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The Vegas glitz isn't a hit for ACM awards
COUNTRY MUSIC: ACM needs new blood, old venue for awards
No big winners during Tuesday night's 41st annual Academy of Country Music Awards show, which was televised live from Las Vegas' MGM Grand Hotel on CBS (Channel 11). Country darling of the moment Carrie Underwood did take home a couple of trophies, but other than that, no clean sweeps. Which left us to the show itself – mostly performances, a few deserving winners, some not so much. You know, the usual award-show business. Returning hostess Reba McEntire wore out her TV comedienne schtick, especially when she took a cheap shot at the Dixie Chicks. More on that later. Mostly, it's just time for a new ACM host. We need fresh blood. And please, take the ACMs back to its Los Angeles home base. This Vegas glitz has really gotten old, not to mention cheesy. Here are some random thoughts about the show, culled from Tuesday's live blogging. First thoughts: OK, the 41st annual Academy of Country Music Awards are off to a good start. Brooks & Dunn win song of the year for "Believe," Brad Paisley takes album of the year for Time Well Wasted. Great choices. But, uh, what is up with hostess Reba McEntire's dress? It looks like gingham meets lace. No, Reba, no! Miranda, Miranda! All I gotta say about Lindale's Ms. Lambert, who sang "New Strings" from her hot Kerosene album, is ... country-rocking cool! Dierks do over? I still think Dierks Bentley could and should be a better artist. There's something about him that just doesn't ring true to me. But, that said, his "Settle for a Slowdown" keeps getting to me. The song's got a sexy, rugged romanticism going on that only makes its hillbilly-heartbreak theme all the more alluring. He did a nice job with it onstage, too. Toby, Jason, Sugarland: Toby Keith was in emotional mode during "A Little Too Late." Loved the strings. Jason Aldean deserved his trophy for new male vocalist. And his speech was humble. "If I could follow in the footsteps of the guys that have won this before, I'll be all right," he said. Ten points for Jason! But I'm livid that forgettable pop-country duo Sugarland beat harmoniously superior Little Big Town for new duo/vocal group. Livid I tell you! Carrie ain't country: I don't care how small the town in Oklahoma where Carrie Underwood grew up is, she's still a two-bit, no-personality pop singer. The girl just ain't down-home. Some say she's pining for the same territory that made Martina McBride a star. Well, folks, forget it. Martina has more vocal power and attitude in one note than Carrie has in an entire song. But of course she got a standing ovation for "Jesus, Take the Wheel" and it won single of the year. Go figure! What an embarrassment! Trace Adkins and his "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk" are done! Get this: He sang the song with a revved-up dance beat surrounded by Vegas showgirls. Let it go, Trace. The tune is wee close to making you a country music laughingstock. I know you can do better. So do it! What was that? Presenter Jo Dee Messina's dress. Let me try to describe it: a tan-colored vest up top, bare midriff , then a huge, to-the-floor skirt that looked like a bad imitation of leopard prints. Lots of costume jewelry. She looked like she rummaged through Cher's clothing castoffs. Bad does not begin to describe it. Sigh, Miranda, sigh: She is destined to lose all the awards to Carrie Underwood, who beat Ms. Lambert in the category new female vocalist. And Miranda so deserves the accolades over Carrie. But you know, Carrie is playing the game to the hilt. She is a textbook case of how to become a country star. It's like she has a check list that she's diligently following. She's a robot doing exactly as she's told. Little Big Town: They didn't win new duo/vocal group. But that's OK 'cause they radiated where it really counted – onstage. The quartet's performance of "Boondocks" was stripped down, uplifting and harmoniously stunning. That'll sell more records. That's what really counts. WAY too much Flatts: Rascal Flatts performed twice, once outside the MGM Grand, where they did the freeze-dried pop-rocker "Me and My Gang," and then inside the venue they sang the sappy "What Hurts the Most" as a duet with Kelly Clarkson. Ms. Clarkson immediately gets docked 10 cool points for that pairing. The trio wins vocal group (no surprise) and the recently married Joe Don Rooney makes a point of telling us he's "off the market." Thanks, Joe Don, we really wanted to know that. Sara remembers country: Yes, Sara Evans, who long ago sold out her traditional country beginnings for slick-pop-heavy success, still remembers country. Her performance of "Coal Mine" had some backwoods bite. Low-grade Reba: Out of nowhere, Reba McEntire walks to the microphone, fans herself and comments on why she was ever nervous about hosting the show. "If the Dixie Chicks can sing with their foots in their mouths, surely I can host this sucker." How low-grade can you get, Reba? The Chicks have NOTHING to do with the show. They aren't there, they aren't nominated, they have no presence in this year's ACMs. Reba just lost major Brownie points. Buck would be proud: Fantastic tribute to the late Buck Owens featuring an all-star band – Dwight Yoakam, Brad Paisley, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons, Chris Hillman and Blink-182's drummer Scott Raynor. They did "Act Naturally," "Together Again" and "Crying Time." Then Buck's son, Buddy Alan Owens, sang "Streets of Bakersfield" with Mr. Yoakam. Truly great tribute! Kenny has his pair: Kenny Chesney wins ACM's entertainer of the year. He has the CMA entertainer-of-the-year trophy already. Now he has the pair. Congratulations, Kenny. E-mail mtarradell@dallasnews.com Entertainer of the year: Kenny Chesney New male vocalist: Jason Aldean New female vocalist: Carrie Underwood New duo or group: Sugarland Male vocalist: Keith Urban Vocal group: Rascal Flatts Vocal duo: Brooks & Dunn Top album: Time Well Wasted, Brad Paisley Top single: "Jesus, Take the Wheel," Carrie Underwood Top song: "Believe," Brooks & Dunn Home Depot Humanitarian Award: Vince Gill See the complete list of winners here
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