VINCE!!! I thought the song was very well done and it was really the best performance of the CMA's. It was nice to see Amy and Jenny there backing Vince up. Sheryl Crowe did a good job and Vince was bang on.
Well done!!!!! That song is such a great song and so fitting for Vince to perform.

I'm so with you Leah, it was by far the best performance of the night. How refreshing, somebody who can actually sound amazing live!!! You go Vince, you are back, buddy! (Though to us, you were never gone....)

Got a feeling more Grammy Awards are within sight for Vince! WOW!

I wanted so badly to see the "respect" the audience was going to give Vince --- and ABC decided to do a CMA flashback at the end of his song! THAT was disappointing!

Amy, Jenny, Sheryl, the band and Vince all looked great! Vince's voice was so pure! Kenny didn't sound right, Sugarland didn't, Faith didn't. To me, there were only 3 who sounded amazing ---- Vince, Brad and Carrie. WOW. Even Alan didn't sound right. Vince was on the money!!!

All in all - I enjoyed the show. It started out as the Brooks and Dunn Awards Night! That song deserved extreme recognition. Wonderful song!

sorry i found the CMA awards boring!!!!!... the only performance worth seeing was indeed Vince Gill.......thanks Vince for bring class to the Awards. wonderful song.......... Yoli

I sure Agree!! Vince added class and sounded great.I just can't believe what people call country music today.B&D were great Vince was the best tho!Some of the hot folks sounded flat and off a bit.I only watched to see Vince.Amy looked great so did Jenny!!hugs Mamabear

Absolutely awesome performance by Vince and family and friends!!! Although, after seeing this song performed by just the band 4 times now, I'd have to say that Sheryl didn't add much to the song tonight...I know she sang on the record, tho. Vince is always great on these award shows....always sounds right on the money!!! Way to go, Vince!!!

I also think that Josh Turner sounded good tonight...a few of the other songs, I didn't particularly care for, tho...

I forgot about Josh, Becky. Yes, he was good. He was very good.

I was disappointed in the CMA 'flashbacks' and the way they closed the show reviewing who won awards. Would have been better if they had taken the few minutes they had to review and instead show more 40th Anniversary flashbacks.

Vince, definately the best performance of the night, but the show left both me and my grandmother wanting the 1990s back and the likes of Vince, Garth, Alan, Reba, Clint Black, Patty, etc. Most of the new artists are horrible...of the Horizon Award Nominee performances, the best was Josh Turner (what in the world did he do to his hair???!!!????!!) followed a close second by Carrie Underwood. And was glad Brad didn't go home empty handed tonight, but I could have done without the performances by Jason Aldean, The Wreckers, and Little Big Town.

I agree Leah . There were moments that I liked but I waited up for Vince. Amazing song. Ever since I have heard These Days I have been saying ,"That's an award winner".

I was really happy Brad won something and I was really pulling for him for Entertainer Of The Year.I love Believe and thought that was well deserved. I really like Carrie Underwood but I was pulling for Sara Evans . All in all I thought the show was good. I have always enjoyed the country awards shows . As far as all the other performers ,I thought they all did a good job.

Every year - most artists sound "off" over the TV or "flat" or "off pitch" on the CMA's- why? Because our ears do not lie - most artists cannot match how they are made[u] to sound on record...I am sorry - many in the country music scene are not the worlds most talented singers (or even musicians in the true sense of the word)....they are packaged stars (singing is not always at the top of the credentials - sadly)

Why does Vince always sound so good? (or Martina when she sings, or Trisha? or a handful of others etc?) - Because they can sing - they can sing live just like they do on record. Proof is in the pudding!

Thank goodness for Vince Gill's pure TRUE singing voice (along with all his other talents as a musician and songwriter) - he is in an elite class....most cannot hold a candle to him! YES, JMHO....
Charlie

LOL YEAAAAAAAAAAA!!So well said! I was afraid to say here that the big winners were OFF KEY but they were!! No one sang as good as Vince Including the big winners.Most of them scream and I feel nothing when they sing I just don't believe what they sing! they are soooooo created by some money making folks out there.And the girl smashing the guitar was just silly and why so much anger in the Female singers music today??Anyway you goooooo Vince hugs Mamabear

last year in n.y. with the 'vinny' comment, the acm's giving his award away, tonite the best performance.....he always comes thru with the style and class that country music is all about. sooo many things that people mentioned here make me almost ashamed of country music on tonite's show, but vince always reminds me what's good about country music.

Like you, I was highly disturbed when they cut to the CMA Flashback almost immediately after Vince's performance. It sounded like the audience really loved it and it would have been nice to see them all get their kudos. You know what? I would love it if Vince got the chance to do his own ABC television special that highlighted his 'These Days' project. Every now and then you'll see where Tim McGraw or Faith Hill have an hour long concert special. Since it seems like Vince can't get his kudos on these Awards shows, I'd love it if he could have his own special. Here's hoping his management team will be going for this for him, because I think it's about long overdue. I don't want to see it on GAC or CMT -- I wan't it to get promoted and aired on network television!!!

