Cherie's Take: Fall 2011 TV Premieres

Hello, my name is Cherie and I am a TV addict. I don’t know exactly where my obsession with television began, ok actually I do – Dawson’s Creek, but I am aware that I watch entirely way too much television and my life would not be existent with my TiVo. And even with my TiVo – I still can’t record all of the television I want too. I’m trying out a few shows this year – Ringer with Sarah Michelle Gellar, The Secret Circle with Gale Harold, Happy Endings (I didn’t watch last season so it is new to me!) and I’m giving Ashton Kutcher a try in Two and A Half Men.

Here is my ‘Hit List’ of Fall TV Show Premieres. Both of these shows I’m most excited about have been anticipating them from their birth -

American Horror Story – FX, Wednesday, October 5^th – 10pm
Stars: Dylan McDermott, Jessica Lange, Connie Britton

How many horror dramas are out there right now? I’m really excited about this and it is very original for the year of remakes. Since it is coming from the creators of Nip/Tuck - I don't think it will disappoint.

Once Upon A Time – ABC,  Sunday, October 23^rd – 8pm

Stars: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison and introducing Jared Gilmore

I’m not the biggest Jennifer Morrison fan but I’m in love with this show. I think the premise again is very original for taking such a spin on such classic fairytales. I hope this show does not disappoint!

I have already checked out Ringer and The Secret Circle – I’m still deciding on these at the moment but they are holding my interest. The Secret Circle and Vampire Diaries are the perfect pair for each other on Thursday’s nights.

Shows I Want to Watch but don’t have the time: Unforgettable, New Girl

Shows I Want to Give a Try after Hearing Reviews: Up All Night, Revenge

Which shows would you take off your schedule or which ones would you add?

Cherie's Take: Kindle on Overdrive

I had writer’s block again. This is why I was afraid to launch my blog because I am afraid of a time when I simply cannot find anything to write about. I especially wanted to fit in a blog post this week since I’m about to head to Delaware for a little extended weekend trip to visit some family.

I was hoping to discuss the new Fall Television line up but I’m waiting for all the new shoes to debut. Did you watch NCIS this week? Oh my word it was GOOD! I hope the rest of the season keeps up the momentum and I’m glad they did not drag out that photo mole for the darn season, but one question remains – what happened and where is EJ Barrett? Poor Tony, I mean he really has a habit of picking horrible women – and Kate’s sister, the Doctor, was eager to point that out. Moving along this post is not about my television junkie habits. I would like to discuss the new Kindle Overdrive Lending program.

I know Kindle owners all over the United States and world have been waiting for e-lending to launch on Amazon’s e-reader platform. This week the email came out and select libraries across the country launched the Overdrive system to support the Kindle. Overdrive has been out for over a year supporting audio and other e-books on devices such as the iPad and Barnes and Noble’s Nook. I remember when I was shopping for my first e-reader only a few short months ago and I was dead set on the Nook. It was touch screen, more “high tech,” it allowed for apps and it supported multiple book formats over the Kindle. The Kindle seemed like a grandmother to me – the first one on the block to move in. However, three generations later the Kindle still seems the e-reader to beat and on the top. Whereas bookstores like Borders and Waldenbooks have been shutting their doors - Amazon doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Why not get a Kindle because even the strong dominant bookseller of Barnes and Nobles doesn’t seem confident in this economy? The Kindle also appealed to me because I was about to venture on an international adventure to South America where I would spend 6 days in Brazil. The Kindle seemed most appeasing over regular books because I could as many as I wanted and the weight in my suitcase, carry on and purse would remain the same not to mention there would be no ripped or torn pages and no sun glare. When I went to Barnes and Noble to take a look at the Nook I was rather annoyed that the sales people would not leave me alone in peace to play with the e-reader and decide if I liked the touch screen/button navigation and the touch screen page turns. It seemed to me like every 3 minutes a Barnes and Nobles employee was bombarding me to answer my questions or to persuade me to wait a month until the “newest” model came out.

