HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

To you and all your friends and family.

May your day be blessed with much joy, and much food!

Tim McGraw on SNL

Tim hosted the show last Saturday. I totally forgot to tape it 'cuz I was visiting my folks. I don't think I missed much. It seems if their not doing political commentary they are not funny anymore (JMHO). Here's one of Tim's skits from You Tube. He looks fantastic, but I failed to laugh during this sketch and I bet you won't either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOK5NtPjT7c

AMA'S

The American Music Awards were handed out Sunday night. I didn't watch the program. Truthfully, there are only 3 awards shows I watch. CMA's, ACM's, and the Oscars. I have a hard time watching others.

But here's a list of winners for you. Remember these awards are fan voted. Let's see if your country picks won.

Favorite Male Artist
Brad Paisley - beat out Kenny Chesney & Garth Brooks

Favorite Female Artist
Taylor Swift - beat out Carrie Underwood & Reba McEntire

Favorite Band, Duo, or Group
Rascal Flatts - beat out Brooks & Dunn & Sugarland

Favorite Album
Carrie Underwood "Carnival Ride" beat out Garth Brooks "Ultimate Hits" & Rascal Flatts "Still Feels Good"

Things to make you laugh.

First thing this morning I found this picture of Kid Rock and had to share it with you. Hilarious! Who dresses this guy? Is he wearing slippers with his fur coat? More embarrassing than your mom driving you to school in her robe and curlers!

One of my girlfriends sent me this video that I wanted to share too. Great stuff! God Bless the Troops!

42nd Annual CMA's

I have finally finished the blog! I have added photos and links to certain performances - you will find those as you scroll thru the story.

Here's a quick recap of the winners - my winning picks are in bold - I did pretty well :)
Entertainer of the Year – Kenny Chesney
Male Vocalist of the Year – Brad Paisley
Female Vocalist of the Year – Carrie Underwood
Vocal Duo of the Year – Sugarland
Vocal Group of the Year – Rascal Flatts
Best New Artist – Lady Antebellum
Single of the Year – “I Saw God Today” George Strait
Song of the Year – “Stay” Sugarland
Musical Event of the Year - "Gone Gone Gone" Alison Kraus & Robert Plant

Hello, and welcome to my live CMA blog. I am just going to blog along as I watch and try to fill in during the commercials. So if some details are skimpy sorry. I don’t have TiVo or DVR.

Brad and Keith begin the show with “Start a Band.” Man, they make t-shirts look good! Brad’s guitar is a glittery blue. They soooo need to tour together. Wow, loved the part where they both bent way back while playing. It was a little like The Limbo.

I like the video screens behind them showing pix of the CMA nominees and presenters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs5qrh-AJzE

Brad and Carrie are hosting and since he started the show with Keith he’s gotta change, and he proves that he is the quick change artist, tucking in his shirt and fixing his tie while coming out. Carrie jokes with him about it.

OMG I Hate Carrie’s dress! WTH were they thinking putting her in that thing – she has no figure in it! It is a gorgeous color blue, with a colorful row of beads at the top, but yikes! Her hair and makeup are great thou. This isn't a bad picture of her in the dress, but I still hated it.

Brad is talking about the big boots that he has to fill and then says that Dolly Parton once hosted the show so Carrie would have something big to fill to…LOL…the look Carrie gave Brad when he said that.

Audience flashes reveal that Taylor Swift looks beautiful, and George Strait still gets my heart going pitter patter.

Brad the smart-aleck…“Nobody here is a loser…yet.”

Brad introduces the artist who will present the Single of the Year. It’s the stars of the new movie (opening November 26th) Nicole Kidman (aka Mrs. Keith Urban) and Hugh Jackman. One of Brad’s lines goes something like this. “Nicole has grabbed Keith’s heart and since they just had a baby together I’m guessing everything else.” hehe, naughty!

“Good day Nashville!” (**sigh** that accent Hugh Jackman. Just read anything and I’ll listen. And I am suddenly thinking “Wolverines!!!” Oops that was Red Dawn and he was Wolverine in X-Men.
Single of the Year
“I Saw God Today” George Strait – his 3rd win and 12th nomination in this category.
Such a pretty song – I don’t know how the judges picked a winner they were all sooo good.
I am starting with a goose egg since I picked Trace’s “You’re Gonna Miss This.”
George’s speech was so nice. Tony Brown just lets the King talk.