Well there is no argument here that Vince's performance was stellar. I must say that at first I thought it was just me thinking some of the other performers sounded "off", glad to know it wasn't just me. I was sooooo thankful that Miranda Lambert didn't win....JMHO of course...that song she "performed" was ABSOLUTELY HORRID. Those are the songs that make me sad that this is what "they" are calling country music. Thanks for letting me vent about that.
Laura

You won't get any argument here Charlie. That ability is God given enhanced by the true love of what they do . Not saying the others aren't good but I for one understand what you are saying.

Laura, Ditto .

A wonderful performance by Vince, as always! Amy, Jenny, Cheryl, and the band were great also!

The other performers did sound off....I don't think the sound is all that great in that arena though. What the heck was up with Miranda Lambert....that was horrible....I mean throwing down the microphone and then slamming down the guitar...come on!!! Carrie Underwood was so cute when she was accepting her award...I was so happy that she won. I was also glad that Brad Paisley won. Apparently there is big contraversy about Faith Hill today because when Carrie Underwood won she yelled out WHAT?? Knowing Faith I am sure she was totally kidding but of course the media is taking off and running with this story saying that she was mad about Carrie winning. It is too bad they have to take away from such a nice moment!!

Thanks to a friend I just discovered Youtube.com....there are some amazing Vince performances over there.

Don't get me wrong - I like a lot of the artists too that are not the "worlds best singers" (or maybe do not have a huge "vocal range" - a nicer way to put it! ). But it is consistent year after year - some people sound better live than others (I won't name names ).
Vince is one of those rare gifted singers who consistently sounds great no matter what: be it live or be it memorex!

I really do believe some artists get a ton of "enhancement" in the studio...I bet even with my horrible singing voice engineers could polish it up and make it sound "decent" on CD.

Best performance clearly was the King Vince Gill! Loved seeing him perform twice last night, I've really missed him as host. in fact the first year he didn't host I couldn't watch. lol Vince is the reason I listen to country music.
I'm new to these posts but am a huge VG fan! I circled Oct 17th on the calendar and bought These Days that day. I've done that for a lot of his albums. There's only one other artist I ever just buy the album without knowing what's on it. Funny enough it's his wife Amy. I've been a fan of hers since the early 8o's. I heard "When I Call Your Name" in '90 and have been hooked on Vince ever since! He could sing the label of a soup can and it would sound good!
My poor husband had a very early flight this morning but had to stay up and see Vince perform. He said it was worth it, he got goose bumps from the performance.

I'm not sure if I can say much else that you all haven't already stated. I agree that the best performance was our very own Vince Gill!!!! He was amazing! (He always is!) I miss the old days when he was performing more often & I miss when he hosted the show! Brooks & Dunn did good hosting but I always miss Vince.

I do agree that a lot of the other artists were off key & not sounding all that great. I would have liked to see Vince sing some more but I am just glad he is back!!!!!!

I couldn't agree more! And what is with the guy who wears a rag on his head all the time?! Most of new artists don't have a thimblefull of talent compared to Vince!

In addition to Vince's performance, I thought Martina McBride's song was also very poignant. Does anyone know the title and if it's from a new CD?

The song is titled "Anyway" and my guess is that it's the first single from a new album that has yet to be released.

They saved the best for last; Vince was just awesome. I, too was sooo upset when they cut to the flashback after his performance. Vince Gill will ALWAYS be the epitome of what real country music is all about. He is one of a kind. A network special would be so great.

What is not to just love about Martina ? That song was awesome.

First of all...Welcome annat856! and the other newbies, you will like it here. I enjoyed the CMA's. True some of the performers were flat, but they usually are. It was actually the first time I remember hearing Brad Paisley that he wasn't flat. (Don't holler...I love Brad, IMO he's just not an outstanding vocalist.) It also was good to see the variety of the performances, whether or not one enjoyed them, it is indicative of the industry today. I think it's the only show that has more performances than awards which is great. I didn't realize until I saw the red carpet show, that this was the 40th anniversay of the awards, and also the 1st time fans could buy tickets to be in the audience, so I'm sure that it was very entertaining to those in the audience. Vince was by far the best of the evening, but then we never doubted that did we? I am hoping they take that performance and make a video out of it (like the Garth/Trisha video from the Leno show a few years ago) ...would that be amazing? Keep your fingers crossed! Again...welcome to the newbies..hope you all stick around. Kay S.

I was hoping for a video of the performance as well. Thanks for the welcome! anna

There are some good pictures of Vince from the CMA'S http://www.wireimage.com/GalleryListing.as...tr=vince%20gill

Thanks for the pics!! They're great!

VGFS, I agree with you. Our Vince sounds so awesome because he is ( COUNTRY) he is the best !!! I really enjoyed hearing him and Amy, Jenny, Sherle Did a good job with him.I liked a few of the singers but they just don't hold a candle to Vince when it comes to singing pure Country. I miss him hosting too I wish he would release ( WHAT YOU GIVE AWAY) as a single.Awesome.

love ya, SHIRL--- Lady Gill.