Idolator

That's quite an upset for Lambert - she still, two albums in, hasn't been fully embraced by the Nashville establishment, or at least the Country Radio-Industrial Complex.

I read a short item in the new Billboard that her label's still fighting to get her a Top 10 single. The truly awesome "Gunpowder and Lead" just moved a couple of notches into the Top 20 this week.

What, no coverage of the Chesney/Flatts beef over fan voting? That could turn into Nashville's own Biggie/2pac feud. God I love me a good ACM scandal.

@GhostOfDuane: link?

also, anything that gives fewer accolades to rascal flatts is ok by me. god they are atrocious.

@Maura Johnston:
[www.cmt.com]

Something that would give fewer accolades to both Chesney and Rascal Flatts would be even better...

Kenny Chesney is a poor man's Jimmy Buffett. And that's not saying much.

What I want to know is what exactly the Humanitarian award entails. (And why exactly, does Home Depot sponsor it?) Is it because of that "uplifting" song they're currently flogging, "Every Day"?

Don't tell, but I think Taylor Swift is totally rad.

@Chris Molanphy: She's like the anti-Carrie Underwood. She's not a sweet love song kind of girl, maybe that scares traditional country radio. They don't want their pretty blondes to sing about shooting their abusive boyfriends or cheating ("Guilty in Here") or just breaking hearts for no reason ("Down").

She is a killer live act, and she gets on good tours. She's got that Dolly/Loretta realness to her, and I think this girl will be making music for a long, long time.

@heidiho: The fact that her and Brad Paisley both won big prizes last night gives me hope for country music.

As for the rest of the ACM Awards, who's the genius who thought getting artists to do medleys was a good idea? Rodney Atkins (4 songs in 3.5 minutes) and Garth Brooks (10 in 7 minutes) looked like they were stuck inside live K-Tel or Time Life late night commercials for hits compilations!

@Thierry: Garth was drunk, right? Didn't he totally mess up that Thunder Rolls song (not a Garth fan)? I DVR'd it and fast forwarded through most of it, stopping for the Brad & Carrie duet, Miranda, Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn (can't help it, I love them).

@heidiho: Definitely - or, as he would have said "yeaaaaargh!". Also, Garth calling Reba "Miss Yearwood" was a highlight for me, but the best (worst?) line of the night has to go to Reba's "salute to our troops", which went something like "when I put on lipstick/makeup in the morning, I'm reminded that some people put on their bulletproof vests every morning..."

I was so exctied that Miranda Lambert was recognized for that album..she is one of the best/least known artists currently...she is one of the better country artists in my lifetime