Live Blog: Jack Ingram

So I (Jen) just left the Exhibit Hall and let me tell you, I have never experienced the craziness that I just experienced!  Ever! We got word that Miss Jessica Simpson was going to be signing so we headed over bright and early to beat the crowd in.  We got our spot on the media side and waited for the stampede of people to come through the door.  I was actually kind of scared because I knew the crowd that was outside, having seen them on our way in.  So 10 O'clock on the dot they let them in... and then I was amazed... here came a crowd of hundreds running toward us!  Next thing we know, people are getting trampled, hurt and crying!  People were just simply walking out of the line because of how many people were trying to shove their way into such a tiny area (at least compared to all the people who were there). 

After about 15 minutes of this, things finally calmed down.  They were separating lines and getting people where they needed to be.  Then the big moment... Jessica walked out.  She entered at the front of the SonyBMG booth accompanied by her dad and assistant.  A little girl about five or six was standing next to the booth and yelled her name.  Jessica leaned down to her and waved and asked her how she was.  She was smiling and ready to go... and that's a good thing because she's probably still signing right now.  We were unable to get a comment from her at the time because of how nuts the exhibit hall was but we will not disappoint you... she will be making a comment with us later... so check back!

We now had a chance to get Jessica Simpson's comments to all of you out there:

"Being here in Nashville and around all these music loving fans inspires the true artist in me.  I can't wait to take my music to the stage and give back to the fans."

Ashton Shepherd sent us some of her pictures from her point of view while out and about the CMA Music Festival.  She also had these comments for ya'll...

"My first CMA Music Fest was a fun and full day.  I feel so blessed to have gotten to meet so many fans and supporters and to get to play for them as well.  Talk to you later!" 

Hey everyone...we just got word from Emily West who is enjoying her CMA Music Fest week... "Hey Guys, it's Emily West.  I just saw Wynonna... she was so sweet and I got my picture taken with her. So many awesomely awesome super stars here!  Including myself!... just kidding... but not at the same time! I sing at 3!!! So excited."

Stay tuned for more... Shane Caldwell is about to hit the streets with the fans to have a "Good Time."  So watch out for us!

RED ALERT!!! We've got Dance Fever!... or it maybe it's heat stroke cause it's hot out there!  But safety be damned friends, because we have just returned from the unbridled spectacle known as the 2008 CMA Music Festival where we walked among the massive crowd of fans to see if any of them had what it takes to compete in the Alan Jackson "Good Time" Dance Off.  we took our high tech boom box with Alan's current hit blasting away and threw down the gauntlet in the middle of Lower Broad.  The fans were a little intimidated at first.  But who wouldn't be when faced with my stunning physique and cat-like dance moves?  After taunting them for a good five minutes, one brave gal emerged from the crowd to answer the call.  She was a gamer and together, we looked like Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing cheek to cheek in Top Hat... actually we looked more like a couple of sunburned monkeys having a seizure but it got the rest of the fans going and pretty soon, a whole bunch of them joined in!  Gaze, if you dare, upon the lovely ladies and one brave guy who threw caution to the wind (along with their dignity) and strutted their stuff for your amusement. 

 Click to watch "A Good Time with Alan Jackson and Shane Caldwell"

Well, there you have it!  The first Alan Jackson "Good Time" Dance Off!  Enjoy it while you can cause after people see this, I don't think we'll ever get anybody to do it again.  That'a all for now, I'm going to go drink away the shame of my pathetic dancing. The only problem is, I'll get drunk and start dancing again.  When, oh, when will this vicious cycle end!?!? Stay Tuned...

Hey country music fans!  It's Jenna Lee again reporting from LP Field at the 2008 CMA Music Festival.  Our own Allison Demarcus was the host for tonight's show and she did a remarkable job and looked fabulous! 

Ashton Shepherd was the first to take the stage and the crowd went wild when she sang "Takin' Off This Pain."  Fans were out of their seats holding up those cold beers in their right hands to mimic the lyrics of her song. 

Next up was Jack Ingram, who just won top male vocalist at the ACM's. Jack had the ladies going crazy with his semi-unbuttoned black sleeved shirt and his golden locks.  He rocked the crowd with his hit single, "Wherever You Are."

Then two blond beauties took the stage, Taylor Swift and Kellie Pickler, to introduce Lady Antebellum, who won top new vocal group at the ACM's... congrats guys! The group opened up with "Looking for a Good Time," and the fans certainly had a great time!  They rounded out with their debut single, "Love Don't Live Here."

