Posts Tagged ‘cmt’

Taylor Swift Nabs 4 CMT Noms

May 19th, 2009

The race to the CMT Music Awards is heating up, as the final nominees have been announced. The announcements were made today by Kellie Pickler and CMT’s Lance Smith during the 2009 CMT Music Awards Nomination Special. Fans can go online now and vote until June 15 to pick their favorites.

 

Country darling Taylor Swift swooped in to grab four nominations, and heartthrob Brad Paisley is also up for four awards. Sugarland leads the pack, however, with five nominations this year. Newcomers Lady Antebellum and favorites Rascal Flatts also picked up three nods.

"This has been a watershed year for country music," said Brian Philips, president of CMT, "And the fans have spoken! We’ll mix an influx of strong new talent with performances by our enduring stars."

 

The awards will go live on June 16 on CMT, with performances by

Taylor Swift, Trace Adkins, Dierks Bentley, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Keith Urban and rockers Def Leppard.

The final nominees in each of the 2009 CMT MUSIC AWARDS categories include:

VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Trace Adkins - You’re Gonna Miss This (Director: Peter Zavadil)
Kenny Chesney featuring The Wailers - Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven (Director: Shaun Silva)
Toby Keith - God Love Her (Director: Michael Salomon)
Kid Rock - All Summer Long (Director: Deaton Flanigen)
Lady Antebellum - Lookin’ For A Good Time (Director: Chris Hicky)
Brad Paisley - Waitin’ On A Woman (Directors: Jim Shea & Peter Tilden)
Rascal Flatts - Every Day (Director: Deaton Flanigen)
Sugarland - All I Want To Do (Director: Shaun Silva)
Taylor Swift - Love Story (Director: Trey Fanjoy)
Carrie Underwood - Just A Dream (Director: Roman White)

MALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Trace Adkins - You’re Gonna Miss This
Toby Keith - God Love Her
Brad Paisley - Waitin’ On A Woman
Keith Urban - Sweet Thing

FEMALE VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Miranda Lambert - More Like Her
Martina McBride - Ride
Kellie Pickler - Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful
Taylor Swift - Love Story

GROUP VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Lady Antebellum - Lookin’ For A Good Time
Rascal Flatts - Bob That Head
Rascal Flatts - Every Day
Zac Brown Band Chicken Fried

 

DUO VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn - Put A Girl In It
Montgomery Gentry - Roll With Me
Sugarland - All I Want To Do
Sugarland - Already Gone

USA WEEKEND BREAKTHROUGH VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Julianne Hough - That Song In My Head
Jamey Johnson - In Color
Lady Antebellum - Lookin For A Good Time
Zac Brown Band - Chicken Fried

 

COLLABORATIVE VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Brooks & Dunn featuring Reba McEntire - Cowgirls Don’t Cry
Kenny Chesney featuring The Wailers - Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven
Brad Paisley with Keith Urban - Start A Band
Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen - Life In A Northern Town

CMT PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR
Alan Jackson featuring Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley and George Strait - Country Boy from CMT Giants: Alan Jackson
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On) from CMT Crossroads: Robert Plant and Allison Krauss
Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen - Life In A Northern Town from the 2008 CMT MUSIC AWARDS
Def Leppard and Taylor Swift - Photograph from CMT Crossroads: Def Leppard and Taylor Swift

WIDE OPEN COUNTRY VIDEO OF THE YEAR
Def Leppard and Taylor Swift - Photograph
Kid Rock - All Summer Long
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss - Please Read The Letter
Rehab featuring Hank Williams, Jr. - Bartender Song

 

VIDEO DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR
Deaton Flanigen (award eligible videos include: Kid Rocks All Summer Long and Rascal Flatts Every Day)
Trey Fanjoy (award eligible videos include: Taylor Swifts Love Story and George Straits Troubador)
Roman White (award eligible videos include: Carrie Underwood’s Just a Dream and Reba McEntire’s Every Other Weekend)
Peter Zavadil (award eligible videos include: Trace Adkins Youre Gonna Miss This and Joey + Rorys Cheater Cheater)

 

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Taylor Dayne Opens Up About Botox

March 6th, 2009

Taylor Dayne turns 47 Saturday, but unlike most celebrities she isn’t shy about revealing how she keeps her look youthful. (This time, it’s not just water and being happy.)

