2015 CMA Awards: This Time, They Got It Right

Despite an identity crisis, country music scored a win

I admit, I almost didn’t watch the show. For a good reason.

My wife asked if I was; I said I’d give it a try, but if it was anything like the last several, I probably wouldn’t make it past the first few songs. I don’t like wasting time, know what I mean?

Granted I’m not pessimistic by nature, but I live in Nashville…and anyone here will tell you that for several years now, country music has endured an identity crisis. The lines between country and other genres has become so blurred with so much crossover, you’d be hard pressed to find many George Strait or George Jones types out there anymore.

So, I settled in for what was sure to be a mundane performance, and then it happened. John (Cougar) Mellencamp and Keith Urban opened the show with “Pink Houses” and drew me in. Yes…it gives further proof to the identity crisis, but hey, Mellencamp is from my era and just the song alone took me on a walk down memory lane. They had my attention. Later Keith Urban would perform in “Sting” fashion playing bass, and played it well (is there anything that guy can’t do?).

(Photo: Diamond/Getty)

It was evident the house engineers were having a challenge getting the sound dialed in, as Zachery Brown, who normally is right on pitch, was having trouble in the beginning of his performance landing on the notes. But, by mid-song, he was slaying it.

Pentatonix took the stage with no backing tracks, no back up singers, and no instruments and simply killed it with an a cappella performance of the Oak Ridge Boy's classic "Elvira."  This was such a stellar performance that it earned them a long standing ovation!

There was a performance by Little Big Town when they sang a harmony-rich “Girl Crush,” which earned them a CMA for Song of the Year.

(Photo: Diamond/Getty)

Yes, there were the normal sleepy performances by some who I can’t understand for the life of me where their staying power comes from, and some of them even won awards. Performances by Sam Hunt (“Take Your Time” — #you should), Florida Georgia Line (#how’d they get here), and Kenny Chesney (#auto tuning working overtime) and Eric Church (#Idon’tgetit) left me flat, as did a so-so performance by Luke Bryan, who won Entertainer of the Year. Fortunately, Carrie Underwood’s extremely short dresses helped compensate for the mediocre performances…yet, I digress.

The moment that really “took everyone to church” and in my opinion was the best performance to date on the CMAs was a stunning performance by Justin Timberlake and newcomer Chris Stapleton. Chris performed “Tennessee Whiskey” and Timberlake performed his tune, “Drink You Away.”

Personally, I love Justin Timberlake. The guy can do no wrong. He is a tremendous singer, actor (one of the best Saturday Night Live hosts ever), and he can dance. Most importantly, he can entertain. 

In the duet, Chris Stapleton outperformed Justin with raw vocal talent—but the pair caused the place to go electric. At the end of the performance, even Justin was bowing to Chris as if to acknowledge the steller performance he gave.

It also continued the argument about country music and the identity crisis. While Chris has a whiskey tenor quality to his voice, he can really reach the high notes, but it could have easily been an artist like Marc Broussard performing—yet he has nothing to do with country music.

And how can everyone be overlooking that it was not only Justin and Chris who brought the house down, but it was really a dynamic trio. Morgane Stapleton, Chris’ wife, simply slayed with the best of them. Her talent and prowess proved her to be a formidable vocal force. So as we shower Justin and Chris with accolades, let’s not forget Morgane.

Although country music still struggles to find its new identity, this particular CMA’s result was to drive home that fact that people want to be entertained more than anything. They appreciate true, raw talent. So, let’s hope that this year’s show was not a fluke, and that the trend continues.

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 Justin Timberlake and Chris Stapleton – Drink You Away – CMA’s 2015

Chris Stapleton and Justin Timberlake – Tennessee Whiskey – CMA’s 2015

Further Proof of the talents of Chris and Morgane Stapleton. They are the "real deal".

Here’s a list of all the winners of the 2015 CMA Awards:

Entertainer of the Year

Garth Brooks

Luke Bryan -- WINNER

Kenny Chesney

Eric Church

Miranda Lambert

New Artist of the Year

Sam Hunt

Maddie & Tae

Thomas Rhett

Chris Stapleton -- WINNER

Kelsea Ballerini

Album of the Year

Old Boots, New Dirt, Jason Aldean

Pageant Material, Kacey Musgraves

Pain Killer, Little Big Town

The Big Revival, Kenny Chesney

Traveller, Chris Stapleton -- WINNER

Female Vocalist of the Year

Miranda Lambert -- WINNER

Kacey Musgraves

Carrie Underwood

Lee Ann Womack

Kelsea Ballerini

Male Vocalist of the Year

Dierks Bentley

Luke Bryan 

Eric Church 

Blake Shelton

Chris Stapleton -- WINNER

Single of the Year

"American Kids" Kenny Chesney

"Girl Crush," Little Big Town -- WINNER

"I Don't Dance," Lee Brice

"Take Your Time," Sam Hunt

"Talladega," Eric Church

Music Video of the Year

"Biscuits," Kacey Musgraves

"Girl Crush," Little Big Town

"Girl in a Country Song," Maddie & Tae -- WINNER

"Little Red Wagon," Miranda Lambert

"Something In The Water," Carrie Underwood

Song of the Year

"American Kids," Kenny Chesney

"Girl Crush," Little Big Town -- WINNER

"Like A Cowboy," Randy Houser

"Like A Wrecking Ball," Eric Church

"Take Your Time," Sam Hunt

Musical Event of the Year

Django and Jimmie, Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard

"Lonely Tonight," Blake Shelton & Ashley Monroe

"Raise 'Em Up," Keith Urban & Eric Church -- WINNER

"Smokin' And Drinkin'," Miranda Lambert & Little Big Town

"Wild Child," Kenny Chesney & Grace Potter

Musician of the Year

Sam Bush, Mandolin

Jerry Douglas, Dobro

Paul Franklin, Steel Guitar

Dann Huff, Guitar

Mac McAnally, Guitar -- WINNER

Vocal Duo of the Year

Brothers Osborne

Dan + Shay

Florida Georgia Line -- WINNER

Maddie & Tae

Thompson Square

Vocal Group of the Year

Lady Antebellum

Little Big Town -- WINNER

Rascal Flatts

The Band Perry

Zac Brown Band

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Dendy Jarrett is the Publisher and Director of Harmony Central. He has been heavily involved at the executive level in many aspects of the drum and percussion industry for over 25 years and has been a professional player since he was 16. His articles and product reviews have been featured in InTune Monthly, Gig Magazine, DRUM! and Modern Drummer Magazines.