David Cook wins American Idol, why did I watch this season finale last night?

Last night I did something completely different, I watched American Idol for the first time, why I watched the season finale last night, I really don’t know, however I have to say that I rather enjoyed most of it. Has anyone ever noticed that these finales are long and draw out, but the performances were very interesting including seeing one of my favorite singers which is also a former American Idol winner Carrie Underwood. She did a good job singing her new hit “Last Name”, nice touch, besides that, the ZZ top performance with David Cook was entertaining as well.

Since this was my first time watching American Idol, not only this season, but ever, I really didn’t have anything to go off of when it came to choosing a winning between the two David’s, but after hearing David Cook sing, I see why he won and there I thought that with all of the hype and most people saying that the other David was going to win, I was a little surprised, but he did a good job, now I look forward to seeing what he brings out for his first album and I will either buy a song or two online or pickup the CD at the store.

Well, 2 hours and 5 minutes of an American Idol season finale and it all comes down to the last 5 minutes, wow. Well, maybe next season (January) and could you believe it, Simon said I’m sorry to David Cook, that was a stunner in itself, What’s Next? Comments.

(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello via Charter.net article)

- Racedriven

Taylor Swift does it again with her performance of “Should’ve Said No” at the 2008 ACM Awards.

What a show last night at the 2008 ACM Awards in Las Vegas and whether it’s the awards and/or the performances that get your attention, it was a good night all the way around in country music and that goes double with having Reba hosting the event for the 10th time.

I am always surprised with the number of stars that come out for the award shows, let along how many them perform on stage and last night was no different, I loved that the show started off with Carrie Underwood performing her latest hit “Last Name”, have you seen the video of this…damn and she picked up Top Female Vocalist award, nice touch. One of the highlights of the night had to be Garth Brooks in first singing a couple of his greatest hits including one with his wife Trisha Yearwood, that was cool to see and they topped it off with him winning the Crystal Milestone Award, what a legend, it couldn’t have gone to a better guy. Specking of legends, it was an interesting to have Kenny Chesney and George Strait perform separately and then do a duet of “Shift Work”. Kenny Chesney won his 4th in a row Entertainer of the Year that this year was voted on by the fans.

But you know, just like last month at the 2008 CMT Music Awards, I was most impressed with the newest talent in country music and one of my favorite artists (next to her best friend Carrie Underwood) Taylor Swift, who was shocked when she won Top New Female Vocalist, personally after the CMT awards, I wasn’t, see deserves it, but then she followed that up with shocking and yet soaking performance of “Should’ve Said No”, look at the picture on the right (Photo Credit: gossipgirls.com), tell me that that isn’t cool to see, even Brooks and Dunn was stunned with that performance as they were about to announce the nominations for an award, I just wish I had the video of it because no picture does it justice. Like I said, what a good night for country music all the way around and I can't wait for the next award show, so until then, enjoy the rest of the night.

- Racedriven

What a performance of Picture to Burn by Taylor Swift as she takes top honors at the 2008 CMT Music Awards.

A picture is worth a thousand words and for this country music fan who enjoys listening to music from Reba and Carrie Underwood to Sugarland, Trace Atkins and the newest star Taylor Swift, last Monday night’s CMT Music Awards was one of the best shows yet. I really didn’t know how the whole two host father daughter team of Bill Ray Cyrus and Miley Cyrus would work, but I have to say combined with the comedy and there duet performance during the show was entertaining.

I could believe just how many country music stars came out for one event and yet Snoop Dog doesn’t come to mind and yet he was a presenter. Really this show is all about the performances and the awards that are voted on by the fans and while I loved seeing Carrie Underwood close the show with All-American Girl along with Sugarland come away with Duo Video of the Year for “Stay”, Rascal Flatts winning Group video of the Year with “Take me there” and Trace Atkins win in Male Video of the Year category for “I Got my Game on” I like that song, but the highlight of the night had to be Taylor Swift.

I noticed in the voting process a couple weeks before the show that Taylor Swift was up for a good number of categories, but after last year with Taylor winning breakthough video of the year which see passed on to her friend Kelly Pickler this year, I wasn’t surprised to see her video “Our Song” win for Female Video of the Year, however I was stunted by Taylor Swift’s performance of “Picture to Burn”, she has a killer video and in her the performance, she really brought that that video of picture to Burn to life, and then to see her win for Video of the year was incredible boy, she was speckles, great job.

Like I said in the beginning, a picture is worth a thousand words and this picture taken during her performance describes it all, congrats to Taylor Swift, now I can’t wait to buy her next CD and to see something about Taylor and Carrie Underwood co-writing a song together, that will be big.

Photo Credit: Scott Gries/Getty Images

- Racedriven