ABC touted its three-hour CMA Music Festival concert as “Country’s Night to Rock,” and because this special had better sound than other televised music award shows do combined, it actually did. Most everyone was there, from Reba McEntire, who sang “Turn On the Radio”; to Taylor Swift, who worked a sparkly gold fringed dress for “Sparks Fly”; to Jason Aldean, who brought Kelly Clarkson onstage for their duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” My favorite crowd reaction shot of the night was the guy rapping along with Aldean during “Dirt Road Anthem.” My favorite artist interview was Lady Antebellum, who revealed they sign a lot of “stinky cowboy boots” and that Dave Haywood sleeps in black crew socks. (“This interview is really awful for my rep, by the way,” he joked.)
It was admittedly tough to watch Sugarland’s performance in light of their stage collapse in Indiana over the weekend. ABC made sure viewers knew the performances of “Find the Beat Again” and “Stuck Like Glue” were recorded on June 10, 2011, but being reminded of how much joy that duo and their fans are capable of made your heart ache because you know they’re feeling the complete opposite now.
My favorite segment was, I’m surprised to admit, the ride-along with American Idol winner Scotty McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina. After all these years, I thought I was immune to the “Idol star hits the big time” montage, but Lauren’s nerves as their car approached LP Field were genuine and palpable. “We’re just gonna go up there and sing like we do any other time. Be a’ight,” Scotty told her.
“My whole town would fit in that stadium,” she said. Watch the clip of their day leading up to the show below. It includes Scotty getting a marriage proposal from a fan (“I was just gonna let you know that we’re gonna get married one day,” she says. “Oh, all right. I’ll look forward to it,” he responds), as well as Lauren denying during a radio interview that she and Scotty are dating and beating him in a game of charity softball. Then, watch her perform “Anyway” with Martina McBride in front of close to 70,000 fans and tell me you don’t get a little teary-eyed. McCreery joined Josh Turner to perform “Your Man.” Catch that below as well. Last week it was announced that McCreery will release his debut album, Clear as Day, on Oct. 4, and Alaina’s, titled Wildflower, will follow on Oct. 11.
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Scotty McCreery releases ‘I Love You This Big’ video: Watch it here!
That Scotty McCreery man, What a charmer.
This is why country music is so popular right now. It’s about the fans and they get it. Do you think any other genre would get this many stars together w/o any awards handed out?
It was a really good night for country music. Reba, Jason aldean with Kelly Clarkson, and Trace Adkins were just some of my favorite performances.
Scotty won? And yet, still no one cares.
Pretty inaccurate considering Mandi enjoyed that segment the most out of the whole show. Best you could say is, “at least one cares”…but then that would be ignoring the first comment by MT up there who also seems to be a Scotty fan. So you got at least 2 there. And while he’s not my favorite winner of Idol, I do not mind him. So, why don’t you bump that number to 3. You know what they say about those who assume.
Are you kidding? So many care that he is news everywhere he goes.
Do you live under a rock? Ooh, ooh, that nasty side is showing, shove it back under the rock! Get real, he started at AI (and a record number of people cared) and he is skyrocketing his career. Hope your day gets better.
r u kidding me? so many care. He has major following on Facebook and Twitter and his album will make some money. Maybe you should take a cue from Scotty McCreary and learn how to be positive.
Scotty was in the top 5 in Google Trends search in the past two days.
A lot of folks care – fans of his are of all ages not just teens. His voice is so good and he is so full of charm – can’t help but love him
I see. You’re all correct. A whopping 45 people care, judging by the number of comments on this article. The finale of The Bachelorette has over 1200 comments, if you need something to compare the rate of response to.
Miranda should of sang 2 songs. I wanted to see Pistol Annies!
CMA Music Fest in Nashville is split up over 4 days and nights in June. I went a few years ago. Each artist at the night shows does about 3 songs. But the whole thing is being made for television so it takes forever to set things up between artists and to film the in between segments with introducing the artists. Still a really fun time and you get to meet a lot of the musicians during the day. Anyway, my point is that the 4 night concerts are spliced together to make the 3 hour special for ABC…so Miranda probably did more than 1 song, but only 1 was featured on the show. Since she did tour with Pistol Annies, there’s a chance that they may have been there with her. There’s always youtube lol
She did 2 or 3 songs..including one with the Pistol Annies
I agree that the entire show was amazing. Loved the Scotty and Lauren segment too in the middle of all the amazing stars who performed. Taped whole show and will watch it again.
