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Country Music

Lady Antebellum is Up For 7 ACMAs!

by Joi on March 2, 2010

The Academy of Country Music announced the nominees for the April 18th ceremony. My much, much, much, much beloved Lady Antebellum is up for seven awards – the most of any nominees, thank you so very much. Lady Antebellum was followed by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood who have 6 nominations each. Taylor Swift is up for 5. I’m not sure how the Zac Brown band can’t be up for at least as many but they may just fall into the same area Montgomery Gentry and Trace Adkins always have – the fans love them to distraction and back, but the ACMAs aren’t entirely sure what to make of them. I’d walk across glass then go back and eat every piece to see any of them perform.

The entire list of nominees is below – I’ve colored my favorites red because… well, I can. I have a few ties that I just couldn’t decide between. Let me know in the comments who your favorites are.

The List of ACMA Nominees

Entertainer of the Year:

• Kenny Chesney • Toby Keith • Brad Paisley • George Strait • Taylor Swift • Carrie Underwood • Keith Urban • Zac Brown Band

Top Male Vocalist:

• Kenny Chesney • Brad Paisley • Darius Rucker • George Strait • Keith Urban

Top Female Vocalist:

• Miranda Lambert • Reba McEntire • Taylor Swift • Carrie Underwood • Lee Ann Womack

Top Vocal Group:

• Lady Antebellum • Little Big Town • Randy Rogers Band • Rascal Flatts • Zac Brown Band

Top Vocal Duo:

• Brooks & Dunn • Joey + Rory • Montgomery Gentry • Steel Magnolia • Sugarland

Top New Solo Vocalist:

• Luke Bryan • Jamey Johnson • Chris Young (nothing but love for Jamey too, though!)

Top New Vocal Duo:

• Bomshel • Joey + Rory • Steel Magnolia

Top new Vocal Group:

• Eli Young Band • Gloriana • The Lost Trailers

Album of the Year:

• American Saturday Night – Brad Paisley • Lady Antebellum – Lady Antebellum • Play On – Carrie Underwood • Revolution – Miranda Lambert • The Foundation – Zac Brown Band

Single Record:

• Need You Now – Lady Antebellum • People Are Crazy – Billy Currington • Red Light – David Nail • Toes – Zac Brown Band • White Liar – Miranda Lambert

Song:

• Cowboy Casanova – Carrie Underwood • Need You Now – Lady Antebellum • People Are Crazy – Billy Currington • White Liar – Miranda Lambert • You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift

Video:

• Boots On – Randy Houser • Need You Now – Lady Antebellum • Welcome To The Future – Brad Paisley • White Liar – Miranda Lambert • You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift

Vocal Event:

• Hillbilly Bone – Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins • Honky Tonk Stomp – Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons • I Told You So – Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis • I’m Alive – Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews • Seeing Stars – Jack Ingram featuring Patty Griffin

I seriously try to keep things positive – I have an inner Mary Poppins, you know. But, I have to just ask – how in the world did You Belong with Me find itself in the nominations? It’s not Taylor’s best and it certainly isn’t Country Music’s best. Oh, well, I don’t want to end on a negative note, so I’ll just say how proud I am of the ACMAs for recognizing Lady Antebellum, The Zac Brown Band, Miranda Lambert, and Hillbilly Bone.

I also want to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to Joey + Rory! As much as I love Montgomery Gentry, I wouldn’t be upset at all if they won the category. Of course… come on…. we all know who will. Not only do the ACMAs love, love, love Brooks & Dunn, they’re more likely than ever to give them the award since they announced that they’re breaking up.

Congrats to all of the nominees – just about all of them are very well-deserved. A few categories (like to new solo vocalist for example) could, literally, go any way. It’s been an outstanding year in Country Music!

Hillbilly Bone Video by Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins

by Joi on October 30, 2009

Love it! Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins together… are you kidding me, it’s a can’t miss.

