ACM Awards: Things to watch for
The 43rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards are set for Sunday night, live from Las Vegas on CBS. The telecast marks the second major country awards show this year, and though 2008 is nearing its halfway point, the ACMs will offer another chance to look back at the music of 2007.
Here's a rundown of some things to watch for.
-- Can Kenny Chesney's string be broken? Last winter, at the rival County Music Assn. Awards (CMAs), Kenny Chesney won the award for entertainer of the year. At the 2006 CMAs, Chesney won the award for entertainer of the year. At last year's ACMs, Chesney won entertainer of the year. At the 41st annual ACMs, Chesney won entertainer of the year. Recognize a pattern? This year, the ACMs have opened the top category up to fan voting, which will continue through the weekend, putting Chesney's reign over the Nashville music empire in your hands. Here's betting he gets another term. And maybe it's time award shows started making winners from the year before ineligible.
-- Just how strong is America's appetite for country awards shows, anyway? When the ACMs begin Sunday, the telecast will be the third major country music awards program in seven months, stretching back to the CMAs in November. All three shows recognized music released during 2007, meaning there's been plenty of overlap among them (and see above). In fact, the full entertainer of the year categories between the CMAs and the ACMs are directly mirrored. The top male vocalist category is virtually the same (trade you a Rodney Atkins for a Josh Turner). The female top vocalist category between the two award shows offers a bit more variety, with the ACMs getting hip to fast-rising star Taylor Swift in the field (she won the CMA new-artist "horizon" award). And that hasn't even touched on the performance overlap. While ratings for the CMT Awards were strong, with reports putting viewers above 9 million, that show was more a stunt (Miley Cyrus!), and the ACMs will hope America hasn't tired of seeing Rascal Flatts perform (yeah, again).
-- Can Taylor Swift be stopped? Nominated for a best new artist at
the Grammy awards, Swift lost to soul 
revivalist Amy Winehouse.
Post-Grammys, Winehouse has continued to dominate tabloids, and Swift has stealthily been building her fan base. She stole the show from Miley
at the CMTs, winning for video of the year and female video of the
year, and her self-titled debut is at No. 11 on this week's Billboard
200. Winehouse's "Back to Black" is till in the top 40, but it's
becoming clear that Swift was the true breakout star from this year's
best new artist Grammy field. She's set to perform Sunday night, and
with an album tipped to be out by year's end, she is poised to be
country's next huge crossover star and could become a big player at the
2009 Grammys. And soon, she'll have her own set of dolls.
-- Will the "American Idol" presence be felt? When last we saw some country awards -- the CMT Awards -- "American Idol" grads were so heavily featured that "Idol" judge Paula Abdul remarked, "There are so many 'American Idol' alum here that I feel this is a reunion." Aside from CMT big winner Kellie Pickler, the awards featured Carrie Underwood and Bucky Covington. With Underwood having dominated the telecast in 2007, and Pickler the CMT queen in 2008, The Envelope's awards guru Tom O'Neil argued that "Idol" was taking over country music. The ACM Awards will thankfully tip the balance back to non-"American Idol"-bred country, but it could be the night that catapults Pickler to superstardom, as the young singer will be performing, and is nominated for top new female vocalist.
Photos: Kenny Chesney, credit: Associated Press; Taylor Swift, credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times
I don't understand what you have agains American Idol. They have turned out some very talented artists. Taylor Swift is already losing ground. She does write pretty catchy songs but they are teeny bob and will be short lived. She is in no way as vocally talented as Carrie Underwood. Should Taylor win it would definitely bring down the value of the ACM. CMT is about videos. ACM is about vocal ability. Kellie is more vocally talented than Taylor.
Posted by: Casey | May 16, 2008 at 10:16 AM
American Idol is far from taking over country music. If you look at the charts, only a few Idols are on them. They just happen to be some of the best singers and performers. Makes sense considering they made it past thousands of others and had to be judged on live TV for weeks on Idol.
Kellie was bred in Albemarle NC and was singing country long before she competed on American Idol. Idol is just the rocket that launched her career, like Star Search launched LeAnn Rimes'.
I hope you're right about this being the night that catapults Pickler to superstardom, however Taylor Swift already had a top 5 single on radio before she performed on the 2007 ACM Awards. Taylor's label has always provided her with a lot more sales and airplay promotion including huge ads in the biggest radio trade publications such as Country Aircheck. I believe this is what Kellie needs to go to the next level as well, since airplay is the #1 source of album sales. Top 5 and #1 hits on radio certainly catapulted Carrie and Taylor to superstardom. Sugarland, Taylor, and Kellie are performing new singles on the ACM Awards, but only Taylor's and Sugarland's are being released to radio by the day after the awards, and they are the only ones with huge ads promoting them in Country Aircheck. So it still doesn't look like Kellie's label is trying to get her singles into the top 5.
Posted by: CountryGuru | May 17, 2008 at 05:51 AM
All I want to know is..Where is Alan Jackson.I think the ACM missed on the nominations.He is REAL COUNTRY.
Posted by: jackie lollar | May 18, 2008 at 09:40 AM