Taylor Swift performs “Forever & Always” at “The 43rd Annual CMA Awards,” on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, live from the Sommet Center in Nashville on the ABC Television Network. Photographer: John Russell / CMA. Provided by Country Music Association.
Judging from the early online comments from GACTV.com readers, Taylor Swift’s four wins at the 43rd annual Country Music Association Awards will be accompanied by controversy. She won Entertainer of the Year, Female Vocalist, Album and Music Video, setting records as the first teen victor in each category and ending streaks of three-year reigns for Kenny Chesney and Carrie Underwood.
Taylor is not a traditional artist in any sense of the word — not in sound, not in age and not in the demographic she appeals to. So when her band and record company president, Scott Borchetta, gave her a group hug at the end of the evening, it was a physical manifestation of the embrace she got at the ballot box from the country business.
It’s a tough time in the record business. Thanks to the proliferation of downloading — legal or otherwise — the industry has reverted from one built on albums sales to one that relies more heavily on less profitable singles sales. The CMA itself has discovered in a research study that only half its audience has regular access to the Internet, where those downloads occur. And yet the number of physical stores that sell music has shrunk dramatically. Those retailers that still sell CDs keep fewer titles in stock, making less music available to the half of the audience that continues to buy in person.
Last night, fans left a mix of positive and negative comments on GACTV.com, with detractors saying Taylor had pitch problems during her performances. It’s not a new issue, and it hasn’t been a turn off to the millions of people who’ve bought her albums at a time when million-selling acts are a rarity. The CMA is realistically an organization that represents a business, and in the current marketplace, the organization gave props to the one person providing the biggest ray of hope.
She has delivered to Music Row a new audience: teen females with money to spend on entertainment who are more prone to use the Internet than older country fans. In a way, she’s mimicked the early-‘90s performance of Garth Brooks, who likewise delivered a new audience when he grafted arena-rock theatrics onto a country style just when pop radio was alienating much of its core audience. Like Taylor, Garth won four CMA awards in 1991 on the heels of his sophomore album. Also like Taylor, three of those awards were for Entertainer, Album and Video.
Garth became a gateway for country’s greatest surge in sales. The country business sees Taylor as a new gateway for album and concert-ticket buyers and is recognizing a juggernaut that jingles.
While there will be plenty of attention devoted in the coming weeks to her age-defying achievements, a few other marks of interest occurred during Wednesday’s ceremony at Nashville’s Sommet Center. Among them:
- Brad Paisley, who co-hosted for the second year with Carrie Underwood, picked up his third straight Male Vocalist award and shared Music Video with Keith Urban. In the process, Brad’s career total reached a lucky 13 CMA honors, placing him solely in fifth place all-time behind Alan Jackson, with 16; Vince Gill, 18; Brooks & Dunn, 19; and George Strait, 22.
- When Taylor won Album of the Year for Fearless, it came rather fittingly on the one-year anniversary of the project’s release.
- Taylor’s Entertainer trophy left Kenny Chesney tied with Garth Brooks as the leaders with four wins apiece in the CMA’s most prestigious race. Kenny is still the only act to win Entertainer three years in succession.
- In claiming Female Vocalist, Taylor blocked Carrie from joining Reba McEntire as the only singers in history to win that honor four straight years.
- While Taylor set youthful marks, Darius Rucker stretched the upper age boundary in the New Artist of the Year honor, previously called the Horizon Award. At 43, he’s the oldest person ever to claim the trophy. The previous elder stateswoman was Naomi Judd, who was a mere 38 (twice Taylor’s current age) when she accepted the Horizon as one-half of the Judds in 1984.
- Lady Antebellum won twice, taking Vocal Group and Single of the Year. In claiming the group title, they ended Rascal Flatts’ six-year reign. The Statler Brothers are the only other act to control the category six years straight.
