ACM Awards Received a 78 Percent Bump Over Previous Year
- With an average of 14.8 million viewers, the ACM Awards saw a 78 percent increase over last year.
- The audio and video recordings of Trace Adkins performing “Till the Last Shot’s Fired” live at the ACM Awards are available for download on iTunes. (via My Kind of Country)
- RJ Eskow commented on the new John Rich single in The Huffington Post:
“Shuttin’ Detroit Down” gives voice to the growing perception that the current Admininstration’s plans favor wealthy investors over Mr. and Ms. Main Street America. The song points the way toward what could be called Rehab for Republicans.
- Son Volt will return this summer with their sixth-full length album and first since signing with Rounder Records. Billboard’s David J. Prince says the new album, titled American Central Dust, will “see the group returning to the melodic simplicity of its debut album Trace.”
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New releases for the week of April 7, 2009 include:
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Hank Williams – The Unreleased Recordings: Gospel Keepsakes
Amazon
- Twangville has five acoustic tracks from Mo Robson, the lead singer and songwriter from The Mo Robson Band. The tracks are a preview of new and old songs that you can expect from their live album, Live at Adair’s, that’s due out this week.
- Country California wants to know how you’d go about improving the ACM Awards.
- Cleve Francis, an African American singer/cardiologist who placed four songs on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the early ’90s, commented on his career, race in country music and Darius Rucker’s current success in an interview with The Washington Post’s J. Freedom du Lac.
Were you frustrated that you never became a breakthrough star?
I was. At one point, I could sing like a bird. I was really good; still am to some degree, but I was better when I was younger. I left my practice and went on sabbatical with this belief that if you have talent and if you have the songs, people will give you a chance. When I was out in the early ’90s, I was popular on the road; I just couldn’t get played on the radio. I felt like it wasn’t in my control. It was a shame. - If true unblemished bluegrass were part of a mountain scene, BluegrassJournal.com’s Dan Tackett says the new self-titled album from Audie Blaylock and Redline would be “the pure, clear stream bubbling through the middle of the picture.”
- Justin Townes Earle admits that he owns about seventy-something pairs of cowboy boots and wears designer clothing, which isn’t really commonplace as an Americana musician, but he has a few choice words for anyone who has something to say about it.
- Was Jessica Simpson dropped from her label?
- AP entertainment writer John Gerome recapped last night’s artist of the decade tribute show for George Strait. Keith Urban performed “Unwound” and also saluted Marty Robbins, a former artist of the decade winner, with a medley of his hits. The other artists of the decade were honored as well: Faith Hill sang Loretta Lynn’s “You Ain’t Woman Enough,” Montgomery Gentry performed Alabama’s “Mountain Music” and Martina McBride sang Garth Brooks‘ “The Dance.” The special will air May 27 on CBS.
- Ashlie Kolb interviewed Brandi Thornton, The Tommy Dalton Band, and Rachel Williams for the newest episode of Nashville At Nite. All three bands were requested by the fans for the show’s special “Suggest a Band” feature.
- Ethan Hawke listed 20 essential Kris Krristofferson songs with a little background information on each one of them for Rolling Stone.
“A Moment of Forever” (1995)
One of Kris’ best love songs, memorably covered by Willie Nelson. “I started singing it to him,” Kristofferson remembers, “and all of a sudden Willie started giggling. He thought I was singing the words about him! I was so embarrassed. Later Willie cut the damn thing and titled his album after it.” - If “Potter’s Field” is an indication of what can be expected from the new Dave Alvin and the Guilty Women album, it just might end up on a few year-end best of lists. Check it out on the songs:illinois blog along with “King of the Blues,” a bonus track performed by Alvin on the Chris Gaffney tribute album.
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ACM Awards // Alabama // Audie Blaylock // Billy Ray Cyrus // Chris Gaffney // Dave Alvin // Faith Hill // Garth Brooks // George Strait // Hank Williams // Jason Aldean // Jessica Simpson // John Rich // Justin Townes Earle // Keith Urban // Loretta Lynn // Martina McBride // Marty Robbins // Mo Robson // Montgomery Gentry // Ramblin' Jack Elliott // Rascal Flatts // Sarah Watkins // Son Volt // The Guilty Women // Trace Adkins // Willie Nelson
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April 7, 2009 at 12:07 pm Permalink
Jessica’s publicist says she was just “on loan” to Columbia Nashville and remains signed to Epic (both are divisions of Sony BMG).
April 7, 2009 at 1:32 pm Permalink
That’s a pretty big ratings jump for the ACMs. It must have been Miley.
As always, thanks for the link. Everybody, be sure to check out Occasional Hope’s excellent review of ‘Til The Last Shot’s Fired’ from about 6 weeks ago.
April 7, 2009 at 2:55 pm Permalink
One correction, the title of Sara Watkins’ album is “Sara Watkins”- no “s”.
April 7, 2009 at 5:41 pm Permalink
The ACM ratings jump was due to a lack of popular competing programs as had been the case a year earlier. For many viewers it was likely a “well there’s nothing else to watch” decision. I was disappointed that it bumped “The Amazing Race” as the previous week it ended with the deaf guy’s mom suffering from heat stroke and dehydration in Southeast Asia and I wanted to see what happened next!
