Even with Beyonce, the CMA Awards played to country's core
Even with Beyonce, the CMA Awards played to country's core
Country music's most prestigious awards show, the three-hour
production (broadcast live on ABC) opened with a kind of real-time version of
an all-star music video the CMA recently released to celebrate its half-century
in the trophy-bestowing business.
production (broadcast live on ABC) opened with a kind of real-time version of
an all-star music video the CMA recently released to celebrate its half-century
in the trophy-bestowing business.
The quick-moving medley featured more than a dozen established
country stars - including Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and the
show's hosts, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood - performing country standards
like "Mama Tried" and "Stand By Your Man" with help from
several of the genre's pioneers, such as Charley Pride and Roy Clark. (Randy
Travis, who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013, even put in a brief
appearance, singing the last word of his signature song, "Forever and
Ever, Amen.")
country stars - including Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire and the
show's hosts, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood - performing country standards
like "Mama Tried" and "Stand By Your Man" with help from
several of the genre's pioneers, such as Charley Pride and Roy Clark. (Randy
Travis, who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2013, even put in a brief
appearance, singing the last word of his signature song, "Forever and
Ever, Amen.")
To folks in the CMA's core demographic, none of these artists
required any introduction. Yet as each took the Bridgestone's stage, his or her
Twitter handle flashed onscreen, which seemed like a clear indication of the
show's hoped-for audience: that is, a crowd well stocked with folks unversed in
even the basics of country music.
required any introduction. Yet as each took the Bridgestone's stage, his or her
Twitter handle flashed onscreen, which seemed like a clear indication of the
show's hoped-for audience: that is, a crowd well stocked with folks unversed in
even the basics of country music.
Indeed, the night's most-hyped moment had Beyonce joining the
Dixie Chicks for a spirited, totally assured rendition of her rootsy
"Daddy Lessons" (plus a bit of their "Long Time Gone").
Dixie Chicks for a spirited, totally assured rendition of her rootsy
"Daddy Lessons" (plus a bit of their "Long Time Gone").
"Play that thing, girl, play that thing," Beyonce
exhorted the Chicks' fiddle player, Martie Maguire, and here was pop's
brightest superstar using her cultural fluency to make anyone feel welcome.
exhorted the Chicks' fiddle player, Martie Maguire, and here was pop's
brightest superstar using her cultural fluency to make anyone feel welcome.
Anyone except those who thought Beyonce herself had no right
to be there, of course. Widely praised as it was online, the singer's
performance triggered a predictable backlash from country preservationists such
as the Twitter user who called for a boycott of the CMAs.
to be there, of course. Widely praised as it was online, the singer's
performance triggered a predictable backlash from country preservationists such
as the Twitter user who called for a boycott of the CMAs.
And though Wednesday's show contained additional moments of
outreach - as when Underwood remade her "Dirty Laundry" with shades
of Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana" - the CMAs also made sure to play
to the genre's conservative base.
outreach - as when Underwood remade her "Dirty Laundry" with shades
of Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana" - the CMAs also made sure to play
to the genre's conservative base.
In part that was done with the awards - and by avoiding
politics beyond a couple of harmless jokes.
politics beyond a couple of harmless jokes.
Garth Brooks, that reliable brand name, was named entertainer
of the year, while Lori McKenna's pious "Humble and Kind" (written
for Tim McGraw) beat out more daring tunes by Cam and Maren Morris for song of
the year. Other big winners included Stapleton, for male vocalist of the year,
and Eric Church, who took album of the year with "Mr. Misunderstood";
Kenny Chesney received the lifetime-achievement Pinnacle Award.
of the year, while Lori McKenna's pious "Humble and Kind" (written
for Tim McGraw) beat out more daring tunes by Cam and Maren Morris for song of
the year. Other big winners included Stapleton, for male vocalist of the year,
and Eric Church, who took album of the year with "Mr. Misunderstood";
Kenny Chesney received the lifetime-achievement Pinnacle Award.
Then again, Morris - whose album "Hero" cleverly
updates the sound and themes of classic country - was named new artist of the
year, which suggests that her vision of the future is one approved by the
insiders who make up the CMA. The 26-year-old also received a plum performance
spot, singing her hit "My Church" with backing from the Preservation
Hall Jazz Band.
updates the sound and themes of classic country - was named new artist of the
year, which suggests that her vision of the future is one approved by the
insiders who make up the CMA. The 26-year-old also received a plum performance
spot, singing her hit "My Church" with backing from the Preservation
Hall Jazz Band.
However expansive her ideas, though, Morris represents the
Nashville machine in a way that Beyonce doesn't. (Come to think of it, Morris
represents Nashville in a way the Dixie Chicks no longer do either.)
Nashville machine in a way that Beyonce doesn't. (Come to think of it, Morris
represents Nashville in a way the Dixie Chicks no longer do either.)
And it was the happy perpetuation of that industry - rather
than its disruption - that the bulk of this year's performances seemed designed
to ensure.
than its disruption - that the bulk of this year's performances seemed designed
to ensure.
Throughout the night old songs were dusted off and shown still
to work: "Jackson," sung here by Brooks and his wife, Trisha
Yearwood; "Seven Spanish Angels," by Stapleton and Dwight Yoakam;
"Brand New Man," by the tune's original performers, Brooks &
Dunn, with Jason Aldean.
to work: "Jackson," sung here by Brooks and his wife, Trisha
Yearwood; "Seven Spanish Angels," by Stapleton and Dwight Yoakam;
"Brand New Man," by the tune's original performers, Brooks &
Dunn, with Jason Aldean.
Alan Jackson and George Strait teamed for a medley of the
former's "Remember When" and the latter's "Troubadour,"
each an argument that durability is its own reward. And though Miranda Lambert
did a new song ("Vice") about a recent breakup (from her ex-husband,
Blake Shelton), the music felt purposefully lived-in, like the leather jacket
she describes in the tune.
former's "Remember When" and the latter's "Troubadour,"
each an argument that durability is its own reward. And though Miranda Lambert
did a new song ("Vice") about a recent breakup (from her ex-husband,
Blake Shelton), the music felt purposefully lived-in, like the leather jacket
she describes in the tune.
Even an embarrassing tribute to Dolly Parton by Jennifer
Nettles and the a cappella group Pentatonix served in a funny way to shore up
Nashville's specialized position.
Nettles and the a cappella group Pentatonix served in a funny way to shore up
Nashville's specialized position.
Please come, all ye unfamiliar, and watch us do our thing, the
CMAs seemed to be saying.
CMAs seemed to be saying.
Just don't try this at home.
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