- Paul Worley — who co-produced Lady A’s winning single, “I Run To You,” with Victoria Shaw — had the CMA’s Single of the Year for the second time in his career. The first was exactly a decade ago: the Dixie Chicks’ “Wide Open Spaces.”
- When Jamey Johnson took Song of the Year for “In Color,” it marked his second time to win the honor in the last three years. Two years ago, he was a winner for co-authoring George Strait’s “Give It Away.” In both cases, Jamey was one of three writers involved.
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I have been to her concert, and she truely put on a show. She took the time to make videos inbetween her songs when she went to change her costume. she had a "coversation" with the people in the audience. If you have watched her dateline special, you would have seen that she planned out her whole show. she took the time to think about what her fans would have wanted. It was more than her going out there and singing a song. Yet I do enjoy the true, older country hits, I still love all the new stuff that is coming out. That is what I think a true country fan is. Loving the old stuff and accepting the newer stuff. and I can proudly say that I am Taylor swift fan, a Merle Haggard fan, a George Strait fan, a Carrie Underwood fan ect. i hope people take that into consideration.
taylor swift in not country, we like to watch the real thing.
First of all – it's not a longevity award. Age and time singing doesn't matter. The name of the award says it all — "of the year". Like it or not Taylor blew everyone out of the water for sales and sheer entertaining. It's not "best voice" — look at the criteria of the award – they include sales, promoting country music, image, and attitude. Say what you what about her style but she has consistently promoted country music praising Gloriana, Lady A, George Strait, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney. I've never heard anything but praise from her for your "true country". And by the way they say the same about her. Give it a rest: she got a majority of the 6,000 members votes and they have nothing to do with young fans. She won.
That is very true. I love Taylor and it was awesome that she won EOTY, but it would have been awesome if any of the nominees would have won. People were nominated because they deserved them. They are all wonderful.. Yet I was cheering for Taylor, I love country so I would have been happy either way who won. I always look forward to these award shows. King George, would have been my second choice to win because of the whole artist of the decade thing, then Chesney, Paisley, Urban, in that order.
Taylor Swift is not country singer,she is a pop singer.Someone thinks to bring the younger people into country music.There not buying country music,there buying pop music Taylor Swift music.I will not watch the awards again.to give her awards over Keith Urban or Brad Pasliey.Her music is for the younger people I mean young.
You don't know what you're talking about. It is not just the young people that buy CD's or go to her concerts. I know as I Just turned 59 a couple of days & my son is 29 and he too likes Taylor. We both have all of her CDs. You're are jealous that you can't do what she can. She is a country Super Star. About Keith Urban, he sucks. He should return Austraila and get lost in the outback. It wouldn't bother me one bit if a dingo ate him
Gee 'Guest', to be 59 you sure sound like your 11!
Okai yea I agree that Taylor is awesome and deserved the awards, but I do not agree with your comments about Keith Urban. he is awesome, I especially love Kiss a Girl. I also wanted to go to his concert but was unablr to. Urban gives a little cultural variety to country, and I am sure he helped country music be known in Australia, such as Taylor Swift is doing.
Go Taylor and Keith.
nice post. thanks.
Wow, and I thought that I was the only one who was ticked off when they announced Taylor Swift EOTY. She cannot hold a candle to George Strait, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban or Kenny Chesney. This was a total insult to these great performers. I don't understand why they even play her music on country stations because there is nothing country about her.
Can't hold a candle to them? Then why did she out sell and out book tours of theirs? In some cases a couple of them combined? She not only "held a candle" to them the light was blinding. Did you not hear even Kenny Chesney say she totally deserved to win?
It's hard to believe that no one in the media or on these threads seems to understand what the Top Female Vocalist award is meant to recognize. The FVOTY award is NOT a singing award. It is the ONLY award given to a woman (a 'Female Vocalist') to honor "outstanding achievement' in country music over the past year, not "who has the best voice". The CMA voters understood that and that's why Taylor Swift was the obvious winner. To believe that someone else had a better year than Taylor is delusional.
