Lee Ann Womack to host ACM Honors
Wednesday, August 5, 2009 – Lee Ann Womack will host the second Annual ACM Honors, an evening dedicated to recognizing the special honorees and off-camera category winners from the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. The event will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 22 in Nashville.
Those being honored include Special Award recipients Merle Haggard, Harlan Howard, Dolly Parton, Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr., David Young and the film "Beer For My Horses" along with winners of the MBI (musician, bandleader, instrumentalist) and Industry categories, which are not televised during the live telecast of the Academy of Country Music Awards.
"We are thrilled that Lee Ann Womack will help us pay tribute to our amazing honorees," said Michelle Goble, Director of Membership and Events at the Academy of Country Music. "Last year's Honors event was an amazing success and we expect to deliver an incredible night once again, with the help of Lee Ann."
"I'm so happy the Academy asked me to host the ACM Honors," said Lee Ann Womack, a five-time ACM Award recipient. "Without the good work of so many of these honorees, country music would just not be what it is today, so I'm delighted to be able to help salute them."
The Academy of Country Music Special Awards are voted on by the ACM Board of Directors and are awarded during years where the Board of Directors feels there are clear and deserving candidates. Honorees include:
Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award - Jerry Reed, Kenny Rogers, Randy Travis, Hank Williams Jr.
Jim Reeves International Award - Dolly Parton
Mae Boren Axton Award - David Young
Poet's Award - Merle Haggard, Harlan Howard
Tex Ritter Award - "Beer For My Horses"
The winners of the MBI awards are voted based on Academy of Country Music ballots in their respected category. Honorees include:
Audio Engineer of the Year - Chuck Ainlay
Producer of the Year - Tony Brown
Top Bass Player of the Year - Glenn Worf
Top Fiddle Player of the Year - Aubrey Haynie
Top Guitarist of the Year - Tom Bukovac
Top Percussionist/Drummer of the Year - Greg Morrow
Top Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year - Gordon Mote
Top Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year - Eric Darken, Jelly Roll Johnson (Tied)
Top Steel Guitar Player of the Year - Dan Dugmore
Winners of the Industry Awards categories are voted based on Academy of Country Music ballots in their respected category. Honorees include:
Casino of the Year - Turning Stone Casino (Verona, NY)
Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year - Fran Romeo, Romeo Entertainment
Nightclub of the Year - Joe's Bar (Chicago)
Promoter of the Year - Louis Messina, The Messina Group
Venue of the Year - The Ryman Auditorium (Nashville)
More news for Lee Ann Womack
CD reviews for Lee Ann Womack
Call Me Crazy
The title track of Lee Ann Womack's first CD since 2005's traditional masterpiece "There's More Where That Came From" should have been the name of that CD because "There's More" was a real risk taker. Womack did wonders with the material there. While not quite the same left field beauty, Womack puts out another excellent batch of music three years later.
The songs work best when Womack opts for the traditional approach. Womack is on the top of her game on »»» |
There's More Where That Came From
Lee Ann Womack goes back in time, eschewing the more pop sounding qualities of past recordings - her career song "I Hope You Dance" was more pop than country - for her country roots. And the move, perhaps not a surprise given that her last disc covered too many musical styles and sold far too few discs, with a sound more akin to her debut and its hard-edged country suits Womack exceedingly well.
That is quite clear from the start. The album cover has a retro look and is even out in vinyl! It »»» |
Greatest Hits
After a seven-year ascent into country music's consciousness, Lee Ann Womack returns with a best of package that features a dozen hits plus two new songs.
Appropriately, Womack's first-ever single from 1997 - the traditional country-twang of "Never Again, Again,"- kicks off this retrospective record. Ofcourse, the omnipresent title track and Grammy-winning single from her third album 2000's "I Hope You Dance" is included; the song vaulted Womack into anotherworld of stardom. »»» |
Editorial: American Idol's Carrie Underwood can sing –
If anyone saw the Super Bowl – what a great great game that was – they would have heard American Idol winner and country superstar Carrie Underwood sing the National Anthem. Underwood did with her voice what Kelly Clarkson did last week with her written words – give it to Scott Borchetta, the head of Big Machine Records,, who tried defending Taylor Swift by knocking American Idol performers. »»»
Concert Review: McBride, Adkins shine sometimes –
As Martina McBride pointed out, the pairing of the country singer with Trace Adkins on their current jaunt was surprising. After all, she's of diva-quality voice, petite, non-controversial unless you call singing songs that empower women controversial. Adkins, on the other hand, has not been afraid to speak his mind with a kick butt attitude.... »»»
Concert Review: Eilen Jewell wears her musical hats well –
Eilen Jewell wears a lot of musical hats. The Idaho native, who now lives in Boston, fronts the Eilen (ee-lin) Jewell Band, a pretty much traditional country band. She's a member the Sacred Shakers, an octet doing gospel country with a country beat. And she has yet another project, Butcher Holler, covering Loretta Lynn songs.... »»»
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