Lots
of familiar faces hit the stage at the Country Music Awards last night. Brooks
& Dunn, as hosts, performers, and award-winners, were everywhere. Vince
Gill was back again, singing and presenting. Long-time country favorites Jon
Bon Jovi (what?) and Richie Sambora (what?) were there, and you can’t seem to
have a country awards show without Rascal Flatts these days. (I still don’t get
Rascal Flatts.)
Songwriter
Craig Wiseman did it again; “Believe,” a song he wrote with Ronnie Dunn, won
Song of the Year. His tune “Live Like
You Were Dying” won the same award in 2004. “The Good Stuff,” written with Jim
Collins in 2002, was picked as song of the year by Billboard, ASCAP, and the
Academy of Country Music. Country music is more song-driven than any other form
of popular music, and Wiseman has the golden touch.
Still
on the Song of the Year subject -
it was a good year to be religious at the
CMAs, as three of the five songs nominated in this category had spiritual
themes: “Believe”, “When I Get Where I’m Going,” and “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
No surprise, there; sometimes it seems like every country song every written is
about the same small town, and it’s a town where everybody goes to church on
Sunday and reads the Bible.
Brad
Paisley finally won something. Last year he had six nominations and was
completely shut out. This year he had six nominations again, and won two – for album
of the year (Time Well Wasted) and for
musical event of the year ("When I Get Where I'm Going," with Dolly
Parton.) Paisley is one of the few current country stars who’s also a real good
guitarist (Gill is another), so he’s a personal favorite around here.
Prediction
for next year: Vince Gill wins one (or both) of Paisley’s two awards for his
4-CD extravaganza, These Days.
[TJH]
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