CMA Awards 2012

Today are the 2012 CMA Awards, one of the best nights to be a Country music fan. It’s the Grammy’s of Country music and it will surely be jam-packed with musical performances by the genre’s most popular artists. It’s been quite the year for Country music and I’ve enjoyed plenty of music from my favorite acts.

I attended Brad Paisley’s Virtual Reality Tour down at Jones Beach over the summer and almost made it out to Jason Aldean/Luke Bryan’s concert at PNC Bank Arts Center. In addition, I’ve been spinning Carrie Underwood’s “Blown Away,” Erich Church’s “Chief,” Luke Bryan’s “Lailgates & Tanlines,” and Zac Brown Band’s “Uncaged” albums all year round, so you can already notice my bias for the rest of the post.

Here are my brief thoughts about the nominees:

The post is UPDATED as of 11:05 p.m.

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Entertainer of the Year

Jason Aldean
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
WINNER: Blake Shelton
Taylor Swift

It’s hard to imagine the only female in the category to not walk away with the Entertainer of the Year award. While Chesney always has the numbers from his huge tours, and Paisley and Aldean touring non-stop for their fans, it’s impossible to ignore the popularity of Taylor Swift when looking at the figures for her record and concert sales. If it were me, I’d say Paisley would win hands down, but I’m predicting Taylor Swift wins the big award.

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Male Vocalist of the Year

Jason Aldean
Luke Bryan
Eric Church
WINNER: Blake Shelton
Keith Urban

Usually my pick would be for Brad Paisley to win this award, but he wasn’t nominated this year. I’m not complaining about the group that was because they’re all very talented. I really want Eric Church to win, but something is telling me that Jason Aldean is going to take the award this year.

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Female Vocalist of the Year

Kelly Clarkson
WINNER: Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Wait, Kelly Clarkson is nominated for a CMA award and it doesn’t involve being featured in a duet with an actual Country artist? She can’t win. Since I believe Taylor Swift is winning the Entertainer of the Year award, she won’t win this (plus she’s a terrible vocalist). It’s going to be between Miranda and Carrie like usual. Recently, Miranda has been winning these awards over Carrie, but I think with the success of “Blown Away,” Carrie is going to take the award.

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Vocal Group of the Year

Eli Young Band
Lady Antebellum
WINNER: Little Big Town
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

Has Zac Brown Band ever won this award? They definitely deserve it, but if it’s a popularity contest then Lady Antebellum will win. I also wouldn’t mind seeing The Band Perry win this award, but they’re on the second tier of these bands.

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Vocal Duo of the Year

Big & Rich
Love and Theft
Sugarland
The Civil Wars
WINNER: Thompson Square

While I do love The Civil Wars, I can’t remember the last time Sugarland lost.

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New Artist of the Year

Lee Brice
Brantley Gilbert
WINNER: Hunter Hayes
Love and Theft
Thompson Square

As catchy as “Angel Eyes” is by Love and Theft, the new kid on the block and multi-talented musician is Hunter Hayes. Expect him to win.

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Album of the Year

WINNER: Chief – Eric Church
Four the Record – Miranda Lambert
Home – Dierks Bentley
Own the Night – Lady Antebellum
Tailgates & Tanlines – Luke Bryan

I’m sticking to what I know, and that is how “Chief” is a great album. That being said, I’m expecting the CMA to agree with me and award Eric Church this prestigious award for an outstanding job well done.

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Single of the Year

“Dirt Road Anthem” – Jason Aldean
“God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton
“Home” – Dierks Bentley
WINNER: “Pontoon” – Little Big Town
“Springsteen” – Eric Church

On the same page, “Springsteen” is the best song off of Chief and I expect it to win either Single or Song of the Year.

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Song of the Year

“Even if It Breaks Your Heart – Eli Young Band
“God Gave Me You” – Blake Shelton
“Home” – Dierks Bentley
WINNER: “Over You” – Miranda Lambert
“Springsteen” – Eric Church

Miranda’s hit is the only song I feel that has a shot at beating Church’s “Springsteen.”

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RECAP:

That’s a wrap! I just knew it was going to be an entertaining night after Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood danced Gangnam Style during their opening monologue. But the big winners of the night were Country’s happy couple of Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. Starting with their emotional acceptance speech for “Over You” and continuing with the Male Vocalist and Female Vocalist of the year, everyone thought their reign was going to end there, but Blake Shelton shocked the Country world winning Entertainer of the Year! What a surprise! I admit that when Tim Allen said Blake’s name, I thought he was joking (and what a cruel joke that would’ve been). But then Reba and Tim Allen repeated Blake’s name and that concluded the three-hour awards ceremony.

Highlights:

• Little Big Town – winning Single of the Year and Vocal Group was great for this hard-working, veteran group. Oh, and their performance of “Pontoon” was one of the best of the night.
• The gorgeous Carrie Underwood with her charisma as co-host and her strong vocal performance during her hit “Blown Away.”
• Eric Church didn’t win for Single or Song of the Year, but his incredible album “Chief” was the winner for Album of the Year. Very well deserved.
• Hunter Hayes played his pop-ballad hit “Wanted” and then won New Artist of the Year. Surely this isn’t the last we’re going to hear from this young man.
• The tribute to Willie Nelson featuring Willie himself along with Lady Antebellum, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw. What a legend.