Thursday, May 04, 2000
Awards tip hat to tradition, but pop country wins
Shania Twain takes ACM's top honor
By Larry Nager
The Cincinnati Enquirer
It wasn't exactly a WWF Smackdown, but Wednesday night's Academy of Country Music Awards featured plenty of conflict, as country's traditionalists and modernists duked it out.
After host Dolly Parton opened the show and the Dixie Chicks — who have successfully straddled both camps — won best group, Alan Jackson and George Strait struck a blow for the traditionalists, singing “Murder on Music Row.” Some radio stations have refused to play the song, which includes such lines as, “The almighty dollar and the lust for worldwide fame slowly killed tradition, and for that someone should hang.”
Then the pop crowd won one, as Faith Hill won the video award for “Breathe.” She also won the female vocalist award.
The ACMs then went traditional for a shot at its big sister, the Country Music Association Awards. Mr. Jackson, who protested George Jones' treatment at last year's CMAs, introduced Mr. Jones, who sang “Choices,” which the CMA had demanded Mr. Jones cut to just a verse and a chorus. “We're gonna do this one all the way through,” said the country music great.
But if hard country had its share of the spotlight during the three-hour awards show, it usually didn't wind up in the winner's circle.
So while the ACM Awards posthumously honored Tammy Wynette with its Pioneer Award, the night's top award, entertainer of the year, went to Shania Twain.
Lonestar's pop-country hit “Amazed” took single and song of the year.
Another rock-edged country band didn't do so well. Cincinnati's Yankee Grey, up for top new duo or group, lost to Montgomery Gentry.
But Yankee Grey earned some time on network TV. The band performed “All Things Considered,” capping a year that has seen Cincinnati's musical profile at an all-time high.
With the multi-platinum success of teen-pop stars 98`, the song of the year Grammy won by former Cincinnatian Itaal Shur for “Smooth,” Noah Hunt's success on the rock charts fronting the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band, and Tuesday's announcement that Cincinnati native Antonio L.A. Reid will head Arista Records, Tristate musicians have never before enjoyed such a broad impact on the national scene.
Nowhere was country's split personality more in ev idence than in the vocal event category, which pitted Mr. Jones (with Chad Brock and Hank Williams Jr.) against 'NSync (with Alabama). The ACM ducked controversy, giving the award to Clint Black's duet with his actress wife, Lisa Hartman Black.
Another pop-styled country boy, Tim McGraw, won top male vocalist against a strong traditionalist field.
The ACM paid lip service to “real” country Wednesday night, but folks in leather pants took home a lot more statuettes than the ones in leather boots.
Miami averted bloodshed
Preserving the memory of a tragedy
Turbulent times
Clinton: 'Income is not destiny'
Owensboro shows off its hospitality
Lawsuit escalates Butler battle
The system didn't weed family tree
Having the last laugh
Tale inspires floral winner
$1M more on bill
Lucas proposes prescription benefit
Officials again OK $2M for road lid
Ohio senators plan tax cuts
Public invited to feast
The Derby prayer: Give us this day a horse that's well-bred
Another quits Springboro schools
Awards tip hat to tradition, but pop country wins
Basketball coach leaves Lemon-Monroe
Birds of prey fascinate young and old park visitors
Mason rejects retail plan
NKU education college proposed
Performer to portray Churchill's personal side
'PiggyBank' gave designer wealth of enjoyment
Police memorial planned
Butler bans signs around courthouse
Firehouse designed for Monroe
Homeowner concerns noted
Jump ropes take girls to New York
Senior fashions a dream dress
Silverton lands dialysis clinic as 2nd project
Underdog is undeterred in race against Roeding
GET TO IT
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Tristate digest
