The 48th annual Country Music Association awards took place in Nashville last night, and Miranda Lambert went home the big winner. She scored four prizes over the course of the evening, including album of the year (Platinum), single of the year (Automatic), and female vocalist of the year. Still, it was Luke Bryan that took home the night’s top prize, entertainer of the year, which he won for the very first time. (See a full list of winners here.)
As it always does, the three-hour programme featured some big hits and some misses that will have the country music world chattering until the ACM awards in April. Here are a few of the best and worst moments from the broadcast:
Best performance: the Band Perry, Gentle on my Mind
On a night that featured Tron-inspired glowstick suits and a tie-dye school bus, the evening’s simplest performance was also its most effective. The Band Perry’s rich cover of Glen Campbell’s classic Gentle on my Mind, which they recorded for the documentary Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, scored thanks to Kimberly Perry’s expressive vocals (marvelously husky and clear all at once) and the troupe’s simple country instrumentation. With a plucking banjo, a spritely mandolin, ample warm harmonies, and some nifty fiddle modulations, Gentle on my Mind stood out from the pop-country pack. As it turns out, a true country song works pretty darn well at a country show.
Worst performance: Jason Aldean, Burnin’ it Down
Meandering lazily around the stage with a scowl upon his face, Jason Aldean brought about as much energy and sex appeal to his rendition of Burnin’ It Down as a common garden slug. The hollow drum-pad made the whole “nekkid” affair feel lifeless from the get-go, and the song’s repetitive R&B structure needed excellent vocals to bring it to life – which weren’t forthcoming. A limp performance.
Best collaboration: the Doobie Brothers, Jennifer Nettles, Hillary Scott, Hunter Hayes
Producers targeted young viewers by including pop divas Meghan Trainor, who performed All About That Bass with Miranda Lambert, and Ariana Grande, who belted Bang Bang alongside Little Big Town. But the CMA Awards have always fared best when they’ve worked to include country veterans instead of newcomers, and this year’s Doobie Brothers extravaganza was no exception. The band was joined by Jennifer Nettles and Hillary Scott on vocals and Hunter Hayes on guitar, and the combination of artists made the stage come alive with smiling faces and soaring vocals. It was the most jovial, lively and genuinely live feeling of the night.
Worst collaboration: Little Big Town and Ariana Grande
The combination of Day Drinkin’ and Bang Bang sounded fine, but the whole performance felt too gimmicky and desperate to please. Little Big Town, some of the best harmonizers in the game, undermined their own talent by dressing themselves up in light-up suits in front of a glow-in-the-dark drumline. And then Grande stepped onto the stage, dropping it like it was hot and posing with her diva hand as she hit her high notes, leaving Little Big Town to bop awkwardly beside her. It all felt pointless, and suggested that country music wishes it could look and sound more like modern pop. The “countrified” version of Meghan Trainor’s All About That Bass went over much more smoothly.
Best Speech: Vince Gill
Not many superstars winning a lifetime achievement award (the Irving Waugh award of excellence) would spend their short time at the podium talking all about the man that the award is named after, but Vince Gill is a class act all the way through. Just before he made his speech, Gill got all teary-eyed during Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood’s gorgeous acoustic rendition of When I Call Your Name as well as a video tribute package featuring Merle Haggard and James Taylor. He managed to hold it together for a lovely speech about respecting elders and appreciating the camaraderie of country.
Most unfairly neglected performers: Brett Eldredge, Brandy Clark and Kip Moore
Only two of the artists in the Best New Artist category, bro-country favorites Thomas Rhett and Cole Swindell got their own mini-performances during the CMA Awards, leaving the three legitimately worthy new artist contenders – Brett Eldredge (who won the prize), Kip Moore and Brandy Clark – on the sidelines. That seemed unfair enough, but then producers had the trio present best vocal duo to none other than Florida Georgia Line. Sometimes life just isn’t fair.
Best musicianship: Kacey Musgraves’ band
Kacey Musgraves’ band has quietly built a reputation for being one of the very finest group of musicians in Nashville, and they proved why yet again during her performance of You’re Lookin’ at Country with the genre’s legendary queen, Loretta Lynn. Musgraves began the song at a moderate clip, but when Lynn took the stage, she began singing at a markedly faster tempo. It took the snappy dressers of Musgraves’ band all of a few measures to adjust, and they did so so smoothly, most listeners likely never noticed. And just listen to that pedal steel.
Worst trend: the never-ending reign of Blake and Miranda
Look, Nashville, we get it. Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are the new Tim and Faith. They are talented and beautiful and they make nice music, and they serve as great country music ambassadors to the rest of the world. But for the past five years, since about the time that they got engaged and Shelton began coaching on the Voice and they each started appearing on the cover of People magazine, they have won both the male vocalist and female vocalist trophies every year. (Admittedly, Lambert did deserve her prize this year.) You get the sense that the duo, while thankful, almost wish they didn’t win for a year, if only to dissipate what’s becoming an awkward trend.
Best surprise win: Brett Eldredge
Most writers prognosticating the best new artist category figured the trophy would go to either Thomas Rhett, who has enjoyed the most commercial success, or Brandy Clark, who has become music critics’ favorite. But the award, in fact, went to Brett Eldredge, the raspy-voiced singer of Don’t Ya and Beat of the Music. Touchingly, he appeared visibly overjoyed on stage.
Worst ‘surprise’ win: Luke Bryan
It’s hard to not be charmed by Luke Bryan’s earnest, tearful celebrations whenever he wins an award, but the fact remains that his musical output is thuddingly derivative and unworthy of top recognition. Still, he got his first-ever entertainer of the year trophy on Wednesday night. The singer of That’s My Kind Of Night may fill up arenas across the country with his hip-gyrations, but naming Bryan the top dog of the genre suggests that country is more about white-toothed pizzazz than genuine substance.
Other notable moments
- Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood’s monologue wasn’t quite as sharp as it’s been in previous years, but their ribbing of George Strait, who won entertainer of the year in 2013, then completed his The Cowboy Rides Away … tour, and then scored a surprise nomination for entertainer of the year again, was a winner: “You know when someone rides away, they’re supposed to go somewhere?” Brad quipped. “I mean, I know Luke Bryan would be happy to buy you a faster horse.”
- Speaking of Underwood, she showed off her unbelievable pipes during a powerhouse performance of Something in the Water. It’s safe to say that she is the best belter in country music right now.
- Kacey Musgraves winning song of the year for Follow Your Arrow, which was all but ignored by country radio, was a victory for women, a victory for traditional country music, and a victory for co-writer Brandy Clark, whose recognition felt well-deserved following the release of her stunning debut, 12 Stories.
- Two duets that didn’t quite hit the harmonic bullseye were Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe’s You Don’t Have to Be Lonely and Eric Church and George Strait’s Cowboys Like Us. Still, it was pretty admirable of both Church and Shelton, two of the genre’s top stars right now, to share their spotlight with artists so deserving of airtime and respect.