In this interview, the ‘80s pop star-turned-Gone Country 3 crooner talks frankly about her cosmetic procedures, the impact a superficial world has on her as a parent to twins Astaria and Levi, 7, and how she maintains her shape. Plus, she opens up about her friendship with Paula Abdul.

What’s your secret to looking young?  
Listen, a little Botox here and there doesn’t hurt. That’s one thing. But people don’t talk about skincare. Laser treatments are remarkable for your skin and sun damage. And a great product routine on your face – whatever works. I think that’s really key. That’s helped a lot for me. And I’m telling you – exercise, exercise, exercise. Staying in a great frame of mind over the years.

As a woman, as you get older, you get challenged by that all the time because your body works against you a lot because we are hormonally challenged so much.

Your emotional state really reflects your outer beauty on a lot of levels. Emotionally, I’ve always been challenged that way. I always had a lot of anxiety in my body, you know, so working out helps with that, and I believe in a lot of hormone replacement therapy. It’s worked for me successfully.

You mentioned Botox, but a lot of people say they can’t move their face after getting treatments…
[Laughs] Well, is that such a bad thing? [laughs] I don’t know that that’s such a bad thing. I have no idea what they’re referring to.

Brows? Anything excessive, you’re going to have problems with it. I can promise you, if I have too many martinis, I’m going to have problems the next day. Everything in moderation.  

But the whole idea of starting Botox and fillers when you’re 60 or 70, that’s when you get that stuff? I don’t think so. It’s preventative. It stops your face from getting lines. I have a different theory on it, from creasing, from starting the process.

The most beautiful women I’ve seen – there are ways to go about the process looking like a beautiful woman. I don’t look 20 years old, I don’t look 25 years old. Come on.

What would you recommend for someone in finding a good plastic surgeon?
Well, Botox is hardly plastic surgery. It’s dermatology now. That’s not surgery. There are so many people who are doing it now. There are estheticians and clinics that have that. I just say look into it, make sure it’s a good source and decide if it’s for you.

As a parent, do you think there’s too much emphasis on looks these days?

I think there always has been, but I think we’re looking at a younger generation, and that’s the part that I struggle with just looking at my own daughter and my son because children today are influenced by a lot of things we weren’t. We didn’t have videos and stuff like that. It’s a hardcore world out there. The girls are growing up real young, and thinking they can be all sassy and sexy.

When I think of when I was 15 and how I was dressing for the boys, you know, and I look at the 15-year-olds now and the 13-year-olds now, and how they’re dressing for the boys … it’s tough. It’s real hard to rope it in.

Any budget beauty tips you can share?
Everybody does a Vitamin C mix. A, E, and C. You can take a Vitamin C in the morning or in the evening, and crush it up like Ester C and use it in a wash when you do your face at night. You can do that with Vitamin K, too – you can crush up the tablets and put that in a wash. You might leave that on – it helps with sun damage.

There’s a lot of stuff like that. A, E, and C are in stuff like Ester C when they say they put Vitamin C on their face. You usually do that during the day, to be honest, before you put your sunblock on. It’s really good for the skin. It’s really, really good.

Otherwise, I always have an A and D ointment I’ll put on my hands or I’ll put it on my chapped lips. An A and D ointment is really good stuff. I always have a Kiehl’s lip balm. Even MAC has this great Dazzle gloss. I always have to have something on my lips.

Do you believe in dieting? How do you stay thin?

I hate dieting, but what am I going to do? With this body, I have to. I don’t naturally have Angelina Jolie’s body, let me tell you. I’m a curvaceous girl.

It’s a day-to-day thing. It sucks. It’s awful. High protein, low carbs. I’m not a big sugar mama, so that’s OK, but the usual high protein, good food. Try to stay away from processed foods, because at the end of the day, that always kills you.

How do you stay in shape?
I like to mix it up. I do anything from hiking, running, I do something called Barry’s Boot Camp a couple times of week if I can do it, and just straight-up go to the gym.

What’s Barry’s Boot Camp all about?
Oh, it’s high-impact cardio and free weights, just mixing it up. It’s thirty minutes in a row. It’s high-impact aerobics, running and inclines and all that crap, and then thirty minutes of free weights and military positions if you will.