One might disagree on EOTY this early in her career and her live TV vocals can be shaky at times but she is a terrific entertainer and an exciting personality who has done more over the past year than most others ever will. So please stop with the misguided whining about the Top Female Vocalist award. It's not about singing.
You may not like her voice or her music, but NO ONE had a better year than Taylor Swift, period. The CMA got it right.
I'm sorry but do you know the meaning of "Vocalist" or "Top"? "Outstanding achievement" yes that's why she got Entertainer of the Year. But if the criteria just said "Female with best achievement that year…then they should just call it Top Female Artist. When Taylor won for Country Artist, I was ok. When she won top video, I'm was ok. But if you say vocalist…dear Lord not Taylor! Did you read any of the reviews from the LA times, Entertainment Weekly, and many country websites. They all agree…that was the worse decision of a award. Remember the Shania years? She had as many sales world wide as Taylor but NEVER won top vocalist as she couldn't sing without help. So this was a slap to Shania too for she at least is a better singer than Taylor.
taylor deserved every single award . . . . yes she doesn't have the perfect voice but who cares, no one is really perfect . . . . she worked hard and was able to pass many challenges this year . . . . I am happy for taylor's success, I hope all of you could learn to be happy for someones success even though he/she is not your fave . . . .
And FYI, the award is called entertainer of the YEAR! not decade so taylor is definitely qualified to win the award . . . .
I agree no one in all of music came even close to Taylor in 2009 and im gonna predict the future (very accurately i might add) and say she will be HUGE in 2010 aswell!!!!!
Taylor was phenomenal in 09 and deserves every award she won!!!!
Rest In Peace Country Music 11-11-2009
She had a good long life but met a SWIFT end!!!!!
Turned the channel when Taylor won over Jamey Johnson for Album of the year! but must have been my mistake because I thought i was watching the CMA Awards not the Taylor Swift Award show.
Would not surprise me to here that kanyon West got paid by Taylor's publistist to go on stage to get everyone feeling sorry for Taylor. But what he said was right. Beyonce got video of the year but could not win female video….try and figure out that one!!!!
She just needs to cross over to Pop and let country get back to country…Oh wait Pop did not want her either!!!!! She can not carry a tune live so do not know how she got Entertainer……The voters should have taken the ear plugs out and actually listen to her sing!
Um, how come Dierks Bentley is never at these shows? I had to watch last year as Miley Cyrus was on one of the country shows performing and dierks was nowhere to be seen.
Carlee the majority of the comments are pretty negative. I am not the only one who thought she was not qualified YET. No I haven't been to her concerts not will I go, I am sure she is a sweet, caring young girl. But she has made most of her success degrading others, that I don't like. She is a pretty young girl and has lots of fans and that is good for her, but everyone has a right to their opinions. Did you answer ALL the other negative Taylor comments? You must have been busy!
I have been to her concert and she really put on a show. she had a conversation with her audience, she has a storyline. when she went to change outfits she didnt just keep her band out there to play music, she took the time to make little videos to go with the song. She is an entertainer. As a huge Taylor Swift fan I can admit that she does not have great vocals, and was truly surprised myself that she won female vocalist (I wanted Reba to win that one), but She did deserve Entertainer.
taylor sucks and is not country, she’s only pretending to be country and she is not pretending very good haha! im voting for the top 50 also, im voting for some good country, im voting for gretchen wilsons video, now that’s country!
taylor rocks
Guys, if we are really upset about Taylor or Carrie being in country music when they belong in pop then get on the internet and vote for the REAL COUNTRY ARTIST. A word for GAC, why not have the new cash cows on , but also put some of the true country singers on. I think you would be suprised at the true country fans that have better things to do than be on the internet. I decided to vote for the top 50 because perhaps my vote will count and we will get some true country on the top 50.
