New Music Thursday: Best of Idol

Some of the best American Idol contestants have released new music...two of my favs specifically. David Cook's self titled debut album dropped recently and is reminiscent of Nickelback, Coldplay, and others. For that reason, he sometimes get lost in unoriginality but its still good music that is fun to listen to. Melinda Doolittle has also released a new single called It's Your Love. While this song will get virtually NO airplay on radio, it is articstically beautiful and Melinda has just the voice to do it justice.

The 42nd Annual CMA Awards

When you watch as many awards shows as I do, you start to get into predicting winners. So, not that anyone out there cares near as much about this stuff as I do, nevertheless, here are my predictions for tonight's big reveal.

Entertainer of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Sugarland
Keith Urban

Please let people be tired of giving this award to Kenny Chesney! He has won it 3 times already! Brad should be getting it tonight but when he wins in the Male Vocalist category, that could kill his chances at Entertainer which will make Kenny a 4 time winner.

Female Vocalist of the Year
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Carrie should be the 3 time winner here but with a humongous year, bright personality, and sophomore album released yesterday, Taylor Swift could surprise everyone!

Male Vocalist of the Year
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

Brad will win and should win. No surprises here.

New Artist of the Year
Jason Aldean
Rodney Atkins
Lady Antebellum
James Otto
Kellie Pickler

Tough competition here but considering Pickler, Atkins, and Aldean have all been nominated for this award before, don't look for them to win. Look for Lady A to give an emotional acceptance speech.

Vocal Group of the Year
Eagles
Emerson Drive
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts

Duh.........RF.

Vocal Duo of the Year
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Sugarland
The Wreckers

I am not even sure how The Wreckers got nominated here when they aren't even together anymore. Nevertheless, who would have ever thought that the toughest category of the year would come from Vocal Duo?!?!?! Sugarland is nominated for Entertainer (how'd that happen?) so I give them the edge here.

Single of the Year
(Award goes to Artist and Producer)
"Don’t Blink" - Kenny Chesney
"Gunpowder & Lead" - Miranda Lambert
"I Saw God Today" - George Strait
"Stay" - Sugarland
"You’re Gonna Miss This" - Trace Adkins

"Stay" won this category at the ACMs so it definitely has some momentum. But the CMA loves to give this award to George Strait and "ISGT" is definitely one of his best over his 30+ year career. I say this awards goes "Strait" to George.

Album of the Year
Carnival Ride - Carrie Underwood
Cowboy Town - Brooks & Dunn
Good Time - Alan Jackson
Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates - Kenny Chesney
Troubadour - George Strait

I am not real sure how Brad Paisley's album didn't get nominated here as it should have WON this category. Since it is out, look for Troubadour or Carnival Ride to win. It depends on whether voters go old school or not. The vote could be split and Chesney could take it, but that is unlikely. I could definitely miss this category but I'll give the edge to Troubadour.

Song of the Year
“Good Time” - Alan Jackson
“I Saw God Today” - George Strait
“Letter To Me” - Brad Paisley
“Stay” - Jennifer Nettles
“You’re Gonna Miss This” - Ashley Gorley/Lee Thomas Miller

"Letter to Me" is by far the best song here. But "ISGT" could be rewarded here instead of in the single category. But I have to believe that the single is better than the song composition and give the edge here to "LTM". I told Jess back in the spring that "LTM" should win this category. Let's see if my 6 month old prediction holds up.

Musical Event of the Year
Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood - “Another Try”
Reba McEntire and Kenny Chesney - “Every Other Weekend”
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - “Gone Gone Gone”
Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen - “Life In A Northern Town”
Kenny Chesney (duet with George Strait) - “Shiftwork”

This award is gone gone gone to Alison Kraus and Robert Plant. Who would have ever thought Robert Plant would win a CMA award????