Up next was beautiful and talented Miranda Lambert.  She rocked the stage with her hit single, "Famous in a Small Town," from her ACM winning album of the year.  She looked amazing up there!

After Miranda, Carrie Underwood took the stage with sass and style.  Her voice was awesome as always and her outfit was super stylish.  She started off with "Wasted" and finished with her new hit single, "Last Name." I'm just throwing this out there, but Carrie, Taylor, and Kellie should all combine their golden locks to do a trio... heck, make it a quadruple with Julianne Hough!

Choo Choo!  That's right, Josh Turner took the stage and sang "Long Black Train."  The crowd really got into this one... literally!  The fans on the field started their own train as they chugged around the stadium!

Julianne Hough graced the stage with her amazing voice and award-winning dance moves.  Julianne said that her "true love" is singing and she thanked all of her fans for supporting her... fans, you rock!  She sang "That Song In My Head," and that is one song that everyone is glad to have in their heads!

Yee Haw!  Jake Owen took the stage singing just that..."Yee Haw,"  and the fans loved it! Jake said that this was the biggest crowd that he has ever played for... Jake, you did an awesome job!  Siskel and Ebert would have given you two thumbs up!

Miss Taylor Swift took the stage again to introduce an inspiration of hers, the lovely and talented Faith Hill.  Faith gave an awesome performance and her band was insane.  She started off with "Wild One," which go the crowd into one wild mood!  Faith ended with "Piece of My Heart" and blew tons of kisses out to her devoted fans. 

Pop goes the weasel!  Yes, another surprise for the best fans in the world!  Keith Urban made his way to the CMA Music Festival and rocked the crowd with his talent and style.  Everyone was going crazy when he walked on stage... he was amazing and a great end to yet another awesome night at the 2008 CMA Music Festival!  Make sure to check us out tomorrow as we hit the streets during the day and night for country music fun around the clock in Music City USA!

Thanks ya'll and get ready tomorrow to rock it with Lady Antebellum at Paradise Park Trailer Resort for the Rock Band Contest!

Click to see more live blog photos from the 2008 CMA Music Festival

9:12 -- We had to break it into another post because of all of your great comments! Keep em' coming kids and there will be lots more to come...

9:15-- Sugarland just won for Duo Video of the Year for "Stay". She cried in the video...will she cry on stage tonight? I guess that not eating and push-ups really worked (see Sugarland's show prep videos at CMT.com if you don't know what I'm talking about!).

9:20-- We're here with the great actor Tim Daly. Go ahead Tim... "I put my glasses on so that Tom Arnold wouldn't be so insecure so he could live out his pathetic fantasy of becoming me. I say this sincerely. I'm so glad that I came here...cause this is huge. There's an entire world that I don't know about that is in my own country. I gotta come back here and figure out this whole Nashville thing. And this is interesting trivia... A producer in Nashville contacted me about 15 years ago and wanted me to come here and make a demo record after I wrote some songs for this TV movie I did where I played David Koresh. Another thing I find is that I actually get somewhat aroused when I see cool guitars... I love guitars. Send me free ones. Crystal Bernard if you're out there...I miss you and so do a lot of people here in Nashville. Okay, I'm done."

9:27 -- We're thinking of changing the name of this blog to CMT's Stream of Consciousness.

9:32 -- Video of the Year... The big one! And the winner is Taylor Swift for "Our Song"! You like her, You really like her!

9:33 -- Well that looks like that's about it...no wait! Could it be? Waiting in the wings...Here she is, the "All-American Girl" herself... Carrie Underwood!

9:36 -- Well folks, the show might be over...but I'm not done talking yet. Tom Arnold's still here and I'm not leaving till Tom's gone. Stay tuned for some post-show action...

9:42 -- Jack Ingram just finished up some of his photos and stopped by for quick hello during his good-bye... "Well...I'm on my way out, the last buckle has been given, and me and my wife and my friends are going out to party. I'm gonna go steal my buckle back from Robert Plant...unless Alison Krauss is wearing it and then my wife can steal it."

9:46 -- Well that's it kids! Your 2008 CMT Music Awards. It's been a stone soul picnic. Keep'er twixt the ditches and be careful out there. I'm going to chase down Jack Ingram's limo... Adios. This is Shane Caldwell signing off...and Jen's fingers.

Click to see more photos from the CMT Live Blog.