Do you keep in touch with other stars from your heyday? I know Paula Abdul was around during your time.
Well, I’ve built friendships over the years. I was just at Paula’s house sitting on her bed looking at her new perfume. She was showing me the new pocketbook line. Sure, I’ve built relationships over the years, that’s just funny that you said her, but sure we’re friends. I was over with another friend of hers, Jimmy, who she’s very close with, and we were looking at the new line. She was handing me off one of her perfume scents. I like one of them very much. It’s very sexy. It’s pretty hot.

Paula’s a sweetheart, but we’re not super tight. She’s friends with my other friend.

What’s something that might surprise us about you?

I’m a feisty New York girl that’s still going strong. A lot of women relate to me. I’m not a shoulda-coulda-woulda person. I go for it, whatever “it” means. And I try.

Catch the finale of Gone Country 3, which airs on CMT Saturday at 2pm, 8pm and 10pm.

Taylor Dayne Talks Surrogacy, Singlehood

February 16th, 2009

Taylor Dayne had a major influence on pop culture when she hit the big time in 1987 with a string of hits that included Tell It To My Heart, Prove Your Love, I’ll Always Love You, Don’t Rush Me, With Every Beat of My Heart, Love Will Lead You Back and I’ll Be Your Shelter.

By 1993, the name Taylor hit its peak in popularity of baby names.  

“You wonder where they generated from, right?” she yuks. “It was a very uncommon name in 1987, that’s for sure, but it’s a compliment.”    

Perhaps she even inspired the name of country’s latest sensation, Taylor Swift, who was born in 1989. She laughs off the suggestion. “I would say that her mother was a fan.”

Even though Taylor – who was born Leslie Wunderman – has had a remarkable career, she confesses her proudest moment was the surrogate birth of her twins Astaria and Levi, 6.  

“I went for it, and I did it as a single mom,” the star of Gone Country, which airs Saturdays on CMT,  tells me. “I’m very proud of this achievement, and I’m very proud they chose me and I’m their mom.”

In this interview, Taylor, 46, opens up about her fertility choice and finding the right man.

Tell me about your surrogacy experience, and why you chose to take this route to conceive.
I did it quite differently than a lot of people. I had a surrogate carry it, and it was my egg. I went for one, and I got two. This is in 2001 right before 9/11 when she was pregnant with the twins, and I was on Broadway. She called me up and they told me.

I’m very proud of the achievement.

I didn’t want to lose the window of opportunity. I’d been through enough relationships where nothing stuck, and somebody mentioned a surrogate when I was thinking adoption.

I said ‘a surrogate? What is that?’ and they go ‘rent a womb.’ I’m like ‘rent a womb?’ And they’re like ‘it’s yours, they look like you.’ It was mind-blowing at the time. This was in the year 2000.

Here in L.A. it was legal, but in New York it wasn’t. I was in New York at the time, and I went back and forth, and then I started doing Broadway. I found an agency in Los Angeles, and it was a real process.

Who is the father? Is he involved in their lives?
[Laughs] The father will remain a mystery, but he is a dear friend. They know who he is, but as an involved parent, he doesn’t live here or near, so he’s not involved in that respect.

I imagine as a single mom, you go on dates. How does being a mom influence the men you choose?
Yes, I do. That’s part of the day-to-day challenge. I’m still Taylor Dayne, I’m still me, I’m still a kid in a candy store, and I think you have to take care of the children that are on board. Sometimes you meet quality people and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you come up short. Interesting, interesting times.

Do you have someone special now?
I’m currently dating. Let’s just put it that way. That’s basically where I am.

What qualities do you look for?
I wish I could say I have a specific thing like the tall, dark and handsome. But that’s not true. I just think a man’s qualities will shine through rather immediately for me.

I like smooth operators who have a sense of humor, certainly a real sense of themselves, a man who knows who they are. I think it’s important that they admire women and like the challenges opposed to saying they like the challenge and at the end of the day, they run away from the challenge of a woman that is intelligent, that can actually speak with them.

