Paisley, Strait lead 41st CMA Awards Nominees
- In case you missed it, nominations were handed out this week for the 41st annual Country Music Association Awards, which will take place on Nov. 7 in Nashville. Leading the pack this year are Brad Paisley and George Strait, who each picked up five nominations. Kenny Chesney, Alison Krauss and Martina McBride also scored big with four nominations each, while Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, and songwriter John Rich (of Big & Rich) scored three each. Other notable surprises include Josh Turner in the Male Vocalist category, and none other than those gosh be darned, liberal propaganda-spewing, America-hating Dixie Chicks in Vocal Group.
Nominees for “Entertainer of The Year”
* Kenny Chesney
* Brad Paisley
* Rascal Flatts
* George Strait
* Keith Urban - CMT Blogger Calvin Gilbert isn’t sure the Dixie Chicks deserve their Vocal Group nomination, pointing out that their album, Taking The Long Way, was not released during the CMA’s 2007 consideration period of July 1st, 2006–June 30th, 2007. The album, which earned the Chicks multiple Grammy awards and critical praise despite its inability to place singles high on the charts, was released on May 23rd, 2006.
- It’s been a good week to listen to Grand Ole Opry flagship station WSM-AM. On Monday, WSM broadcast a conversation with The Browns live from the legendary RCA Studio B. In talking about the facility, Jim Ed Brown remarked that Chet Atkins was often preoccupied with fixing his recording equipment during sessions, but would immediately look up whenever someone hit a bad note or chord and stare down the offender.
On Wednesday night, Kitty Wells and husband Johnny Wright joined Eddie Stubbs in the studio for two hours. Kitty celebrated her 88th birthday on Thursday and the couple has been married for nearly 70 years. Among the interview’s highlights:
- Kitty is considering playing some shows in Canada. If Johnny had his way, she would embark on a full American tour.
- Kitty was retired from music and acting as a housewife prior to the recording of “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” The song was pitched to Johnny after he performed on the Midnite Jamboree, and Kitty agreed to record it just to make the session fee. She didn’t even know that it had been released until Aubrey Williams called her after driving from Montgomery, Alabama to Nashville and told her that every radio station between Mobile and Nashville was playing “It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels.” The song subsequently became the first record by a female artist to reach number one and ignited Kitty’s career.
- According to MediaBase, Garth Brooks’ “More Than A Memory,” is currently the 12th most played song in Country Music–only five days after it was released to radio. The song, from his upcoming The Ultimate Hits package, is now almost certain to break the record for highest debuting country single, which is currently held by Kenny Chesney’s latest, “Don’t Blink.”
- Multi-Platinum act Diamond Rio has signed with Word Records, Country Aircheck reports. Word, which primarily handles Contemporary Christian music, will release, A Diamond Rio Christmas: The Star Still Shines, on Oct. 9.
- On Thursday, Faith Hill performed the new single from her upcoming album, The Hits, for a taping of The Ellen DeGeneres Show in New York City. The song, titled “Red Umbrella,” will debut on the show September 5th.
- Further proof that LeAnn Rimes’ career is on the upswing: Country Weekly reports that she’ll be judging a video contest sponsored by The Goodlife Recipe.
“Now through Oct. 15, you can submit a short video demonstrating the special ways you connect with your dog or cat each day.“
- It’s a sad weekend for the ladies, as the9513.com co-founder Brady Vercher will be officially off the market. Brady’s getting married this weekend, and everyone at The 9513 wishes the couple a very long and very happy life together. Congratulations!
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Martina McBride - “Ride” Catchy, but a little low on cogency–not to mention originality. And it essentially resolves into the same kind of positive “message song” that has defined so much of McBride’s recent work.
Richie McDonald - “How Do I Just Stop” So gloriously simple and unequivocally lackluster that people of every political persuasion should rejoice in the opportunity to come together and have a hearty laugh at its expense.
Donnie Vondra - “If I Didn’t Love You” Combinining a golden trifecta of country music—steel guitar, fiddle and a strong, twangy vocal—"If I Didn't Love You" pulls together a sweet, toe-tapping ditty reminiscent of Marty Raybon-era Shenandoah.
