The ACM Awards are almost here! Ramping up to the show, we’ve amassed soundbites from Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, and Carrie Underwood as they chat about their award-nominated projects. Be sure to tune-in for all the excitement when CBS airs The 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, live from Las Vegas, this Sunday, April 18th, at 8pm, ET (delayed PT). (AUDIO INFO BELOW)
American Saturday Night — Brad Paisley — Album of the Year nominee
Brad Paisley explains why he chose American Saturday Night as his album title. (:26)
“We named this album early on because we had written that song, and it felt like that summed up a lot of what was going on, thematically, in this record. And there’s nothing…one thing I learned last year, the one night of the week, really, when everybody is willing to be entertained and ready to let loose and sort of forget about whatever’s goin’ on is Saturday.”
Brad Paisley says that American Saturday Night is his most personal album yet. [bite one of two] (:42)
“There’s been songs in albums before that were personal, but this album, you know, it’s how I feel. It’s like, I said I feel like this album is finding my soul…a little more than the others. You know, it’s like going and finding my soul. And then it’s also sort of like, it’s a little more of…you could subtitle it, ‘We Mean It.’ (laughs) You know what I mean? We mean everything we do, but, you know, when you got ‘Ticks’ and ‘Online,’ and so I was like that on the last few records. It’s like, well, yeah, we mean it, we’re havin’ a good time, but you know, they’re all in good fun. This one is meant…I hope you have fun. I think you will, but we mean it.”
Brad Paisley says that American Saturday Night is his most personal album yet. [bite two of two] (:29)
“I would say that this record is as personal as I’ve ever gotten, and it’s as honest as I can be. And I think that they will find a week in the life, essentially, captured in this record, and more than that, I mean, you know, but reflections on sort of a week in the life of a person who lives and breathes in America on any given weekend on a Saturday night.”
Play On — Carrie Underwood — Album of the Year nominee
Carrie Underwood talks about her album, Play On. (:27)
“I think Play On has something in it for everyone. And I think I have been lucky enough to have very versatile singles and songs on my albums. And I think this is definitely an extension of that. And I think people can enjoy my writing more and things that, you know, are truly coming from my heart more. So I hope we just take everything and just take it to a new level and give something that everybody can enjoy.”
Even in the days before its release, Carrie Underwood was getting good vibes about the song selection for Play On. (:16)
“Already I’ve heard people around me that I’ve had listen to it. People have said, ‘Oh, my gosh, this one’s my favorite.’ And then somebody else will say something completely different. And I love that. I love it, love it, love it that it is that kind of an album. You’re not listening to the same song. It takes you all over the place…takes you all around the world.”
Revolution — Miranda Lambert — Album of the Year nominee
Miranda Lambert talks about recording her album, Revolution, and she feels that it truly is an “album” in the purest sense. (:39)
“We made it like a record. I mean, we went in for a week and cut an album. We didn’t go in for a day and cut a single or an album track or just a random song to stick somewhere at number seven. Every song matters. Every song is…it’s part of a picture, and if one’s missing, the picture’s not complete. And, you know, this is really a piece of art, and I’m really proud of it. And I feel like if people just buy one song off this album, they’re not gonna understand what it’s about and who I am because I really found myself creatively and just opened up artistically. And I feel like it’s not fair to the record to buy one song because they all need to be heard.”
Just before the release of her album, Revolution, Miranda Lambert offered a preview, along with a comparison to her first two albums. (:27)
“I think you can expect a lot of the same Miranda qualities that you, you know, bought the record for in the first…the other two records for. I think that it’s definitely…this record has a lot of classic Miranda, but also, like, a little more diversity than maybe the other two as far as what the lyrics are about in each song and how there’s songs, not so much just about love as there was on the last two records, but songs about a lot of different things.”