Somebody I talked to the other day who was quite beautiful, actually, it was interesting to hear her perspective. She said ‘listen, I don’t want to be their trophy.’ And she’s clear about that. She says ‘I’m looking for the heart. I’m shooting for the heart.’ I know what that means. A lot of people prefer to be the trophy. You vacillate. You still want to maintain your beauty and your grace, you know, but at the same time to be in a relationship in very difficult. There’s a lot of compromise. I’m learning.

I’m not necessarily looking for man who has such-and-such amount of money in their bank and this, that and stuff. A real connection is always key and chemistry and essence has to happen.

What are your kids into these days?

My children are pretty divine. They’re young. They’re blessings, and they always are. They’re precocious, alive, fantastic, thoughtful and every day they’re bringing home something new and different. They’re into hiphop, dance, skateboarding and dance.

What are your hopes for them?
My biggest hope for them is to make sure they are happy, content, peaceful and satisfied and successful people in this world. Give back, and learn how to live fulfilling lives. Feel fulfilled. I like knowing that in their hearts they feel safe, and yet they challenge themselves. That’s what I hope for.

Would you encourage them to go into showbiz?
I would follow their lead because for me, by this time in my life, at age 6, my destiny was mapped out for me. I was doing solos in school already, and I knew. There’s inner dialogue that you have with yourself. I had my destiny, I knew what I wanted. You have to watch, and so if they desire it – and they show interest in it – I’m talking a real interest – sure, I would encourage it.

What advice do you have for Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell, who also have twins?
Oh, Rebecca and Jerry, they’re going to be just fine. They’re going to have a good old time. There’s a lot of love over there. Good nanny, little sleep and they have each other, so it’s a beautiful thing.
 
Gone Country airs Saturdays at 8/7c on CMT.

Reba, Wynonna, Martina Do Divas NashVegas

April 21st, 2008

Divas NashVegas takes place in a tent outside the stately Parthenon in Nashville. Flashing rings are passed out upon entry to the benefit for the Oasis Center, which provides assistance to troubled youth. Divalicious!

The ground is muddy, but the gala tables are topped with feathers and flowers. As I wait in line at a buffet that includes chicken, grits, green beans, garlic mashed potatoes and rolls, I glimpse a black boa-wearing Martina McBride carrying her plate back to her table. Wow!

I am sitting at the CMT table, where I am told Reba McEntire might not actually be up for an interview after the show and we’ll need to reschedule. Oh Reebs! After a vat of banana pudding sails around, wacky hostess-with-the-mostess Melissa Peterman announces it’s time for performances.

First up is gospel singer Yolanda Adams. “Live on purpose,” she says. “There are a lot of people living from day-to-day — just existing. Live those dreams. Go out and do it. Never give up. Live a life to leave a legacy.”

Next, we have Wynonna, who acknowledges the failed romances she’s endured after performing a cover of I Want To Know What Love Is. “Are you bitter or better for the journey?” she asks. “It’s a miracle. My heart’s been broken a thousand times. They say that music is a healer.”

It’s award time. Martina is honored as a Do-Right Diva for helping women impacted by domestic violence. She’s raised more than $1 million for the YW Services to help women to leave unsafe situations.

Here’s Melissa, who convincingly dresses up as her Reba co-star and begins to warble Kelly Clarkson’s Because Of You – signaling it’s time for the real thing.

Reba, who looks incredible, breaks out with Why Haven’t I Heard From You and The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia. She caps off her performance by duetting on Does He Love You with Martina. The house goes wild!

After hitting the coat check with CMT’s super-fabulous Natasha Powell, we wait on the red carpet for her valet-parked car to swing through the circle. We’re waiting a long time, and we’re like ‘agh!’ we could frighteningly easily take a different ride the way this is rolling. We laugh when we see a passenger enter with a drink from the event.

On the way back to my hotel, Natasha point out Martina’s amazing home. It’s the size of several European castles put together! Talk about the house that country music built.

Kellie Pickler Surprised By CMT Victories

April 15th, 2008

While her pal Taylor Swift may have won the top prize at Monday night’s CMT Music Awards, it was actually former American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler who carried off the most trophies of the evening with wins for her song "I Wonder" in three different categories: Breakthrough Video of the Year, Tearjerker Video and Awards Performance of the Year.

