Related To Story
|
Preview: CMA Awards Tonight
Show Celebrates 40th Anniversary
UPDATED: 1:58 pm CST November 6, 2006
When viewers tune in Monday night to see the Country Music Association Awards, they won't see just another awards show. They'll be witnessing a coronation of sorts.More than celebrating the show's 40 years, this year's star-packed event should mark country music's return to the throne, restating its predominant position in the pop music landscape and in the entertainment industry. Despite its silly, strict dress code (all male country stars must wear cowboy hats!), the music is no longer a joke. It's no longer relegated to the back of the record store nor on second-rate, hillbilly-defaming TV shows like "Hee Haw."
As Rolling Stone magazine notes, country music CD sales are significantly up despite an industry-wide decline, and tours by country music's brightest superstars rub shoulders with the Rolling Stones and U2 in terms of dollars earned.Country music stars command precious airtime at premier events like the Grammys or Oscars, hobnob in the industry's elite circles and even marry Hollywood starlets. Not since the early part of the last century has country music been able to reclaim its former place in the American psyche. All this because it now has the economic muscle to back up CMA's claim that country is "America's most popular music genre."While last year's show was held in New York, one of the mainstream music industry's twin capitals, the CMA Awards return this year to Nashville. It's more than just coming back to the music's fountainhead. It's a symbolic embrace of itself, its legacy and promising future.The reasons for this musical resurgence are twofold. First, it's simply demographics.In the early '90s, Garth Brooks became the first of many country stars who explicitly blurred the lines between country, rock and pop and thus captured aging Baby Boomers disillusioned with rock. Later, even smoother acts like Shania Twain, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks and Billy Ray Cyrus would build on this, opening millions more eyes and ears to country music.Optimists say this new breed of country stars engaged the Boomers in a way that classic rock artists did in the '60s and '70s. Skeptics say that as Boomers' waistlines expanded, the volume was turned up on their hearing aids, their politics came into line with the red states, and these changes influenced their choice in music. Many of these ex-rock fans found little to identify with in young, rebellious music and enjoyed country's soothing consistency and patriotic vibe. The fact that Nashville's newest megastars thoroughly embrace pop forms and often share pop songsmiths was only a bonus.The second cause behind country's renaissance is something that will be demonstrated on the CMAs: star power. This year's roster of performers and presenters is packed with a majority of the music's hottest talents. Few genres can claim a prettier and higher-selling cadre of titans.Multiple-award nominees Brooks and Dunn are hosting again, but most folks will be tuning in to see a roster that includes Hill, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, LeAnn Rimes, Rascal Flatts and the scandal-hounded Sara Evans.There are also some interesting twists. One is the surprising appearance of pop-rockers Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora. Their band is enjoying a hit with "Who Says You Can't Go Home," a song that features Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and is one of the nominees for Musical Event of the Year.Even more shocking will be an appearance of Kellie Pickler of "American Idol," a young woman who, unlike fellow "Idol" graduate Underwood, deserves the title of the Anna Kornikova of country music. In fact, the only clear links to the music's past in this year's show are Dolly Parton and poor old Kris Kristofferson, who's more an actor these days anyway.One star you won't be seeing is Keith Urban. The country crooner and husband of movie star Nicole Kidman backed out of his appearance in the show earlier this week after checking himself into rehab for alcoholism. He was nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Best Male Vocalist -- two trophies that he claimed last year. Urban was also nominated for Best Single, for "Better Life," and for Song of the Year for "Tonight I Wanna Cry," which he co-wrote.Whether Urban's rehab stint will hurt or help his chances of winning any awards is open to speculation. (The awards are voted by CMA members.) With a powerful hit single still fresh in popular memory, he was clearly an early favorite for Entertainer of the Year.But in that category, Urban is facing off against the middle-of-the-road Brooks and Dunn and the genre's other newest star, Paisley. Both Brooks and Dunn and Paisley led this year's nominations with six apiece. Add the ever-popular (and ex of Renee Zellweger) Kenny Chesney to that list and you have a veritable shootout at the OK Corral.Urban is up against the same group -- plus Underwood -- for Single of the Year and then just Chesney and Paisley again in Male Vocalist of the Year (joined by always stately Alan Jackson and Dierks Bentley). With a lineup like that, Single of the Year will be the toughest slugfest of the night with Underwood proving a potential upset threat against all that testosterone.Underwood, who received three nominations this year, is a shoo-in for the Horizon Award, country's equivalent of best new artist, but she might also be an unusually strong contender in Female Vocalist of the Year, despite facing off with Faith Hill. Remember that the first winner of "American Idol," Kelly Clarkson, cleaned many vets' clocks at the Grammys last year.Near old-timers Brooks and Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Alan Jackson dominate the Album of the Year category, but there's no question the award is a head-to-head battle between Chesney and Paisley.The lack of unassailable frontrunners in most of these categories is again a testament to the cavalcade of superstars staring down at each other. Each award is Godzilla-versus-Mothra type match but with five pop-friendly combatants. All this megawattage feeds the cycle that has boosted country's continuing appeal. And it should translate into millions of eyeballs watching, which will solidify one message: Country is king.For More Info:
