| Country Cool |
10 November 2003
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Cash, Jackson Win CMAs
Country may never have been cool, but there is something refreshingly pure about the Country Music Awards, live from the Grand Ol' Opry in Nashville. The genre doesn't tolerate the hype and general bollocks that rock, hip-hop and the movies have embraced. What also counts is character.
Alan Jackson, who's having a much better time these days than any other Jackson in the music business, pulled off a hat trick with vocal event of the year ( a duet with Jimmy Buffett, "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere"), male vocalist of the year and entertainer of the year. After Mr. Buffett rather clumsily said, Thank you, Alan Jackson -- I'm glad I can help your struggling career. It was about 31 years ago I came to this town to pursue my musical madness. I never won anything for anything and it's great to do it here." Mr. Jackson replied, in the graceful ineloquence of a Country and Western gentleman, "Thank you, Jimmy. No problem."
Also winning three awards was the late Johnny Cash, most significantly for best single and video for "Hurt," Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails' wail about drug addition. This award did not come as a tribute to a late great; it is without doubt the most disturbing, harrowing and honest video one can remember.
Martina McBride proved that humility in the face of triumph is a country trait. When she won vocalist of the year over Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless, Alison Krauss and Terri Clark, she said, "I'm so honored to be in this category. Dolly Parton, my God, she's my female vocalist of the year every year." There is no room for chest-thumping at the Grand Ol' Opry.
The political unpleasantness surrounding the Dixie Chicks and their lack of pride in President Bush was felt, too. The group did not attend, despite being nominated for vocal group and album of the year for "Home." They did not win.
Nor did Toby Keith's "Beer For My Horses," a song he did with Willie Nelson. Clearly, there was something wrong with the melody. His loss certainly couldn't have been due to lyrical weakness.
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