39th Annual CMA Awards (2005)

Keith Urban Wins Two and Lee Ann Womack Picks up Three CMA Awards on 'Country Music's Biggest Night'

When the Country Music Association revealed plans to move the CMA Awards to New York City, the knee-jerk reaction for many, including this reporter, was, "Say what?! That makes as much sense as moving the Cannes Film Festival to London!" But, as more details were released, including goals to enhance the profile of country music in country station-less New York City, along with the varied events planned and cooperation from the city, the move became more reasonable.

But the trip to Gotham was not going to be cheap for anybody. From humble reporters to country stars and their attendants, it was both inconvenient and expensive. The association's own logistical costs from preparation to completion must be astronomical. Fortunately the CMA had garnered enough treasure over the years from their network shows and other means, to be able to grease the wheels of the event. For example, the CMA paid room and travel expenses for performers and presenters coming to the show, to the tune of $500,000 alone.

That move assured stellar participation by most of country music's hottest performers, from established superstars like Shania Twain, Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn, to newly risen comets like Dierks Bentley, Gretchen Wilson, Big & Rich, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and more.

Add to that, two weeks of high profile Big Apple events. There were songwriter showcases, a nominees reception at Gracie Manor with Mayor Bloomberg and rest of the city government, Brooks & Dunn's first ever splashy concert from the marquis of Madison Square Garden, the Grand Ole Opry's spectacular return to Carnegie Hall to celebrate its 80th Anniversary — and then there was the CMA Awards show itself. The final word on taking the CMA Awards show out of Music City to the Big Apple? Good move.

Winner Highlights
The 39th Annual CMA Awards Show clearly belonged to Keith Urban and Lee Ann Womack. Many folks were betting that Kenny Chesney was likely to repeat as the CMA Entertainer of the year, as well a Male Vocalist, but CMA voters handed both key awards to Keith.

"I'm completely weirded out at the moment," said Keith. "Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. To anybody who voted for this thank you very much. I've been out this year with Kenny (Chesney) this year and last year and I want to thank him for the best time. And, I want to thank him for teaching me so much about entertaining." Keith also thanked country radio, GAC, and "many of you that get the music out (to the public)."

Lee Ann Womack won an award even before the televised show began, taking Vocal Event of the Year /wGeorge Strait. Even though it wasn't televised, she insisted on thanking folks saying, "This might be the only award I get tonight." Turns out she was far from through for the evening as she picked up two more big awards, Single of the Year for "I May Hate Myself in the Morning," and Album of the Year for There's More Where That Came From.

"Oh My God, I love country music!" said Lee Ann from the stage. "My husband said 'Sit down,' this is the song you need to be doing.' To all of you out there, if you're listening to music that doesn't' touch you, that doesn't mean anything to you, tune into your country station because we have songs about your life, we have songs that you'll love and songs that will touch your hearts. I love you, I love country music, thank you."

This year Gretchen Wilson earned her Female Vocalist of the year award by continuing the incredible juggernaut of success she established in 2004 when she earned the Horizon award at The 38th Annual CMA Awards. Holding the new award in her arms she said, "I'm going to try not to be a cry baby this time. I want to say thank you to the fans for being such an awesome part of this win. I want to thank my Sony family, and there's been a few ladies I haven't gotten the chance to thank yet that have made a great difference to me in my life. Miss Connie Bradley, Donna Hilley and Tracy Gershon — you're some of the strongest women I've met and you've given me the courage to do everything I've done to now and I appreciate you for that. I love you guys and thank you so much for this."

Gretchen's Horizon Award successor was a clearly-surprised Dierks Bentley. "It's really kind of shocking," he said. "I thought Sugarland would win this award. It's very cool and I didn't have an acceptance speech prepared at all, but it's very cool. It's quite an honor be getting the respect of the crowd back in Nashville."