“White Liar” — Miranda Lambert — Single Record of the Year nominee
Even before it became her first number-one single, Miranda Lambert was thrilled about “White Liar.” (:25)
“‘White Liar’ is…it’s definitely a song that I think is relatable and kind of a good-feelin’ song, but also with a little bit of a cut (laughs) to it. I love this song. It’s about cheatin’, and the whole twist, though, is that I’ve been…you know, it’s about a guy that’s been lyin’, and then the twist is I’ve been lyin’, too, which is the part where everybody goes, ‘Ohhh, I see,’ so, yeah, I’m really excited about this song.”
“Cowboy Casanova” — Carrie Underwood — Song of the Year nominee
Carrie Underwood talks about “Cowboy Casanova.” (:32)
“‘Cowboy Casanova.’ We basically didn’t take ourselves too seriously and wrote this song, and then, it was like, ‘Holy cow!’ Like, ‘What is this? What did we do? This is awesome!’ Just getting it back was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is bigger than any of us could have even imagined.’ Everything about this song is so much fun, and it’s so strong and female empowering. Very anthemic…just a lot of fun. And, you know, I got a little sassy streak, and I like songs that get to showcase that.”
“White Liar” — Miranda Lambert — Song of the Year nominee
Miranda Lambert talks about her number-one song, “White Liar.” (:24)
“I just started singin’. I pretty much sang the chorus before we even wrote it. I just was spewing out lines, and it ended up bein’ the chorus. And I just…I love this song. To me, it’s old school, and it’s country, and it’s, just, I love it. I really think it’s…I don’t know, it may be one of my favorites. Course, my favorites change every time I talk about the record, but ‘White Liar’ is…it’s just old school. I really like it.”
“Honky Tonk Stomp” — Brooks & Dunn featuring Billy Gibbons — Vocal Event of the Year nominee
Brooks & Dunn wonder about their “honky tonk” count. (:16)
Ronnie: “We toured last year with ZZ Top, so in honor of that good time that we had, we wrote this song called ‘Honky Tonk Stomp.’ And I wonder how many times…we need to go back and look how many times we said ‘honky tonk’ in songs over the 20 years.”
Kix: “That would be a good question.”
Ronnie: “A lot.”
“I Told You So” — Carrie Underwood featuring Randy Travis — Vocal Event of the Year nominee
Even before the release of their duet, Carrie Underwood was crediting the talents of Randy Travis for the renewed success of “I Told You So.” (:22)
“I don’t think any of it’s anything that I have done, that the song has done so well. I think it really is a testament to the song, to ‘I Told You So,’ and to Randy Travis ’cause he did such an amazing job writing this amazing song. I think no matter who sang it again, it would probably end up getting really high on the charts just because it’s a great song. So I’m very glad that he let me borrow his song for a little while.”
“I’m Alive” — Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews — Vocal Event of the Year nominee
Kenny Chesney says that “I’m Alive” was a great musical fit for him to do with Dave Matthews. (:39)
“I had already written ‘I’m Alive,’ and Dave told me he loved that ‘I’m Alive’ song and that he felt like that would be something that would fit on one of his records to stand alone, you know? And I said ‘Well, why don’t we try doin’ it?’ And then it just…it was just magic in the studio when we did it. I didn’t realize how natural my voice and his voice would sound together. (laughs) You know, ’cause it’s completely two different styles. We come from completely two different worlds. I mean he was born in South Africa. I was born in East Tennessee. You know? (laughs) So it just goes to show you how universal music can really be.”
“Welcome to the Future” — Brad Paisley — Video of the Year nominee
Brad Paisley says that “Welcome to the Future” is his most important recording yet. (:17)
“I firmly believe this is the most important thing I’ve ever recorded. There are songs that are meant to entertain. Others are meant to rip your heart out, and others are meant to just observe. But it’s rare to do sort of all three of those, and I think this is one of the few times I ever have is on this song.”
“White Liar” — Miranda Lambert — Video of the Year nominee
Miranda Lambert says that “White Liar” touches on some of the themes that define country music. (:11)
“That’s what country music is. About lyin’ and cheatin’ and drinkin’ and the Lord. I mean, that’s what it is. That’s what it’s always been. And so, that’s what I wrote on my record because that’s why I love country music.” (laughs)