CMA Awards 2011:
Performances , presentations, press
(Links shown in red to photo images and Youtube videos)
At 6:26 (00:26 GMT) Country singer and actress Laura Bell Bundy in a telecast event before the main show presented Hall Of Fame inductees, radio awards, radio personality awards, National radio personality (kix Brooks),
Musician of the Year (Winner - Mac McAnally-Guitar) ,
Music Video award (Winner - ‘You and Tequilla,’ Kenny Chesney Feat. Grace Potter) and
Musical Event of the Year (Winner - Don’t You Wanna’ Stay,’ Jason Aldean Feat. Kelly Clarkson )
** Times shown in Nashville
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| Keith Urban-Brad Paisley-Vince Gill-perform- in the Glen Campbell Tribute one the nights big moments at the 2011 CMA's (Getty Image) |
1) 8.04pm Performance - Blake Shelton & Kenny Loggins “Footloose”! Shelton Nashville
2) Hosts Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood walk onto the stage and are engaging in "comedy banter", according to a journalist from The Guardian “Carrie appears to be wearing a tent made out of several rolls of Charmin” – Do you agree with her fashion observation? Brad and Carrie warmed up the crowd to start the night with Hank Williams Jr. 62, (a rare face at the awards) making a surprise appearance as the hosts performed a re-vamped version of Williams’ well-known anthem “Family Tradition” to cheers and applause. Brad and Carrie bring out a pair of Barbie dolls ("OMG!" cries Carrie) whilst making their Barbies have simulated love making. On stage. Loudly. Is this legal? Well, it probably is in Nashville.
3) 8:12pm – 8:14pm Presentation & Award! Eric Stonestreet from Modern Family is presenting an award for “Single of the Year”. First nominated in 2010, The Band Perry win their first-ever CMA Award for “If I Die Young” which was the first of three on the night - “Oh, first of all, we wanted to say thank you to the beautiful fans of Country Music,” said Kimberly Perry. “It is the joy of our whole lives to sing this song for you guys.”
1) – 3) shown Part 1 on Youtube -
4) 8:19 – 8:24pm Performance Carrie has made her first dress change. Enter Keith Urban (picture) wearing Q-reader uniform of black jeans and black shirt in the centre of the Bridgestone Arena as he performs a smooth “You're Gonna Fly“ with adoring female fans looking on it prompts a CMA walkabout. Due for throat surgery soon his condition is affecting his vocals quite a bit but a good performance nonetheless. - Watch YouTube Video
5) 8:24pm Performance – Its’s Female Vocalist nominee Sara Evans (photo) wearing black trousers and a black top (trend alert?) performing “A Little Bit Stronger" which in May 2011 gave her the fifth Number One hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs. Was she nervous ? Vocally she sounds like it's wavering slightly off pitch. - Watch YouTube Video
6) 8:33 Performance - Carrie has made another dress change now wearing half a pink dress! It’s now the turn of Female Vocalist nominee Miranda Lambert performing “Baggage Claim” . Dressed in black she has what good be deemed as a silver World Wide Wrestling giant belt wrapped around her middle . Has the flight been delayed, check the arrivals boards? - Watch YouTube Video
4) – 6) shown Part 2 on Youtube
7) 8:35 Presentation & Award - Kellie Pickler and Kellan Lutz (from “Twilight” movie series) present the award for Song Of The Year. It goes to "If I Die Young" . Its writer Kimberly Perry from The Band Perry picks up the trophy - “I truly believe that if ‘I Die Young’ would have been written with or without me, it was a song that was meant to be,” she said. “But I was so excited to have pen and paper in hand when it was ready to come to earth.”
When it was pointed out by press room reporter that very few songwriters in Nashville compose their songs alone, Kimberly Perry recalled how the song came about - "I remember that the song only took one day to finish," she said. "But I got about halfway finished and I played it for my mother and swore I was going to bring it to town to co-write. And she said, 'You know what? You really need to finish this one all by yourself.' So I went back upstairs and knocked out the back half. It was a special day."
