(I am dying inside.)
His voice sounds great.
I wonder if he misses performing yet.
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
You know, in between siestas on his yacht in the islands.
Been looking for one of those for a couple years, just to add to it.
10:03 a.m.And were already moving on.
Damn, Chesneys not messing around.
This happened at the CMAs, too: Darius was the first to break out the banjo.
10:47 a.m.Am fairly certain Darius and his band are playing live and not to track.
10:50 a.m.Darius will also be using the ACMs sneezy pyro, in 5… 4… 3…. achoo!
Then they test a second effect in which I think his drummer just exploded!!!
My god!!!
10:51 a.m.Oh wait, no, just a big flashpot behind the drummer.
10:56 a.m.A full run of Forever Road with pyro has begun.
And then sparks fly!
Why are there sparks?
They went off right around the I never meant to make you cry line.
Maybe if you stopped shooting off pyro, we wouldnt cry!
10:59 a.m.The miming instrument man steps out to take an invisible solo.
When I talk to Darius later (wormhole!)
he will tell me the man was indeed miming a mandolin.
I declare myself the winner of Rehearsal Charades.
11:00 a.m.The booming flashpot behind the drummer goes off at the very end of the song.
Again, I do not know why we are blowing up the Forever Road.
Is this a comment on the existential inevitability of destruction despite our prayers for eternal life?
Does Darius just hate his drummer?
Im going to go find him and ask.
11:20 a.m.I find Darius, and ask him to explain the thematic context for the pyro in his performance.
Im gonna have to study on that, he says.
I suggest he present me his thesis on the red carpet tomorrow.
I mean, thats a straight bluegrass song we played today.
I love that stuff.
A blond stand-in gets up from the audience to pretend to accept her fake award.
I just feel so fortunate and blessed to be here, she gasps.
She then encourages everyone in the audience to buy a ticket to see the EOY noms in concert.
She also thanks George Strait for starting her career, and the fans for voting.
She loves you, fans.
11:51 a.m.Tim McGraw has entered the building, like a dark western Elvis.
He walks straight up to the stage and tests the mic.
11:53 a.m.Tim is asking if the lyrics for Still will be up on the teleprompter.
I get confused in my old age, he explains.
Someone reminds him hes only 42.
Thats like 72 in road years, Tim jokes.
Especially for someone whos 72.
11:58 a.m.McGraw finishes Still with a giant air guitar windmill.
We know a bunch more songs.
12:02 p.m.They reset to go again.
Someone says, Sorry for the delay over the PA. Delay?
Its been four minutes!
This is not a delay.
Ive been here for three days.
Todays trains are running almost alarmingly on time.
Like, too good to be true kinds of on time.
Maybe theyre trying to out-fire off the massive cloud of volcanic ash thats on its way here from Iceland.
Or maybe todays acts just dont have a lot of hoo-hah.
12:07 p.m.Faith Hill is in the audience hugging everyone.
She is so pretty.
So shiny and gorgeous and pretty.
Im not sure my current line of work is particularly conducive to good self-esteem.
Discussion topic in arena: Being famous must be an enormous pain in the ass sometimes.
To his credit, Tim is being insanely gracious and patient with everyone.
12:16 p.m.Faith and Tim just walked out of the arena holding hands.
Self-esteem issues suddenly compounded by deep painful loneliness and feelings of isolation.
Did it just get really dark in here?
12:20 p.m.Was just reassured Im not really in trouble until I join Cheesecake of the Month Club.
12:25 p.m.Faith is on stage, testing her mic by singing like an angel.
12:44 p.m.Faith cant see the teleprompter.
She starts laughing and says she needs glasses.
They offer to make the words on the teleprompter bigger.
[pause] Thats embarrassing.
Then a stagehand brings her a pair of exaggerated coke-bottle specs.
(There are as of yet no entrants in the Kix Brooks Impersonation-Off.)
Long time no see, Tim says to the crowd.
Then he puts on that same pair of exaggerated coke-bottle specs and squints at the teleprompter.
1 p.m. 2:30 p.m.Long break.
The efficiency of the morning acts has caused a massive lull.
I play blackjack and break even.
[UPDATE: Life just gets better!
Met Robin Leach at the Chesney movie premiere and found out hes reading these blogs.
Can now die of hilarious happiness.
First single is due in maybe July.
He also designed theStar Warsconcert tour I saw a billboard for on my way to Vegas.
He says there are moments in the live show where itisthe album, emotionally, visually, and aesthetically.
Being able to hear that song every night, it holds something special, says Jennifer.
This is a valid point.
3:34 p.m.Back in the arena for Brooks & Dunns rehearsal, though theyre still prepping tribute show material.
Kix Brooks is now the official winner of the Kix Brooks Impersonation-Off.
It begins with their band pretty credibly noodling around with Led Zeppelins Dazed and Confused.
and Is this really goodbye?
but Ronnie and Kix decline to answer either of them.
(Kix just shakes his head no on both.)
(If you are not voting for My Maria, you are dead to me.)
They start off rehearsal with Youre Gonna Miss Me.
Sing it, Kix!
4:25 p.m.Next up: My Maria.
For the first time all week, I stop typing and just clap and sing along.
About halfway through the song, the youngsters of Gloriana walk in.
They stand beneath me on the floor of the arena and put on their all-access wristbands.
4:32 p.m.Your third option: Red Dirt Road.
They make me want to be a better person.
4:36 p.m.We are moving on.
Ladies and gentlemen, Brooks & Dunn!
I want to cheer, but Im too far away, so I just cheer on the inside.
(Im sure to be disappointed, but it wont be the first time.)
(THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR EVERYTHING.)
And I hope youre now 100 percent totally psyched for Sundays show!
Wont you join me?
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