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Sunday, May 18, 2008
Did country music fans get it right?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For the first time, fan votes determined the entertainer of the year at the Academy of Country Music Awards. And the winner was? Kenny Chesney.
The category was filled with heavyweights. In addition to Chesney, who won for the fourth straight year, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, George Strait and Keith Urban were nominated.
The one person who seemed most unhappy with the new voting system was the same one who benefitted from it. “It really diminishes the integrity of the music,” Chesney said backstage. “It’s not about flying somebody to some shows and seeing how hard you can push some buttons on the Internet.”
With such stiff competition, do you agree with the outcome? Do you think the fans should be allowed to determine the winner of the biggest award? Did the Academy get the nominees right in the first place? Were women such as Carrie Underwood and Miranda Lambert not good enough to compete with the guys?
RELATED LINKS: Chesney wins fourth straight; Photos: On the red carpet; Photos: At the show
