Country Music News Source

It must be spring – the 2007 CMT Music Awards were handed out yesterday in Nashville, and I was on the red carpet to check out the action – and the outfits.

Now I don’t like to brag any more than I like to name drop (!) but I did make several winner predictions – to the artists themselves on the red carpet – and it turns out every last one of them came true! 

I told Taylor Swift she would most definitely win the new artist award. She didn’t believe me but thanked me for the “pep talk” – and whatdya know? The girl ran away with the hardware. She told us backstage afterwards that even though she’s now an award winning artist, she’s still a high school student first. In fact, she had her final exam this morning at 11:00! Oh – and she has to miss prom this year because she’ll be working with some guy named Brad Paisley. Poor girl! 

I told Carrie Underwood she’d pick up the coveted Video of the Year award. Now maybe this wasn’t the most off-the-wall prediction, but it did come true! Likewise with Sugarland in the duo category. And how cool is this: during my Sugarland chat, a certain shaggy-haired rocker poked his head in to say hello. Could it BE? The guy I wrote about in my diary when I was 12?! Yep – it was Jon Bon Jovi, whose awesome new Nashville inspired album I had just heard. I’m happy to say Jon is joining the legion of other rock and pop artists who are making Nashville their second home. 

And speaking of pushing country’s borders, there’s a new category this year – the Wide Open Country category – which celebrates diversity in country. Talked to Jack Ingram on the carpet, who was nominated along with the likes of Sheryl Crow and Johnny Cash in this category. He laughed when I said he could win it – and I reminded him that the last time I had this kind of conversation was with Keith Urban just before his first CMA Male Artist win. Maybe I’m some kind of good luck charm, ‘cause guess who picked up the Buckle? Yep… Jack.

I’ll have more for you from the CMT Award red carpet and press room throughout the week. In the meantime, I’m Elissa Lansdell and this has been Nashville Confidential for Tuesday, April 17, 2007