 |
| CMA Section | | |
As Rolling Stone magazine notes, country music CD sales are significantly up despite an industry-wide decline, and tours by country music's brightest superstars rub shoulders with the Rolling Stones and U2 in terms of dollars earned.Country music stars command precious airtime at premier events like the Grammys or Oscars, hobnob in the industry's elite circles and even marry Hollywood starlets. Not since the early part of the last century has country music been able to reclaim its former place in the American psyche. All this because it now has the economic muscle to back up CMA's claim that country is "America's most popular music genre."While last year's show was held in New York, one of the mainstream music industry's twin capitals, the CMA Awards return this year to Nashville. It's more than just coming back to the music's fountainhead. It's a symbolic embrace of itself, its legacy and promising future.The reasons for this musical resurgence are twofold. First, it's simply demographics.In the early '90s, Garth Brooks became the first of many country stars who explicitly blurred the lines between country, rock and pop and thus captured aging Baby Boomers disillusioned with rock. Later, even smoother acts like Shania Twain, Faith Hill, the Dixie Chicks and Billy Ray Cyrus would build on this, opening millions more eyes and ears to country music.Optimists say this new breed of country stars engaged the Boomers in a way that classic rock artists did in the '60s and '70s. Skeptics say that as Boomers' waistlines expanded, the volume was turned up on their hearing aids, their politics came into line with the red states, and these changes influenced their choice in music. Many of these ex-rock fans found little to identify with in young, rebellious music and enjoyed country's soothing consistency and patriotic vibe. The fact that Nashville's newest megastars thoroughly embrace pop forms and often share pop songsmiths was only a bonus.The second cause behind country's renaissance is something that will be demonstrated on the CMAs: star power. This year's roster of performers and presenters is packed with a majority of the music's hottest talents. Few genres can claim a prettier and higher-selling cadre of titans.Multiple-award nominees Brooks and Dunn are hosting again, but most folks will be tuning in to see a roster that includes Hill, Kenny Chesney, Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Martina McBride, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, George Strait, LeAnn Rimes, Rascal Flatts and the scandal-hounded Sara Evans.There are also some interesting twists. One is the surprising appearance of pop-rockers Jon Bon Jovi and guitarist Richie Sambora. Their band is enjoying a hit with "Who Says You Can't Go Home," a song that features Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland and is one of the nominees for Musical Event of the Year.Even more shocking will be an appearance of Kellie Pickler of "American Idol," a young woman who, unlike fellow "Idol" graduate Underwood, deserves the title of the Anna Kornikova of country music. In fact, the only clear links to the music's past in this year's show are Dolly Parton and poor old Kris Kristofferson, who's more an actor these days anyway.One star you won't be seeing is Keith Urban. The country crooner and husband of movie star Nicole Kidman backed out of his appearance in the show earlier this week after checking himself into rehab for alcoholism. He was nominated for four awards, including Entertainer of the Year and Best Male Vocalist -- two trophies that he claimed last year. Urban was also nominated for Best Single, for "Better Life," and for Song of the Year for "Tonight I Wanna Cry," which he co-wrote.Whether Urban's rehab stint will hurt or help his chances of winning any awards is open to speculation. (The awards are voted by CMA members.) With a powerful hit single still fresh in popular memory, he was clearly an early favorite for Entertainer of the Year.But in that category, Urban is facing off against the middle-of-the-road Brooks and Dunn and the genre's other newest star, Paisley. Both Brooks and Dunn and Paisley led this year's nominations with six apiece. Add the ever-popular (and ex of Renee Zellweger) Kenny Chesney to that list and you have a veritable shootout at the OK Corral.Urban is up against the same group -- plus Underwood -- for Single of the Year and then just Chesney and Paisley again in Male Vocalist of the Year (joined by always stately Alan Jackson and Dierks Bentley). With a lineup like that, Single of the Year will be the toughest slugfest of the night with Underwood proving a potential upset threat against all that testosterone.Underwood, who received three nominations this year, is a shoo-in for the Horizon Award, country's equivalent of best new artist, but she might also be an unusually strong contender in Female Vocalist of the Year, despite facing off with Faith Hill. Remember that the first winner of "American Idol," Kelly Clarkson, cleaned many vets' clocks at the Grammys last year.Near old-timers Brooks and Dunn, Rascal Flatts and Alan Jackson dominate the Album of the Year category, but there's no question the award is a head-to-head battle between Chesney and Paisley.The lack of unassailable frontrunners in most of these categories is again a testament to the cavalcade of superstars staring down at each other. Each award is Godzilla-versus-Mothra type match but with five pop-friendly combatants. All this megawattage feeds the cycle that has boosted country's continuing appeal. And it should translate into millions of eyeballs watching, which will solidify one message: Country is king.For More Info:
- Country Music Association Awards' Official Web Site
- Country Music Association's Official Web Site
- Brooks And Dunn's Official Web Site
- Keith Urban's Official Web Site
- Kenny Chesney's Official Web Site
- Brad Paisley's Official Web Site
- Carrie Underwood's Official Web Site
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
