News

Country Music: The People's Choice

The people have spoken, and what they've resoundingly said is: Give us country! Country stars Carrie Underwood and Kenny Chesney were named Favorite Female and Male Singers, respectively, at the People's Choice Awards, held last night (January 10th) at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

"It really doesn’t seem like that long ago that I was playing in a college bar on a stool in front of a tip jar," Chesney said after accepting his award. "That is how this dream started."

In addition to her Favorite Female Singer trophy, Underwood also picked up honors for Favorite Country Song, for her sassy hit, "Before He Cheats." Country stars Rascal Flatts double-dipped on awards as well, earning Favorite Song From a Movie and Favorite Remake kudos for their cover of Tom Cochrane's "Life is a Highway."

How much did country music dominate the People's Choice Awards? It even won the award for Favorite Rock Song -- just listen to Bon Jovi's "Who Says You Can't Go Home" and tell us that ain't a country song.

Country songs couldn't bumrush their way into the pop, hip-hop, and R&B categories -- but wait till next year. For now, fans named Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" their Favorite Pop Song, Eminem's "Shake That" their Favorite Hip-Hop Song, and Justin Timberlake's "SexyBack" their Favorite R&B Song.

And Nickelback, the most inexplicably popular band since Creed, won the Favorite Group award -- but only because there were no country artists nominated (the Black Eyed Peas and Red Hot Chili Peppers were the only competition).

The 33rd annual People's Choice Awards were hosted by Queen Latifah and broadcast on CBS. Though widely derided by critics and industry insiders, it remains one of the more popular awards shows among fans and the artists themselves. Johnny Depp, the evening's big winner (he took home three of the five awards given to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest), perhaps said it best when he told fans via satellite: "The fact that this award comes from the people makes it all the more special.... Thanks for keeping me employed."

--The ARTISTdirect Staff
01.11.07