones.”

6:21 – Jim Malec: Hey Lance, let’s talk to Blake about Twitter. Yes, that’s original.

6:20 – Jim Malec: Daughtry: “Someone told me I should get Vince Gill on there. And I was like, who is Vince Gill?”

6:15 – Jim Malec: Uh oh, Zac Brown just said “Toes in the water, ass in the sand.” Why didn’t they put that in the song?

6:11 – Jim Malec: And now let’s talk to a couple of people who are irrelevant to country music.

6:11 – Jim Malec: Carrie has nine costume changes. Hell, I have eight!

6:09 – Jim Malec: OMG, Carrie is wearing Thea. But she isn’t wearing it all night! Whew….

6:06 – Jim Malec: Begin the overt commercialism: Tim’s interview is spontaneously followed by a trailer for his new movie.

6:03 – Jim Malec: Tim McGraw is sporting his typical V neck on the carpet (how classy), but where’s that manly chest? Who wears V necks with an undershirt?

6:01 – Jim Malec: And here we go with CMT’s Red Carpet show. first interview is Lady A, and Dave and Charles are wearing suits that are way too small. How cool.