CMT Awards Crank Up The Energy

[ChrisKellieFan]

The 2008 CMT Music Awards opened tonight (4/14)
with a cleverly-executed video featuring Trace Adkins’
attempting to score awards show tickets for his Hannah
Montana-crazed daughters. Donald Trump, John McCain,
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ryan Seacrest and others
made cameos in the spot.

The show, of course, was hosted by Billy Ray and Miley
Cyrus. Keith Urban and Brooks & Dunn opened the packed
performance slate, Hank Jr. joined Brad Paisley for “I’m Still
A Guy,” Rodney Carrington took the stage in a full mullet
wig to introduce Toby Keith and, of all bizarre juxtapositions,
Snoop Dogg helped Jason Aldean introduce Alan Jackson.

Fan-voted winners included Video of the Year “Our
Song” by Taylor Swift, who also won in the Female Video
category. “I came here tonight just excited that I had a performance, and honestly didn’t expect an award,” Swift said in the press room. “The
fact that the fans did this for me absolutely blows my mind. There’s nothing more important than my fans.”

Kellie Pickler won three awards -- Breakthrough, Tearjerker and
Performance of the Year. Absent but able to accept one of her
awards via video, Pickler called in to the press room to discuss
her three wins. “My hands are still shaking right now,” she said.
“I’m in a hotel room now with no one to talk to! I’m just talking
to myself.”

Likely the only winner to be doing her press room interview
in pajamas, Pickler was asked about beating three male artists
for the Breakthrough award. “Women rock,” she said. “We’re
taking over the world. Sorry, guys.”

Here are some more notable quotes heard before the show,
backstage and onstage:

CMT Awards Quote Book

• Snoop Dogg: “I love country music. I’m honored to be here.
It’s underrated.”
• Joe Don Rooney: “I’m taking parenting tips from Gary
[LeVox]. I’m preparing like any first time father -- sweating
bullets, eating a lot. I’m eating for three now!”
• LeAnn Rimes: “Yeah, the prison outfit, thigh highs and
garters. We’re kind of every man’s fantasy tonight.”
• Tom Arnold: “[Jewel’s boyfriend] Ty [Murray] shook my hand
and I think he broke some bones.”
• Barack Obama: “Four words: Treasury Secretary Hannah
Montana.”
• Taylor Swift: “I had these hot pink heels, but they hurt so bad.
I walked past Faith and told her how my feet hurt, and she said
‘Take ‘em off.’ I actually accepted my award bare foot, and Faith
Hill told me I could.”
• Gary LeVox: “The only reason we’re here tonight is because
of the people in that crowd. It’s unfortunate that all award shows
aren’t fan voted.”
• Trace Adkins: [Accepting Male Video] “I’d like to thank
Country radio for giving me my first three-week No. 1. I’ve
never had that before.”
• Donald Trump: [To Adkins] “Lose my number.”
Special thanks to Westwood One’s George Achaves, who
contributed to this story.

April 14, 2008 Country Aircheck Weekly

[werss]

Kellie's a riot! Gotta love that girl.

[KellieandCarrieFan]

Awwwwwwwwwwww. She's so cute.

[jeckler]

I have to be honest. I thought the show was not very well done. The camera angles were clumsy at times and the music overpowerd the singing.
Frankly I think Miley needs to take singing lessons. She was shrill sounding and appeared to be yelling rather than singing.

Taylor looked great and our Kellie was the best although I wish she could have been there to perform and recieve her (3) awards in person. Way to go Kellie.

[allie1977]

“My hands are still shaking right now,” she said.
“I’m in a hotel room now with no one to talk to! I’m just talking
to myself.”

awwww , that too bad, no one there to share the moment with..

[kelliesmostbiggestfanever]

hahaha awee kellies a sweetheart shes so ADORABLEE!!!!! =]

[Countrygal919]

Love her!