Taylor’s victory at the cma’s means NOTHING.It only shows how the academy let outside situations sway their votes.Yes Taylor has huge sales,but that does not make you a great singer or eoty material,only shows that in this day and age anything can sale.To the fan that said that Taylor will be in the country music hall of fame and the grand ole opry,you are so way off,I do not see this ever happening.I do hope the academy learns not to let other issues influnce their votes in the future,because Taylor was given the fv and eoty awards,we all know she definitly did not win these awards on her talent.
Taylor Swift is NOt country. She does not sing mostly talks the songs. It's the young teenagers who listen to her. She's more pop than country. It's a shame the CMA goes by business profit instead of talent. She has not been in the business long enough nor sings good enough to be entertainer of the year. This has left a lot of real country music lovers very disappointed in the country music industry
I agree with Wynona – too much too soon for Taylor! She's too young and didn't deserve to win over the guys she's opened for. And how does the CMA give the Entertainer award to her when they've been preaching about protecting "true" country from pop influences for years now? If she isn't pop nobody there was. And they hand her the keys of the kingdom???
Wynona is just jealous that Taylor has done so much at such a young age.
I feel sorry for the coutry music industry. I thought this was the one genre that has start to reward artist based on their talent. I mean after Shania Twain, who would like the industry would create another voiceless wonder? Pretty Taylor maybe, but she is sings as well as Britney Spears. How could the voters think this young woman deserves VOCALIST of the year over Carrie Underwood. I mean a vocalist is a person who can sing more than one note outside the studio. Please tell me what is the definition of a vocalist? From what I saw and have heard, this young lady is in the same caliber as the women that were in the category with her. Please stop this ride before this genre is destroyed as well.
she has a terrible voice and i cant stand it, everytime she comes on radio or tv i always change the channel. in the near future she will be a nobody.
They say she can't get her pitch. I am tired of her swinging that head of hair around and then sweeping up the floor with it when she was down on her knees arb
Hi everybody, I don't know if it's my job to interfere, I'm not even from the United States. All I can say it's that I like Taylor's music, I like country music, I like Carrie Underwood, and Tim McGraw, and Dan Foggleberg, and many other country music singers. What I can't understand is why you don't see the evidence, that Taylor is a great voice in country music. Even if she's a newcommer, at the start of her career, you should encourage her. In time she'll grow because she has a native talent. And besides of all she's a national symbol of yours. I like her, and I like her music. She's like a little star: don't cut her rise towards the skies. Let her twinkle among those great stars I've mentioned before. And soon she'll shine for us all. I apologize to all who consider that if she's young she doesn't deserve to win any prizes.
Taylor Swift……….. EOTY……. Female vocalist of the yr……….. video of the year………..Ha Ha Ha CMA, real funny………………. now cut out. Its not funny anymore. I mean come on. This girl cannot sing and all of her damn songs are about high school crap. I get it………. she sold a bunch of cds and had a sold out tour and all but she belongs in the same class as miley cyrus and the jonas brothers, not country music. Please, NO MORE TAYLOR SWIFT. On the bright side of things, at least I didn’t have to hear a whole lot from the “island cowboy”. Enough Kenny, we get it. You like the islands……… we all do. Take your year off from touring……….. do your thing……… whatever that may be………. come back in 2011 and rock our…….. WAIT… on second thought, just go ahead and retire. I’ve heard enough from you too
to keith urban, brad paisley, kenny chesney, i hurt that one of you did not win. you did a great job this year, and cma just decided to make history. but taylor knows that she could not win over you guys, who fixed it? the cma was awful,
Taylor Swift has not earned her due yet.She speak sings off key and sounds like a little girl when she does try to sing. Her performance on the awards show was so off key it was hard to keep watching it.So many other talented ladies got shafted that night. I think Taylor was given this award wayyyyyyyyy too prematurly..Just not fair to those who really have talent.
Taylor had a bigger year then any artist in any genre in 2008 and 2009!!!!! I dont know how so many of you can come on here and discredit her from the phenomenal year she had. You all should be ashamed of yourselves. Your all ganging up on poor Taylor because she had an incredible year and the cma voters rewarded her for it.
