From 'The Tennessean' 10/30/06

'Housewives' stars present CMAs

ABC is calling on a few of its biggest stars to ensure that the first year it broadcasts the Country Music Association Awards will be a ratings winner.

Eva Longoria and Nashville native James Denton of "Desperate Housewives" will present trophies onstage at the GEC on Nov. 6, as will "According to Jim" actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley (singer Brad Paisley's wife), "All My Children's" Cameron Mathison (who plays Ryan Lavery) and Disney's "Hannah Montana" father-and-daughter acting/singing duo, Billy Ray and Miley Cyrus.

Show hosts Brooks & Dunn will be joined on "Building Bridges" by Sheryl Crow and overachiever Vince Gill,who will perform again with his wife, Amy Grant, daughter Jenny Gill, and Michael McDonald, to whom he is not related in any way. The Wreckers and Jason Aldean have just been announced as performers.

a. I wonder what song they will sing.
b. I have a feeling the CMAs are going to become "Hollywood" like the ACMS have beens. What's wrong with just having the country artists present the awards?

I agree. That's why I pretty much stopped watching the CMA show. It really went downhill when Vince stepped down as host. He was the only reason I'd still watch. I guess I'll watch this year since Vince will be performing but I wish they'd go back to the way it was a few years ago. it's a country music oriented show, why do we need hollywood people coming in to take that over too! Sorry, had to get that off my chest.

Kacee

I'm happy that Vince and Sheryl Crow will be there w/B&D . Building Bridges is one of my favorite songs of B&D.Really hoping that it wins in it's catagory. It'll be great anticipation to see Amy and Jenny performing with Vince too.

Well Tammy who is charge of the event was on the radio a few day's ago. And she said that when the show went to New York it help get alot more advertiser. And it also help's having the actor and actress on the show. Sorry I can't remeber her last name. She was given away $700.00 ticket's on the show that day and talking about the show.

Not surprised with the Hollywood influence. It really has been going in that direction for a while not just when Vince stepped down. It will just get worse with ABC doing the show now.

Interested in hearing what Vince, Amy, Jenny & Michael will do. Michael, Jenny & Amy sang on different songs with Vince on his boxed set.

Joan

it's sure great to hear country music fans saying that! i feel the same way.....i think it's too bad that the cma's and pretty muc hall the awards shows and most everything on cmt have to 'go hollywood'. in trying to attract a new audience, they actually lose part of a loyal audience that they already have and don't appreciate. same way with radio i think.
last year at vince's concert in l.a. area, he was talking about his dad telling him that he didn't want his head to get too big about hosting the cma's ...saying that 'he was no johnny carson'. i wanted so bad to yell out that 'brooks & dunn are no vince gill'! but i had lost my voice. i love kix and ronnie, but really, they can't compare to vince as the host.

Well, they are having Vince sing twice! That's pretty good for an artist that has not gone "gold" in sales or had a top 10 hit in many a moon....

They do look to increase the ratings and "follow the money" - it's a business.

That said - I understand how many of you feel....the CMAs really do not need TV stars to attract a larger audience (imho).

CJ

The "press release" from the CMAs has Sheryl Crow, not Michael McDonald, singing with Vince, Amy, and Jenny. Here's the part about the Gills.(B&D, Sheryl, and Vince will open the show)

Gill, who hosted the CMA Awards a record 12 consecutive years (1992-2003), is nominated for Musical Event of the Year with Sheryl Crow on the Brooks & Dunn song "Building Bridges." Crow and Gill will perform the song with Brooks & Dunn to open the Awards, but Gill has a collaboration of his own up his sleeve. He will perform "What You Give Away" from his MCA Nashville release These Days, with guest vocals from Crow, Jenny Gill, and Grant

YOU are so right , B&D don't compare with our guy hosting the CMA'S
but so glad Vince will get to sing. But i like the song B&D sings.
( Building Bridges) that is my favorite too. of B&D.I hope Vince gets to open the show.can't wait since Vince is going to sing,.
love ya SHIRL
Lady Gill------- loves Vince Gill.

Very cool Mary Anne...that makes sense - Sheryl is listed as backing vocals on that song....I love "What you Give Away"....should be great!

I love "What You Give Away" too- and singing a song other than the current single will bring more "exposure" to "These Days". Can't wait to see the audience's reaction to the song.

I wasn't planning on watching the CMAs but I will now! It is great that Vince will sing twice at the CMAs. I just LOVE the song What You Give Away and Sheryl Crow does such a great job on that song.
Laura

This is great news because it's a very BIG deal to be able to sing on the awards shows and amazing to be able to sing a new song, one that is not even nominated for any award. Since this is a national broadcast I think sales of the box set will go up after viewers hear and see Vince do "What You Give Away". The song is so excellent and moving that it's the kind of song you want to own. Bravo to the CMA's for allowing Vince to sing this song on the show!

Maggie

HI VG fans -WOW awesome I can hardly wait to see the 4th cma"s awards shows.I"am really excited about this one.It well be good to see Vince GIll back singing on the cma"s awars yeah I can't wait to see it.you take care carrie ann

I'm thrilled that Vince will get a chance to showcase his music as well as just doing background vocals on Brooks & Dunn's record. With his major release in tow, I thought it would really have been a slap in the face, if the CMA's hadn't allowed him to promote something from such an ambitious project as 'These Days.' So glad to see his inclusion and having Amy and Jenny there along with Sheryl, I'm sure will be a great treat for him.

I'm definately glad that Vince is able to sing one of his songs from the new box set on the CMAs, but my guess is that if Keith Urban hadn't had to pull out, Vince would have only been singing with B&D, not one of his new songs from the box set.

That may well be true, but let's hope that they would have still been willing to give him a spot on the show even if Keith hadn't pulled out. I think he is deserving of it, either way, especially when you see other names pop up as CMA performers quite consistently year after year after year. I think it's time for some Vince. :-)

I can hardly contain my excitement until Monday night. I think the CMA'S are going to be very special with the performance of Vince,Amy and Jenny.

That is awesome...I was listening to this song the other day in the car and was thinking that this will end up being a huge hit for people promoting charities and big fundraisers. I love this song and I am sure the performance will result in a standing ovation. The words are so powerful and who better to sing it then Vince and Amy together. Looking forward to watching this on Monday.

WOW oh WOW -- I had mentioned a while back that maybe Vince would sing in Keith Urban's place (tongue in cheek )

I'm so happy Vince, Sheryl & Amy are going to perform What You Give Away. I just love this song, and it was so fitting for Vince to record this song since he has such a big heart and tries to help someone whenever he can.

I am happy the CMA is showing him some long overdue respect (my opinion) and invited him to perform a song from is new box set. It sure makes the CMAs a lot more interesting this year.

[b] I can't wait either to see the CMA awards and hear Vince ,Amy. Jenny, sing 9 What you give away) i think it will be awesome.
this one is going to be very special cause our guy gets to sing.
love ya Shirl.
Lady Gill.