8) 8:40 Performance – With no less than 5 CMA nominations it’s the Zac Brown Band (picture) joined by Southern rocker Gregg Allman on a cover of "Georgia On My Mind”. A lovely soulful jazzy number with a hot swampy backdrop yet Zac feels obliged to wear his traditional head gear (wool hat/tea cosy) - Watch YouTube Video
9) 8:45 Performance - It’s now Vocal Group of the Year nominated Rascal Flatts who take centre stage joined by 29-year old Sussex born British pop singer and songwriter. Natasha Beddingfield (photo) to perform "Easy" which is OTT. She is wearing Snuffleupagus on her bottom half and just a bra on her top half (cleavage) - An extraordinary combination or cool fashion sense? - Watch YouTube Video
10) 8:47 Presentation & Award – Presenters Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas from ABC’s “Once Upon A Time”. It’s 4 years running as Sugarland win Vocal Duo of the Year (photo), their fifth before performing “Run” with Matt Nathanson.
"First of all, I would like to thank Mr. Gregg Allman. That was me on the red carpet that reached out and shook your hand," Jennifer Nettles said with a grin. "I would love to dedicate this to the fans this year. Thank you, guys. Thank you to the good folks in Indiana."
Afterwards in the press room one reporter asked if they automatically expect a victory every year. Jennifer Nettles, who attended the event with boyfriend Justin Miller, blew off the suggestion - "Please, girl, you can't expect anything in this industry. If you do, you are setting yourself up!" she answered with a laugh.
11) 8:54pm Performance - Nominee for Best New Artist Eric Church performs "Drink in my Hand” - Watch YouTube Video - When he stepped off stage he shared “This was my first time performing on the CMA Awards, and I really did not know what to expect. I was blown away by the energy from the crowd and it made the performance one hell of a good time. I hope I get to do it again.”
12) 8:56pm Performance - New Artist of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year nominated husband and wife Thompson Square (photo) perform “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not “ Singing in front of what looks very much like a nativity scene with push bikes parked at the back. Like Shawna’s new look! x Keifer gets said “kiss” on lips at the end awww.
13) 8:58pm Performance - Chris Young (photo) who is nominated for Best New Artist performs “Voices” - Watch YouTube Video
14) 9:06pm Performance – With 5 CMA nominations Taylor Swift (photo) wearing a purple sweater performs “This Love Of Ours” with the stage decked with side table and lamp and exotic birdcage to resemble the living room to offer something that’s relaxed and intimate. - Watch YouTube Video
11 - 14) shown Part 4 on Youtube
15) 9:08 The Guardian correspondent blogs “We have the worst outfit of the year, possibly even the worst outfit of all time, ever. Carrie Underwood is now wearing blouson leather shorts, a tux jacket and a top hat”
16) 9:09 Performance – New Artist of the Year nominee for the second year Luke Bryan (photo) performs “Country Girl (Shake It For Me) “singing his assy song about asses. The pyro flames behind the stage are as hot as the sexy clad female dancers!
17 ) 9:17 Miss Piggy is on stage to engage in "comedy banter" with Carrie and Brad.... Carrie has just made a joke about domestic abuse. Now back to the CMAs.
18) 9:17 Performance – Vocal Group of the Year nominees Lady Antebellum along with two-thirds of Nashville join them as they perform “Own The Night“ - Watch YouTube Video
19 ) 9:21 Presentation & Award! Presenters Erin Andrews ESPN sportscaster and "Good Morning America" correspondent and St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese walk on to announce the recipient for Album of the Year. It goes to MY KINDA PARTY by Jason Aldean (photo), his second CMA win following his first one for “Musical Event” awarded before the live show. The 2011’s biggest country seller with 2-million beats out Taylor Swift’s 2010 October release “SPEAK Now” which has sold 3.7 million copies. This is a bit of a surprise.