The worst part is, that Taylor is such a nice person!! She is known to be extremely generous to her fans and all the shows and interviews that she has done the hosts always make comments on how genuinely kind and real she is. She doesnt act extra bubbly or nice because she knows shes on camera, she is always just a big sweetheart!!
So once again, you all should be ashamed of yourselves.
I have never after listening to country music for 50 years been so appalled as I was after watching this show.Taylor Swift is not a country singer and she cannot sing at all.She has never paid"her dues" to the country industry.I guess having wealthy parents to buy your stardom is the new thing.Having no vocal talent is not necessary if your daddy buys your stardom.I am despite loving traditional country the best been to many concerts of newer stars(Rascal Flatts,Dierks,etc. and I enjoy a lot of the new modern artists BUT this girl is just plain terrible in all aspects.She acts like a 12 year old and is spoiled rotten.The good part of this thing is in 1-2 years we will not have to listen to her no more as she will be a hasbeen by then.
I'm just comment to ask the CMA's, what have you guys done???….With regards to ETOY, Taylor sold out many concerts and sold many CD's… that was an ok choice.. but to give her Female Vocalist of the Year in a category with Reba, Carrie, Miranda and Martina.. oh my god.. you guys have got to be kidding….Taylor can entertain but she certainly cannot sing.. to even put her in the same category as the other girls is a big JOKE!!!! Her first performance of the night was like a train wreck…
Taylor winning fv and eoty was the biggedt joke of the night.Reguardless what anyone said we all know that outside situations are the reason Taylor given these awards.Taylor is no more a vocalist or entertainer of the year than I am.And I am awful at singing.I do hope the academy learned a lesson last night and will not let outside situations influnence their votes in the future.I am so proud of Brad and Carrie,they were awesome at hosting.And Carie performance was awesome as usual.I would like to know why Martina did not get to sing one of her latest songs?Afterall she was a nominatee for fv.I know she sang when she honored Barbara,but to let Taylor sing 2 songs and not let the one of the greatest female country singer one of her songs was so wrong.I also would like to know what throwing chairs has to do with being country.Taylor is always using some kind of prop when she sings live.Fact is Taylor can not sing very well and live is even worst and she is the fv and eoty.What a huge joke this is.
i dont think taylor should have won all those awards. shes not that great of a singer. i used to like her when she just came out and no one really knew her and now shes too popular and its annoying. carrie underwood, reba, martina or miranda shouldve won female vocalist. they have much better voices. and theyre songs are so much better. they arent all about guys they get into some real issues. brad or keith shouldve won entertainer of the year. i wish little big town wouldve won group. theyre really talented and everyone only thinks about new country artists so they dont pay attention to ones like little big town. its a shame that they always lose to a new group or rascal flatts. but i love rf and ladya.
taylor swift sucks, she is so goofy she reminds me a lot of pee wee herman!
Taylor deserved every award she won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I like how some of u claim Taylor is not even country. let me ask you a question. What was country about Carrie Underwood's performance?? Thats right, NOTHING!!!! The song isnt even a "country song"!!!!!!
Taylor deserves everything she won!!!!!!
Taylor please dont ever change, keep doing what your doing, u have a lot of fans that back you 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One thing is obvious–Carrie can sing and carry a tune. She has a lot of country songs out and–she respects country music and will NOT remix her songs to cross over–which Taylor always does. BIG DIFFERENCE.!! She did NOT deserve 2 of the awards she got. One performance was bad enough to endure–but two songs was just plain torture!!!!!
You didnt answer the question…
Taylor remixes her songs to crossover because she has millions of fans around the world who are not country music fans. This way she can get her music to a greater audience.
Also you said about carrie "She has a lot of country songs out and–she respects country music and will NOT remix her songs to cross over"…
So your saying that because Taylor remixes her songs to get them to a greater audience she disrespects country??
