ACMs

Sunday night is the 43rd Academy of Country Music Awards. This is usually a pretty exciting awards show with great performances. Last year, we saw Sugarland perform on a conveyor belt, Shania came out of hiding, and Tim McGraw introduced the world to "If You're Reading This." However, this year, the academy hs gone astray....way astray.

First the good: Reba is back and hosting for an unprecedented 10th time! We all know how I love her and so I am very glad that she will be back (with Jerry House's jokes none the less). But the academy really demeaned itself this year by allowing the fans to vote on Entertainer of the Year! What the crap!?!?!?!?!? You take a 43 year tradition where 42 top entertainers were recognized by industry peers and put that main category in the hands of the same people who think the best video ever made was Honky Tonk Badonkadonk?!?!?! This is not and should not be a fan voted awards show. We already have the CMT Awards which are fan voted. But the Academy really stooped to a new low to gain ratings this year.

Think of it this way. What if Rascal Flatts or Brad Paisley actually win Entertainer this year. Neither of these acts have won previously and so it begs the question will it mean as much when it doesn't come from their peers, the people who know music the best? Sure, they will get up there and thank their fans and tell them that it is because of them they do what they do but that is all bull. They do the CMT Awards for the fans and CMA Fest for the fans...not the ACMs. It is the difference between the Academy Awards and the Peoples Choice Awards. Both are fine and each have their own place but the respect and dignity that comes with the Academy Awards far outweighs the PCAs. Unfortunaetly, the ACMs have crossed a line that is really sad and will be regretted when the history books are written.

Look for this year's winners to be Brad Paisley (Male Vocalist), Carrie Underwood (Female Vocalist), Rascal Flatts (Group Vocalists), Taylor Swift (Female Newcomer), Lady Antebellum (Group Newcomer). These are all no brainers and there really shouldn't be any surprises. The interesting categories this year are in the Song, Single, and Album of the Year where George Strait is not nominated. The most deserving....Stay by Sugarland. We will see if that little song with big emotion can bring home the gold. Kudos to Miranda Lambert for her Single and Album nods. As for Entertainer of the Year, your guess is as good as mine. I guess it really all depends on who all the little teeny boppers out there logon and vote for 5 million times. My guess then is that its Kenny Chesney again. It's ridiculous. I have to go because I'm starting to getting mad again.