Greetings from Vegas, Mixers, and theAcademy of Country Music Awards!
I know what youre saying: Hey, doesnt that show happen in the fall?
That is the CMAs.
Not to be confused with the CMTs.
Or CBS, the data pipe on which these awards air.
Also, like do not make the mistake of confusing this with AIG.
And yes, I will be using first names almost exclusively all weekend.
I think itll be just as good.
Miranda Lambert on her new single, Dead Flowers!
And a live chat with country star Jack Ingram!
addCredit(Rick Diamond/WireImage.com)
3:23 p.m.Reba is on stage in front of me.
When does she ever not?
Even in jeans and a sweater, she is a classier broad than I am.
A tall man in glasses and a short auburn-haired woman emerge.
They are neither Dierks nor Darius, Im pretty sure.
Theres even a video screen on the ceiling.
Unlike at the Grammys, this wall is shiny and white, instead of shiny and black.
This is probably because country music is the music of Jesus.
3:41Reba is being interviewed by a stream of media outlets hopefully well be one of them soon.
One TV journalist walks past me up the aisle after his and says, Shes such a pro.
4:00Get a second to sit down with Reba amidst brain-jiggling snare pops.
Its her 11th time hosting the show, and I ask her if its changed.
Drastically, she says.
When we started, I wouldnt change clothes four or five times.
We talk about all her co-hosts over the years: Randy Travis, Randy Owen, Hank Jr.
I ask if its better to host alone (more control?)
and she says no.
Its more fun to have people with you.
You feel it, she smiled.
They asked if I wanted to do it again, and I said, Nope.
Three times is good.'
Though she was hesitant to pick a favorite in the Entertainer Race I want to see them all win.
Well its really more of a surprise for her.
I said, That might be a problem.'
Are we headed towards a Reba McEntire wardrobe malfunction?
4:17They are rehearsing LeAnn Rimes humanitarian award presentation.
The woman doing the fake speech is very sincere about it.
Up next: Miranda!
5:30I am glad to see that Miranda Lambert still has that mohawked bass player in her band.
He is giving a performance that rivals the Not-LeAnn Rimes lady in terms of commitment.
Now I am concerned about what other things I dont know.
Like who this blond boy is.
5:48Miranda takes the stage, hugs her bemohawked bass player.
Starts into the song.
Blond boy is indeed a band member, and yeah, this has to be called Dead Flowers.
It is not the Stones song, I do know that much.
Start looking around for her publicist.
5:56There seems to be some discussion about whether Miranda will do this song with or without the guitar.
I vote with, even though shes not playing it much.
Part of the giant white wall actually descends from the ceiling!
Only thing that came down from the sky at the Grammys was Katy Perry.
What will she decide on for the telecast?
How I love your rage.
I vote no guitar!
I got some flowers for Valentines Day, and I had to leave town.
I just connected to it.
(PS: That blond boys name is Chris Kline, and hes usually her keyboard player.)
I think the females have the power these days.
Right on, yo!
Also, this had better be some Cher-style next-level clothing shes got on.
7:06Carries backing track plays, tipping me off to the fact that shes doing I Told You So.
I just saw her do this onIdol.WithRandy Travis.
7:14Jack Ingram is now rehearsing his own teleprompter copy, with a stand-in by his side.
7:19Carrie and the dress need to go on soon, because my computer is running out of batteries.
7:30To kill time, I am now interviewing Jack Ingram.EW: Hi Jack.
Why are you here?JI: Theyre grooming me.EW: For what?JI: I dont know.
It started withmy speech last year at the ACMs.
But its the way I feel about a lot of whats going on in my career.
Thats what you have to have.
Cause I still get to.
Thats the thing about Texas.
[He looks at what I just typed.]
And you might put and back to stadiums in parentheses.
I think Kenny will probably win.EW: Okay.
This interview is over, because theres a dress that I cant talk about on stage.
7:37The dress, it should be noted, is well worth the secrecy.
7:48Carries first run-thru ends, as does my day at rehearsal.
Maybe even a little guy named King George!