"What a year!" said a visibly moved Jason from the stage. He went on to thank his wife and daughters "for putting up with my schedule" and his longtime producer, Michael Knox, for plucking him from an Atlanta club and bringing him to Nashville 13 years ago to fulfill his dreams.
“It's crazy. I feel like with the success of the song that we had with Kelly I felt we had a decent shot with winning award for that song, but as far as album of the year goes, that is something that wasn't expected at all. To pull that in was cool," Aldean told reporters backstage.
20 ) 9:34 Performance - Kenny Chesney (photo) and Grace Potter (from the American rock band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals) appear in middle of the room and sing the Deana Carter/Matraca Berg penned Song Of The Year nominated "You and Tequila." Kenny's sounding a little off but not singing about partying on those sun kissed islands. - Watch YouTube Video
Reporters had a chance to chat with Chesney backstage , who won the video of the year award with singing partner Grace Potter and director Shaun Silva. It was the first time Chesney has won in the video category.
Chesney mentioned that he only knew Potter through her music when he asked her to sing on the poignant track, "You and Tequila." - "I knew about Grace's music, and I knew her voice, but to me, this goes to show you the power of music," he said. "Grace and I had never met before we went into the studio to record this song. I knew of her and her great band. But I knew this song that Matraca Berg and Deana Carter wrote was such a tortured-soul song. It was obviously about being addicted to tequila but also about being addicted to that person you know is no good for you but you keep going back for some reason."
He continued, "So when I recorded the song, I felt like I needed the other side. I felt like I needed the female perspective also. I heard Grace sing a song called 'Apologies' that she wrote when she was 17 years old. That song killed me. I said, 'That's the voice that I want.' Like I said, we never met before we went into the studio, and the chemistry was evident from the moment we stepped into the studio. Shaun caught that chemistry in a couple of days in Southern California, and here we are."
Asked about her impressions following the first time she watched the video, Potter replied, "I was like, 'Why am I in my panties?'"
After everyone in the pressroom shared a laugh, she continued, "I personally was thrilled. I think the video is an unbelievable illustration of a song about subtlety and longing and that aching feeling you get when maybe something's not quite right. But Shaun got it right. And I think that's the first thing that crossed my mind -- that he just got it."
Chesney mentioned that he only knew Potter through her music when he asked her to sing on the poignant track, "You and Tequila." - "I knew about Grace's music, and I knew her voice, but to me, this goes to show you the power of music," he said. "Grace and I had never met before we went into the studio to record this song. I knew of her and her great band. But I knew this song that Matraca Berg and Deana Carter wrote was such a tortured-soul song. It was obviously about being addicted to tequila but also about being addicted to that person you know is no good for you but you keep going back for some reason."
He continued, "So when I recorded the song, I felt like I needed the other side. I felt like I needed the female perspective also. I heard Grace sing a song called 'Apologies' that she wrote when she was 17 years old. That song killed me. I said, 'That's the voice that I want.' Like I said, we never met before we went into the studio, and the chemistry was evident from the moment we stepped into the studio. Shaun caught that chemistry in a couple of days in Southern California, and here we are."
Asked about her impressions following the first time she watched the video, Potter replied, "I was like, 'Why am I in my panties?'"
After everyone in the pressroom shared a laugh, she continued, "I personally was thrilled. I think the video is an unbelievable illustration of a song about subtlety and longing and that aching feeling you get when maybe something's not quite right. But Shaun got it right. And I think that's the first thing that crossed my mind -- that he just got it."
16) – 20) shown Part 5 on YouTube
21) 9:34 Little Jimmy Dickens as Little Justin Beiber joins Brad and Carrie on so stage for some light hearted fun.