Lance Miller - “Bacon Frying” A charming country song that is beautiful for its simplicity, a musical remnant from a time when songwriters understood that often the best thing to do is just get out of the song’s way.
John Rich - “Another You” For a guy who is supposed to be a genius songwriter, John Rich sure does seem to be running out of ideas. 
George Ducas - “Walk Through This World” Ducas banks on the success of recent artists’ pleasantly bland lyrics and agreeable instrumentation for his first release with WhiteStar Nashville.
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Tagged In This Article
Brad Paisley // CMA Awards // Diamond Rio // Dixie Chicks // Faith Hill // Garth Brooks // George Strait // LeAnn Rimes
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August 31, 2007 at 11:21 am Permalink
“Not Ready to Make Nice” sold more than a million copies as a single - it’s certified platinum - and reached #4 on the Hot 100 on the strength of sales alone. It may not have gotten airplay, but it was still a smash. Sometimes country journalists can’t comprehend that a song can be a hit even if radio doesn’t play it. Johnny Cash’s “Hurt” and Soggy Bottom Boys’ “I am a Man of Constant Sorrow” were also humongous hits, radio just didn’t happen to spin ‘em.
August 31, 2007 at 11:42 am Permalink
I should add that calling them “the liberal propaganda spewing, America-hating Dixie Chicks” made me laugh, but I imagine quite a few readers won’t know you’re kidding!
August 31, 2007 at 1:30 pm Permalink
Actually, I took Jim seriously. Because that’s what they are.
August 31, 2007 at 3:36 pm Permalink
No sadder commentary on the current state of country music than this paragraph:
Nominees for “Entertainer of The Year”
* Kenny Chesney
* Brad Paisley
* Rascal Flatts
* George Strait
* Keith Urban
Kinda feel bad for George being lumped in with these folks..
August 31, 2007 at 10:24 pm Permalink
Thanks, Dave. Your proved my point!
September 1, 2007 at 7:13 am Permalink
Congrats on the marriage Brady
As for the nominations for Entertainer of the Year, Strait and Paisley belong, the rest aren’t really county
September 1, 2007 at 1:50 pm Permalink
Kevin, what makes you think I’m NOT being serious?! People who agree with that statement will take it at face value. Those who don’t, will not ;-)
September 2, 2007 at 1:35 am Permalink
Jim,
What made me think you weren’t being serious was the “Gosh Be Darned”, which is a very soft lead-in to two very vicious attack statements. Usually that contrast is done for comedic effect. If you actually were being serious, you should clarify that. It’s a pretty damning statement to make with a straight face, but a pretty funny one to make as a joke.
September 2, 2007 at 7:36 am Permalink
Well, I guess our readership will just have to make that decision for themselves ;-)
What I will say is that I am fully supportive of the Chicks’ nominations.
September 2, 2007 at 11:15 pm Permalink
I’m the only lady who isn’t sad about Brady’s marriage because I’m the one he married ;)
Thank you for the congrats Jim!
September 3, 2007 at 9:02 am Permalink
Congrats Brady! I hope the lady like country music!
September 3, 2007 at 9:07 am Permalink
At this point I think the CMA nominates the Chicks just to dis and publicly humiliate them. I’m sure it hurts their feeling when they take a moment from counting all that money to pay attention…
September 3, 2007 at 11:36 am Permalink
Baron,
Your observation regarding the Chicks reminded me of a poster I have in my classroom featuring this quote:
“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt
I think they got the nom because of less competition this year, but I think you’re pretty much right about how the Chicks feel regarding nasty feelings about them in the country music world (or anywhere else for that matter.) It just doesn’t really faze them.
September 3, 2007 at 11:58 am Permalink
Congrats Brady & Ali.
I’m okay with the Chicks being nominated. I don’t particularly like them but just because they didn’t realease their album THIS year doesn’t mean they shouldn’t qualify. They’re still a vocal group after all.
I have a question for the brilliant people at the 9513. How long will it be before a song DEBUTS at #1? Garth broke records with this new single and arguably with “Good Ride Cowboy”. Do you think it will ever happen? Is it even POSSIBLE for a song to debut at #1?
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