Roots, Toots n' Hoots Blog

The view of the ACM Red Carpet show

Jeffrey Remz  |  April 3, 2011

6:15 p.m., Sunday, April 3, 2011

What does Walker Hayes mean that this is the show everyone has been waiting for? Who says?

Hayes introduces Jana Kramer, whoever she is. "After all this practice we've had, and I forgot to introduce you," she said. The way she's acting, I could see why. She's a little too peppy for me. Stop the giggling.

"It's going to be so exciting," Kramer said. Thanks, but we can be the judges of that.

6:17 p.m.

The host there on Fremont Street looks like she's giving an ad for Vegas. Who cares about the BBQ? OK, now the folks who advertised are being interviewed. Conflict of interest folks! Ouch.

Very exciting, now they're talking about the different flavors. How much did they pay for this?

6:22 p.m.

Justin Moore is there as the "first superstar of the night," according to Walker Hayes. I did not realize he is a superstar. He's done well, but superstar? Overused word. Hyperbole stinks.

"I have no idea what the heck I'm wearing," said Moore when asked the dumbo question. "I know the boots are Lucchese." Good for Moore. At least he doesn't care so much about that kind of stuff even if host Kramer does. She's too much for me.

This is all a bit much Moore. He said he's from a small town of 300 in Arkansas. I have a feeling Vegas has little in common with his hometown. 6:26 p.m.

"Extremely gorgeous" Sunny Sweeney is introduced. She is gorgeous, but I don't know. She seems like she's getting commercialized a bit to me. She does know what she's wearing.

Is Kramer on meds or what? She is H-Y-P-E-R!

Sweeney acknowledged she has Britney Spears on her iPod to exercise to. Okay, at least she's honest. She has a new single coming out, "Staying's Worse Than Leaving" or something like that comes out May 3. Sweeney did real well with <>From a Table Away. Glad she did well with it, but wish it were more of her typical honky tonk style.

6:32 p.m.

Colt Ford is out there. Hayes asks him "Do you feel famous tonight?" Funny that they show his boots, which look pretty fancy compared to Hayes' running shoes. Ford's honest. He's most excited to see Jason Aldean sing Dirt Road Anthems tonight because he wrote it. Ford put it on his first album.

What's the boldest thing Ford has ever done - "make a country record I guess," he said. I think he then said something about his wife agreeing to marry him.

6:36 p.m.

What celebs are wearing Simon G tonight? No one too exciting - Shawna Thompson, Emily West and Sara Evans. For those who don't know, Simon G is jewelry, and proceeds go to ACM's Lifting Lives charity. At least the cause is good, even if the advertisements continue ad nauseum.

6:41 p.m.

Steel Magnolia is out there now with the dumb clothing questions. "We're a little more comfortable," said SM in coming back there this year compared to coming to the ACMs last year. Will someone shut Kramer up already? I'm surprised the number of viewers is increasing with her out there?

6:46 p.m.

Savannah Berry is out there. She's 16 and did a duet with Sugarland, who is with her. Sugarland is most looking forward to "performing," said Jennifer Nettles. She is singing with Rihanna for some reason. "She is professional and talented," Nettles said. Not sure how that whole thing happened.

Okay, I like Kristian Bush. When asked what keeps him balanced, a question from the back of the BBQ sauce bottle, he says "yoga." At least he's honest, even though he realizes that's not the answer most would expect.

6:52 p.m.

Jennette McCurdy is a bit hyper. "Generation Love" is her new single, coming out in two weeks and goes for ads in 3 weeks. She's been doing a mall tour. She's tweeting. McCurdy, who has more of a TV career than going country, is introduced as a "superstar." Facts don't bear that out.

6:55 p.m.

Eric Church is out there. he said he's glad to be playing for the fans and not the industry folks. He's talking on his new single, "Homeboy." "Creatively, I love how it is lyrically, and I love how it is sonically also. It's different from anything I've ever done." Hayes asks if it's out yet and he said it's already 25. Someone didn't do his homework I'm afraid.

7:01 p.m.

Alabama is out there. They're described as "legendary." Okay, maybe this one sticks for them. Alabama is doing a surprise performance opening the show of Old Alabama. I guess it's not a surprise any more. When tells young artist "Do what's in your heart. Be yourself. when you fake it, people know it real quick. Don't fake it. Be who you are."

7:13 p.m.

Emily West is out there. They're making a huge deal of her dress and jewelry. Pushing the ACM Lifting Live auction. "Sick and weird that 'm nominated," West said. "Vocal event of the year even if we don't win, and I hope that we do."

Easton Corbin just came out with a purple and black outfit. "I dressed myself myself this way," he said. Not true apparently. "I'm really excited," he said about his two nominations. "It's an honor and very flattering just to be here."

More pistachios. Are they that healthy? Hope so because otherwise all these country music artists will be history.

7:17 p.m.

Kimberly Perry said she is excited to see Rihanna tonight. Neil admitted he was bold in trying to hang with three ladies on the red carpet tonight. Nt so exciting. At least these guys are not over the top in their outfits.

I just read a Twitter feed from GAC that Miranda Lambert received the Video of the Year award for The House That Built Me. Good for her.

7:23 p.m.

Sara Evans is out there getting peppered with questions. Hayes admits "I'm not wearing any diamonds anywhere." Good for him. Evans is performing her single A Little Bit Stronger. "You can never really relax until you're done," she said. "I think it's a song everybody can release to." "You obviously went somewhere emotionally," Hayes said, "because you sang the crap out of it."

Her favorite BBQ food: "good old grilled chicken leg." Too bad she's not veggie. Evans talked on having seen the movie "Waiting for Guffmann." Okay, she gets credit for having seen the indie movie with Parker Posey.

7:28 pl.m.

Vocal event of the year goes to Alan Jackson and Zac Brown Band for As She's Walking Away, according to GAC.

Darius Rucker is out there. "I'm staying where I am," he said of singing country. "I thought that we got lucky with the first song, but I'll take it."

7:32 p.m.

The Judds are out there, and Wynonna - wow, what's up with her hair? Naomi looks good.

7:33 p.m.

Montgomery Gentry is out there. "I'm always excited and nervous," said Eddie Montgomery. "I get butterflies." Troy Gentry - looks real simple with a black shirt. Real simple. Way to go. The group is in the studio finishing tracking and hope to get a a single out the end of May. The single is Damn Right I Am.

7:38 p.m.

The janedear Girls are out there. Looking good I must say. They got an interesting look about that. Touring with Jason Aldean.

7:38 p.m.

Taylor Swift is out there. "I don't know what time zone I'm in, but it's all good." She just got back from her foreign tour. "I discovered no matter where you live, whether you live in Nashville or Norway or Italy, we all experience love and relationships the same way<" she said. "Looking out at the crowd and seeing them mouth the words back in perfect English was amazing and gratifying...The crowds jump up and down, and they dance." Swift is her usual friendly self.

7:42 p.m.

Martina McBride is out there. She always seems classy to me. Her advice for new artists is to "listen to your heart." You got to do what you're comfy doing, she said. So many singers say that after they've been around for awhile. Somehow you wonder how come so many don't listen to that kind of advice.

7:46 p.m.

Donald Rumsfeld is out there being interviewed. He's a big country music fan. Sorry to hear that. He took Loretta Lynn and Tammy Wynette and other LPs with him to Europe. He has a sense of humor, but I'd rather hear country folks than Rumsfeld for sure.