22) 9:35 Performance – Although the album is not out until March 2012, we get a taster of Lionel Richie’s 'TUSKEGEE' at the the CMA Awards. Starting with a country-fied ”Deep River Woman” with Little Big Town. As they walk off stage Lionel is joined on “Stuck On You” by Darius Rucker (photo) and finally Lionel rushes across to perform "Dancing on the Ceiling" with Rascal Flatts for a CMA party! - Watch YouTube Video
21) – 22 shown Part 6 on Youtube
23) 9:46 Nashville School of the Arts segment as seniors Charley Woods and Mignon Grabois are sat on stools on stage with Brad Paisley. Why ?
Well two weeks ago their dream began when they received news from their principal - "They want you to sing with Brad Paisley on the CMA Awards," Grabois recalled about the conversation. "No they don't…oh my goodness. I cried. I balled," both explained about their reaction.That's when the whirlwind began with meetings, rehearsals and even walking the red carpet.
"I was like I hope I don't fall off this chair because the stool was shaking. I was trying to keep my throat from becoming dry," they said about the moments before their performance. In an instant, the who's who of country music knew their names. The performance was a part of CMA's Keep the Music Playing initiative that promotes music education in public schools.
Celebs strolling the CMA red carpet were asked to autograph a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro convertible. CMA Awards co-host Brad Paisley was the first artist to sign the hood when he performed live on ABC’s Good Morning America on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Chevy donated the car to be auctioned off to benefit the CMA music education initiative Keep the Music Playing.
Charley Woods and Mignon Grabois were then given the honour by Brad to introduce the next live performance by Band Perry
24) 9:48 Performance – The Band Perry are back on the CMA stage singing the creepy cool "All Your Life" - Watch YouTube Video
25) 9:53 Presentation & Award – LeAnn Rimes and Billy Currington present the award for Vocal Group of the Year which goes to Lady Antebellum once more, that’s 3 wins in a row in this category.
26) 9:56 Performance – Sugarland who are always pushing the boundaries of “country music” are joined by American rock/pop/folk singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson to perform their new single, ‘Run’. It’s more like Matt featuring Sugarland on this bad-for-me love song. ‘Run’ is on Nathanson’s most recent album ‘Modern Love. Kristian Bush out of camera shot plays electric guitar as Jennifer Nettles and Matt stare at each other across the stage as Matt opens with the words” I want to watch you undress, I want to watch you glow, let your hair down and cover us both”. Ummm nice. With its modern day U2-like anthemic take it’s one to rock those stadiums but doesn’t seem to impress onlooker Miranda Lambert with her blank expression. - Watch YouTube Video
27) 10:04 Performance – With an old-school Tammy Wynette hair-do as Carrie Underwood duets with Brad Paisley on “Remind Me” – Yes why do I like this #1 country song, remind me again? - Watch YouTube Video
28) 10:10 Presentation & Award – Presenters Lauren Alaina (American Idol runner up 2011)and Jake Owen present the New Artist of the Year award and The Band Perry (photo) are winners again their third on the night.
So it isn’t yet past Isn't it past Scotty McCreery's bedtime in a school week as he performs a short segment with “Walk In The Country” (written by Keith Urban) off his new album release CLEAR AS DAY before he announces some of the radio stations had won CMA Awards. He gave a big Raleigh, N.C. a shout-out for Large Market Station of the Year WQDR. Winners - Watch on YouTube
30) 10:19 Presentation & Award! - Nashvillian movie star Reese Witherspoon (photo) presents the award for Male Vocalist of the Year and for the second year in succession it goes to Blake Shelton (photo) wearing loose (manless) jeans, a crisp blue shirt with sleeves rolled up, a tie AND a waistcoat. Blake said, “for the first time I now feel secure in country music. It’s
such a fickle industry and to win this thing two years in a row, I don’t feel like last year was a fluke.”
such a fickle industry and to win this thing two years in a row, I don’t feel like last year was a fluke.”
