Country Music's Biggest Night
Country music’s biggest night, the Country Music Association’s 51st annual awards, exceeded the world’s high expectations. Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood, who celebrated ten years of hosting the awards together, addressed hot topics and tragedies in a tasteful, effective, and loving way.
Not to mention that the duo’s chemistry on stage seems to be getting better with age.
The opening performance set the tone for the rest of the show as Eric Church sang Amazing Grace in an unplugged set, which seamlessly transitioned to Darius Rucker and Keith Urban singing “Hold My Hand,” Darius’s Hootie & the Blowfish classic. The song expanded with appearances by Lady Antebellum and a stage full of others including Thomas Rhett, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Little Big Town, Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, Reba, Kelsea Ballerini, Luke Bryan, and more.
This initial performance, as well as Paisley and Underwood's opening remarks, did a brilliant job of honoring and recognizing the tragedies that have affected the world this year, but they respectfully, and with the permission of the audience, continued with the show by encouraging unification through the joys of country music.
There were many necessary and beautifully crafted performances to tribute late legends and victims. Rascal Flatts and Dierks Bentley joined together to sing “My Town” by Montgomery Gentry. Eddie Montgomery joined the two on stage to finish the song in honor of his late singing partner and other half of the band, Troy Gentry. This was Montgomery’s first performance since the passing of Troy and the moment was powerful and emotional.
Brothers Osborne sang their radio hit “It Ain’t My Fault,” and then took to honor the late legend Don Williams by singing “Tulsa Time.” Little Big Town joined in the tributes by effortlessly using their beautiful harmonies to honor Glen Campbell with “Wichita Lineman.” Jimmy Webb, successful songwriter who wrote “Wichita Lineman,” joined the group on piano.
One of the most memorable, and perhaps the most emotional performance of the night was Carrie Underwood’s rendition of “Softly and Tenderly.” The performance was in memoriam to the victims lost in the Las Vegas shooting on October 1st. The set was beautifully constructed with candles lighting up the arena, and the faces of those lost from the tragedy on screen behind Underwood. She dazzled in a conservative, beautiful white gown, which added to the scene. She performed “Softly and Tenderly” in a classic way that was indeed soft and tender, but had a way of making the song sound new, and one everyone needs to hear in light of tragedy. In the last few verses of the song Underwood drew silence as she regained composure in a moment of overwhelming emotion. She gracefully finished the song and it could not have been more needed or more beautiful of a moment.
Other noteworthy performances include Miranda Lambert’s “To Learn Her,” Tim McGraw and Faith Hill’s “The Rest of Our Life,” Keith Urban’s “Female,” Chris Stapleton’s “Broken Halos,” P!nk’s “Barbies,” and many others.
Now, other honorable mentions include:
- Dierks Bentley's beard
- Garth Brooks's beard
- Sam Hunt's Mullet
- Faith Hill's leg
- Bobby Bones & Amy
One of the best performances of the night, which reminded the world exactly why country music is so adored, was Alan Jackson’s appearance. His performance was timeless and his voice proved to be just as strong as in his prime. Jackson humbly dominated the stage wearing his classic look, but somehow still looked current, relevant, and fresh. His tall stature controlled the stage in starched, light faded jeans and a tan fringe jacket with a cowboy hat. His iconic look and pure voice was the highlight of the show and brought Country’s Biggest Night to a close, perfectly.
The awards left me with these few words: The world needs more country music.