Music Video of the Year
“Don’t Blink” Kenny Chesney Directed by Shaun Silva
“Good Time” Alan Jackson Directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Stay” Sugarland Directed by Shaun Silva
“Waitin’ On A Woman” Brad Paisley featuring Andy Griffith Directed by Jim Shea & Peter Tilden
“You’re Gonna Miss This” Trace Adkins Directed by Peter Zavadil

Stay should win here. The simplicity and raw emotion that this video invoked was visually stunning and redefined video production.

Musician of the Year
Jerry Douglas – Dobro
Paul Franklin – Steel Guitar
Dann Huff – Guitar
Brent Mason – Guitar
Mac McAnally – Guitar

I have no idea. Maybe Dann Huff just out of respect for Keith Urban not winning anything tonight.

Tune in tonight at 8/7 CST on ABC to see who wins. If you don't care about the awards, the just tune in to see Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman presenting. That should definitely be a highlight of the evening!

Election Day: Hu are you going to Vote for?

New Music Thursday: Fun Music

Newcomer Eric Hutchinson has had a song out for a couple months that I did not know about until the other day. I know it isn't exactly "new music" as it has been out for a while, but I loved the song and wanted to make sure I blogged about it. Rock and Roll is fresh, light, and would be a great summer song (too bad its almost Halloween). Nevertheless, it is fun and very entertaining.

I love Jon McLaughlin. I think he is so amazingly talented and better than Jon Mayer any day. His first release, Indiana, was fantastic and it is still in our car and we listen to it all the time. Then he followed that up with an Oscar nominated song "So Close" from Enchanted. Now, his sophomoric release, OK Now, is equally fantastic and I am so glad to hear new stuff from him. You Can Never Go Back is 70s type disco feel song that ironically chants that we can never go back to the past. Its catchy, fun, and a foot-patting good time! Listen and see if you don't feel the same way.

Election 2008

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Dharmageddon!

Can't wait until February!


There are a couple things to point out here:
At :39, does anyone else see "Dharma Initiative" flash across the screen?
At :46, Locke is holding a compass. Remember when that compass was one of the things that Alpert asked 8 year old Locke if it was his? Spooky!
At :49, Hurley has a gun!!!! Yee haw!!!
At 1:00, Juliet and Sawyer have ended up becoming the leaders of the remaining survivors simply by accident. That should make for an interesting storyline.
At 1:07, Ben says "Thank God for second chances." What he really means is, "Thank God I have a second chance to get revenge on Widmore by killing his daughter." Look for Ben's and Penny's paths to ultimately cross in the season 5 finale.

February people. You might want to go ahead and turn off your phones now just so you aren't bothered during the episode!

Some Pics for the Weekend

New Music Thursday: Not for Long

I am dedicating today's new music to my beautiful wife Jess. Brody is now almost 5 weeks old and she is really persevering through this time of no sleep, constant crying, and continuous feedings. She is such a trooper and doing better than anyone would expect someone in her position to do. I am so proud of her. So for her today, I offer Darius Rucker's new single It Won't Be Like This For Long. Jess, I hope it encourages you and offers hope when the long nights seem to become a little too long. I love you!

A Fantastic Lady

I remember the summers I spent with my grandmother--how she would take us to this museum for kids. I remember how we would drag her to her pool everyday and spend hours there. I remember her and I watching and loving The Golden Girls every Saturday night. I remember spilling grape juice on my white pants in church and Mamaw getting the stain out. I remember playing cards and Mamaw always saying, "Take a chance, Columbus did." I remember stopping at Hardee's with just Mamaw and me on the way to Myrtle Beach when I was 18 and for the first time feeling grown-up. I remember Mamaw making the world's best chicken and dumplings. I remember taking my grandmother as a "Single Person Over 21" to be a checklist item on a Scavenger Hunt on the cruise she sent my family on. I remember laughing and dancing with her to "Tennessee Waltz" at my wedding. I remember crying with her and listening to her stories when her daughter passed away. I remember babysitting my cousin Collin with her which was the first time I had ever been around a baby. I remember her teaching crafts to people 20 years her junior. I remember Mamaw and Jess combing through photo albums for what seemed like hours. I remember her delighted reaction to hearing the news that we were pregnant and then hearing a more excited reaction of congratulations when Brody was born. I remember a lady that could hardly ever spell my name correctly. I remember playing in her walk-in closet as a kid and thinking that it was the most hidden place on earth. I remember how much my grandmother loved her family and only wanted the best for them. I remember a woman that loved and trusted God. I remember a fantastic lady!

