This afternoon, the Country Universe staff is following up last night’s personal picks with our actual predictions about who will win tonight. Check back tonight at show time to join the live blog and mock
As we gear up for tomorrow night’s CMA Awards Show, the staff of Country Universe share our personal picks in all categories. Check back tomorrow for our predictions in each category. Our third annual Live
#1: Alan Jackson “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)” 2001 Alan Jackson’s brilliant tribute to the tragedy of September 11 met a subdued audience when the CMA show was held just two months
#2: Alan Jackson “Pop a Top” 1999 At the 1999 ceremony, George Jones, just months removed from a near-fatal car accident, was nominated for Single of the Year for his autobiographical ballad “Choices.” When CMA
#3: Charlie Rich Traditional vs. Mainstream Country 1975 Presenter Charlie Rich fanned the flames of an ongoing battle between country music’s traditional artists and the pop singers making waves in Nashville when he presented the
#4: Cindy Walker Hall of Fame acceptance speech 1997 Cindy Walker was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, an honor that is still rare for women (only nine female artists currently hold membership).
#5: Reba McEntire Reba’s Red Dress 1993 For her 1993 CMA duet “Does He Love You” with Linda Davis, Reba McEntire asked stylist Sandy Spika to design a dress worthy of the moment. Mission accomplished.
#6: Mary Chapin Carpenter Opening Act 1990 In a rare coup for a new artist, Mary Chapin Carpenter earned a coveted performance slot on the 1990 show, and she used it to establish her identity
#7: Shania Twain Entertainer of the Year 1999 She’d long been an afterthought with the Country Music Association, failing to secure an award in her six-year career, but the organization righted past wrongs by honoring