2010 ACMs Mostly Disappointing Show

by Julian Spivey
The 2010 ACM Awards telecast on CBS was largely a disappointing one.
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Carrie Underwood, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert were the big winners of the night, which honestly proved to be one huge snorefest.

The show, hosted by country music veteran Reba McEntire, was boring from the get go…. well, actually shortly after the get go.

Probably in the only exciting moment of the show, John Fogerty, former frontman of Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame band Creedence Clearwater Revival joined Lambert, Underwood, Brad Paisley and Charlie Daniels on stage for the CCR classic “Travelin’ Band.” After that is when things got deathly boring.

First of all, McEntire has quickly tired as the host of the ACMs… her jokes have grown increasingly less in quantity and definitely worse in humor.

The majority of the shows musical performances were boring as well… and even the ones that were spiced up like Laura Bell Bundy’s “Giddy On Up” and Paisley’s “Water” fell way flat. Bundy’s performance fell flat simply because it’s one of the dumbest and worst songs already in country music history. Paisley’s simply because the song isn’t really up to his usual greatness.

Other performances were just as awful like Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins’ award-winning “Hillbilly Bone,” Taylor Swift’s “Change” and Rascal Flatts’ “Unstoppable.”

As mentioned “Travelin’ Band” was the best performance of the night and it’s a 40-year old song. The other best performance of the night was Brooks & Dunn’s farewell performance of “My Maria” chosen by a fan vote. However, technical difficulties led to much of the song not really being audible as Ronnie Dunn’s microphone malfunctioned. The ACMs should have let Brooks & Dunn halt the song and try it again with a properly functioning mic, but they didn’t and the performance suffered because of it. Out of the three songs that fans could have chosen from “My Maria” was the one I least wanted to hear. “Red Dirt Road” and “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” were the other two options. Wouldn’t “You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone” have been a more proper send off? I guess fans wanted to hear Dunn one last time, instead of Kix Brooks, who sings lead vocals on ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me.’

As for the awards, Underwood won the most coveted “Entertainer of the Year” award. The award was voted on by Internet and text from fans, which is honestly never a good idea. Fans shouldn’t be allowed to vote for such a prestigious honor, it truly takes the prestige out of it.

Lady Antebellum was a big winner, taking home the awards for “Single of the Year,” “Song of the Year” and “Vocal Group of the Year.” Their song “Need You Now” won the awards for single and song of the year.

Lambert was also the big winner taking home awards for “Top Female Vocalist” and her album “Revolution” won “Album of the Year.” The night before the live telecast she was awarded the ACM for “Music Video of the Year” for “White Liar.”

Paisley won the award for “Top Male Vocalist.” Brooks & Dunn won what will be there final “Top Duo” award. Luke Bryan was named “Top New Artist.”
 
Here is a list of the 5 best and worst performances of the night:
 
Best Performances of the Night:

1. “Travelin’ Band” by John Fogerty, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley & Charlie Daniels
2. “My Maria” by Brooks & Dunn
3. “Forever Road” by Darius Rucker
4. “Cryin’ for Me (Wayman’s Song)” by Toby Keith
5. “Ain’t Back Yet” by Kenny Chesney

 
Worst Performances of the Night:
 

1. “Giddy On Up” by Laura Bell Bundy
2. “Unstoppable” by Rascal Flatts
3. “Change” by Taylor Swift
4. “Hillbilly Bone” by Blake Shelton & Trace Adkins
5. “Crazy Town” by Jason Aldean