Eric Church performs during the CMT Music Awards. He is the lead nominee at Thursday’s Country Music Association Awards in Nashville. In 18 months, the outsider’s relationship with the Music City machine has turned upside-down. (Associated Press)
Taylor Swift will go for her third entertainer of the year award at this year’s Country Music Association Awards. (Associated Press)
Country music superstar Kitty Wells is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during the Country Music Association (CMA) awards in 1976 in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo)
Country music superstar Kitty Wells is inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during the Country Music Association (CMA) awards in 1976 in Nashville, Tenn. (Associated Press)
Concert: Alison Krauss & Union Station at Wolf Trap Alison Krauss holds the honor of having sung both the most beautiful song in the world, and the saddest. For "O Brother Where Art Thou?" (another Coen Bros classic), Krauss sang the gospel call to prayer, "Down to the River to Pray." You don't have to appreciate the message to fall head over heels for the meter and melody of Krauss's hymn, which adds more singers with every chorus. In 2005, Brad Paisley won Song of the Year from the Country Music Association for "Whiskey Lullaby," a tragic ode to a pair of lovers who drink themselves to death, each missing the other. The song is one of three Paisley hits to go platinum, and it likely would not have done so had it not been a duet with Krauss. With Union Station, Krauss plays a more pure form of bluegrass, full of joy, banjo rolls, and Krauss' quivering voice. August 7 at Wolf Trap, 1645 Trap Road, Vienna, Va. Phone: (703) 255-1900. Web; www.wolftrap.org
Associated Press Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood will take the stage for a fourth straight year to host the Country Music Association Awards show.
ASSOCIATED PRESS Keith Urban performs during the Country Music Association's Fan Fest last week in Nashville, Tenn. His latest tour starts Thursday in Biloxi, Miss.
In this June 10, 2010 photo, Carrie Underwood performs during the CMA Music Festival at LP Field in Nashville, Tenn. The Country Music Association is donating more than $2.9 million to Nashville-area flood relief and music education programs. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
CMA CEO Steve Moore takes the podium during the announcement of performers nominated for the Country Music Association Awards show on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010, in Nashville, Tenn. The 44th Annual CMA Awards will be held Nov. 10 in Nashville. (AP Photo/Donn Jones)
