The CMA's - Sugarland, the Dixie Chicks, and Taylor Swift

It was CMA awards time again, and I was jumping off the couch with war hoops of victory when Sugarland won Best Duo of the year against Brooks and Dunn. B&D have won 14 out of the last 15 years - beaten only once by Montgomery Gentry - and with acts like Big & Rich and Sugarland out there in the past couple years, I've been very resentful of Brooks &Dunn's dominance. It's been frustrating to see the music association awards shows not step outside the tired, worn, winners and recognize new talent.

Besides, I've been a fan of Sugarland since their debut on country radio, which counts as "the very beginning" for a fan who lives way in the hell in upstate New York and has no chance to catch new bands until they come out on radio. I wanted to send a copy of "Baby Girl" to my parents. The song is written as a series of letters from a girl pursuing her dreams to her parents, done in an upbeat catchy tempo, and it got me right away. When their second release, "Something More" came out and equally expressed exactly what I wanted to say, I was a fan. And when I listened to their debut CD Twice the Speed of Life and realized that every song on there was GOOD, I was hooked. Their second CD didn't disappoint. Enjoy the Ride is just as good as the first one. So yeah, I was excited to see them win - it's the only category I cared about strongly.

But I was a little surprised at Taylor Swift's win. She definitely had Kelli Pickler beaten three songs to one, but I was surprised she took over Rodney Atkins. Her CD is one of the ones I've been wanting to acquire though. I'm always a little skeptical of child prodigies in country music - LeeAnn Rimes was my age when she debuted, and yet even then I wasn't hooked - because their albums often seem a bit spotty. Some good, some bad but not really a high quality all around product. But with three great songs out there, I was wondering if I should take a chance on Swift's CD. I don't want another She-Daisy fiasco, which I bought solely for Passenger Seats and then HATED the rest of the album. Now that she's won, I'm thinking I really should take a harder look. But seriously, "This is definitely the highlight of my senior year" ???? I groaned!! Funny, but good grief she is so YOUNG!

And then of course there was the Dixie Chick nomination. I preferred to think of it as a baby step toward peace, an olive branch if you will, but realistically it might just have been the country establishment begrudgingly trying to polish a reputation tarnished by their snubbing of the Chicks when mainstream - read Grammys - gave them such support this year. But seriously, mainstream needs to get off their high horse. I love the Chicks; I own three out of the four of their albums (the ones prior to Wide Open Spaces don't count) and "Wide Open Spaces" and "Taking the Long Way" are personal anthems of my life. But let's face it - THE SNUB HAS BEEN MUTUAL. As someone surrounded by a bunch of friends who don't understand in the least why I love country music, it's really frustrating to see a group that I *really like*, that is putting out what is musically speaking some of the best country music out there, trash country music. I mean, I get it - I do get why they are frustrated. But how in the world can country music take them back when they are sitting there saying "We don't want you." And fine, they don't care if country music takes them back - but dammit, I'm not any more pleased about them trashing the reputation of country music than I was about country music trashing the reputation of the Chicks. So much for one side or the other being the bigger person and letting it go.