Open Letter to the ACMs

Dear ACMs,

(and other Country Award shows)

According to Country Aircheck, the ACMs have opted out of the eight nominees for the category “Entertainer Of The Year” because they “felt that, on TV, it got to be too cumbersome. It took a long time in the monologue to address eight artists and required more time when the category was mentioned during the show.”

I understand that your show has time constraints. After all, it’s admittedly difficult to run a three hour long broadcast and not exceed times, especially when you cannot account for the emotional reactions that could be exhibited on stage. But do time constraints mean that you do not honor one of your most deserving artists?

I understand that this particular artist, Carrie Underwood, does not really feel the need for all the awards she’s been getting. She’s been having consistent sales, chart topping singles and, the least you could say, a devoted fan-base that will never accept see injustice happen to her. And this is precisely what this post is about.

As a follow-up to my heavily viewed previous post about a possible reason for the snub, which can be viewed here, I have been asked by many people to provide links and proof to my claims. And here it goes.

For those who doubted the critical-acclaim Carrie Underwood’s Play On Tour has gotten, these are a few excerpts from the many glowing reviews that her sold-out shows have received.

The Oakland Tribune:

More musical mediocrity has been spawned by TV’s “American Idol” than from any other single entity in history.
The biggest exception continues to be Carrie Underwood, the 2005 “A.I.” champ that has totaled 10 No. 1 country singles, three platinum-plus-selling albums and numerous music awards during her relatively short career.
Her one weakness has traditionally been her live show, but now that has become a strength as well.

The Orange County Register:

It usually takes a mighty big voice to fill a big place like the Hollywood Bowl, but Carrie Underwood was definitely up to the task: the third American Idol champ and her band, accompanied by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, made a highly satisfying debut at the famous venue Saturday night.

AZ Central:

The sounds of fireworks that kicked off Carrie Underwood’s Play On Tour at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale Sunday, Oct. 3, held the promise of a night filled with interesting sets, sparkling costumes and larger-than-life vocal acrobatics. And the show delivered all

Kansas City:

With no apologies to Taylor Swift, we can now crown Carrie Underwood the reigning queen of country music.
She can also claim the title of the most successful “American Idol” contestant ever.
Saturday night, Underwood headlines a sold-out show at the Sprint Center. Yes, she is sold-out-arena caliber these days, and not just in places close to her Oklahoma hometown, like Kansas City. Earlier this month, she sold out the Hollywood Bowl, where more than 17,000 fans came to see her.

CMT:

Without a hitch — or a drop of sweat or a hair out of place — Underwood brought Music City two hours of dynamic set and wardrobe changes to her performance. Throughout the entire evening, she managed to tastefully and effectively intertwine love, lust, nostalgia and vengeance along with a passionate dose of spirituality.

This is only but a fragment of the accolades Carrie has gotten for her Play On Tour. And as this fragment clearly illustrates, the tour was a resounding success. She goes over the crowds on a blue truck… if that’s not enough for an award, what is?

Now I won’t compare these reviews with those of other nominated Country starts, but I will ask this: how could a tour of this magnitude, having played for over 1 million fans across the United States and Canada not have the artist responsible nominated for it?

After all, isn’t the award “Entertainer Of The Year” supposed to be given those who have showed excellence in the field of entertainment?

And if concerts aren’t enough for the ACMs (and other Country Award shows for that matter), Carrie has even tried her hand at some acting.

Her debut movie, Soul Surfer, comes out this April. It’s a movie about the power of faith and love. This artist decides to break into Hollywood and the first movie she decides to undertake is not one of those commercial blockbuster flicks that are sure to bring her buzz, but a subtle role in a movie about the healing power of faith… isn’t that what country music preaches? Belief in God, in yourself and in others?

Moreover, Carrie’s “Play On” album has been recently certified 2x Platinum. Out of all the current Entertainer Of The Year nominees, only Taylor Swift has surpassed Carrie’s sales. But Taylor isn’t even a cornerstone for comparison: she has outsold everyone in the music industry today, which makes Carrie’s total even more remarkable.

In addition, Carrie has shown remarkable faithfulness to the country genre, having refused to remix all of her songs to cater to other radio formats. Even her smash hit “Before He Cheats” was not remixed, which goes to show how much this artist really cares about the overall improvement of her genre, not some passing moment of multi-platform success. Of course, we, the fans, want to see another Carrie single crossover, and we feel that some of her songs are able to do just that if only the label were to help.

I’ve also come across people saying that Carrie not winning or being nominated is only natural as other female artists have had this happen to them when Carrie came to the country scene. My only reply to them is: those female country artists were not having a fragment of the success Carrie has been having since the moment she set foot in the country music industry. How many of those female artists can boast that they have had a 12 #1 streak on country radio, including an astonishing 6-week run with their debut single? How many of them can boast of having sold over 7 million copies of their debut album and how many of them can say that they are the only female country artists that have won Entertainer of the year twice?

