As is customary, the Horizon Award nominees performed throughout the ceremony so I was able to get my first glimpse of some of the NashVegas newbies I’ve been hearing about…like Keith Urban, who nabbed this year’s award.  I didn’t know he is from Australia, and his rather rocker song they performed didn’t impress me, but his band certainly did.  Nickel Creek, whom I’ve heard nothing but good things about, wowed me with their music and their harmony.  It sounded so pure.   I’ll be looking for their CD.  Jamie O’Neal, another Horizon Award nominee, performed "There is No Arizona".  The song wasn’t that bad, though not very country.  But her red outfit made her look like some sort of bird on fire.  I also saw and heard Phil Vassar for the first time.  He seems pretty pop from first impression, but I’ll have to reserve my opinion until I hear more of his music.  Jessica Andrews was also nominated for the Horizon Award and performed "Who I Am".  I wasn’t impressed much by this song or the performer.

Video of the Year was awarded to Sara Evans for "Born to Fly".  I haven’t seen any of the videos that were nominated, so I can’t say whom I would have chosen, but I’m sure it would have been Lee Ann Wommack or Sara Evans. "Ashes by Now" is one of the best songs to come out of NashVegas lately, in my humble opinion.

As far as the entertainment for the show, I noticed that the stage wasn’t as glitzy as last year, the clothes the artists donned were toned down from last year and there were some much brighter moments this year than last, as well as some "not so bright".  At least they didn't have a choreographed song and dance act with some big star that doesn't know how to dance and sing at the same time.  I thought the Dixie Chicks did a superior job on "Travelin’ Soldier", the Garth Brooks/George Jones duet was a joke (but I still love George).  I can't believe George sang on Garth's new "Scarecrow" CD.   I guess they'll do just about anything for money.  Tim McGraw’s "Cowboy In Me" was…well, you know the line in the song that goes, "I don’t like what I see"?  Well, I didn’t like what I heard or saw. ‘Nuff said.  The Willie Nelson/Sheryl Crow duet was "interesting".  Willie looked right at home, but Sheryl seemed more tentative and even a little nervous during the performance.  She reminded me of a fish out of water, but I'd be that way, too, if I was performing with a legend like Willie on national TV.

Thank God they didn’t let Kenny Chesney perform this year.  It was hard enough watching him announce an award.  I’ll just say one thing about Kenny.  If he’s gonna wear a hat, he should buy him one that fits! Unless he’s trying to be all hat and no talent, in which case he has succeeded!

Now we get to the bigger awards, like Male and Female Vocalists, Song of the Year and Album of the Year…and yes, Entertainer of the Year.  Lee Ann Wommack won Female Vocalist of the Year, and she couldn’t have been more thrilled.   I was happy for her, because she has worked hard this year and deserves it as much as the other nominees (maybe more in some cases).  Male Vocalist of the Year went to Toby Keith.  Uh, let’s just move on.  "O Brother Where Art Thou", the soundtrack, was voted as Album of the Year.  Man!   What a coup for roots music.  I was so excited for this group of artists.  It was one of the brightest spots of the show, and that group of winners were genuinely honored and surprised to receive that award.  The Entertainer of the Year went to Tim McGraw.  What the hell are they thinking...that he can sing and entertain?  Is their idea of entertainment someone  who wears the tightest leather pants and shakes their butt the best?  Obviously, that counts for something in NashVegas.

All in all, I thought the show was much better than last year’s, and it seems that NashVegas may be starting to mesh traditional country with their new country.  It's a start.   Let the revolution continue!

                                                                                                      Happy Trails,

                                                                                  Miss Lana