Ultimately despite my first instincts I decided to go with the Kindle – my mom had one for over a year and loved it. The Target salesman was very nice and was very knowledgeable about my questions and was not pushy like the Barnes and Noble employees. My mom and I found out that we could be on the same account and share books with each other that we purchased instead of the “book loan” option which only allows you to share a book one time with each person and you only have 14 days to read it. It was not our ideal situation since my mom and I are quite the readers and often like the same genres. Needless to say, e-lending is now available for the Kindle at select libraries all across the country – see your local public library’s page or reference desk for more information.

Today, I had my first experience with the e-lending, it was not an easy one. The directions were not very clear on Amazon’s website and without a customer service number options are limited for help. I called my local library and it seemed even my local librarian was confused and informed me that e-lending for the Kindle would not be available until November but when l logged into the Overdrive website there were options available for the Kindle. What I could not find was how to download the books onto the Kindle. I wish they would make it easier because you have to add the book to the cart, proceed to the checkout, confirm again and then use your amazon account to confirm and put it on your Kindle. Does it really have to be that complicated? I wish that amazon would have their own subscription service to lend e-books for free. And my friends it is coming for the future but only if you have an Amazon Prime subscription. That really is my only complaint about the program is that it really needs a simpler process for the downloads.

Some quick tips about e-lending via Overdrive: Just because the book is available on the website doesn’t mean you’ll be able to borrow it – just like the regular library they only have so many copies so you’ll have to wait until it is available by putting a hold on it. Right now, my public library Overdrive system only has 150 selections to choose from – it shares with the other libraries in the region to save costs but that limits availability. My hope and prediction is that now with e-book lending the e-reader format will become even more popular making the public libraries offer more choices on the program.

Thank you Kindle & Overdrive, I’m excited to read again!

Lots of Love & Happy Reading,

Ḉherie 

Which celebrities are living in 15 minutes of fame?

I am so glad I decided not to be professional writer. Professional speech writing was a route that I decided I wanted a career in. This was a decision in my senior year of college because of hearing Obama’s speeches. The writing was so compelling and his arguments were passionate messages, I followed his speeches throughout the year of his campaign and it continues through his presidency. Nevertheless I would be in serious trouble with all the writer’s block I have been experiencing lately. I also remember the summer I spent in Nashville while I was interning with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum where I would spend my days off writing a short story that I never finished. Maybe one day? Ok, well maybe not. But every once and awhile I sit down and read that story because it takes me back to the Summer of 2007 where I was living and breathing my dream of being in Nashville. Maybe, one day I’ll be back there as well. I know many of you probably are thinking of all the places to live in the world, why would I pick to live there well like I said in my first blog entry, you don’t have to dream big but dream happy. To each his own, that is my happy. Anyway, I digress.

All week I have had several ideas about what my next blog post would be and nothing seemed right. I would start writing and it just didn't flow. As I was stumbling across the interwebs this afternoon, I saw an article about the Salachis. Yes, this the couple that famously party crashed the White House and had their 15 minutes of fame when they were cast in Bravo’s Real Housewives of D.C. Suddenly there was a spark and I had an idea. Let’s go through a list of fame whores right now in the United States.

Cherie’s Top 5 “Celebrities” who are Fame Whores:

Please note: I don’t consider all these people to be "celebrities" but entertainment personalities. This is also strictly for entertainment purpose, slander is not intended.. 

#5: Perez Hilton - Let’s face it we all have the urge to look at the tabloids in the line at the grocery store. We even have the tendency to check out TMZ or Perez Hilton’s website for the latest celebrity headlines. But for every bully, there is an insecure person hiding inside. Perez is tearing celebrities apart hoping that one day, yes, he will get his very own reality tv show, possibly similar to that of Harvey Levin’s TMZ. I believe Perez, is not as bad as he once was and we might have Jennifer Aniston to thank for that. But Perez, honey, you still like to have your name and face in the spotlight.

