Kenny Chesney should bow out of Academy of Country Music race for best entertainer of the year
Kenny Chesney blasted the Academy of Country Music last year for allowing Internet voting to determine who would win the entertainer of the year, which he claimed for the fourth straight year. Now Chesney is back in that race this year. He competes against Brad Paisley, George Strait, Carrie Underwood 
and Keith Urban in nominations announced today. Not only is the ACM still allowing online voting, they're permitting fans to text their choice for this most prestigious of prizes during the live April 5 CBS telecast.
That new twist should make Kenny Chesney even madder. After all, backstage at last year's awards, Kenny Chesney fumed to reporters: "They took it from what the award really represents into a sweepstakes to see who can push people's buttons the hardest on the Internet. It's complete disrespect of the artist, what they've lowered it to. It really diminishes the integrity of the music that we're making. And I can say that because I won."
Yet last year, Chesney's official website and MySpace page both encouraged fans to vote for him — to "bring it home for KC." They provided links to the online voting. And at his official website today, there is an out-of-date link urging fans to vote for Chesney when the Great American Country music channel counted down the top 50 videos of 2008 — he ended up ranking 19th and 34th.
Photo: Allen J. Schaben/ L.A. Times
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This award has been given to the best promoter in the business over the last few years and not the best entertainer. It should be called the POTY. The award should be given to the best representative of country music to the music industry over the year. The person most visible. The person who played the most shows. The person who has real talent. That would be Carrie Underwood.
Posted by: robin | April 01, 2009 at 01:37 PM
Kenny only said what he said because he actually HAD competition last year with Rascal Flatts, and conveniently they are being replaced this year (surprise surprise). The award IS for the fans morons. They are the ones that buy the tickets and go to shows to be ENTERTAINED, hence the term "Entertainer of the Year." Ever notice how the other fan-voted award shows never get won by Kenny? Gee, I wonder why he wouldn't want it to be fan-voted then. LOL. If Country Music EVER awarded the best in the business, Kenny Cheesy would get NOTHING. He's a talentless hack who has to resort to spying on other contestants to make sure that they don't get more votes than him. The show is a bunch of idiot industry leaders voting for their favorites, not whose best in terms of sales (which is by the way, how it's supposed to be decided). "Kenny was very appreciative for his awards and he is thankful to his fans." - Where the hell did you hear that from? Saying that the fans shouldn't vote and then thanking them for voting for you, as long as they didn't vote for anyone else then it's ok, that's backhanded and not appreciative. What the hell do you think these award shows are if they're not voted on by fans, THEY ARE ALL POLITICS. Which you're a total dope, because you know nothing about the business. The peers don't mean zip, since they don't see all the "hard work" as you call it. There is NO integrity in country music and anyone that thinks there is needs their head examined. You would think that they are all great artists, because you obviously haven't any taste anyway. I think you should leave the thinking to someone with a real brain.
The hand that Kenny was dealt is used to jerk himself off with. The saying "don't hate the playa" is normally said by a playa who has never been played before - so get a new line, and get over yourself while you're at it.
I hope to hell that this year's EOTY does go to Brad, but Kenny will probably have another spy in his fanclub, just in case wink, wink, nod, nod. Too bad Kenny seems to have way too many friends in the "industry" side of country music, how else do you think he was able to rig it last year?!
Bullshit argument - BratMatt. Learn how to write in some form of English the next time that you try desperately to salvaged your gaybuddy's career, k?!
Posted by: itsalreadyincontext | March 19, 2009 at 04:56 AM
Kenny said what every other artist was thinking. They just didn't say anything because they didn't want to look like sore losers. It is a complete disregard to what the whole award show is about to have fans vote for the awards, especially the big one. They have fan voted awards shows and they ACM should leave it to those shows and do what they are supposed to do which is award the best musicians and artists. The show is to honor those who have done a good job, not to see who has more fans that sit in front of the computer. Kenny was very appreciative for his awards and he is thankful to his fans. He said that he thinks the fans shouldn't have to worry about the politics and just enjoy the music. Which I totally agree with. They work very hard for what they get and it means a lot to be recognized by your peers for a job well done. By allowing fans to vote you are taking away the integrity of the award and what comes along with winning it. Anyone can see who has more record sales or ticket sales, it is nice to see that your peers like something you did, too. I wish luck to everyone nominated and think they all are great artists. I just think we should leave the voting to the Academy and just cheer on our favorites.
Posted by: Julie | February 12, 2009 at 11:40 AM
Well, I for one totally agree. He didn't deserve the award anyway...IMO. And he now is being quoted in a certain men's magazine that he has slept with over 100 women and insulting gays....trying desperately to prove his manhood! He needs to GROW UP! I don't know who he thinks he is, but as far as I concerned he is a gay basher and disrespective to women.
Posted by: gloria | February 12, 2009 at 10:49 AM
Don't hate the playa, hate the game.
You might have a point, but Kenny's just playing the hand he was dealt.
The one who should give back an award is Carrie Underwood. Her Grammy for the horrendous sequel song "Last Name" shows what complete trash the Grammys have become.
"Last Name" is contrived, overdone, derivative crap on a stick. Giving that song a Grammy is like giving an Academy Award to "Rocky IV."
Posted by: Octavio | February 12, 2009 at 08:06 AM
It's all Brad's!
Posted by: Hot Music | February 12, 2009 at 03:13 AM
Chesney did say that online voting was disrespecting the artists. So, if he was disrespected, as he said he was, why didn't he return the award. Chesney should bow out of the running this year and not place voting links on his website and myspace page.
Posted by: Becky | February 11, 2009 at 08:52 PM
Great article Tom. Next time try to not take everything out of context......Oh wait you're a reporter and thats what reporters do. Bullshit article.
Posted by: Matt | February 11, 2009 at 05:28 PM