There's bro country and pop country. There's traditional country, acoustic country and, arriving just now, metal country. All these faces of the genre — and more — were on display Wednesday night during the Country Music Association Awards in Nashville.
The young women of country music, who include top nominee Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood, have dominated the awards show circuit for the past few years. Before that there was a run on the guys with the guitars. And there was the cowboy hat era.
"It's always gone in cycles, you know," Keith Urban said ahead of his duet with Miranda Lambert.
Swift, 23, who lead the nominations with newcomer Kacey Musgraves with six each, also received the CMA's Pinnacle Award. The award goes to artists who take country music to a worldwide audience. Garth Brooks is the only previous winner; he won in 2005.
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Associated Press
Kanye West cancels for good
After calling it a postponement last week, Kanye West changed his tune yet again and outright canceled his Target Center concert originally scheduled this past Tuesday at Target Center. Ticket-holders should seek refunds at the point of purchase. An apology-free posting on the rapper's website said the Minneapolis, Denver, St. Louis, Columbus and Montreal dates and the already twice-postponed Vancouver shows are off for good due to "routing logistics." They were delayed last week after the Yeezus Tour's 60-foot video screen was damaged in an accident. Two other concerts had been delayed a week earlier, those blamed on other production issues. Only his concerts in Toronto, Detroit and his native Chicago will be made up.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDER
