CMA Awards: Taylor Swift wins top prize, Paisley makes Oscar pitch
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Taylor Swift was named entertainer of the year at the 2011 CMA Awards, and for the first time in years the artist looked genuinely shocked winning the top prize. The entertainer trophy is awarded for an artist’s ability to pack houses and put on a live show, and there’s no denying Swift is country music’s biggest touring force. Yet the artist’s ‘Speak Now’ didn’t win album of the year, which went to Jason Aldean’s ‘My Kind of Party,’ and Miranda Lambert was named female vocalist of the year.
‘I’m so happy right now,’ Swift said, and noted that there’s a high level of ‘camaraderie’ in country music right now. She thanked the likes of Justin Bieber, Tim McGraw, Nelly, Jason Mraz, Usher and many more for appearing at her shows. The names appeared to be written on her arm, in largely alphabetical order.
Most honest reaction: Lambert on winning female vocalist of the year: ‘Seriously?’ This blog was harsh on Lambert and her ‘Four the Record’ earlier, but she’s still an artist worth watching. Soon, however, especially four albums into her career, Lambert will have to become something more than an artist with promise.
Stay tuned for a full wrap of the CMAs top winners. Other random notes below:
Most topical moment: Brad Paisley pretending to talk to the motion picture academy about the Oscar host opening.
Worst bit: The Justin Bieber one. Little Jimmy Dickens appeared as the young star and Brad Paisley mocked his current scandal. While not a completely undeserving target, in general, having Little Jimmy Dickens dressed as Bieber was insulting to both artists.
Most head-scratching performance: Luke Bryan’s strip-club cut ‘Country Girls (Shake it for Me).’
Best perfornace: The Glen Campbell tribute.
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-- Todd Martens
Photo: Taylor Swift & Reba McEntire. Credit: Rick Diamond / Getty Images