It seems as though Blake Shelton's eyes were roaming just a little bit at the 2011 CMA Awards. While wearing his staple beer goggles, the 'Honey Bee' hitmaker tweeted (@blakeshelton) that he just couldn't stop staring at Carrie Underwood's legs –““If y'all are watching the CMAs tonight I'll be the loud drunk guy on the front row cheering for Carrie Underwoods legs..”
31) 10:22 – Performance – It’s Martina McBride (photo) on a small centre stage in a white tux and her powerful song of hope “Gonna Love You Through it” - Watch YouTube Video
shown Part 8 on YouTube
31) 10:32 Performance – Glen Campbell Tribute . After showing vintage footage on the backstage Country music’s answer to The Three Tenors in the form of guitar slingers Vince Gill, Keith Urban and Brad Paisley take turns to pay homage to 75-year old Glenn Campbell who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's this year. Backed by a string section Vince Gill sings "By the Time I Get to Phoenix” beautifully which is admired by a smiling Reba McEntire. Keith covers "Wichita Lineman” and trades tasteful guitar licks with Paisley then Brad’s version of "Galveston" receives the double thumbs-up from Glen. Songwriter Jimmy Webb is there on piano and Glen Campbell gets an immediate standing ovation, this is an emotional moment. It was a shame and looked a bit awkward at the end when they brought Glen on-stage, handed him a guitar, everyone’s waiting for him to sing then abruptly suddenly ABC went to a commercial break :(
"It was wonderful to have such a tribute from those guys," Campbell told reporters afterward. - Watch YouTube Video
Performance – Faith Hill (photo) wearing black and a sheer top with witchy make up and big hair showcases her brand new single "Come Home". nice to see Chris Rodriguez (Ex Keith Urban) in her band singing backups - Watch YouTube Video
shown Part 9 on YouTube
33) 10:50 Presentation & Award! - Dierks Bentley and Emily VanCamp (star of ABC's "Revenge") present the Female Vocalist Award and it’s Miranda Lambert (photo) who retains her trophy for a second year.Taylor Swift looks a bit disappointed to miss out on this one. Will she go home empty handed?
"Seriously?" Miranda asked, clearly shocked by the honor. "Thank you so much. I did not expect to get this at all. I had a great year last year, and I'm very very humbled to be standing up here in front of these amazing females that are here and deserve it if not more than I do. Thank you, country music fans".Congrats to my hubby, too. It's gonna be a good night tonight, babaaaaay!" yells a thrilled Miranda.
It's kind of crazy," Lambert said of the accomplishment. "You hope, when you get into this business, that you can make history and to actually see it happening is a dream come true. I worked my butt off and it's like 'Thank you God! It's paying off.'"
34 ) 10:57 Presentation & Award! Reba's McEntire (photo) the CMA 1986 Entertainer comes on to present this years big one the 2011 Entertainer of the Year. Before doing so she thanks the Country Music Hall Of Fame for inducting her this year and namedrops Jean Shepard and Bobby Braddock (sat in the audience). And it’s Taylor Swift (photo) who wins ! Taylor Swift has the names to thank in her acceptance speech written on her arm all opf whom guested with her on her SPEAK NOW 2011 Tour. Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta is sat hugging Taylor’s Mum on the front row. - Watch YouTube Video
shown Part 10 on YouTube
Sum Up - And that’s it for another year. Would have been nice to have had a Memorial segment to honour those country artists who've passed away this year. Some vocal issues again despite rehearals. Thought the CMA might have fallen out with Sugarland as they stretch the country envelope to breaking point. Surprised Zac Brown went home empty handed. The moment of the night was the Glen Campbell tribute. Congratulations to Taylor Swift as she makes history and has written another chapter in her life that will not appear in the new book by Andrew Vaughan. Perhaps it will in Taylor Swift 2.0.
Whole Show in 10 Parts on Youtube
Sources – CMT - YouTube , Hosted Photo Images (Getty), Guardian Blog
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