CMA Fest 2011 - Quotebook

Here's what some of your favorite country music stars had to say about their CMA Music Festival experience:

Quotebook: Heard behind-the-scenes during the 2011 CMA Music Festival:

"You're asking me to do math, which is dangerous. My first Fan Fair was in 1992." -Martina McBride

"It's such an amazing experience being surrounded by 50,000 people who are all singing the same thing. You look out and it's this never ending sea of people for as far as you can see." — Taylor Swift

"Can you sign this for me?" — Clay Walker to Dierks Bentley, who signed a notebook for Walker's daughter.

"My house burned down. I've felt like Rain Man for the last few weeks every time someone asks me a question, 'Trace, what do you want to eat?' 'My house burned down.'" — Trace Adkins

"I have a little video of my daughter's reaction when I sent Jay the picture of me with Justin Bieber. I made a complete fool of myself going up to meet him, but it was so worth it." — Sara Evans who showed press cell phone video of her daughter's reaction.

"The thing that really amazes me is not only the loyalty of the fan but the loyalty of country music back to the fan. You couldn't pull this together in rock n' roll, not so much because of the bands, but the egos of their managers. They'd go, 'Oh, my guy's too big to play that.' But you don't have that here." — Darius Rucker

"Happy birthday to you." — Media singing to Chris Young backstage for his 26th birthday, which was Sunday (6/12)

"These die-hard country fans come from all over the world. It's not just here in the US. It's the least we could do. We love going and signing and seeing familiar faces and being able to look them in the eyes and say thank you." — Lady Antebellum's Hillary Scott

Courtesy of Country Aircheck

ACM Awards Recap!

LAS VEGAS—Carrie Underwood took home “Entertainer of the Year” award, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert lead with five and three awards, respectfully, Sunday at the 45th annual Academy of Country Music Awards live from Las Vegas.

Carrie Underwood made history, becoming the first female to win the coveted “Entertainer of the Year” award two times. This was Carrie Underwood’s second consecutive “Entertainer of the Year” award. Underwood was also awarded a “Triple Crown” Award for her last year's triple victory: “Top New Female Vocalist”, Top “Female Vocalist” and “Entertainer of the Year”.

Top-selling trio, Lady Antebellum had a huge night Sunday, taking home five trophies, including: “Top Vocal Group”, “Single Record of the Year” and “Song of the Year”, both for their crossover hit “Need You Now”. “We’ve waited our whole lives for this… Thank you fans! We love you” Said Charles Kelly of Lady Antebellum, after receiving the award for “Single Record of the Year”.

Lambert’s hard work this past year did not go unnoticed. Lambert took home trophies for “Album of the Year” for her critically appraised album “Revolution” as well as “Top Female Vocalist”, beating out Carrie Underwood, Lee Ann Womack, Reba McEntire and Taylor Swift, and “Music Video of the Year” for her hit single, “White Liar”. ““You’ve got to be kidding me!...Thank you to my peers and the fans. I mean, this is my life and you make it great! Thank you so much!” Lambert exclaimed after winning her “Top Female Vocalist” award.

Brad Paisley took home another “Top Male Vocalist” trophy, marking his fourth consecutive win in this category. Other big winners on the night were Luke Bryan who took home the “Top New Solo Vocalist” and “Top New Artist” awards and Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins who walked away with an off-camera “Vocal Event of the Year” award for their collaboration on the hit “Hillbilly Bone”. “Thank You fans! Thank you… This means the world to me!” Bryan shouted after excepting his first ever ACM award for “Top New Artist”.

Brooks and Dunn took home the “Vocal Duo of the Year” award, and performed their classic hit, “My Maria” in an emotional farewell, as their last ACM performance together as a duo.

Other acts performing included Darius Rucker, Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton with Trace Adkins, Toby Keith, Billy Currington, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and Lady Antebellum.

Star presenters included Matthew McConanughey, actress Kristen Bell, singer and actor Jamie Foxx, rap star LL Cool J and “Dancing With the Stars” champion ballroom dancer Julianne Hough.

Perhaps he biggest surprise of the night came as Taylor Swift walked away empty handed after winning almost all of the major awards in country music throughout the last year. Swift was nominated for five awards, including “Music video of the Year” for “You Belong with Me”, “Top Female Vocalist” and “Entertainer of the

45th Annual ACM Awards Nominees

The Nominees are in!! This morning, Blake and Reba did a great job of announcing the nominees for the 45th annual ACM Awards, and it looks like its going to be a great show! Lady Antebellum leads with seven nominations, including Album of the Year for "Lady Antebellum" and Top Vocal Group. Miranda Lambert is nominated for six awards, including Album of the Year for "Revolution" and Top Female Vocalist. Carrie Underwood also has six nominations, including Entertainer of the Year. Taylor Swift is up for five awards, Kenny Chesney, Zac Brown Band and Brad Paisley are tied with four nominations. Here is a rundown of the complete list!

