Nashville, TN (Mission Country) -- ABC's coverage of the 40th Annual Country
Music Association Awards attracted 15.89 million viewers with a registered a 9.9/14 rating giving ABC a close sweeps victory for the night, as CBS, the usual Monday-night winner, came in second with an 8.8/13 average, followed by NBC with an 8.5/13. "We specifically looked to widen the audience," said Tammy Genovese, the CMAA's chief operating officer. "It's essential to have the chance to reach a different, younger demo."
Brooks and Dunn was the big winner as the dynamic duo snagged "Vocal Duo of the Yea" and their song "Believe" won "Single", "Song" and "Music Video of the Year".
At last year's Country Music Association (CMA) awards show, visibly nervous American Idol alum Carrie Underwood stood center stage and sang her brand new single, "Jesus, Take the Wheel," before a packed house at the Kodak One Gallery in New York.
This time around, not only did Carrie perform, she was also nominated for four awards, including female vocalist of the year, song and video of the year for "Jesus, Take the Wheel," and the Horizon award (best new artist). Carrie thanked her fans, country radio, Arista, Simon Fuller, 19 Entertainment, American Idol, and God.
Country Music roots go back to European settlers of the Appalachian Mountains and musical touchstones remain the likes of Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Kitty Wells and Lefty Frizzell. Country Music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States, in traditional folk music, blues and gospel music then evolved rapidly in the 1920s. The term country music began to be widely applied in the 1940s and was fully embraced in the 1970s, while country and western declined in use.
Mission Country is encouraged by the overwhelming validation of its core principles reflected in the nominees and winners of the Annual CMA Awards. Call it a revival, call it an outpouring...call it MISSION COUNTRY! Millions of people are enjoying, buying and voting for Faith based lyrics in contemporary Country Music. Mike Manuel, ICM Songwriter of the Year has a hit Song "Back in the Country Again" where there is a line in the chorus that states "He must have walked down Music row putting ink in the writer's pen, You just listen to the songs that old DJ spins and there will be no doubt in you mind that he's back in the Country again".
It's very clear those words have never been more true than they are today and Mission Country applauds last nights winners of the CMA's for getting the word of God to the people with their songs.
