News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media
Home » Blogs » Ace14's blog » CMA Awards: No girls allowed

CMA Awards: No girls allowed

by
Ace

The He-Man Woman-Hater's Club met in Nashville this week to dole out the Country Music Association Awards. Accordingly, all of the awards, save for “Female Vocalist of the Year,” went to the boys.

OK, I'm exaggerating a little. But not that much. Four awards went to three women, one of whom was part of a male-female duo. Carrie Underwood was named Female Vocalist of the Year, and her single, “Before He Cheats,” won Single of the Year.

The New Horizon award went to 17-year-old Taylor Swift, who tearfully exclaimed, "This is definitely the highlight of my senior year [in high school]."

And a Kristen Hall-less Sugarland took home Vocal Duo of the Year.

Of course, if Kristen Hall had not left the band in 2006, Sugarland would not have been eligible for Vocal Duo of the Year. And there's no Vocal Trio of the Year award. But, still, if only a few women could win, it would have been a treat for me if one of them had been a lesbian.

I listen to a fair amount of country music. (Between the showtunes and the country music, my girlfriend exercised a great deal of forbearance when we began dating.) I listen to plenty of male country artists — even ones whose politics I find abhorrent. But my favorites are the women — Dolly, Reba, the Dixie Chicks. (And I could gaze at Terri Clark — in addition to listening to her — for hours.)

However, it seems I'm not the only person dismayed by the lack of women nominated. In a recent poll, 74 percent of respondents thought a woman should have been nominated for the top Entertainer of the Year award. Amazingly, the Dixie Chicks were the last female band or performer to be nominated for Entertainer of the Year. And that was back in 2001.

The main explanation given for the lack of women nominees is that a lot of weight is given to ticket sales, and male performers tour more than women do. (It seems that Entertainer of the Year, Kenny Chesney, tours almost constantly.) But that's not entirely convincing because Faith Hill had an incredibly successful tour with husband Tim McGraw, yet received no nomination.

There's another theory out there.

"The country music audience used to be split 51 to 49 female to male, and now it's skewing about 57 percent female. There's a theory that women really like to see male artists."

Although I'm loath to admit it that women are the problem, this may have some credence. I've been noticing lately how different the most popular male country artists (e.g., Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, Vince Gill, Kenny Chesney) are from the male country artists of my youth (Willie, Waylon and the rest of the Outlaws). The new breed seem like grown up boy-band members: all high voices and pretty faces. I've been listening to Reba's Duets album lately and have noticed that there's nary a deep voice among the men with whom she sings. (She does, however, sing a duet with Carole King! And that makes me very happy.) The bottom line is that I'd be a little surprised if it were the men who were making some of these artists stars.

Any other country music fans out there? Thoughts?

  • Ace14's blog
  • Login or register to post comments
    • Submitted by
    Ace
    on November 9, 2007 - 3:14pm.
    TAGS :: 
    gali's picture

    I am a country music fan and

    Submitted by
    gali (not verified)
    on November 9, 2007 - 4:40pm.

    I am a country music fan and I used to watch the CMA but I stopped a few years back when the whole thing became way too middle of the road "poppy" to me.And there seemed to be a shortage of interesting female singers

    So, can't really comment on the male versus female singers nowadays but thanks to AE I am totally obsessed with Alison Krauss and Union station at the moment, so my main thought is...did they perform at the show? Because then I will have to see if I can find it somewhere! ;)

     

    "call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

    TheWeyrd1's picture

    I believe she did perform this year

    Submitted by
    TheWeyrd1 (432 posts)
    on November 9, 2007 - 5:30pm.

    I'm not 100% sure because I kept flipping back and forth between stations, but I think Alison Krauss was mentioned as an act performing "later in the broadcast".

    As for Terri Clark...(spreading a rumor now)...I heard she played in the Denver area alot, back when she had a current CD out, because she had a "good" female friend who lived in Boulder. And I could gaze at her all day too....her with her "lesbianish" sensibility in CD cover fashion.

    gali's picture

    :)

    Submitted by
    gali (not verified)
    on November 9, 2007 - 8:06pm.

    Thanks!

    "call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

    Sal's picture

    Go See AKUS

    Submitted by
    Sal (41 posts)
    on November 11, 2007 - 8:03am.

    gali

    I don't know about the awards show as it was on too late in the UK. However, I saw Alison Krauss and the Union Station in London a few years ago. It's probably the best music performance I've ever seen.

    See them whenever you can!

    gali's picture

    thanks!

    Submitted by
    gali (not verified)
    on November 11, 2007 - 12:05pm.

    I got the dvd of their liveshow and it is brilliant so yeah, if I ever get the chance I would definitely go and see them but being in holland the chances are slim I am afraid. Did see the award show on the bbc last night! ;)

    btw the clip of their performance is on youtube ( lumped together with brad paisley)

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQV7J_2T-Cc

     

    "call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

    kazwinton's picture

    Country Music

    Submitted by
    kazwinton (11 posts)
    on November 9, 2007 - 6:06pm.

    I love country music and have been a fan for about 16 years (no mean feat when you live in England!!!) but the CMA awards have been getting suckier every year and at this point I'm sure I just watch so I have something to complain about.

    After reading this article I went to http://cmaawards.com and had a look at the previous Entertainer of the Year winners and since 1967 there have only been 7 female winners!!! Even in the early to mid 90s where the women were selling albums by the shedload, the winners were still all male.

    I think it's just a shame that there are so many talented women who have been working away for years and are being passed over in favour of the guys who are turning out boring, bland music which is indistinguishable from everyone else.

    OK, rant over

    Kaz

    bayangel69's picture

    seeking country music fans

    Submitted by
    bayangel69 (2 posts)
    on November 20, 2007 - 12:12pm.