Brad cracks me up! “Kellie Pickler is singing her new song she wrote with her BFF Taylor Swift.
Millions of teenage boys would give up their right gametroller to be in that room – just to write of course.” (paraphrased a bit) LOL Kellie is going to sing “The Best Days of Your Life.”

Holy crap Kellie is HOT! That camera better not go lower or we’ll see if she’s wearing undies. Love her hair and makeup. And those boots!


To the right you'll see her on the red carpet. She described her dress as "Old World Hollywood" and I agree. Va-Va- VOOM!!


Kind of a weak performance for me. When she is belting it she sounds great, but the slower lower parts seemed drowned out. I think she shouldn’t have moved around so much, it must be very hard to sing and walk in those boots, and she also climbed a bunch of stairs. I thought it seemed as if she lost her breath a little in spots.

Now it’s time for Alan Jackson to perform his last number one song “Good Time.” He is so much fun, and you can just tell he’s having a good time, which gets even better when dancers come down and line-dance in the aisles. It looks like the stars are getting a kick outta it. lol I think I see a new trend for Alan’s concerts next summer. I better start practicing.



To the right is Alan on the red carpet with his red hot wife Denise.







Now it’s time for the Song of the Year. Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus are presenting. BRC seems like he’s been having a good time, but is he drunk? He seemed a bit strange opening the envelope. lol I hate Miley’s dress! Once I really saw it I thought it looked terrible on her, and way to old for her too. She should be wearing something fun.
“STAY!” Yes, God, that song! So deserved. Jennifer is just lovely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlgpfZSWN3g

Carrie’s changed and this short dress is much better! Quite lovely, and looks to be in a Greek style, over one shoulder with a nice pin. Nice color on her.

Nice intro for Miranda Lambert to perform “More Like Her.”
Wonderful, touching performance. I love her on the red carpet!

Lady Antebellum is up. Carrie calls them “Country music latest power trio.” They are good.














Now Brad is out. Has he changed clothes? I didn’t notice. LOL
Brad talks about the next performer yelling at her kids, saying that having her scream at them in 3 octaves in 3 different keys must be amazing.
Looks like Martina went with the boots. (if you heard my show Wed then you know that she was debating between boots and heels and said it would be a last minute decision. It was a good choice, but I’m not really crazy about that outfit. Her hair looks great, long and full. You know, I’m not crazy about this song. Maybe it was just the performance, but it just didn’t do it for me. Brad after cracks, “Good job there pipes.” lol






Rodney Atkins is up to sing a new song! Hmmm, how can I put this? I thought his belt buckle looked great. ::wicked grin:: OK, now this is a song I like! I can’t wait till it hits the studio so I can play it for you. Seems like a perfect song to release for summer so it’s interesting that he’s singing it now. Of course when it takes off it’ll be after Christmas and then we’ll need to think about warm things (especially if those wooly caterpillars are right.)

Time for the Vocal Group of the Year presented by Heidi Newfield and John Rich. “Wowsa” to that low red number Heidi is wearing. Let’s see if Rascal Flatts makes it 6 in a row. Yep. The rest of the nominees just need to break out a bit more, so I think we could seriously look for an upset next year.

Well the boys look great. Love Joe Don’s white tie. Jay is a stitch with the flowery blazer and the shirt and tie that match it. Then says they have to wrap up early so he can “get meemaw’s curtains back,” so yes, he is very aware that his outfit can’t help but make you laugh. Gary thanks the fans nicely, and Joe Don interrupts for a great “Aww moment” and that is that this is the first time he can thank his son Jagger Donovan. AWWWWWW!

Taylor Swift time. Yay! OMG what a wonderful performance of “Love Story.” The set, the dancers, the costumes, it’s like a fairy tale. Wow. So sweet. Ahhh, she has another clothing change on stage. The dancers hover around her, the lights strobe and presto! She has a lovely white gown on, and…oooooo…Romeo walks out to her. Nice! It’s going to be all over the net tomorrow, people wondering who he is.