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
• Kenny Chesney
• Toby Keith
• Brad Paisley
• George Strait
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Keith Urban
• Zac Brown Band

TOP MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Kenny Chesney
• Brad Paisley
• Darius Rucker
• George Strait
• Keith Urban

TOP FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
• Miranda Lambert
• Reba McEntire
• Taylor Swift
• Carrie Underwood
• Lee Ann Womack

TOP VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
• Lady Antebellum
• Little Big Town
• Randy Rogers Band
• Rascal Flatts
• Zac Brown Band

TOP VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
• Brooks & Dunn
• Joey + Rory
• Montgomery Gentry
• Steel Magnolia
• Sugarland

TOP NEW SOLO VOCALIST OF THE YEAR *
• Luke Bryan
• Jamey Johnson
• Chris Young

TOP NEW VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR *
• Bomshel
• Joey + Rory
• Steel Magnolia

ALBUM OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company(s)]

• American Saturday Night - Brad Paisley (Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Chris DuBois, Frank Rogers

• Lady Antebellum - Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Victoria Shaw, Paul Worley

• Play On - Carrie Underwood (19/Arista Nashville)
Produced by: Mark Bright
"Quitter" Produced by Max Martin & Shellback for Maratone Productions and Mark Bright

• Revolution - Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke

• The Foundation - Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)
Produced by: Keith Stegall, Zac Brown

SINGLE RECORD OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company(s)]

• Need You Now - Lady Antebellum (Capitol Records Nashville)
Produced by: Lady Antebellum, Paul Worley

• People Are Crazy - Billy Currington (Mercury)
Produced by: Carson Chamberlain, Billy Currington

• Red Light - David Nail (MCA Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke

• Toes - Zac Brown Band (Southern Ground / Bigger Picture / Atlantic)
Produced by: Keith Stegall, Zac Brown

• White Liar - Miranda Lambert (Columbia Nashville)
Produced by: Frank Liddell, Mike Wrucke

SONG OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Composer(s)/Publisher(s)/Artist(s)]

• Cowboy Casanova - Carrie Underwood
Composers: Mike Elizondo, Brett James, Carrie Underwood
Publishers: Brett James Cornelius Music (ASCAP), Carrie Okie Music (BMI), Rincon Ave Music
(ASCAP), Stage Three Songs (ASCAP)

• Need You Now - Lady Antebellum
Composers: Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott
Publishers: EMI Foray Music (BMI), Darth Buddha (ASCAP), Dwhaywood Music (BMI), Hillary
Dawn Publishing (SESAC), Radiobullets Publishing (BMI), Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp.
(BMI), Year Of The Dog Music (ASCAP)

• People Are Crazy - Billy Currington
Composers: Bobby Braddock, Troy Jones
Publishers: Crozier Music Enterprises LLC (BMI), Mighty Nice Music (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree
Publishing (BMI), Tiltawhirl Music (BMI)

• White Liar - Miranda Lambert
Composers: Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert
Publishers: Pink Dog Publishing (BMI), Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Tiltawhirl Music
(BMI)

• You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
Composers: Liz Rose, Taylor Swift
Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing (BMI), Taylor Swift Music (BMI)

VIDEO OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Producer(s)/Director(s)/Artist(s)] (Off Camera Award)

• Boots On – Randy Houser
Producer: Eric Welch
Director: Eric Welch (Drake footage: Vickie Vaughn)

• Need You Now – Lady Antebellum
Producer: Clarke Gallican
Director: David McClister

• Welcome To The Future – Brad Paisley
Producers: Mark Kalbfeld, Jim Shea, Peter Tilden
Director: Jim Shea

• White Liar – Miranda Lambert
Producer: Tameron Hedge
Director: Chris Hicky

• You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
Producer: Randy Brewer
Director: Roman White

VOCAL EVENT OF THE YEAR [Awarded to Artist(s)/Producer(s)/Record Company] (Off Camera
Award)

• Hillbilly Bone - Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins (Reprise Records / Warner Music
Nashville)
Producer: Scott Hendricks

• Honky Tonk Stomp - Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons (Arista Nashville)
Producer: Ronnie Dunn, Terry McBride

• I Told You So - Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis (19/Arista Nashville)
Producer: Mark Bright

• I’m Alive - Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews (Blue Chair/BNA)
Produced by: Buddy Cannon, Kenny Chesney

• Seeing Stars - Jack Ingram featuring Patty Griffin (Big Machine Records)
Produced by: Jack Ingram, Jeremy Stover

Be sure to tune in to the 45th annual ACM Awards on Sunday, April 18th to find our if your favorites won.