The Agency's Posts

Charlize Theron talks Kristen Stewart, taps into Rage: CharlizeTheron is on a two-week break from her evil queen duties in "Snow White and the....
Read More>

Scorsese documentary examines George Harrison: WhenMartin Scorseseand Olivia Harrison first sat down about five years ago to strategize....
Read More>

Book review: 'Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend: Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend Susan Orlean Simon & Schuster: 288 pp., $26.99....
Read More>

Box Office: 'Dolphin Tale,' two other holdovers beat four new films: Four new movies debuted at the box office this weekend, but it was "Dolphin Tale"....
Read More>

If a Close Shave Is Just Too Close: IN a world where men sport permanent stubble on their faces, the capacity to grow a thick,....
Read More>

Live: Elton John's 'The Million Dollar Piano' at Caesars Palace: To fully appreciate the spectacle that is Elton John’s new show “The Million....
Read More>

Brad Bird: Tom Cruise has ruined me for other actors: Fans might run hot and cold on Tom Cruise these days, but on the set, every filmmaker seems....
Read More>

How does Ortega's Michael Jackson testimony reflect on 'This Is It'?: It’s not often one sees the creative force behind “High School Musical”....
Read More>

Oscars: Steve Martin offers Eddie Murphy some tips on hosting: Now that Eddie Murphy has been selected as Oscar host, he's no doubt receiving lots of advice....
Read More>

Yes, Anna Kournikova can relate: She got as much attention in tennis for her willowy blond looks as for her playing ability. The new....
Read More>

Album review: SuperHeavy, 'SuperHeavy': All-star teams in music or sports by and large can’t match the seamless interplay of....
Read More>

Movie review: 'Moneyball': Brad Pitt stars as Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane in this surprise success with a....
Read More>
Country Music Awards
Posted on: 04/02/12
Share/Save/Bookmark
 

The 47th Academy of Country Music Awards became a mini-reality show of its own on Sunday in Las Vegas: There was a bona fide onstage wedding, the surreal meeting of cartoonish hard rock band KISS and country trio Lady Antebellum, and Toby Keith singing a loopy love song to a plastic beverage container with help from Wayne Newton and Carrot Top.

The offbeat moments shared the stage with multiple award-winners Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson and the announcement of the night's top honor, entertainer of the year, which went to Taylor Swift.

“Thank you so much to the fans who voted for this, I am so happy about this,” said Swift, who also received the award last year. “I want to say to my fellow nominees: I respect you so much. I love you.”

PHOTOS: The 47th Academy of Country Music Awards

Texas-bred singer and one-time “Nashville Star” contestant Lambert added two more ACM Awards to her mantel, taking female vocalist and album of the year honors.

After her fourth album, “Four the Record,” was selected over efforts by Kenny Chesney, Aldean, Lady Antebellum and Eric Church, Lambert came to the stage in a floor-length gold lame dress and asked, “Seriously? I own every record in this category and I've been thinking ‘Man, I'm not going to get it.' … I am so thrilled, I will never take this trophy for granted. My albums are my babies.”

“Don't You Want to Stay,” the hit duet by Aldean and the first “American Idol” winner, Clarkson, won for single record and vocal event of the year. Aldean said Clarkson had been his first choice as a duet partner: “She made a great song and took it to a new place.”

Blake Shelton, who co-hosted the ceremony with Reba McEntire and who married Lambert last summer, got his first male vocalist award, trumping Aldean, Chesney, Brad Paisley and Chris Young. His profile has risen significantly over the last year, thanks to a string of hit records and his role as a judge on NBC's singing competition “The Voice.”

“Man … I didn't see that coming at all,” Shelton said, then quoted lyrics from another singer's song, Dierks Bentley's “Home.” “I was backstage repeating the lines to Dierks' song, ‘It's been a long hard ride, I got a ways to go' and that's how I feel. I'm so proud to take this home tonight.”

A more recent “Idol” singer, Scotty McCreery, scored the new artist award, his “Idol” exposure bolstering his fan recognition level, a factor in the new artist category in which the ACM allows the public to vote. Fans also get a voice in the choice of entertainer of the year.

