Live Blog: Little Big Town

 And they're off.  The parade of stars will start soon and there's our very own Lance Smith in his very own Regis Philbin monochromatic suit and the lovely Katie Cook who couldn't look lovelier this evening.  Lets hope the same goes for all of our country stars this evening.... and here's Trace Adkins.  I wouldn't call him lovely, but I would call him a fine young man and a fine entertainer.  Anything else would result in a lot of pain and broken bones for yours truly.  Trace is nominated for video of the year, song of the year and single of the year.  Good luck big fella.

 Darious Rucker, minus the blowfish.  He's making waves in country music these days and is being quite well received.  However, could he have worn a tie? I guess but he's cool enough to get away with it though.

 Here's one of my favorite new groups... Lady Antebellum.  Love their songs, love their videos... I don't know about these outfits.  They look like they are ready to officiate a funeral service.  I can say that because I'm always so well dressed.  I usually look like I'm on my way to a tractor pull.

Since we have a break in the action on CMT's red carpet show.  Just want to take time to let everyone know we are here live from Paradise Park Trailer Resort here on the fabulous lower Broad in Music City USA.  Come see us and you can be part of this blog as well.  Make your opinions known.  It's the American way. 

Here's another one of my new favorites, James Otto.  He's a country music giant... literally. Katie looks like Fay Wray standing next to King Kong.

Here's the Lancer with Josh Turner... if his emotions are as deep as his voice then this guy then this guys got feelings to draw on for a lifetime of songwriting.

Hooray for us!  We have our first guest blogger.  Tommy Griffith.  Tommy just came off stage and was entertaining us before the we started.  He's a singer songwriter from Johnstown, PA.  Let her rip Tommy.  "So I'm up here playing and these folks come in and put a computer up and shut me down.  I'm playing next week.  Monday and Wednesday from 2-6 at Paradise Park... the best bar on Broadway.  And actually, I'm glad you all are here 'cause I'm actually up for an award tonight.  I'm up for the poorest struggling musician award and I think I got a good shot to win. But anyways thank you all for coming to see me and we'll see you next week... thank you!"

Thanks Tommy... great comments and they were also well timed.  It gave me a chance to lust after Kellie Pickler.  Fifteen minutes into the show and my inner dirty ole' man has made an appearance.  And she's followed by Jewel.  We've hit a deuce... well we've hit a triple.  Who's up next?  We'll see...

Here's Rodney Atkins up for the New Artist award tonight.  Still wearing that cap... it's good to see an artist dedicated to his own personal fashion statement.  I wonder if he wears it to church.  Good luck Rodney... I tip my cap to you.  Pun intended... that's why I get the big bucks.  You may now pause to vomit.

Now with another break in the action, we are about to order some food here at Paradise Park.  We hear the burgers are great!  We are about to find out...

LBT... Little Big Town.  They clean up right well. They're up for Vocal Group of the Year and they're dressed for success. Good luck to y'uns.

Miranda Lambert has arrived wearing Mr. T's jewelry.  However she could wear a toilet seat around her neck and she'd still look good.  She's up for Female Vocalist of the Year.  I hope there's a couple of Brinks cars with her.  Michael Phelps doesn't have that much gold around his neck.

Here's Keith Urban with some actress.  I think she's been in a couple  movies.  Will do a little research and try to figure out who she is. 

Here's Jason Aldean our CMT on Tour headliner and he's up for New Artist of the Year tonight.  CMT.com will be premiering the listening party for his new single that he'll be performing tonight on the CMA Awards.  I like Jason, he's the same off stage as he is on. Someone said the word tux to him before the show and it reminded him to put his t-shirt inside his pants. He ain't putting on any airs for anybody... not even the CMA.  Be yourself cool breeze.

Here's our very own Lance Smith with Jake Owen.  He's up for Musical Event of the Year along with Sugarland and Little Big Town for "Life in a Northern Town."  His outfit looks like it came from a northern town... He's dressed like a cast member of the Sopranos.  Sharp and shiny. 

Here's Sugarland... looking like they just stepped off a wedding cake.  With five nominations, the odds are they are going to have a good night.  Of course they could be the Detroit Lions of the 2008 CMA's.  We'll have to wait and see.

Julianne Hough looks like a rose.  Literally.  But what do I know about fashion?  I do know about beauty when I see it and holy moly she's a good lookin' woman.  If the rumors are true, you're a lucky man Chuck Wicks.

Here's the long tall Georgia boy Alan Jackson with his family.  Back in the 80's I used to clean his pool. No joke... just the sad reality of my life.

Lance with country queen Reba McEntire, now that's a classy outfit.  I'm no Mr. Blackwell, God rest his soul, but that woman knows fashion.  Oops, I just noticed her black fingernails.  I hope that polish and not the result of repeated hammer accidents.

I understand the girl Katie's talking to has gained a degree of popularity.  Word has it she's some country artist's daughter.  We'll do a little research and find out just who this Miley Cyrus is.

