LEGENDS AMONG US
Country's brightest join the Academy to pay homage at
ACM Honors
By Lisa Lee
You might not have heard the rumor yet, but Carrie
Underwood, Miranda Lambert and Kellie Pickler admit they are all in love with
some "older" guys.
And those guys would be Randy Travis, Merle Haggard and
Kenny Rogers.
The three smitten ladies were among the stars who turned out
to honor the country legends at the 2nd annual ACM Honors, held
Sept. 22 at Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The event, hosted by
five-time ACM Award winner Lee Ann Womack, was an evening full of music and
laughter aimed at the Academy's special award winners.
"Did you see the lineup tonight? It's crazy!" Underwood said
just before the event kicked off. "It's
really amazing to be here to honor those that have been so influential to
country music."
"Merle is obviously the love of my life, but a lot of girls
would probably say that," a grinning Lambert told ACM Tempo. "I'm thrilled to be here. I can't even believe I'm going
to perform a Merle song in front of Merle."
Haggard received the ACM Poet's Award, which recognizes
excellence in songwriting, along with the late Harlan Howard. Before the event,
Haggard walked the red carpet with his daughter, Janessa, on his arm. He told
us being honored for his songwriting was "a lifelong achievement, a wonderful
thing, especially to be alongside my old friend Harlan."
Haggard's musical tribute included Lambert's rendition of
"Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Star," Joe Nichols' cover of "Okie From Muskogee" and Vince Gill's take on
"Holdin' Things Together." Taking off his hat to walk up and accept his trophy,
Haggard received an extended standing ovation. "This is a lump in the throat,"
he told the crowd.
"I've been listening to Merle's records since I was
2-years-old," Nichols said. "I used to take his tapes and I would hide in my
bedroom and mimic them over and over. I worked really hard to sound just like
him."
Performing in Howard's honor were Patty Loveless, who sang
her Harlan hit "Blame It On Your Heart," and Jim Lauderdale, who tackled a
medley of Howard's biggest hits. Howard's widow, Melanie Howard, accepted on
the family's behalf and led the crowd in a toast to his memory.
"I can't tell you what it means to me for Harlan to be honored
almost 8 years after his death," Howard said. "Thank you for keeping his name,
his songs, his memory and his family in business."
Receiving the ACM Cliffie Stone Pioneer Award were Rogers, Travis,
Hank Williams Jr., and the late Jerry Reed. Spotlighting Rogers' amazing string
of hits were John Rich ("Lucille") and Blake Shelton ("The Gambler"). Stepping
in for an ailing Randy Houser, Jamey Johnson joined Pickler on the
Rogers-Dottie West hit "Everytime Two Fools Collide."
"I got to open for Kenny a couple of months ago, and I will
never forget sitting on the side of the stage just watching him perform,"
Pickler said. "When I found out this event was taking place, I thought, 'I hope
I get asked to be a part of it.'"
For the Travis tribute, James Otto covered "Deeper Than the
Holler," John Anderson performed "Diggin' Up Bones" and Underwood sang her
recent Travis hit "I Told You So." Before the show, Travis said it was a little
odd accepting a "pioneer" award.
"To be called a 'pioneer' feels like I should be a lot
older. It almost feels like this is something that should be given after
death!" Travis joked. "But it really is a great honor. Years ago trying to get
into this business I just wanted to make a living singing, so the awards have
been so unexpected."
For the Jerry Reed segment, Reed's band reunited to back
Brent Mason on a medley of "Amos Moses" and "Guitar Man," Bobby Bare on "A
Thing Called Love" and Steve Wariner on the rowdy "East Bound and Down."
Accepting for Reed's family was his grandson Jerry Roe, who is a musician
himself.
"I'm honored to accept this award, but I'm more honored to
have his blood run through my veins," Roe said.
Pioneer Award winner Williams wasn't able to attend, but
sent daughters Holly, Hilliary and Katie to accept. Paying homage to his music
were The Grascals, Lambert and Johnson. Special award winners Toby Keith (Tex
Ritter Award for Beer for My Horses)
and Dolly Parton (Jim Reeves International Award) each sent taped acceptances.
Host Womack did double duty, stepping to center stage to perform a rousing
medley of Parton's hits.
The Mae Boren Axton Award was presented to longtime ACM
staffer David Young for his dedication and service to the Academy. Young, who
retired earlier this year to move closer to family in Indiana, said in his 20
years of working on the awards show he never imagined taking home a trophy
himself.
"It's awe-inspiring just to be sitting in the same room with
these legends and being on the red carpet with them," Young said. "I've never
been on the carpet before, this is just too much!"
Also recognized at ACM Honors were winners for
Musician/Bandleader/Instrumentalist (MBI) Awards and Industry Awards. ACM Board
members Eddie Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry and Charlie Cook of Los Angeles'
KKGO presented MBI trophies to Top Fiddle Player of the Year Aubrey Haynie,
Steel Guitar Player of the Year Dan Dugmore and Specialty Instrument Players of
the Year Jelly Roll Johnson and Eric Darken. While accepting his first award
for Percussionist/Drummer of the Year, Greg Morrow thanked his wife for "making
me load the car in 1996 and for telling me where to go."
Producer of the Year Tony Brown picked up his second trophy
in that category, and thanked the Academy for hosting an event to recognize the
musicians and behind-the-scenes players in town.
"I won this award in 2002, but winning this year is so
special because the changing of the guard in Nashville has been constantly
changing for the past few years, and there are a lot of great new producers on
the scene," Brown said. "This says I'm still a contender, and it is so, so
special."
Host Womack, who has worked with Brown and many of the
winning musicians, said she was thrilled the Academy chose to recognize the MBI
winners publicly.
"When we aspiring artists were growing up and dreaming about
what we would wear on the awards show or what our image would be, these guys
were in their bedrooms practicing," Womack said. "The musicians and songwriters
are the most talented people we have in this town."
The ACM Industry Awards were presented by Rodney Atkins. Trophies
went to Don Romeo Talent Buyer of the Year Fran Romeo, Venue of the Year the
Ryman Auditorium (Nashville), Nightclub of the Year Joe's Bar (Chicago) and
Casino of the Year Turning Stone Casino (Verona, N.Y.). Promoter of the Year Louis Messina was ill
and unable to attend.
"It is such a huge honor for the Academy to ask me to
represent them to present these awards," Atkins said. "These are the venues, the
promoters and the people who give us a place to play, so it's important to
recognize them."
WATCH our interviews from the ACM Honors event at
ACMCountry.com