#4: Teresa Giudice – I admit, I’m addicted to the Real Housewives of New Jersey. I simply just can’t get enough of that show. Now while last year, I probably could have put Danielle Staub on this list however since she left the show we encountered a new kind of crazy with Teresa. I will also admit that in the beginning of this Housewives season I was totally Team Teresa and was rooting for her. However, as the season has progressed I’ve watched Melissa, Kathy and Teresa battle it out like three sisters clawing for their parents attention. Teresa just doesn’t get it and she is constantly in battle with Melissa, but for what? They both have beautiful families, beautiful homes and husbands/kids that absolutely adore them. Teresa came out with her cookbooks, which we’ve never seen her cook on the show but seen her in Joe’s pizzeria, but okay fine, you are a skinny Italian.. And Melissa is taking the lead from every other Housewives series and is starting her music career. I don’t think the real problem between Teresa and Melissa is them but it is their husbands and more specifically it is Joe Giudice who for some reason has become a man full of a hatred and can’t even see how much the feud is tearing his own daughter, Gia  and wife, Teresa apart.  Just put aside your pride and support your family, love your family, Joe. Putting the feud aside, Teresa is a fame whore, no matter what season or what personalities are on with you, there will some kind of drama.

#3. Casey Anthony – Oh, Casey Anthony. I think the first thing I’d do when I'd get out of being in prison for 3 years is secretly flying to California and get a boob job. Yep, I don’t care that I owe the State of Florida money for writing bad checks. Two months after her sentence and release; I hear she’s already has a book deal and probably a Lifetime movie in the works. It just sickens me that the media buys into this story and will actually PAY her to write a book and for the rights of the movie which will ultimately pay off her debt to the state of Florida for those bad checks and Caylee's search efforts.. And now her mother and father are jumping onto the same bandwagon by landing interviews with Dr. Phil. This family just needs to go away and we need to stop giving them the attention.

#2. Kris Jenner – Another one of my guilty pleasures, the Kardashians. I watch all their shows and follow the news of their family drama. I always kind of begged Kris Jenner as a fame whore but as the latest season of Keeping Up with the Kardashians aired something hit a nerve. I still don’t quite understand how these Armenian sisters got to be famous but their “Mom-anger” is out of control. This season she wanted to change her name back to Kris Kardashian because people assume she is a Kardashian. Kris, you were a Kardashian. You used to be one but you gave up that right when you divorced their father and then married a lovable man, Bruce Jenner. I could see the hurt in his eyes and it really was a slap in the face. I give props to Khloe for confronting her Mom and making her see the light. And now Kris has to follow in her daughters footsteps by launching a clothing line? Puh-lease. I know the love for your family is there but you need to be putting family first. There was one episode this season where Kendall & Kylie, the teenage twins, she had with Bruce were being pushed aside for Kim. Kim is 30 years old and a grown woman, who should be able to make her own business discussions whereas Kendall & Kylie need their mother since they are at a very needy and impressible age, Bruce can’t be Mr. Mom forever. The girls ultimately need to give their mom a reality check that they are the famous ones and not their mother. A music video from the 1980’s came out that she made with her late husband and all I could was be like “seriously?” why would a video of you singing to your friends to be a present to them? Someone obviously wanted to be famous and didn’t so she made her kids famous and now she’s riding on their coat tails. It makes me wonder why she really married Bruce Jenner?

#1. Michaele & Tareq Salahi - Saving the best for last. I’ll be honest with you when Bravo decided not to pick up The Real Housewives of D.C. for another reason, I was disappointed but yet relieved. I really liked the D.C. Housewives and found them all rather interesting but I simply could not stand another minute of the Salachi’s. They need ‘FAME WHORES’ tattooed on their foreheads. We first heard about them being party crashers at the White House. Then we got to know them on the show. Then came Michaele being on Celebrity Rehab for being a ‘Celebrity Addict’ what? Are you freakin kidding me? Oh, no it was because she had multiple sclerosis. Oh okay, because that makes much more sense as an addiction. I could go on and on about how ridiculous this couple is and how they would do anything for fame – like even state they were asked to go on the Australian version of Dancing with the Stars, uh….what? Oh, I forgot you are “famous” there too, I doubt they even know who you are.  The truth is the Salahi's got so far in over their heads financially that they need the celebrity spotlight to pay off their bills - Michaele even decided to follow in the footsteps of almost every other Bravo housewive and record a single. I’m so disgusted I don’t even want to blog about them but they certainly deserve my #1 spot because this week Tareq was making a public outcry that Michaele was kidnapped but as it turned out was with a member of Journey in Vegas. I’m not sure if she “left” him completely or was just having a fling but now he is filing for divorce and has cited “embrassment.” For more information in much more detail than I care to get into you can check out this article from the New York Times which is about a month old about the Salahis.