The Eli Young Band's hit “Crazy Girl,” an affirmation of love through hard times written by Lee Brice and Liz Rose, won for song of the year.

“Holy cow, I have dreamed about this moment my whole life,” lead singer Mike Eli said, before thanking his wife and their soon-to-be-born child.

Actor, comedian and banjo enthusiast Steve Martin joined Rascal Flatts for its song “Banjo,” delivered as a tribute to bluegrass music pioneer Earl Scruggs, who died Wednesday at 88 of natural causes. Scruggs was given a standing ovation.

KISS took over this year where Aerosmith's Steven Tyler had stepped in last year to add a dash of '70s rock to the evening, revealing Lady Antebellum as the ACM's vocal group winner.

“This is crazy,” group member Charles Kelley said as he and band mates Hillary Scott and Dave Heywood collected their trophies while flanked by the rock quartet in full makeup, big hair and costumes. “Look, Mom,” Kelley shouted into the microphone, “KISS!”

In a more serious moment with a rock star, U2 singer Bono introduced Bentley's performance of “Home,” saying the song inspired him to feel patriotic for America “and I'm not even American. … But America is not just a country, it's an idea.”

A Las Vegas minister presided over the wedding of Christina Davidson and Frank Tucci, conducted while Martina McBride and Pat Monahan, singer for Bay Area rock band Train, performed Train's “Marry Me” (which McBride also has recorded). Davidson and Tucci both lost spouses in 2009, met at a support group in New Jersey and accepted ACM producers' invitation to be married on television.

Left at the altar, however, was Chesney, who came into the show with nine nominations but left empty-handed.

Shortly before the wedding segment, Keith invited Las Vegas regulars Newton and comedian Carrot Top along while he sang his novelty hit “Red Solo Cup.” (His video for that song got the video of the year award.)

The show concluded with pop-R&B star Lionel Richie drawing from his new country-leaning duet album “Tuskegee,” singing a remake of his 1983 hit “You Are” with Shelton. Many of the country acts in Las Vegas for the ACM Awards were scheduled to stick around Monday to tape a tribute to Richie that CBS plans to air April 13.

It wasn't the only plug for other CBS programming. Beth Behrs from the series “2 Broke Girls” presented the song of the year award, and Ashton Kutcher from “Two and a Half Men” presented Lambert with the female vocalist trophy.

The show tilted heavily toward performances, with the musical productions outnumbering envelope-ripping three to one. The ACM show also encourages featured musicians to look forward, most presenting new singles rather than their nominated songs.

The Academy of Country Music is the West Coast counterpart to the Nashville-Based Country Music Assn., which hosts its annual awards ceremony each fall in the country music capital.

 
COMMENTS
Be the first to post a comment!


Post A Comment:




  • It's 2020! Start booking roles in commercials, fashion, films, theater and more with The Agency Online!

  • NEW WORKSHOP with Barbara Barna & Sean De Simone!

    Hi Everyone and Happy Summer! Sean at Sean De Simone casting and Barbara Barna are teaming up for a super informative and fun Hosting for Home Shopping workshop. A great opportunity for established or experienced TV Hosts and Experts interested in learning how to get noticed and how to get in....
  • MASTERCLASS W. Robin Carus & David John Madore

    A Special Offer for the Agency Community, from one of our favorite NYC Casting Directors! EMAIL FacetheMusicWithUs@gmail.com Or Eventbrite To Sign Up! Class Size is Limited.
  • Don't Fall Into The Comparison Trap

    Hi Everyone! As the second installment in an ongoing series of features by the Agency's amazing community, here's some sage advice from our own Regina Rockensies; a humble (& awesome)veteran we've had the pleasure of working with for a long time. Have an excellent week! : ) - The Agency....
  • One Model's Agreement

    Hi Everyone! As the first piece in an ongoing series of original articles by the Agency community, here's a short reflection on some of the values of professional acting & modeling that we can all keep in mind for our next casting. Good luck on your castings &shoots this week! : ) -....




 
home       castings&news       privacy policy       terms and conditions      contact us      browser tips
Official PayPal Seal