To the right is Taylor on the red carpet looking gorgeous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SccDkRFUmlA

Now Carrie is back out to introduce the next act. Fire whoever is styling her puh-lease! Another shapeless dress on her. This one is more toga like, not as bad as the one she wore when the show opened, but UGH! She is introducing the song we heard “All Summer Long.” Kid Rock. Yes, Kid Rock on the CMA’s. Not a great start, but Kid seemed to get better as he went along. Stronger. Oo oo, I want to be one of his dancing girls. I can do that! Lil Wayne is performing with him. Love the Joe the Strummer t-shirt. Wow it finished great! I was really worried when he first started, but that was a blast!

Carrie and Brad tussle a little while introducing George Strait, who’s singing a new song. “Rollin’ on the River of Love.” A little cheesy, but overall good stuff.

Time for Jason Aldean to sing his new song “She’s Country.” Oh yeah, that’s a winner.

Here comes Taylor to present the Best New Artist. I like her one shoulder (which is very trendy this year) simple black dress. She wants Kellie to win, and I do just to see their reaction. OMG it’s Lady Antebellum! I wasn’t expecting that at all. haha They are so cute accepting.

Back from break with Brad playing guitar (and he has changed – looks good). He salutes Jerry Reed.

Carrie looks terrific in the new dress. Short and frilly with nice bling strap.

Brooks & Dunn are singing “Cowgirls Don’t Cry” with Reba!! I really like this song. Wow Reba really brings it home at the end. LOVE IT! I really want that version to play.

Some up and comers are here to present the Vocal Duo of the Year. Julianne Hough, Jimmy Wayne, and Jake Owen. Julianne’s dress is pretty and the boys look good too.
Vocal Duo of the Year is…WHOOOOO!!! Sugarland!!!! WHOOOOO!! Yayayayayayayyay! Now I hope they win Entertainer of the Year.

Here's a shot of Julianne Hough on the red carpet. Very pretty in pink!


Musician of the Year went to Mac Macanally. If that name sounds familiar it’s because he is Kenny Chesney’s duet partner on his new song “Down the Road.”

Time for Hootie and the Blowfish, I mean Darius Rucker. Singing his debut number one “Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It.” I just love his voice. I always said he had a “toe curler,” meaning it was so good and deep it curled my toes.

Carrie is sweet introducing Brad’s performance of “Waitin’ on a Woman.” Brad can play guitar for me anytime. (what? All I gotta do is listen to Play.)

Josh Turner and Lee Ann Womack present Album of the Year. I like Lee Ann’s silver dress and Josh’s black shirt and tie with gray suit. It’s George Strait’s Troubadour! Ha! Tony Brown is the producer and he is stoked that they won! Hilarious. Looks like he has been partying. He isn’t being subtle with the shades on, the tie undone and funniest of all the points to his friends. lofl

Did they just say "Waitin' On a Woman" won video? I was kinda zoning out.

Keith Urban is performing a new song, “Sweet Thing.” Brad says he thinks he knows who this is about when he introduces him. I really like this song! So fresh and different.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsusE5Vf57c

Now something very special. I know I missed some stuff here, but I was mesmerized so am just writing what I remember.

Her name is Leslie Ponder and her husband was Trey. He was killed in Afghanistan in June 2005 and Carrie’s song has helped her through. She receives a standing ovation and it’s time for Carrie’s “Just a Dream.” How do you perform after that emotional introduction? Powerfully. I am crying. I love her dress, and the necklace is really wow. I am not happy with the director who keeps shooting her from the distance and we get blinding shots of the white light behind her (this really is an issue throughout the night – not good). She gets a standing O and Brad Paisley says “now that is what country music is all about.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYyAtSk_6X4

Brad Paisley introduces Vince Gill who is wearing a lime green shirt, but we can only see the collar and cuffs so it looks good. Vince is introducing the Hall of Fame inductees.

Now he is going to announce the Female Vocalist of the Year. Will Carrie make it 3 in a row? Yep, she is still the best. Love her saying, “Mama it’s real hard to sing when you’re in the 2nd row crying.” Her thank you is aimed at the industry of country music that embraced her even though she had that unusual start (American Idol). And she is so cute as they go to commercial she does a little happy shimmy and kisses it.

Brad is cute introducing Sugarland. Not really sure I like that top Jen is wearing, wait, is it a one-piece? Oh, they are singing “It’s Love” Man, can she sing! They soooo deserved that Vocal Duo award. Whoooooo, that was great!

It’s Brad and Carrie and she is wearing a new dress. This one short and white with red flowers and a big black belt. I like it. Brad asks, “How many dresses?” Carrie says 6 for the show, 7 with the red carpet. Brad asks if she was “up to 150,000 yet?” Love it! LMFAO Then Brad screws up the next joke and wants to start again because “it’s funny.” He “shares dressing room with the next guy, and he’s getting tired of the sand…Kenny.” It’s funny the way he says “Kenny.”

Amazing performance from Kenny Chesney and The Wailers! “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven.”

Awesome, now it’s Trace and “You’re Gonna Miss This.” Love him and this song! Doesn’t he look great? Again with the bizarre camera angles, they actually make him look small.

Here come Reese Witherspoon in an off the shoulder gown. Like the top part, but not the whole thing. She is presenting the Male Vocalist of the Year. Alright! It’s…Brad Paisley. Oops, the doggies are giving me the eye for all my clapping. LOL He runs down to the front row to kiss his wife, but Keith Urban is standing next to her, so he actually hugs and kisses him first. Then he’s kissing Kim and her pregnant belly. 2nd AWWWW moment of the night.

Commercial break side note – love the new Christina Aguilera song – and her as a super hero.

Another side note.
LOST
LOST
LOST
Sorry, just felt the need to chant that after seeing the commercial and Jack screaming “We have to go back!” January 20th is a great day ‘cuz the Moonlight DVD’s come out. January 21st is a better day with a LOST recap and then 2 new episodes! Look for me to do nothing on January 23rd. Maybe I should just take a vacation day. Lol

Excellent, it’s The Eagles doing “Busy Being Fabulous.” They are FABULOUS!! Soooo good. Brad really gave them a poetic introduction.

One more dress for Carrie, a gold number that I can’t really explain, but I think I like it. She is introducing the special guest who will hand out The Entertainer of the Year.

Wow it’s Shania Twain! She gets a standing O. She looks fab, but is almost wearing my high school mullet.

Entertainer of the Year is Kenny Chesney! Win number 4 ties Garth Brooks. Oh, he’s gonna cry. Suddenly he turns and says “You look really good” to Shania which lightens the mood and saves his mascara from running. He thanks a couple of people he’s never thanked before. How gracious and wonderful he is.

So that’s it for another year. Pretty good overall. Some of the performances were a bit weak, but they all seemed to end with a good punch.

Best Performance of the Night – man kinda tough – Keith Urban “Sweet Thing” followed by Taylor’s “Love Story.”

Worst Performance, sadly, Martina McBride’s “Ride.”

Veteran's Day

My dad is a proud Vietnam Vet (Navy Man!) and I credit him for my love of country. Thank you Dad and thank you to all the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who have given up so much so we can have the life that we do. Too often we take for granted the Freedoms that you fight for everyday! FREEDOM ISN'T FREE. Thank you seems so little to say, but it is offered with my entire heart.

Predicting the CMA's

My picks are in the post below, but CMT commissioned a poll and here are that poll's predicted winners.

Entertainer of the Year - Kenny Chesney

Male Vocalist of the Year - Kenny Chesney

Female Vocalist of the Year - Carrie Underwood

Album of the Year - Carrie Underwood "Carnival Ride"

Song of the Year - George Strait "I Saw God Today"

42nd Annual CMA's - This Wednesday

Make sure to check back to this post. If I get any new performers or presenters I’m just going to add them to the list.


Hosting (& performing separately)
Brad Paisley & Carrie Underwood

Performers
Darius Rucker - was going to be just a presenter!
Trace Adkins
Brooks & Dunn
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Keith Urban
George Strait
Sugarland
Miranda lambert
Kellie Pickler
Lady Antebellum
The Eagles
Kid Rock
Kenny Chesney & The Wailers
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Alan Jackson
James Otto
A Surprise Presenter!

Presenters
Vince Gill
John Rich from Big & Rich
Jimmy Wayne
Jake Owen
Julianne Hough
Reese Witherspoon
Billy Ray & Miley Cyrus
Heidi Newfield
Josh Turner
Lee Ann Womack
A Surprise Presenter!

AWARDS - my picks will be italicized

Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland (YAY! First nomination for them in this category)
Keith Urban

I would like Sugarland to win this award but think it's too soon, so I pick Kenny Chesney to tie Garth Brooks with 4 wins in this category!

Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban


Female Vocalist of the Year
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood


Vocal Group of the Year
The Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

Rascal Flatts have won this baby 5 times in a row. I would like to see Little Big Town break that streak. I know they are on a slow rise, but they are soooo good. So they are my pick.

Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland - let's make it two in a row!!!
The Wreckers

New Artist of the Year (formally The Horizon Award)
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler

This is a tough category but I am picking Rodney to win since he had 4 straight number ones from his CD "If You're Going Through Hell."

Single of the Year (award to the artist)
"Don’t Blink” – Kenny Chesney
“Gunpowder & Lead” – Miranda Lambert
“I Saw God Today” – George Strait
“Stay” – Sugarland
“You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins

I really want Trace to win an award for this song so I'm going against my heart (which is screaming "STAY" and picking him.

Song of the Year (award to Songwriter)
“Good Time” – Alan Jackson (Alan Jackson)
“I Saw God Today” – George Strait (Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby)
“Letter To Me” – Brad Paisley (Brad Paisley)
“Stay” – Sugarland (Jennifer Nettles)
“You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins (Lee Thomas, Ashley Gorley)

Musical Event of the Year
“Another Try” – Josh Turner & Trisha Yearwood
“Every Other Weekend” – Reba McEntire & Kenny Chesney
“Gone, Gone, Gone” – Alison Kraus & Robert Plant
“Life in a Northern Town” – Sugarland featuring Little Big Town & Jake Owen
“Shiftwork” – Kenny Chesney & George Strait

I would love "Gone, Gone, Gone" to win, but with the reaction to "Life in a Northern Town" I'm picking that one.

Music Video of the Year - I still haven't watched them, so can't pick...yet!
“Don’t Blink” – Kenny Chesney
“Good Time” – Alan Jackson
“Stay” – Sugarland
“Waitin’ on a Woman” – Brad Paisley
“You’re Gonna Miss This” – Trace Adkins

Album of the Year - I haven't listened to them all so will abstain from this category
“Carnival Ride” – Carrie Underwood
“Cowboy Town” – Brooks & Dunn
“Good Time” – Alan Jackson
“Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates” – Kenny Chesney
“Troubadour” – George Strait

PLAY

Brad Paisley's new CD is the feature of my show today! So far FANTASTIC! If you love the jams of Brad Paisley you'll like this mostly instrumental album. It starts with one for his son, "Huckleberry Jam" and there's one for his wife "Kim," and I just played the duet with Buck Owens "Come On In" which was terrific. Still to come is his duet with BB King, "Cluster Pluck" and "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." He always puts a religious song on his CD's. My fav is "The Old Rugged Cross."

So I hope you like the CD and feel free to request some of those songs.

Country Music News

In movie news - BILLY RAY CYRUS will play Jackie Chan's sidekick and George Lopez will play the film's villain in a movie that starts filming this month in Albuquerque, New Mexico. No title yet.

Who does Sunday Rose look like? Two beautiful parents, so she's gorgeous no matter what (which really, aren't most babies?) Well, NICOLE KIDMAN says tells Parade magazine, "I'm glad, because when he goes on tour, I say to him that he leaves a little bit of him with me."

TRACE ADKINS will be will be taking part in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

JULIANNE HOUGH will be performing her new single, "My Halleujah Song," on Dancing With the Stars on November 11th and along with Craig Morgan will host CMA Red Carpet Live -- a live 30-minute television show leading up to the awards broadcast next Wednesday.

You can buy TOBY KEITH'S Nashville home. The 3,400-square-foot house, will only cost you 1.6 million dollars. But it has only two bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths. Toby also owns an enormous home on 160 acres in Norman, Oklahoma.

Say, do you wonder if That Don't Make Me a Bad Guy (the title to his new CD) is a bit autobiographical? He told the Washington Post, "It's tongue in cheek. [I] like drinking cheap whiskey in a paper cup, feeling clean in a dirty shirt, being dangerous, cantankerous -- that might be controversial, but don't make me a bad guy." Doesn't that read like a PlayGirl centerfold bio? LOL And say it isn't so! Toby also reveals to the paper that during his summer tour he shaved his armpits to keep cool.

MINDY MCCREADY was released from jail on Friday after serving only half of her 60-day sentence according to TMZ.com. The gossip site also says that Mindy was headed to a Halloween party after a Bloody Mary and some costume shopping. Evidently Mindy put her time to good use while incarcerated by reading and getting into shape.