Do you agree with the personalities on this list? Or did I miss someone? Yes, I think we all wish for our 15 minutes of fame at some point but when do we say enough is enough?

My Anderson Cooper Experience - Part 1

I have many things to be blessed about in my life. This has come to me especially with the life changes I have made in the past year – I count them with the tremendous support of my family and friends. I could not imagine without my life without them and particularly the past year. They loved me and supported me when I was at a very low point and soul searching part of my life. I refer to this as my “quarter life crisis.” I’m sure this isn’t the first time I have referenced that and won’t be my last either.

The past few months have been such a whirlwind of experiences for me – I found out that I’m going to be an auntie for the first time, I took my first trip to South America and Brazil and a few weeks ago I had the pleasure of winning tickets to see Anderson Cooper’s new talk show, Anderson, tape in New York City.

It was September 1^st (not a bad way to start the month off, right?) when my mom, a very close & dear family friend and I woke up at 3:30am to arrive at the bus terminal for a 5:20am trip. We arrived around 7:30 at the Time Warner Center building where Anderson’s talk show is. We were told by a not so friendly security guard that we could not get in line until 9:00am – that is when they would escort all the attendees in the elevators to the studio. So we decided to pick up some bagels and caffeine at Dunkin’ Donuts. We walked back to Columbus Circle to the Time Warner Building and ate our breakfast in Whole Foods which was located at the bottom of the Time Warner Center building. Isn’t it amazing what they house in one NYC building? By that time it was about 8:30 so we decided to head back upstairs and wait in the line. We walked around the corner from the escalators and I was quite annoyed to see that a line was now formed and we were put at the back of the line. We patiently waited as the line moved forward and in about 5 minutes we were upstairs going through a checkpoint to verify our identity and guests go through security and then wait in another line until they would take us into the studio. They handed out release forms since we might be captured on camera and we also got cards in case we wanted to “Ask Anderson” anything. We made our way into the studio and were placed in the 3^rd row on the left hand side, we had a clear view of the production view and of the off stage happenings. We even had a couple of very nice “queens” (as they called themselves) in front of us.

The first taping was about 2 hours long and was about a pair of conjoined twins. The show has not aired yet and will not air this week so I don’t want to spoil anything for the Anderson watchers out there.  I will say I wasn’t sure what to expect about this topic and was preparing myself to be bored. But I was proven wrong; the story was very compelling and not just from an emotional standpoint but a medical one as well. Dr. Sanjay Gupta shared some medical miracles, discoveries and facts that were not about conjoined twins but about this topic in the medical field. I found myself tearing up and respecting the young mother so much because of the way she handles their lives and how she carries herself. You could see in her eyes that she lived for her daughters and did not seem to care what ours thought about her or her daughters situation – and by watching the show you will see that people have had said some pretty hurtful things. At the end of the taping, we were invited back to a 2^nd one that afternoon since a taping from last week was postponed due to Hurricane Irene’s presence on the east coast. There was very little debate between us about whether or not we wanted to go. Yes, we decided to do some fun NYC touristy things in the afternoon but ultimately decided to go back for Anderson’s second taping which left us with about 40 minutes for lunch & to get back in the line again.

The 2^nd taping we saw I believe will be spilt into 2 episodes. The first half being about a young girl who was living in very poor living conditions with having no contact with the outside world until the age of 8 years old. This story is so disturbing, raw and tells the story of the human race at its worst. I do not want to give much of the story away but we were given a free book which details this young lady’s story after she was adopted by a very loving family. The second half of the taping told another story of two young women you were abandoned as babies by their birth mothers. Pretty much the whole audience was brought to tears during this half and once again gives you a second thought about the human race. This episode will be airing on Wednesday. If we are on we will be in the back row under the ‘ANDERSON’ sign.