So for all matters and purposes, Carrie was deserving of every award she got. Sure, her label might have helped her a little bit here and there but can you imagine the response had Carrie not won those awards?

Dear ACMs, you shunning out Carrie Underwood is a disgrace. Not only is she the most deserving artist of the bunch, but to give her only one nomination that she will most probably not win is really shameful…

To other Carrie Fans I say, Carrie will always be a winner in our hearts. We might have thought a win this year is a lock, but the politics of country music have proven even more barbaric than allow the most deserving to be recognized. We cannot do anything regarding that except make our voices heard. And this is me making my voice heard. Now it’s time to make yours.

Sincerely,

A disgruntled Country Music fan.

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32 thoughts on “Open Letter to the ACMs”

  1. Pingback: Open Letter To The ACMs

  2. The author of this is a freaking genius! I couldn’t have said it better myself. I agree with you beyond 100%! You should send this to the ACMs if you haven’t already. Not that they care what we think….but we still deserve to share our very upset opinions. They have no excuses and we are not letting them get away with it that easily if we have anything to do with it. Our voices may not change anything but at least we are standing up for our girl! No one backs their artist like the Carrie Army does!!!

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    • Thank you 🙂
      I haven’t sent it to the ACMs… I don’t have their contact information. I’m hoping enough Carrie fans share this that they notice. We are Carrie Army after all 🙂

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      • Well written! Very respectful, which is important. We don’t want to leave a bad taste in their mouth when they come to vote on Female Vocalist of the Year.. or future Entertainer nods. I heard the reaction from Rascal Flatts’ fans and the band themselves left a negative impression (case in point: RF got NO nominations this year).

        I emailed them, but got no reply. I think they’re getting to many… the outrage should say it all.

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      • Hello, I liked your open letter…. AND please be advised I emailed and spoke personally with Bob Romeo at ACM last to get to the bottom of Carrie’s snub. He was very nice on the phone and admitted he was shocked Carrie was not nominated and said again (like he did online) that Carrie SHOULD be nominated.

        Here is the email(s) I sent Bob:

        Dear Bob

        Further to below please reconsider your 2011 Entertainer of the Year nominee list to include Carrie Underwood. According to ACM voting/nominee criteria Carrie has accomplished each and every ACM nomination criteria during this past year as follows:

        ACM voting criteria per ACM website

        ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

        This award is presented to the individual, duo or group who showed the most overall success in the country music industry during the prior calendar year of December 1st to November 30th. The factors to be considered include, but are not limited to:

        1. Success at radio = Carrie, 3 #1 songs, 1 #2 song

        2. Sales of pre-recorded music = PLAY ON certified 2x Platinum

        3. Music videos = COWBOY, UNDO IT & MAMA’S SONG had record breaking year!!

        4. Vocal performances = No question, Carrie is the best vocalist in the industry

        5. Live concert ticket sales = PLAY ON Tour sold 1M+ tickets – #1 Female Solo Tour!!

        6. Artistic merit = Co-wrote last 6 #1 songs. Incredible, emotive vocalist

        6. Appearances on television = TV guest spots, CBS Thanksgiving special, ACM Tribute(s)

        7. Appearances in films = Film debut in “Soul Surfer”

        8. Songwriting success = Golden Globe nom, BMI award, ACM triple play award

        9. Digital media = Platinum & Gold digital singles in 2010!!

        10. Contributions to the country music industry = Superstar, role model, Opry Member, ACM Lifting Lives, ACM Hometown Heroes, many many tributes/benefit shows, continues to bring millions of new fans to country music, etc.

        The nominees shall be determined by a nomination ballot(s) and are subject to the approval of the Board. The final nominees are voted on by the ACM professional membership with the winner being determined by a combination of votes from the professional membership of the ACM and fan voting (online and/or text). Based on the top vote getters, there will be up to 8 (eight) final nominees. If there is a tie for the eighth slot, there will only be 7 (seven) final nominees.

        *** If Carrie has achieved so much during 2010, and is the incumbent 2-Time reigning ACM Entertainmet of the Year, there is no question she should be nominated.

        I trust and hope that ACM will make this situation right and increase the 2011 nominees to seven (7), just like last year to make the vote fair to the artists, industry, and most importantly, the fans who made all the nominees so successful during 2010.

        Just like a NFL call being changed after referee review, the ACM has the power and insight to make the nomination right for all. The fans deserve a fair, legitimate playing field and by adding Carrie Underwood to your list this would achieve that goal.