Wow, dude do everyone on here a favour and shut up, thats the stupidest thing ive ever heard!!!
The bottom line is, if Taylor didnt deserve the awards, she would of not won them.
Once again congrats Taylor!!!!!!!!!!
Ya Taylor pls dont change… your fans will get tired of your voice…
swing ur hair all you can.. your fans will get tired of it..
She.. winning Female Vocalist.. ??? its like Hannah Montana winning vocalist award…or rather.. Barney winning Male Vocalist … ITS A JOKE!
Selling the MOST album doesnt mean she can SING… it just mean she how she is making use of Country music to make herself popular..
She CANT SING.. and she is NOT COUNTRY!!!Jake!! Open up ur ears… have a digger… go for in-tune lessons… and you will know how Terrible Taylor sounds!
Enough has been said how she does not deserve it… if she really deserve it… why would there be so many negative comments about it..?
There werent any negative comments about Carrie winning female vocalist award for the past 3 years…
I dont think that Cowboy Casanova is a true country song, but Carrie does have a place in country music along with Taylor. They both have the same style as country, but there music is different because they are in different periods of their lives. I love Taylor and Carrie is amazing. Yes Taylor Does deserve all of her awards, but even being a huge Taylor fan I was expecting Reba to win Female Vocalist. 16yrs old, listening to country since the age of 10. The only other music I have listened to before country was christian and Jesse McCartney. Now I am oure country, and not because of Taylor, but because of my love for country music.
Taylor Swift Deserve EVERY Single award she got!!!! She can totally sing live!!! I went to her Fearless Tour 2009 and she sounded AMAZING!!!!! She deserved Entertainer of the Year , Female Vocalist, Album of the year for Fearless, and Video of the year for Love Story…… She is By far my favorite Country Singer and she deserve all of her praise.. Taylor Swift Rules!!!!!
OK, first I want to say I think Carrie and Brad did wonderful at hosting. I don't really know what the voters are supposed to vote on foe EOTY. I heard it has to do with how much money you bring in at concerts, how many records you sell, how much you get requested, etc,-in other words-MONEY.I'm sure Taylor got some "sympathy votes" also.I'm Ok with Carrie not even getting nominated-after winning the honor at the ACM. I don't think she expected to win, and had cut way back on her touring to work on her new album.Plus after "I Told You So' she didn't have any songs on the radio or videos out for a little while.. So that cut down her "points".As far as the competition for EOTY. George Strait won that honor several times after his career first stated to " Take Off', but now his touring schedule is very limited.I feel bad for Keith and Brad-both work very hard and have reputations for great stage shows. They have huge record sales. Brad had 7 nominations the most ever. Brad was chosen to perform for the President. Brad–and especially Keith are nominated every year. I was hoping one of them would win !!
Does anyone know–Why did Taylor sing 2 songs and everyone else only sing one ?–and wasn't there a piece of an interview with her that started the show off ? Even one of Carrie and Brad's jokes ( I LOVE CARRIE AND BRAD HOSTING !) was about Taylor. It was like the show centered on her !! I'm NOT Taylor bashing–she is a talented, smart kid. I have her "Fearless" album.–but i agree–I cringe when I hear her sing live ! Was Taylor filling in for Toby Keith? Wasn't he supposed to be there? Also, I wonder why they did not do anything to honor Brooks and Dunn . Anybody Know the answer?
taylor has no integrity and no class. im looking forward to seeing how many mobs are formed because of this.
More awards for Taylor Swift in the future plus be part indroduction into the Country Music Hall of and Fame Grand ole Opry and a big trophy cases for her all of her CMA awards. Good job Taylor Swift
Wow….everyone in Nashville is drinking the "Taylor kool-aid". What a shame! This is not country music. The bottom line is money and greed. I'm sick of the comments about Taylor being a "role model" for the young girls. Good for her, but true role models should be in the home, not the entertainment industry. I agree with one of the previous posts that Taylor fans could care less about the true artists of country music.