Anderson has always been an incredible interviewer, which is why, I’ve continued to be a fan of his over the years – all the way back in the days of Channel One to The Mole and now currently on CNN. His interview style continues to dig at the truth instead of the mainstream ideals of journalism and bias. When I heard he was having a talk show I had mixed feelings. I wanted him to be the replacement for Regis Philbin of Regis & Kelly, but ultimately I’ve always been an Anderson fan so why wouldn’t I like it? I also was not sure of the format – would it be an Ellen style talk show or more like Oprah? It seems to me that his style is Anderson. He will have a variety of life topics, human interest pieces and celebrity appearances but he will do it in his own silver foxy AC way!

I still have a hard time believing I was so lucky to win 3 tickets to these tapings and have such an awesome day with the Anderson team. It was also a very different experience to be in the audience instead of being the cameras or around the host table which I experienced in college during my tv production classes, electives and clubs. But Saturday I got even more exciting news – about a month ago before I was selected to win the Anderson taping tickets they were holding a contest on Facebook to win a trip to see an Anderson taping that would include airfare and accommodations for two people. I received the call on Saturday that I was selected to win!!! I still am in disbelief that not only did I get to see 2 tapings of the show but now I will be able to meet Anderson, his team and go backstage. My biggest challenge now is decide which lucky friend or relative will get to go with me? Stay tuned for my ‘Anderson experience’ which will definitely be oh-so-blog-worthy!!

Disclaimer: I am no way affiliated with Anderson Cooper, CNN, Anderson or Warner Brothers. I am just a huge fan of Anderson Cooper that attended two tapings of his new talk show which premiered today. Please check www.andersoncooper.com for your local listings.

Turning 9/11 Anniversary back to United We Stand

It is with a heavy heart that I’m writing on this beautiful Saturday morning, September 10th, 2011. Mixed emotions are filling my heart and my eyes are starting to fill up with tears. Tomorrow we will mark the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Of course, at that time I was a young teenager in 10th grade at Kutztown High School. I will never forget, as well most of us, the moments and the days leading after September 11th. It is one of the moments that our parents and grandparents had when President Kennedy was shot – this is that moment for my and my parent’s generation. There were rumors around the high school of a bomb threat but also of a fire in New York City. It was not until I walked into my 4th period class in Mrs. Reighn’s computer lab that I would hear the news of a plane flying into a World Trade Center tower. I don’t think any of us exactly knew what were witnessing or how it would change our country and future. It is hard for me to think of that time as a 15 year old, thinking I knew everything but now looking back – I knew nothing and I still have a lot to learn 10 years later about life and the world.

Sitting as a country 10 years later, I think we need to go back to that moment in time, the weeks of unity we held as a country, as brothers and sisters in freedom following September 11th. We no longer are standing hand in hand saying “United We Stand.” We are a very broken country and are in the midst of “Dividing We Fall.” As we mark this anniversary and evaluate new terrorist threats may we come together again and evaluate what is important and once again stand together and help our brothers and sisters. Let’s not fight over health care, a splintered economy or a drowning real estate market. There are many ways to help across the country, even in your own background, on this anniversary. I am choosing to do public service in honor of those survivors, victims, and heroes that risked their lives in New York City, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania on that beautiful fall morning in September. I read an incredible article this week about a Cantor Fitzgerald employee who embraced the very major loss of their company into a conversational way to help the families of their killed employees which paved their way into the future – which is now an even more successful one.