It was the Best of Times, It was the Worst of Times

Saturday was one of the best days. I went to my friend Angela's wedding and it was absolutely so much fun. I saw friends I hadn't seen in 4-6 years. It was like we never left college. We danced, drank, told stories, reminisced and most of all, laughed. It was fantastic. Here is a video of when Angela and her new husband Jamie came in to the reception.



So you can imagine the high I was on when the world around me seemed to collapse on Sunday night when my mom called and told me that my grandmother had passed away. She lived a long full life and I am grateful for the time I got to spend with her. I don't wish that she were still here with us. I am glad that she is home, in no pain, and with her daughter and husband who she hasn't seen in almost 40 years. The only thing I am sad about is that she didn't get to meet Brody. But that is a selfish desire and its not like they won't meet. They will meet one day. But instead of it being 3 months until they met, it will be more like 80 years. That will be a good day and I hope I am there to introduce them!

New Music Thursday: A Tale of Two Women

Today's new music comes from two inspiring women who are really at the top of their craft. Alcia Keys has a new duet with Jack White called Another Way to Die. It is the new theme song from the upcoming James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. It is very edgy and very fresh. I have never heard metal and rythm and blues mixed like this. It's definitely different, but in a good way. The second new song comes from country vocal powerhouse, Jamie O'Neal. Jess loves her and always tells people how she ran into her in the doctor's office. Nevertheless, she comes back on an independent label and proclaims her sultriness with Like A Woman. This song is a cry from the heart of every female and there is no one that can do cry-singing like Jamie can. (See God Don't Make Mistakes) It is a very good comeback and will hopefully do well in radio.

Cheers to two of the industry's best.

Rainy Day

It's raining in Nashville and it seems that life is just raining everywhere. My family is getting little sleepas Brody doesn't want to cooperate with us very much, my grandmother is in the hospital with a severe illness that will more than likely take her life hopefully later rather than sooner, the country has to choose a leader between Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee in less than a month, and the rain today only symbolizes the cloudiness of life right now. However, on days like this, when things are blue, I am remember the two basic points that ignite my existence: Jesus is still in charge and I'm still saved. So things aren't going my way right now...it's still a good day!

Crazy Quizzes

I could survive for 60 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Why is Everybody Always Hatin' on me?

There are some things that have really gotten on my nerves this week. And I need to let it out. So here are some things that I've been hating this week.

1. Eye Infections - I have had this eye infection off and on for 5 months. I am done with it. We have got to figure out what is going on!

2. Cracker Barrel - yes, there pancakes are good but apparently this is the only restaurant that anyone knows to go to. I am so through with this place. I am not going back at least until next year! And that is only if someone drags me there. I would be fine to never go back in my life!

3. Post-Debate Analysis - Everyone always claims that their candidate won the debate and every media outlet in the world is seeking some professional's opinion when the professional's agenda is only to further their candidate's hopes for office. And while we're at it, please spare me the post-debate focus groups where the last 20 people who are too stupid to have made up their mind by this point are corralled together, have a microphone shoved in their face and asked "what do you think?" and then we get their answer back, "he was a little mean." Lah!

So instead of just ranting and raving, let me also give you some of the things that I am lovin' this week.

1. It's Friday!

2. The new season of Heroes. Finally this show has morphed into what it should have been all along!

3. Team Hoyt. I saw Dick speak at a conference yesterday and it is truly amazing what the human body and spirit will do ... amazing and inspiring!