"This is the first time I’ve ever won an award," the singer, who was unable to attend last night’s ceremony in Nashville, said in a post-show conference call. "I just want to go run laps around this whole building but people would think I was crazy so I’m not going to do that… I’m definitely probably not going to be able to sleep tonight for sure."

Kellie also talked about the close bond between her, Taylor and their fellow country superstar Carrie Underwood. "They’re like my sisters in country music," she explained. "Taylor and I toured together all year last year… She and I have probably gotten the closest to sisters. It’s really, really amazing to have her present that award to me because it was a special moment for both of us. I guess you can call Taylor and Carrie and me the Three Musketeers. Us blondes, we’ve gotta stick together. Boom!"

By Valerie Nome

Taylor Swift Wins Top Honor at CMTs

April 15th, 2008 / Author: cwillett

After losing out at the Grammys to Amy Winehouse for Best New Artist, it must have felt like sweet vindication last night to 18-year-old country crossover star Taylor Swift, as she took home two of the evening’s biggest honors at the CMT Music Awards ceremony in Nashville.

"There’s nothing that’s more important to me than my fans and making them happy," said a thrilled Taylor, who was awarded the Female Video of the Year and Video of the Year trophies for her hit, "Our Song." "I never want to let them down. The fact that they would do this for me — would go so far and be so amazing… it’s so unbelievable. I’m absolutely so flattered and humbled. I’m having the best night I can remember.

As for the song that propelled her into the winner’s spotlight, Taylor explains, "I wrote ['Our Song'] in ninth grade for a talent show, and never thought that it was going to be on an album, never thought I’d get to record it, never thought it would be a single, never thought it would go number one, and certainly never thought it would win."

The teen star also surprised a lot of people when she came out on stage twice without her shoes. But, Taylor says, she’s got a good excuse. "I had these gorgeous hot pink heels on and they were really awesome but they really hurt so bad and I was limping up the stairs," she recalled after the show. "I walked past Faith Hill, and I was like, ‘This hurts so bad.’ And she was like, ‘Take ‘em off!’ And so at that point, I just took off my shoes and did not put them back on for the rest of the night. I actually accepted an award barefoot and presented an award barefoot. But you know, Faith Hill told me to, so I did it."

By Valerie Nome

Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus Hosting CMT Awards

February 26th, 2008 / Author: cwillett

Hannah Montana fans take note: Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus will pull double duty at the upcoming 2008 CMT Music Awards. The famous father-daughter duo are set to host and perform at the April 14 shindig, it was announced Tuesday.

"Miley and I are so excited to be hosting the CMT Music Awards. We know it will be a fun-filled night with a lot of great music performances," Billy Ray says.

Also expected to be at the Nashville event are country superstars Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Toby Keith and Taylor Swift.

Miley should have no problem taking to the CMT stage when the time comes — the 15-year-old superstar held her own when she introduced a musical performance at her very first Oscars on Sunday night. Hosting, though, is probably different, but she would have her father to depend on.

The gig is just the latest in a series of the projects that Miley and Billy Ray have collaborated on. They can currently be seen on the big screen in the concert film Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert, and the two have no plans to slow down anytime soon.

"You’ve got to start slow, you can’t start out going into a sprint, or you will get tired and worn out," Miley says. "When you get tired and you’re not having fun anymore, then it becomes so much like work that you’re not even chasing your dream. That thing that keeps me strong is the little bit of fire that I do want to keep going."

Another Reality Show for Jessica?

February 14th, 2008 / Author: cwillett

Given that Jessica Simpson’s life was turned upside down by her experience with ex-husband Nick Lachey on their hit MTV show Newlyweds, it came as a big surprise when her father and manager Joe Simpson told Entertainment Weekly earlier this week that Jess is considering giving reality TV another shot with an unscripted show on CMT.

"With Newlyweds, she let everyone into her world," Joe told EW.com. "Then she had to shut the world out. Now she can open it up again so people can see, here’s a girl struggling with self-esteem and finding her way."

However, a rep for the Employee of the Month actress tells OK!, "She is in talks to do a special for CMT timed to the release of the album, but there’s no truth to any reality show." And a rep for Sony BMG Nashville confirms to OK!, "there is no truth to this."

So was Joe misleading the folks at EW? Or did he sign his daughter up for something without telling her?

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