I was struck by the thought that Martina McBride looks like Michelle Bachmann’s sane twin. Other than that, I enjoyed the show and love the lack of visible ego in country performers as opposed to rockers and rappers. No posturing, no vain grandstanding, just a big family party.
Just once I would like to read something about Scotty with Larean being in their. I voted for Scotty not Larean and he is the one I want to get ahead. than I will center on larean. Cmt and Gact need to give equal time to Scotty and Should have played his veido first. I said befor they are prejudice and promtion who they want
that should have been without Larean being in there
Well, while you’re correcting things, you may as well go with “Lauren” too
Anyway, I think most people in country music enjoy them as a package deal. But don’t worry, there will be plenty of time for them to be featured separately. Scotty’s video is already on CMT’s Top 20 with no Lauren in sight. But, I really don’t think it’s a competition between them where you should be rooting for one to succeed more than the other. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions.
I agree. It’s like they co-won, which they didn’t. I like Scotty, not the other one.
They should give them equal time at zero airplay
I was there the night Idols were at LP Field. I was NOT impressed. It’s the CMA Music Fest, not Idol Wannabe Fest. Things like this are why I’m increasing leaving country behind…
Oh, sorry Michelle, you may not have heard that that was the winner and the runner up, not “wannabes”. Just a news flash for you if you are under the same rock. Come on, cheer up, if country music was all the old folks (which I love) and never made room for new talent, we would soon really be out of country music, how sad for us all. Scotty is the most talented new performer in country music, he may have been introduced by AI, but it was just his vehicle to get to where he belongs!
I know! i wish we could round up all the “Idols” and get rid of them. American Idol is ruining the music industry!
@Michelle Wow. Your post says more about you than about the show. Carrie was an “Idol Wannabe” several seasons back and you can see where that got her. Scotty & Lauren are part of the future of country music and if you are leaving country music behind, all I can say is “Thank God & Greyhound She’s Gone”.
When the two “Idols” were mobbed on the street, that was very staged, I was there. They sat the cars there for a long time making it seem like there was someone really huge in there. Then once we found out who it was and Lauren hit her head hard getting out, most of the crowd left. They had to beg people to come over. I know most TV is staged but this was pretty bad
BS!
Even saying that, people in LP Field were very excited when they came on stage.
I was at everything else–and the softball game didn’t show how excited the crowd was–people lined up from one side of the field to the other to get Scotty and Lauren’s autographs–so if one thing was staged, maybe this makes up for it:) Also, the biggest crowd ever at the softball game…
Some of these comments are uncalled. These are kids and they are entitled to their moment of fame as anyone else. They did not ask to be featured at CMA. I think personally think the review was the best video at CMA. Not only was it entertaining and funny but it displayed their exceptional super vocals. They will make a name for themselves in this country industry and around the world. I listended to the duets by all of the performers tonight and must say when these two kids sign a duet they put the best to shame. They are being sold separately and will prove themselves come October 4 and 11.
Can’t even tell you how much I enjoyed the Lauren and Scotty segments. The Country music community is the greatest in the world! They’ve welcomed these kids with open arms and that just makes me happy. I know that Lauren and Scotty will work hard to earn their places on the tops of the country charts and I can’t wait to hear them for years to come. Favorite scene: Lauren approaching Scotty in the elevator, “Did you tell someone we were getting married in 11 years?”…LOL!
I was so confused as to why they time stamped Sugarland’s performance but no one else’s. I kept getting people asking me if theirs was pretaped because of the stage collapse because they failed to mention that the entire special was shot over the week of CMA Music Fest, which takes place every June. No one’s performance was live.
I loved the Scotty/Lauren segment most of all. I wasn’t much of a country music listener until after Scotty and Lauren hit the scene. I will say that their duets together put long time superstars to shame. They are phenomenal. I’m glad that the Country Music stars accept these kids. They are great as individuals, phenomenal as a duo. I see great success for them both. I can see them being the next Conway and Loretta. Sore as individuals as well as break records as a duo. Glad to see these kids making it big!!! Fun, fun, segment. Highlight of the show.