New Music Thursday: Sara Buxton

Sara Buxton is seriously one of the best Nashville has to offer. Her debut album got crushed a couple years ago by Christmas songs a flurry on the radio. She wasn't given a fair shot with that album and my friend at Lyric Street says that the whole label is more behind her than any other artist they have. Here is Stupid Boy writer's latest single called Space. This is a love it or hate it song. So it will not surprise me at all when half of you out there listen to it and say, "What?!?! I don't get it!" But the other half will have it on their iPods before the end of the day! I hope you enjoy it!

TPC Live Album Recording

We Found Popeye's Mom!

New Music Thursday: 90s Favorites

This week, Darius Rucker became the first artist to reach #1 on the pop charts to then cross over and reach #1 on the country charts in more than 20 years. So in celebrating his success, I thought I would blog about some other 90s voices that are back in action. Randy Travis has released a new song called Dig Two Graves. As you can imagine, its a real feel-good song. Actually, its not bad and sort of sweet. But since the low-baritone-country-singer torch has been passed to Josh Turner, my thoughts are that this song probably won't go anywhere significant. 90s pop crooner Kenny Loggins thought he would follow in Rucker's footsteps and so he has released a country song. How About Now is a strong classic Loggins sound. But I don't know if he has enough umph to successfully catapult this song up the charts. Keith Urban could have a hit with this song. Kenny Loggins??? We'll see. The one 90s favorite that I am excited to see back in action and has the strongest chance to rocket up the charts is Brandy with Right Here (Departed). Brandy has really updated her sound for the new millennium and it is very consistent to the fresh music heard today. A strong message, a vibrant beat, and nice gal give this song the best shot at #1. Bu as always, time will tell.

Broken

Jesus calls us to live out of a desolate place becuase it is there we realize our dependency on him. The more we realize how inept we truly are, the more we realize our need for the Savior. And when we truly realize how amazing and loving Papa is, we realize we truly are broken. Living out of this broken place then starts a new walk with our Father.

Lifehouse has a great new song and video out called Broken. (The video was even directed by Keifer Sutherland!) Listen to the song and read the lyrics below. Striving to be broken isn't hard. Remembering we're broken is.

Broken by Lifehouse



The broken clock is a comfort, it helps me sleep tonight
Maybe it can stop tomorrow from stealing all my time
I am here still waiting though i still have my doubts
I am damaged at best, like you've already figured out

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
With a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you

The broken locks were a warning you got inside my head
I tried my best to be guarded, I'm an open book instead
I still see your reflection inside of my eyes
That are looking for a purpose, they're still looking for life

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
with a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on, I'm holdin' on
I'm barely holdin' on to you

I'm hangin' on another day
Just to see what you will throw my way
And I'm hanging on to the words you say
You said that I will be ok

The broken lights on the freeway left me here alone
I may have lost my way now, haven't forgotten my way home

Missing Dad

Since I went back to work yesterday, Brody wanted to take some pictures and send them to me. Wasn't that nice of him? Quite the little photographer too!

New Firsts

Brody has been having some "firsts" this week including his first bath, first bottle, first time in the bassinet, etc. Take a look and let us know what you think.

Leaving the Hospital

Hospital Pictures

Brody doing his signature move, Hands by the Ear!


Bringing sexy back


In Mom's arms

Picture

Katie Moore, Creative Kaite as I affectionately call her, came by to visit today along with some other of Jess' co-workers and friends. Katie accidentally left something in our room when she left. Can you guess what it is??? Hint: It's not the pillow.

Lullaby

Before, I post, there has been some confusion as to Brody's full name and the spelling. His full name is Brody Rayf Chambers. Good....glad we go that cleared up.

Last night, really really late, they let me hit the lullaby button that plays a lullaby all over the hospital to announce that Brody had arrived. A nurse videotaped it for me. As you can see, once I hit the button, I don't know what to do! So I am just hanging out looking silly. But here it is for your enjoyment!

Baby Chambers has Arrived!

5:50

5:10

3:03

1:08

Jess is dilated to 5cm and 80% effaced. She is having some tough contractions but is trooping through.