        I await your reply. Thank you for your consideration.

        Rob Mitchell

        ——————————————————————————–
        From: Rob Mitchell
        Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2011 4:52 PM
        To: bob@acmcountry.com
        Subject: *** Please revise 2011 ACM EOTY nominations
        Importance: High

        Dear Bob

        In light of Carrie Underwood’s exclusion from this year’s ACM Entertainer of the Year nominations I am requesting that the 2011 ACM Entertainer of the Year nominations be revised and reissued to include two-time reigning ACM EOTY Carrie Underwood, in order to properly follow ACM voting criteria guidelines (which are listed on your website) and make this year’s award a valid win for all artists.

        Kindly note the following:

        It appears ACM has violated its own voting criteria for “Entertainer of the Year” by not nominating Carrie Underwood. The ACM website specifies the following…”The final nominees are voted on by the ACM professional membership with the winner being determined by a combination of votes from the professional membership of the ACM and fan voting (online and/or text). Based on the top vote getters, there will be up to 8 (EIGHT) final nominees. If there is a tie for the eighth slot, there will only be 7 (SEVEN) final nominees. Why only nominate SIX (6) artists this year? Why wasn’t Carrie (2 time reigning EOTY) included to make at least 7 or 8 nominees pursuant to ACM’s own voting criteria? Last year, ACM nominated 7 artists. It is impossible that Carrie did not place in the top 5 vote getters after her incredible 2010 year, her fans, and overall public popularity across all gender and ages.

        I am now asking that the ACM revise and re-issue their Entertainer of the Year nominee list to rightly include Carrie Underwood so the 2011 award can be a valid/fair vote/award by following ACM voting criteria rules.

        There is no reason or precedent why ACM cannot revise the nominee list, and in fact, this action would increase the objectivity and fairness of the nomination process , as well acknowledge the incredible accomplishments of Carrie Underwood this past year

        2010 highlights:

        * #1 Country Tour (1M+ tickets sold)

        * 3 #1 singles (all co-written by Carrie)

        * 1.8M albums sold

        * TV guest appearances

        * Film debut (“Soul Surfer”)

        * Golden Globe nomination (performer/songwriter)

        * BMI Awards

        * CBS Thanksgiving show

        * ACM Brooks & Dunn show

        * ACM Lifting Lives

        * ACM Hometown Heroes

        * Pedigree Dog charity foundation

        * Opry Member

        * Countless magazine and media coverage

        * Role Model and a key country music ambassador to the world

        It is virtually guaranteed that Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Taylor Swift all believe that Carrie Underwood made the final nominee list. Please make history and do the right thing –

        Please forward to this to the ACM nomination committee for review.

        I look forward to your reply, thanks in advance.

        Sincerely,

        Rob Mitchell
        rob@boldfilms.com

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  3. Very well written! You took the words right out of my mouth! I hope they see this…Also thank you for writing it with class & not having to bash other artist’s to get your point across. It’s very much appreciated on my behalf.

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  7. Thats just Bull…carrie is AWESOME….her wonderful success hasnt gone to her curly blonde BIMBO head…like someone lese I cant stand she aint country to me at all…But carrie I could sit and listen to her sing all nite, Id luv to meet Carrie and go out one nite for a girls nite that would b awesome but Im sure she would b bugged the heck outta her….But No I agree with this letter 100%…Carrie U r the Queen of Country….Luv ur Fan judy

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  8. Well well well said!!! I’m sending this on! Carrie works so hard and she deserves every good thing that comes her way and this is NOT a good thing. She has done so much for that label and this is her thank you…. Sad. We need to let them know that. Also, I feel bad for the person who wins this. They are gonna know that the only reason that they won it, is because Carrie was snubbed. Carrie won this even though she doesn’t have the award!!!

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    • Exactly! We need to get ourselves heard. We have been lost in bashing other artists that we forgot the gem we are all supporting! By showcasing Carrie’s strength, we are only showing how deserving she is 🙂

      Thank you for dropping by!

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  10. BRILLIANT!!! Thank you for expressing what almost EVERY Carrie Underwood fan wants to say! I am still disgusted by this disgraceful showing of one of the greatest artists in the music business today! SHAME ON THE ACMs!

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  12. Carrie was definitely robbed of a nomination but some of it has to do with her own fans. Carriefans is a very negative fan site. I am a loyal Carrie fan and was actually thrown off the site by a moderator named Jeff because I was too strong in my defense of Carrie Underwood – huh? They also lost one of Carrie’s best fans in a person named Chuckerwood. The Carriefans site and Jeff in particular need to allow Carrie fans to defend her against the negative posers that are so pervasive on that site! These are the kind of things that have an effect on the best vocalist in country music!

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