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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > November > 12 > Entry
2008 CMA Awards kinda like 2007 CMA Awards
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the Country Music Association Awards, voters decided 2008 was a lot like 2007.
In all the major non-song categories, repeats bounded.
Kenny Chesney took home entertainer of the year for the fourth time in five years. Brad Paisley won the male vocalist of the year for the second year in a row. Carrie Underwood took home female vocalist of the year for the third year in a row (beating out fast-rising Taylor Swift). Rascal Flatts took home group of the year for the sixth year in a row. And Atlanta-based Sugarland continued its hot streak as vocal duo of the year for the second year in a row.
Lady Antebellum, which features one Georgia member Dave Haywood, also won in the new category of new artist of the year, a revised version of the formerly named Horizon Award. The trio beat out fellow Georgian Jason Aldean, “Idol” finalist Kellie Pickler as well as James Otto and hit-maker Rodney Atkins. “It’s not supposed to happen this way!” Haywood said on stage.
George Strait, the living legend, proves he’s still generating great music, taking home two more CMA Awards with his single of the year “I Saw God Today” and his album of the year “Troubadour.”
-“Well, thank you very much. I love writing songs. I love performing them and I love the fans who come out to see what we write… it was a gift from the beginning and it was a gift to write. I hope it was a gift and touched your hearts.” — Jennifer Nettles, after winning the CMA for Song of the Year for “Stay”
-“Oh my gosh, I’m shaking!” — Kristian Bush, male partner in Sugarland after winning duo of the year again.
-Georgia native Alan Jackson, at age 50, does a rollicking “Good Time,” which starts a bit slow but livens up once they get a few hundred folks to do some line dancing in the aisles, alluding to his video.
-Sugarland joke from Brad Paisley, who was noting how long George Strait has been around: “He has seen so much happen over the years. Fire. The wheel. A man landing on the moon. Sugarland when they were a trio. It’s incredible how much has changed since he’s been around.”
-After winning the duo of the year award, Sugarland decided not to pimp its latest single and went with an album cut (that might be the third single) simply called “Love.” As usual, Nettles proved her vocal mettle and ever hyper Bush even got to throw in a few lines himself.
-Jason Aldean’s “She’s Country” is a sturdy slab of Southern rock bacon — comforting if not terribly groundbreaking. ‘
-Sure, it’s easy to make fun of pop artists crossing over to country (see Jessica Simpson, Jewel), but Darius Rucker is actually doing it without snickers. He performed his No. 1 hit “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It,” the first African-American to top the country charts since Charley Pride many decades ago.
-That Kid Rock song “All Summer Long” managed to become a crossover top 40, rock and country hit over the summer. Now that it’s fall, the song remains irritating with its forced nostalgia and blatant pandering use of “Sweet Home Alabama.”
-I’ve never been a huge fan of Kenny Chesney but you have to give the man credit: he exudes charisma on stage and his vocals are impeccable. And it was fun watching him pay homage to Bob Marley with “Three Little Birds.”
Comments
By Judy
November 13, 2008 8:29 AM | Link to this
There was not much “country” in the CMA awards last night. I enjoy all kinds of music…but the CM in CMA stands for Country Music!! Also….I found it hard to watch because of the lighting and snappy set designs. Sometimes there was just a large white blur on my TV screen. Carrie Underwood and Brad Pasley did a good job hosting this event and thank goodness for Alan Jackson and George Strait..otherwise not much “country” on the show!! Big disappointment!!
By April
November 13, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this
The writer got it right..a repeat of 2007…yawn. I also agree with the Judy..large white blur on my tv screen too with all the bright lights in the camera lens direction.