"I kind of wrote this stuff off," added Dierks. "We don't do a lot of high profile stuff. We don't do a lot of TV offers, I've turned down some magazine stuff. We really just pride ourselves on playing on the road and being known as one of the best live bands ever. I kind of look to Kenny Chesney, who was playing arenas long before he ever got any recognition from the Nashville establishment.

"I just think our approach was going to work best — just playing arenas with the goal of playing in front of as many people as possible and the awards can go to someone else," he continued. "And, if it works both ways, then I'll take it. I just hope this brings more people out to the live show. We're working on it continuously, listening to tapes after the show, trying new things and just wanting to be better."

Song of the Year went to songwriters Bill Anderson and Jon Randall, who wrote the Brad Paisley/Alison Krauss smash, "Whiskey Lullaby." Bill has long since aligned himself with younger songwriters, combining his experience with fresh approaches to create great, contemporary hits. His collaboration with Jon is a marvelous example of how effective such joint efforts can be.

"I'm so honored to be standing up here with this legend to get this award," Jon said from the stage.

"I'm supposed to be whisperin', but I feel like shouting tonight," responded Bill. "I have probably been writing songs in Nashville longer than anybody. My first co-writer was Andrew Jackson. But to still be a part of this industry and to be able to share moments like this with Jon Randall who is so talented, and Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss who made such a wonderful record on this song, thank you so much for letting me continue to be a part of this country music business, still after all this time."

Show co-hosts Kix Brooks & Ronnie Dunn picked up their 13th win for Vocal Duo of the Year — a category they've dominated for nearly their whole career.

"We've been doing this for 13 years," said Kix, "and in walking the streets of New York we've discovered how small the world is... thank you very much!" Winning again this year was icing on the cake for Kix and Ronnie. After all, their profile was already astronomical as hosts of the award show, ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and then becoming the first act in history to stage a concert from atop the Madison Square Garden Marquis.

Rascal Flatts received their third consecutive award for Vocal Group of the Year. "We love you guys, we love Country Music and we love being right here," group member Jay DeMarcus said. There are many reasons why the trio deserved the award this year, not the least of which was weekly average sales of over 30,000 copies their Feels Like Today CD, which ranks as the top selling album of 2005.

What's their secret? "I think it's great songs first of all," says Jay about their top sales. "We still stand by our creed that we had at the very beginning of this thing — that the best song wins. And we've been fortunate enough to have some of the best songwriters in town get what we need as a band and come to the plate every time and knock it out of the park. And it's great to know that so many people are working so hard to get us great material. Also, I think the undeniable deliverance Gary gives to a song... I think nobody equals what he can do with an honest lyric."

Jerry Douglas, who's usually on seen stage as a featured player with Alison Krauss & Union Station, received Musician of the Year honors. Jerry's arguably the most innovative dobro virtuoso in history and has contributed his talent to thousands of studio sessions over the past 20 years.

Music Video of the Year went to Toby Keith's clip for "As Good As I Once Was," directed by Michael Salomon. Toby was absent from he show this year as he put the finishing touches his acting debut in the upcoming film, Angel From Montgomery.

Healthy Diversity in Country Music
Finally, as you look at the eclectic styles of this year's winners, from the rock-like country music that's turning Keith Urban into an international superstar, to the traditional new music from top winner Lee Ann Womack, the whole spectrum of exciting music is represented this year by The 39th Annual CMA Awards. It was even more evident in the list of nominees that included very edgy performers like the Warren Brothers and Big & Rich. And, when you stretch the boundaries of country music with top quality acts like these, the result is a broadening of the country audience like the last great expansion in the 1990s thanks to diversity of styles from artists like Garth Brooks, Shania Twain, Travis Tritt, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, Martina McBride — all of whom represented different hues that greatly enriched the portrait of contemporary country music.

And the winners are...

Humorous quote of the night goes to Vince Gill as he came on stage for the Hall of Fame induction presentations.

In his best New York accent...

"How you doin'? So it turns out... there's like a rule here in New York, you can't do a show without a guy named Vinny. I'd like to button my jacket... but I can't"

Honorary mention goes to LeAnn Rimes when on stage with James Gandolfini, (Tony on the "Sopranos").