    Hiya,

    I'm loooking to meet other lesbian country fan fans in the Uk....as we're such a small band...lol

     

    Denise xx

    Twstdtrinity's picture

    Yay!

    Submitted by
    Aj (217 posts)
    on November 9, 2007 - 8:16pm.

    I thought I was the only one who adored Terri Clark. *swoons* She is such a lesbian and she doesn't even know it.

    I dislike alot of the poppy country music that's been ever more increasing this past couple of years. Then after what happen to the Dixie Chicks I stopped paying attention to anything country. The way they treated them was so distasteful. Not all are at fault but I'm still turn off by what they did.

    hhoff784's picture

    Terri Clark

    Submitted by
    hh784 (7 posts)
    on November 10, 2007 - 2:01am.
    She is definitely my favorite singer! I live in central Florida and it's pretty difficult to find any other lesbians here unless you are in a large city, but go to a Terri Clark concert and they all magically appear... in droves. It's really quite amazing but I totally understand. As for the CMA Awards, I read an article once, maybe a couple of years ago, in Country Weekly about the lack of female singers with hit songs. I can count on one hand the number of established female singers (and by that I mean those who have been popular for more than five years) who have had a new single played regularly on radio in the past year. The only women I hear on new country radio these days are the "recently popular" set: Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Kellie Pickler. The guys keep churning out the songs and the women are a bit slower this particular decade. Where are Reba, Martina, and Shania (with their 15 hits per album) when you need them? Actually, I shouldn't pick on Martina- she did have a single out recently. I'm not sure if I should count the Reba/ Kelly Clarkson duet though. "I'll rise, but I refuse to shine"
    luva1putt's picture

    Alison Krause new CD

    Submitted by
    stormy (186 posts)
    on November 10, 2007 - 7:03am.

    "Raising Sand" the new CD featuring Alison Krause and Robert Plant is a must listen for any AK fans out there.  Oh, and Terri Clark ain't wearing a cowboy hat because she's having a bad hair day.

    songstress's picture

    "Raising Sand"

    Submitted by
    songstress (5 posts)
    on November 10, 2007 - 8:58am.
    Who would have thought that Robert Plant and AK would blend SO well. Thank goodness for producers willing to push artists to the edge. Awesome blend of voices and style in this CD.
    wickedgrrl's picture

    Terri Clark

    Submitted by
    wickedgrrl (322 posts)
    on November 10, 2007 - 9:51pm.

    Thank you so much for posting that pic.  I've been infatuated with her for years.  She could read/sing the phone book and I'd be purring.

    J. Shepheard's picture

    Thank God

    Submitted by
    bigbutch75451 (9 posts)
    on November 12, 2007 - 1:25am.
    I'm not the only lesbian who will publicly admit to liking country music.  Even thought I live in Texas it's still not the thing to do.  I also like football, gun and knife shows and hunting.  Very unwomon unPC I know but it is an unfortunate side effect of being an even bigger redneck.  BTW Nashville sucks, you should try getting to know the Austin scene.  Now that's country done right.
    gali's picture

    Well thanks a bunch ;)

    Submitted by
    gali (not verified)
    on November 12, 2007 - 2:35am.

    Here we all are trying to dispel the prejudices about country music fans and in you come, destroying all our good work! :)

     

    "call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

    J. Shepheard's picture

    Well...

    Submitted by
    bigbutch75451 (9 posts)
    on November 12, 2007 - 9:41am.
    If it makes you not want to throw things at me, I also enjoy Verdi, impresionism and Frank Lloyd Wright houses.  Streotype broken becuse some rednecks can actually read.
    gali's picture

    :)

    Submitted by
    gali (not verified)
    on November 12, 2007 - 10:54am.

    Don't know if I am convinced. After all, you dont need much reading skill to enjoy music, paintings or architecture! ;)

    Now, if you tell me you're from Texas and you enjoy both Reba AND the Dixie chicks....That would be really breaking the stereotype! :)

    Anyway...wouldn't dare to throw anything at gun toting, knife wielding chicks! ;)

     

    "call me old fashioned but I prefer feminism that leaves a little something to the imagination!"

    lunakiss's picture

    I like Terri Clark's music and ...

    Submitted by
    Miss Ketina (1032 posts)
    on November 12, 2007 - 9:12pm.
    I also got a feeling she's "family". Oh wait that's my psychic vibe lustful thinking. Hasn't CMA always been a boys only club? I only like few country artists anyway-all of them female. What I wanna be when I grow up? I wanna be Nancy Pelosi's chauffeur as long as she takes me shopping?- Ms.Fashionista
    Sadie Saddles's picture

    Speaking of country...

    Submitted by
    Sadie_Saddles (1 post)
    on November 15, 2007 - 11:08pm.

    Anybody familiar with any touring LGBTQ country bands and/or singers?  Specifically looking for old-timey country—think Loretta Lynn a la 1964. I would like to book some bands for my college radio station (located in-between Chicago and Milwaukee). Also, I would love to find some western dancers, too.  Thanks!

    bayangel69's picture

    Seeking country music fans!

    Submitted by
    bayangel69 (2 posts)
    on November 20, 2007 - 12:03pm.

    Hi, I love country music but its really hard to find other gay ladies who like it too!

    This is hampered by the fact I live in the UK, so I'm looking to find other lesabin fan of the fantastic & much underrated(in this country anyway!!!)genre!! So come girls I'd love to hear from you....& if your Amercian that good too....the more the better!!!

    Denise xxx


    Home » Blogs » Ace14's blog » CMA Awards: No girls allowed

    User login

    Recent comments
    After Ellen home page on logo online