This week as many channels were broadcasting 9/11 specials and NFL football games, I was watching the local ABC station, WNEP, out of Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. I was watching the city of Wilkes-Barre, the city I called home for 4 years during my education at Wilkes University, home. While I attended there from 2004-2008, there was always a shadow of this storm called Hurricane Agnes and how it drastically hurt the city’s economy in 1972. The city was slowly regaining its momentum and revitalizing downtown. I go back time to time to meet with my former professors and to see what changes done on Wilkes University’s campus as well as Wilkes-Barre because it is a beautiful area it just needed some extra TLC. It seemed like Wilkes-Barre was finally on the track to getting back where it once belonged. A major city with a country feel but still close enough to NYC to commute to work. Now, nearly 40 years later as Wilkes-Barre was getting back on track they are experiencing some devastating hard times again by a natural disaster. Tropical Storm Lee left its wrath from Eastern to Central Pennsylvania with rain for days and days on end which is causing historic record flood levels and the end is sight in a merely 48 hours. The levels were indeed higher than Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania experienced with Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Many of my readers across the country, ok so I am hoping for some of those, might not have heard about this – but it is a natural disaster in Pennsylvania and New York. While watching a press conference on WNEP’s website, Col. Dave Anderson Army Corp of Engineers said, “This is the worst I have seen with the exception of a poorly made man made structure I once responded to somewhere else (he is referencing New Orleans & Hurricane Katrina here).” So why hasn’t the media been more focused on it? Well they have but not enough, the anniversary of 9/11 is overshadowing. I am not saying this out of any disrespect but I think we should take this anniversary to focus on how our country can once again stand together. No story should out shine the other we experienced this a year ago when America’s Music City, Nashville, experienced a 100 year flood at the same time the Gulf Coast was experiencing the oil spill. Now, I was a communications major in college, so I understand how the media works and what is newsworthy but what I don’t understand is the constant need to show the same footage for hours and hours on end, why can’t you spilt on coverage on both news items ? That is probably am I not in the field.

Taking my personal feelings aside we should take this anniversary and embrace it. Show the rest of the world and the country how we can come together and help each other in a time of need. Putting our own worries, debts, needs and belongings aside to help those have encountered loss and now have nothing. It will be another 2 days before residents are able to return to their homes and see what they can salvage if anything at all. The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Froggy 101 and 98.5 KRZ of NEPA are taking collections, donations and volunteers to give the survivors basic necessities as a start. And I have no doubt that a local non-profit organization called Sons of a Carpenter, which I am a proud member of, will help out in some way as well. I hope this message inspired you or brought attention to dire circumstances in Pennsylvania. But what I hope the most is that you begin to spread the “United We Stand” feeling we once had to your own neighborhood. That could be helping a neighbor carrying in the groceries or helping them cut up a tree that fell from a storm. Or it would be as simple as holding the door open for someone. It only takes a simple act of kindness to make someone’s day and spread some happiness and unity across a neighborhood.

Bringing up the Country: CMA Nominations

We’re going country again! The 45^th Annual Country Music Association award nominees were announced today. Today I’m going to go through the nominees with you share my predictions of the winners but also share who I want to win.

Music Video of the Year –

Nominees: Blake Shelton, “Honey Bee,” The Band Perry, “If I Die Young,” Taylor Swift, “Mean,” Brad Paisley feat. Alabama, “Old Alabama,” and Kenny Chesney, “You and Tequila”

Predicted to win: Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, “Old Alabama”

Cherie’s choice: I actually don’t think I’d pick any of these videos, as much as I loved Taylor’s video I’m going to have to go with Brad Paisley featuring Alabama, “Old Alabama” on this one.

Musical Event of the Year –

Nominees: Zac Brown Band feat. Alan Jackson, “As She’s Walking Away,” Loretta Lynn with Sheryl Crow and Mirana Lambert, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Jason Aldean w/Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay,” Brad Paisley feat. Alabama, “Old Alabama,” and Kenny Chesney feat. Grace Potter, “You and Tequila.”

Predicted to win: Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, “Don’t You Wanna Stay”

Cherie’s choice: As much as I would love Jason Aldean & Kelly Clarkson to win their song was overplayed and my ears grew tired pretty quick, my pick is the ladies singing “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” how often do you get to see a country queen, country princess and pop sensation join together to sing a classic?

Song of the Year –

Nominees: “Colder Weather” written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey, and Coy Bowles, “Dirt Road Anthem” written by Brantley Gilbert and Colt Ford, “If I Die Young” written by Kimberly Perry, “Mean” written by Taylor Swift and closing the category we have “You and Tequila” written by Matraca Berg and Deana Carter

Predicted to win: “If I Die Young” – Kimberly Perry

Cherie’s choice: I cannot stand The Band Perry – I never have liked them and probably never will so I will never put them as my choice. Despite their song being huge my pick goes to “Colder Weather” written by Zac Brown, Wyatt Durrette, Levi Lowrey and Coy Bowles.