"Now, I was not nominated in this category (Female Vocalist) this year but James did assure me that it will be taken care of next year!"

Winners from each category are highlighted below with some quotes from their acceptance speeches:

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

Keith Urban -

"Thank you very much, I'm completely weirded out at the moment...To anybody that voted for this, thank you very much..I want to thank Kenny (Chesney) for teaching me so much about entertaining!... I'm so glad my mom is here tonite... Please wrap it up...I knew that was coming!"

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Gretchen Wilson

"I'm gonna try not to be a crybaby this time...I want to say thank you to the fans for being such an awesome part of this dream. I love you guys and thank you so much!"

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

Keith Urban

"Thank you very much...Thank you first to New York for welcoming us out...A huge thank you to country radio... and GAC and everybody that gets our music out to the people, and to the fans for buying it! God bless you, what a concept!"

HORIZON AWARD

Dierks Bentley

"I have nothing prepared, I did not expect to win this at all, but I'm honored y'all... thanks to all the guys I play with in my band... I want to share this award with my bus driver too...of course thanks to all the fans, and everyone in country radio for the support we've had... love you all!"

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR

Rascal Flatts

Gary LeVox - " Thank you... First we'd like to thank God for all our amazing blessings. We have had an incredible year this year, to all of the fans from NY to LA to Nashville, TN it's been incredible... To my wife Terra and Brittany and Brooklyn for enduring all the time not at home. To Alabama... congratulations for being one of our amazing heros."

Jay DeMarcus - "Thanks Mom and Daddy, my lovely wife Allison, to the fans and country radio...We really love you guys!"

Joe Don Rooney - "We get criticized a lot for the kind of country music we make but the fans...you guys, what can we say...we love you! Thank you!"

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR

Brooks & Dunn

Ronnie Dunn - " Wahooohooo...We've been at this for 13 years. We thank you. We've been walking the streets of New York City all week and realized what a small world it is, but what a big family it is. Thank you for allowing us to stay on, thank you."

SINGLE OF THE YEAR - (Award goes to artist and producer)

"I May Hate Myself In The Morning" – Lee Ann Womack
Produced by Byron Gallimore
MCA Nashville

Lee Ann Womack - "Oh, my God. I love country music...Odie Blackmon wrote this song. My husband, Frank Liddell, brought it home to me one day. He said, 'Lee Ann, sit down. This is what you need to be doing.'"

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Jerry Douglas – Dobro

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - (Award goes to artist and producer)

There's More Where That Came From – Lee Ann Womack
Produced by Byron Gallimore/Greg Droman
MCA Nashville

Lee Ann Womack - "I've already won because I got to stand between Tim McGraw and George Strait back there...They both look really good. I just want you to know that this album really represents to me the kind of music my Dad played when he was a disc jockey and the kind of music I grew up listenting to in Jacksonville Texas.. I love it and I'm so proud of it and I want to keep doin' it."

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR - (Award goes to artist and director)

"As Good As I Once Was" – Toby Keith
Directed by Michael Salomon

MUSICAL EVENT OF THE YEAR

George Strait (Duet with Lee Ann Womack)
"Good News, Bad News"
MCA Nashville

SONG OF THE YEAR - (Award goes to songwriter and primary publisher)

"Whiskey Lullaby"
Bill Anderson/Jon Randall
Sony/ATV/Mr. Bubba Music/Reynsong/Wha Ya Say Music

Jon Randall - "I'm Whisperin' Bill Anderson, Welcome to the Zims Crack Cream portion of the show(laughs)... I am so honored to be standing up here with this legend to get this award. Thank you Brad and Alison... Most of all country music fans, God Bless you."

Bill Anderson - "I'm supposed to be whisperin but I feel like shouting! I have probably been writing songs in Nashville for longer than just about anybody, my first co-writer was Andrew Jackson... Thanks for letting me continue to be a part of this country music industry, still after all this time!"