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill – It’s Your Love Video

by Joi on June 14, 2009

If there’s ever been a more beautiful song, I can’t imagine what it’d be. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s voices are pure magic, especially together.

John Rich – Son of a Preacher Man and Larger than Life in Country Music

by Joi on March 28, 2009

Even if you don’t follow country music closely (and I can’t imagine anyone who doesn’t these days with Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Kellie Pickler, Keith Urban, Big & Rich…), I know you’ve heard of the cowboy rock stars of Nashville, Big & Rich. The “rich” part of the equation is John Rich and he just might be the most out-spoken, opinionated, and blissfully talented writer in Country Music right now. Personally, I’ve been a big fan since he and “Big Kenny” strutted onto the country music map singing about saving horses and riding cowboys.

They made all of us sit up and say, “Whut? Whut?”

John Rich has a solo cd coming out, Son of a Preacher Man. The title cut is about his relationship with his own dad, a preacher man. In an interview with The Boot.com, John Rich told why the title song is so close to his heart: “Imagine being the most hardcore, rock ‘n’ roll, honkeytonk singer in Nashville … the wildest kid in town. But your dad is a fire and brimstone, Bible-banging preacher. He’s never been judgmental, but I’ve never recorded a song that offended him. I’ve played him songs that he’s said, ‘Nah, I’d rather you not say that,’ so I didn’t record them. That’s how much of an impact my dad has had on me.”

He told The Boot that his partner, Kenny, was on a Mission trip to Africa and that they will be touring together. He’s also certain there are more cds in Big & Rich’s future. And that’s news that follows under the category Great!

One of the talents that most impresses me about John Rich is his song writing abilities. He has written songs for Big & Rich (Lost in this Moment, Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy…), Gretchen Wilson (Redneck Woman, When I Think About Cheatin’, Here for the Party), Keith Anderson (Pickin’ Wildflowers) Cowboy Troy (If You Don’t Wanna Love Me, with Sarah Buxton), Faith Hill (Mississippi Girl, Sunshine and Summertime), Faith Hill & Tim McGraw (Like We Never Loved at All), Jason Aldean (Hicktown, Johnny Cash), Aaron Tippin, Martina McBride, Clay Walker, Shannon Brown (Corn Fed), James Otto, Jewel, and so on. I’m still researching songs that he has written or co-written and I honestly can’t keep up with them all.

It blows the mind.

Jessica Simpson, Julianne Hough, LeAnn Rimes and Kellie Pickler Pictures

by Joi on February 12, 2009

Four of the prettiest faces in Country Music – Jessica Simpson, Julianne Hough, LeAnn Rimes, and Kellie Pickler – were on hand at the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards Nominations Announcement. I wonder how awkward it was, given the fact that LeAnn Rimes has been pretty catty about Jessica in the media.

Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough, Darius Rucker, Chuck Wicks, and Kristin Chenoweth

by Joi on December 15, 2008

Darius Rucker, Julianne Hough, Chuck Wicks, and Krisitn Chenowith were on hand at the “Christmas In Washington 2008″on December 14th. Click each picture to see the larger version.

Julianne Hough and Kristin Chenowith

Julianne Hough and Darius Rucker

Julianne Hough and Chuck Wicks

I’ll actually be going to the Ryman in Nashville, Tennessee to see Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood, Julianne Hough, Diamond Rio, and Chuck Wicks tomorrow night… IF the weather will be kind enough to knock off this icy mess.

Heidi Newfield’s Johnny and June Video

by Joi on September 4, 2008

Artist: Heidi Newfield (You probably remember her as the lead singer of Trick Pony)

Song: Johnny and June

Why We Love the Song and Video: How could you not love Heidi’s voice? It’s amazing. Heidi looks great and has a ton of charisma and spark. I think this video is as visually beautiful as Heidi is. When you add in the fact that Johnny and June’s love story was one of the sweetest ever, this whole shebang falls under the category “Can’t miss.”

See what you think!