While I inhale these sweet potato fries and patty melt... here's a word from one of our favorites, Emily West.

Evidently it's very bright on the red carpet as Kid Rock has his state trooper sun glasses on.  Nice lid Kid.  The man can wear a hat.  This may be the first time I've ever seen him at a country music event without Bochephus standing next to him.  Our little man is growing up.

I don't know who's been harder to miss this week... Taylor Swift or Sarah Palin.  I'm only sick of seeing one of them at this point.  Saw her perform on Letterman the other night.  Dave loved her, that's not easy to do.

Nashville native and Oscar winner Reece Witherspoon has just stepped up to talk to Katie.  There's a lot of actors on our show tonight... a lot of them are cutting country records now.  Kevin Costner performed at the Ryman this past weekend and Robert Duvall and Jeff Bridges are starring in a new CMT Movie that will coming out soon and I hear Gary Coleman actually hummed a verse of "He Stopped Loving Her Today" on his way to visit his probation officer.

7:06 -- What an opening! The question is... Who wasn't included in that? Keith Urban just took the stage and something tells me a surprise is coming your way. Wait for it...

7:08 -- Told ya! Brooks and Dunn just joined Keith on stage. Hopefully they'll be joining us backstage. Jen, Brian and I are in the luxurious green room of the 2008 CMT Music Awards. We're in the brain center. Master control. The belly of the beast, if you will. And as the stars come back to graze on the fabulous buffet, we will grab them and force them to send out messages to you the fans. I haven't seen too many bodyguards yet that can take me. We're risking life and limb but it's only because we love you.

7:14 -- Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello, Martin and Lewis and now Cyrus and Cyrus.

7:16-- Rascal Flatts just won Group Video of the Year for "Take Me There". However, with wives as hot as theirs how excited can they be?

7:18 -- On the subject of hot wives, I haven't seen one male artist tonight who didn't have one.

7:19 -- Here's a little behind-the-scenes info. The food in the green room is unbelievable or at least that's what I was told by about ten members of the Tennessee Titans who came in and immediately cleaned the whole thing out. Training camp starts soon so they need to stock up. I'm enjoying a piece of moldy beef jerky and drinking water out of a muddy boot print. Who says show business isn't glamorous.

7:23 -- Where the hell is Tom Arnold? He told me he'd come back to blog. I'd hate to resort to violence but...

7:25-- Just ran into Bucky Covington after his impressive performance. He was with his manager, Ron Harris, who is a former professional wrestler. Remember what I said earlier about not believing there was anyone here who could take me? Check that... I found one. Now I just need to introduce him to Tom Arnold.

7:28-- LeAnn Rimes and a bunch of hot dancers in prison uniforms? I'm going to need some private time. Back soon...

7:30-- Kenny Chesney just entered the green room with a large entourage. I'm going to try to break through and talk to him. If they beat me senseless, call Ron Harris.

7:39-- Sorry bout that, we were away for a moment. I blame it on Satan and his minions. But since idle fingers are the Devils playground... lets start typing. Kellie Pickler just won USA Weekend Breakthrough Video of the Year. She said she wished she was here... I couldn't agree more. Once again, my dirty old man colors are showing.

7:43 -- Just ran into Keith and Nicole in the hall. If there are two better looking people on the planet, then I don't want to see them. I think I would go blind. I ask Keith if he would like to say something to the fans, he said 'Later if I can' so I'll take him at his word. If not, he'll be getting a visit from Ron Harris. By the way, Nicole's baby bump is right there!

7:49-- Oh there's Tom Arnold! On stage with Jewel. If he knows what's good for him, he'll be back in the green room pronto! Sugarland just took the stage... I smell another surprise coming!

7:53-- Sugarland, Little Big Town, and Jake Owen! Nuff' Said.

7:58 -- Paula Abdul just took the stage...and she made it up there, all on her own, not one slip, well maybe one... followed by a stumble. Holy crap! She's actually sort of making sense. No wait! I was wrong. I think somebody pressed the crazy button. Thank God we're going to a performance.

8:01 -- Tim and Faith... what a duo. Speaking of duo's Ron Harris' twin brother Don just joined him. Don is also a former professional wrestler. Tom Arnold is in trouble!

8:02-- Bobby Brown is just ten feet away, eating shrimp and grits and watching Faith and Tim. As soon as they are finished singing and he's finished eating, I will descend upon him for a quick interview.

8:04-- Actor Tim Daly just took the stage. For those of you who don't know him, he starred on Wings for 7 years. I don't see how you could not know who he is since they reran that show twelve hours a day on another network.

