In the midst of, let's say, a rather 'depressing' month in the backwater town I live in, the BBC's broadcast of the 2007 Country Music Awards on Saturday night was the breath of fresh air I needed. Reminded that there are people out there that not only share my love for country music but that literally build their lives around it, my faith in humanity was restored as I escaped my own humdrum existence to a town far, far, away...Nashville, Tennessee.
What I loved most about the show was how every presenter and entertainer suddenly developed Southern accents - even Kate Walsh, who I watch every week in
Private Practice sounded strangely Southern. Country music really is inclusive and makes everybody want to be a part of it. Having grown up in a London suburb, even I wistfully imagine a life growing up on prairies, plains and porches.
The party really started when the lovable cowboy, Brad Paisley, took to the stage with the humorous crowd-pleaser, 'Online'. Joined towards the end by booty-shaking country gals Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler, it reminded me of just one reason people love country so much - it can be down right boot-stompingly fun! Named Male Vocalist of the year, Paisley shed a few tears as he recalled how his father had helped him on the road to success, in true heartbreaking country fashion.
The un-earthly sounds of country goddess Alison Krauss were predictably mesmerising, as her thin yet awe-inspiringly perfect voice cascaded throughout the auditorium.
Carrie Underwood's performance of 'So Small' gave me a first glimpse into her highly anticipated sophomore release,
Carnival Ride and convincingly blew the majority of today's female singers out of the water. The fact that the Oklahoma farm girl was discovered on reality show American Idol is almost laughable given the dire attempts to replicate such a feat currently slaughtering the airwaves in ITV's X-Factor.
For me, Carrie is doing everything right whilst country 'veteran' Leanne Rhimes continues to flounder in an industry that loves to categorize people - her latest release,
Family, is more of a country album than recent offerings but lacks any real credibility or truly memorable songs. Leanne's duet with Reba, a country 'legend' whose career has passed silently below my radar, was laclustre and cliched. Similarly, Martina McBride's shockingly corny performance in an outfit better suited to Shania Twain in the nineties was a painful example of an 'older' woman trying to compete with the next generations, nipping at her heels. The look on her face when Carrie Underwood stole yet another aware from her said it all. Miranda Lambert was also painful to watch, as her back-combed barnett made her look like she had been electrified during the painful headbanging performance that I squirmed and winced through. The site of Jessica Simpson and Dad in the audience made me similarly uncomfortable and left me silently praying that the pair's next monetary goal would not be a career in country music for Jessica.
Country duo Big & Rich, the 'pimp daddies' of the South, were as crazy and glitzy as ever, whilst Taylor Swift's cutesy (albeit at times slightly breathless) performance was fresh, energetic and the epitomy of modern country and her sparkling silver Taylor guitar was the perfect mix of country spangle and rock glitz.
Standout performance of the night has to go to Kellie Pickler, whose bittersweet satisfaction at singing
I Wonder, a powerful song about growing up without a mother which ends with the line "Just in case you're wondering about me...you're little girl is off to Tennessee", was heartbreaking, as were the tears streaming down Kellie's face as she struggled to complete the song. But that really is what country music is all about. It's raw, emotional and when it's good, it's unforgettable.