Album of the Year –

Nominees: All About Tonight – Blake Shelton, My Kinda Party – Jason Aldean, Speak Now – Taylor Swift, This is Country Music – Brad Paisley and You Get What You Give – Zac Brown Band

Predicted to win: This is Country Music – Brad Paisley

Cherie’s choice: This is one of the toughest categories for me to call and to pick my own. To me it is between Taylor, Brad and Zac Brown Band. Ultimately, I’m going with my personal choice here “Speak Now” – Taylor Swift.

Single of the Year –

Nominees: “A Little Bit Stronger” – Sara Evans, “Colder Weather” – Zac Brown Band, “Don’t You Wanna Stay” – Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson, “Honey Bee” – Blake Shelton and “If I Die Young” – The Band Perry

Predicted to win: “If I Die Young” – The Band Perry

Cherie’s choice: It is no secret that I don’t like The Band Perry (see above) therefore I’m picking Hillary Scott’s (of Lady Antebellum) co-penned “A Little Bit Stronger” performed by Sara Evans.

Vocal Duo of the Year –

Nominees: The Civil Wars, Montgomery Gentry, Steel Magnolia, Sugarland and Thompson Square

Predicted to win: Sugarland

Cherie’s choice: This husband and wife duo is quickly becoming one of my favorites and they are country’s new music upcoming new power couple, Thompson Square.

Vocal Group of the Year -

Nominees: The Band Perry, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts and Zac Brown Band

Predicted to win: Lady Antebellum

Cherie’s choice: To be honest, I’m not thrilled with any of these choices. I’m fan of all them except The Band Perry but I think I’m going to have to go with Rascal Flatts. I just don’t think any of them had a really outstanding year.

New Artist of the Year –

Nominees: The Band Perry, Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Thompson Square and Chris Young

Predicted to win: Thompson Square

Cherie’s choice: Thompson Square, I don’t find Luke, Eric or Chris ‘New Artists’ since they’ve been around for several years already. I don’t think I need to repeat my disgust for The Band Perry.

Male Vocalist of the Year –

Nominees: Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton and Keith Urban

Predicted to win: Keith Urban

Cherie’s choice: I’d really like Jason Aldean to win because I like him so much as an artist. I really would be happy with any of these guys winning!

Female Vocalist of the Year –

Nominees: Sara Evans, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood

Predicted to win: Miranda Lambert

Cherie’s choice: Miranda Lambert

Entertainer of the Year –

Nominees: Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban

Predicted to win: Blake Shelton

Cherie’s choice: The mother of all categories goes too: Blake Shelton. Even though he did not tour this year, he definitely was an entertainer. He brought a new fan base to country music with his coaching on “The Voice.”

The 45th Annual CMA Awards will air live on Wednesday, November 9th on ABC 8pm/EST.

Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with Country Music Association or the CMA Awards. I'm just a huge country music fan with my own opinions. I do not claim to these be the real winners - they are just my predictions and opinions.

5 Country Acts That Should be on Your iPod

This is the first time I'm including country music in my blog and it will not be the last. It is my favorite music genre and the whole country music industry is just an amazing fan to be a part of. I find that country acts get lost in the crowd and people often forget or never discover many of the great talents out there. On my list of country acts that you should be listening too but probably aren't - are some more known and some unknowns. I hope you take the time to go to youtube and take a listen even if you aren't a country music fan because you might surprise yourself!