8:05-- Tom Arnold is here!!!! And here ya go... "I made Tim Daly take off his glasses because he looked too much like me. Can you believe he has a son that is 37 years old? That's hard to believe about Tim Daly. I was nervous up there... Out there with Jewel. Her boyfriend wasn't mad though. He has a hammer grip. Is Jesco White here? Anyway, I've never seen so many stars... this is unbelievable. The Sugarland song made me cry. Tim McGraw's the luckiest bastard in the world. I came to fan week and went to the softball game for City of Hope..and pregnant Faith hugged me. Life wasn't going to get much better than this. Faith... hugging hot, sweaty Tom Arnold. But that Tim is actually a great actor. Tim McGraw...Well Tim Daly's a good actor too...but, I tell you what. I've gained 30 lbs that since I got here yesterday. Since I got to Nashville I've had 3 meals of fried gravy. And...I can't wait until Snoop Dog gets back here...definitely don't need a smoke machine, I tell you what. And finally... they did a brilliant montage for the opening sequence. I think they're under new management here or something."

8:16 -- Snoop Dog introducing Alan Jackson... Have we entered a parallel universe? Or did I enter a contact high? Oh -- there's Blake and Miranda. Another homely couple. God bless them.

8:18 -- Paula Abdul just walked by. She's hot. She says she's going to come back and blog with us. If she doesn't, disregard that hot comment.

8:20-- LeAnn Rimes just won for Collaborative Video of the Year. I think Reba and Kelly were a little bit disappointed. Don't worry, she'll get over it. She's won more trophies than LeAnn Rimes is old. I'm sure she can go home and caress them and she'll be just fine.

8:23-- Holy mother of monkey dookie! I have never seen as many good-looking women in one place, at one time. And I don't have a chance with any of them.

8:29-- Snoop Dog and his entourage just walked by. I found two guys who could take Ron and Don Harris now. I waved to him, he flashed the peace sign... and that is probably all the interaction I will be having with Mr. Dog this evening. I can't say that I blame him. I just found out, I had some spinach stuck in my teeth. The bad news is... the last time I ate spinach was March 14th.

8:31-- Jen departs for a potty break.

8:35-- Julianne Hough, Josh Turner and Sara Evans. It's like looking at a country version of Three's Company. Come and knock on our barn door!

8:39-- We have just found the lovely Diana DeGarmo and she has a message for all her lovely fans. "Howdy ya'll? I'm very excited to be here and hopefully sometime in the near future I will have a video up for nomination. And look out for the Gone Countrycast in a few minutes we will in introducing somebody big! And p.s...I'm the biggest Rodney Carrington fan ever!"

8:42-- Brad Paisley and Bochephus! That was the surprise we wrote about earlier. Bet you didn't see that one coming did ya!? Something tells me you did.

8:43-- Just got word LeAnn Rimes is coming to talk to us. Hope they aren't lying.

8:46-- And here she is... "Thank you so much for voting for myself and Jon for Collaborative Video of the Year. I'm so excited and it was so unexpected. I hope you all are having so much fun watching. I'm headed out this weekend to kick off my tour with Kenny Chesney and I hope I see everyone out on the road."

8: 50-- We are being graced with loveliness...Paula Abdul. "I was really honored and excited to be asked to introduce Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. While up there, I was able to mix in my overwhelming "mom-like" attitude for all the alumni of American Idol. And...at least there was no Simon. Before I announced Tim and Faith I was able to tell America that we literally found these kids by lifting up rocks and finding these gems that we actually thought to be our bright and shiny diamonds in the rough...I was getting very corny. So the band started playing so I turned to them and said 'okay...I get it.' So I then said 'It takes a tremendous amount of Faith...and the only person who gets that is Tim. And the audience went crazy. It was just fun. I got to see a lot of people from the past and I totally understand why people come here. People in Nashville are so nice and for me it's a disease but here, it's an epidemic. It's great to be apart of a huge show that has passed onto the country music world all this talent. From Josh Gracin to Bucky Covington to Kellie Pickler, Phil Stacey, and of course I call her...Miss. Carrie. And I'm so proud of all of them and I'm ecstatic to have been here tonight."

8:59 -- The hot new group Lady Antebellum is here. Let her rip kids... "Hey Cyberspacers. Lady A here. Just want to say that this years CMT Awards rocked. This is kind of like our CD pre-release party because our debut album comes out tomorrow!!!! What did you all think of our quick performance after Miley? We were nervous and what an act to follow. Snoop Dog just walked by and I got to meet Sisqo...I love that thong song(says Hillary). Don't forget to sign up to play us in Rockband on CMT.com. (An upcoming contest...) We're gonna kick your butt! Ya'll enjoy the rest of the show and we hope to meet you on the road soon."

9:00 -- I'm a lucky man, Julianne Hough has joined us. "I'm so excited to be here at the CMT Awards. I never thought that I would be in the same building with my biggest Idols... especially Faith Hill who has inspired me from the beginning. I got to meet her tonight! To my fans who have followed my career from Dancing to Singing, I wouldn't be here without you. Look foward to seeing you on the road with Brad Paisley this summer. I owe all my successes to you."

9:06 -- We have the man, the big winner tonight Trace Adkins. Let her rip brother... "Thank you fans for voting for me, the people I was up against in this category are huge stars and I can't believe I won this thing."

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