Regarding R.J. Eskow’s inane comment ““Shuttin’ Detroit Down” gives voice to the growing perception that the current Admininstration’s plans favor wealthy investors over Mr. and Ms. Main Street America.” What planet is this guy on anyway as it seems he still thinks Bush is in the White House! The bullcrap dispensed at HuffPO almost makes NPR’s propaganda programs seemed balanced. I said “almost”…
I’d like to see and hear Hank III make a few choice comments to JTE’s face about his wardrobe, and especially if Hank III was really drunk. (lol)
April 7, 2009 at 6:05 pm Permalink
“The ACM ratings jump was due to a lack of popular competing programs as had been the case a year earlier.”
Maybe the other broadcast channels didn’t want to put anything important up against it.
April 7, 2009 at 6:07 pm Permalink
Rick: I would imagine that Hank and Justin would get a long quite well because they have quite a lot in common.
April 7, 2009 at 6:19 pm Permalink
As for the Jessica Simpson news, I think Ren and Stimpy summed it up best:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFKBodF8NfA
Feel free to insert your own butt wiggling dance here.
April 7, 2009 at 7:25 pm Permalink
Rick’s Random Tidbits: Okay, this has absolutely nothing to do with country music, but I just can’t resist! Actor Kal Penn, best known for his role as “Kumar”, has left the Fox TV show “House” to work for the Obama administration at a huge pay cut!
Link: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/entertainment/House-Actor-Killed-Off-to-Work-for-Obama.html
Its been rumored that after the end of his first day at the White House Obama took him aside and said: “Look Kumar, let’s blow off the Secret Service detail and grab a car from the motor pool and head for White Castle!” (lol)
April 7, 2009 at 8:01 pm Permalink
Goodbye Jessica :P
April 7, 2009 at 10:07 pm Permalink
Also in blond-pop-star-masquerading-as-a-country-star news:
Taylor Swift had her career first wardrobe malfunction at the ACMs the other night!!!
Carrie Underwood’s people made her apologize for a what they saw as a reputation-damaging risque comment she made at Matthew McC. during her EOTY acceptance speech that no one noticed anyway.
just FYI. this is the crap the Hollywood crowd cares about from the Acm’s. I was personally glad to see that Heidi Newfluff didn’t get an award. Not that I was thrilled about the other winners. Tough choice really. Predictably bad vs. randomly bad.
April 7, 2009 at 10:08 pm Permalink
With the exceptions of Jamey Johnson and Trace Adkins. Glad they won something.
April 8, 2009 at 12:06 am Permalink
Danielle,
I thought Underwood’s quip was pretty funny. That they felt the need to apologize for it is slightly pathetic. I loved the look on George Strait’s face when they cut to him after the announcement…
April 8, 2009 at 5:33 am Permalink
I thought it was funny for it was quite unexpected. Also, it seemed Carrie was natural for once which was good to see.
April 8, 2009 at 6:12 am Permalink
It’s ridiculous that Carrie had to apologize for that quip, if she did.
April 8, 2009 at 6:36 am Permalink
Cleve Francis had a pleasant voice, but neither of his albums was very interesting. I’ve got both albums and the only word to describe them is “bland”.
I’m not surprised that radio didn’t play his songs. I suspect a little more country production might have lured radio into playing them, but they were less country sounding that Rucker’s current CD
April 8, 2009 at 10:00 am Permalink
Maybe that was why they made Carrie apologize; It seemed natural. Adults will make the occasional off-color joke. Guess the virginal persona needs to stay unblemished.
April 8, 2009 at 10:19 am Permalink
I just heard from a “fairly reliable” source that Taylor will be singing “RUN” on the George Strait tribute to air in May.
Any of y’all heard this yet? I cant imagine how awful it will sound.
April 8, 2009 at 2:34 pm Permalink
yikes. hope “fairly reliable” really means “remotely possible” What was said source? could you give us the source?
April 8, 2009 at 4:21 pm Permalink
One of the songs writers mentioned it. So I googled and found this:
teen queen Taylor Swift delivered a slowed down version of “Run,”
http://www.hitfix.com/posts/2009-4-7-george-strait-honored-as-acm-s-artist-of-the-decade
April 8, 2009 at 4:38 pm Permalink
Carrie thanking her fans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7wkd_4qaow
April 8, 2009 at 9:44 pm Permalink
The AP article in the news roundup says says Taylor performed “Run” and lists a couple of other performances, too. I’m excited to see how Jamey Johnson and Lee Ann Womack’s version of “Give It Away” turns out.
April 8, 2009 at 10:09 pm Permalink
If Taylor MUST perform, I’d rather that she do “Run” instead of desecrating one of Strait’s really good songs.
April 9, 2009 at 7:24 am Permalink
I can think of about 10,000 people that wouldn’t have watched the ACM’s if it wasn’t for Randy Rogers Band being nominated.
April 9, 2009 at 10:14 pm Permalink
Some of that ratings increase must be attributed to fan voting.
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