1.       Love and Theft

Their first single “Runaway” was a top ten hit in 2009, unfortunately, their beautiful and sobering 2^nd single “Word Wide Open” and a personal favorite of mine did not run so well, which would be the start of their label troubles. This band originally started out as a trio but early last year their keyboardist, vocalist and one of their lyricists Brian Bandas left the group to start his own clothing store and take care of his new family. This left Eric Gunderson and Stephen Barker Liles, of Taylor Swift’s ‘Hey Stephen’ fame, to start over. Eric and Stephen not only had to deal with being a duo but they also had to find a new record label after Lyric Street Records, the same label that housed powerhouse Rascal Flatts, closed its doors. They definitely have had their ups and downs in the past 2 years – with Eric getting married and Stephen penning Martina McBride’s hit “Wrong Baby Wrong” and the song “Kissin’ in Cars” which was included in the major motion picture Country Strong’s soundtrack. The duo is a force to be reckoned with so much talent to grow and share within the industry. In August 2011, it was announced that they signed with RCA Nashville their new single will be out in November, with their sophomore album to follow in 2012. If you haven’t checked out their debut “World Wide Open” album please do it is a contemporary take on classic rock country. They have been one of my favorites since 2009.

Tracks to Download: Don’t Wake Me, Me Without You, Try To Make it Anyway (Stephen’s song about Taylor Swift)

2.       Jerrod Niemann

Jerrod is definitely no stranger to the Nashville music scene. He has written songs with Garth Brooks, Neal McCoy and Jamie Johnson. With his first 2 albums being unsuccessful it seems he has struck gold with his third. His first single “Lover, Lover” off the “Judge Jerrod & the Hung Jury” album went to number 1 and his somber “What Do You Want” sophomore single was in the country top 5. His lastest single, “One More Drinkin’ Song” is quickly approaching the success of its two predecessors.

Tracks to download: The Buckin’ Song, Bakersfield

3.       Eden’s Edge

Eden’s Edge is the new kid on the block to Big Machine Records, the same label that is home to Taylor Swift and now Rascal Flatts, but they quickly spreading their music like wildfire. They are joining Reba McEntire on tour later in 2011 and are currently touring with Brad Paisley. Their current single “Amen” is playing on country radio right now.

4.       Hunter Hayes

19 year old Hunter is relatively new to the country genre. He is Taylor Swift’s opening act for her “Speak Now” tour and is hitting airwaves with his first single “Storm Warning.” Hunter wrote, played every instrument and co-produced the single, I’d say he might become the Justin Bieber of country music. He co-wrote the song “Play” for Rascal Flatts’ “Nothing Like This” album.
Tracks to Download: Storm Warning, Somebody’s Heartbreak, Love Makes Me

5.       Jaron and the Long Road to Love

Jaron is the 2^nd half of the Evan & Jaron band duo from the late ‘90s, you might remember their one hit wonder from 2000 “Crazy For This Girl.” Jaron has come a long way from singing with his twin brother. His “Pray For You” hit was a surprise and embraced by scorned lovers all over the airwaves last year. His album, “Getting Dressed in the Dark” was probably one of my favorites from 2010. Don’t let all my scornful songs scare you off – his love songs are beautiful it is just that the scornful lover ones are my favorite!

Tracks to Download: Happy For You, I Hope You Hit Traffic, Beautiful Lies w/Big Kenny of Big & Rich

Honorable Mentions

Chances are that if you are a pretty avid country music fan or just listen occasionally, you have heard of these 3 artists.

1.       David Nail – He’s been in the music scene for nearly 10 years. But his music is so touching and haunting that anyone can connect with it instantly.

Tracks to download: Mississippi, Turning Home, I’m About to Come Alive

2.       Jake Owen – Jake’s junior album just claimed the number one spot on iTunes’ country albums chart. I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet. But his first two albums are frequently visited on my ipod.

Tracks to download: Hard Not to Love You, Something about a Woman, Don’t Think I Can’t Love You, Nothin’ Grows in Shadows, Every Reason I Go Back

3.       Billy Currington – Despite having released four albums, I think Currington remains one of the top country underdogs. He has some of the best love songs “Must Be Doing Something Right” and best anthem songs (and one of my personal favorites, it was my anthem when I was unemployed) “Pretty Good at Drinkin Beer.” He also got more popular from his duet with Shania Twain in 2004 with “Party for Two.”

Tracks to download: Until You, She’s Got A Way With Me, Swimmin In Sunshine, Let Me Down Easy