ABC/Image Group LAAs the red carpet got underway close to three hours before the 49th Annual CMA Awards kicked off Wednesday night in Nashville, the stars could agree on three things: they were thankful to be there, it was hot, and so are their wives.
Even though the high in Nashville was only 75 degrees, the tents set up in Walk of Fame Park next to the Bridgestone Arena made the red carpet feel more like a greenhouse.
“I was ‘Power of Positive Drinkin’ some Mountain Dew before I walked out on this carpet, and now I’m sweating it all out!” Chris Janson joked, referencing his new single.
“It’s real hot right now, I will tell you that!” Brantley Gilbert agreed. “We tour with each other, a lot of us do sometimes and then we don’t see each other for months at a time, so it’s awesome to be able to catch up and see each other and the fellowship’s always nice,” Brantley continued, sharing his thoughts on the CMA experience.
“I tell you what man, we are blessed,” Chris continued, expressing similar sentiments as Brantley. “I never got into this for money I got into this for music, and that’s why we are out at the CMAs tonight. That’s why we’re here. We are celebrating a #1 and a new album release but, I’ll tell you, I’m proud to have a job man and I started from the bottom in this town and to be here with a story to talk about and a good one at that, is something to be thankful for.”
Meanwhile up the red carpet, Entertainer of the Year nominee Garth Brooks was discussing how beautiful Trisha Yearwood looked in long white gown with metallic accents.
“This is Jenny Packham is the designer,” Trisha answered, after being asked about her dress.
“She is stunning!” Garth said, bragging on his wife.
“Thank you! If you’re gonna be arm candy, you gotta do it up, you know!” Trisha joked.
“Who’s the winner already?” Garth asked playfully.
After seeing Garth and Trisha on the red carpet, Chris Janson called his wife over to join his interview. “Like he never does anything without his wife, I don’t do anything without mine. This is my wife Kelly. And I’m proud of that,” the “Buy Me a Boat” hitmaker added.
Even though he’s just had a big number one song, the father of four admitted he’s been more concerned about buying diapers than buying a boat, just as Eric Paslay lamented his lack of time on the water.
“I will tell you I look out at the fishing dock and think, ‘I probably should fish sometime next month!’,” he laughed. “No, but it’s great getting to catch songs and getting to catch new fans out on the road a lot. We’re actually out with Chris Young right now, so we’re having a lot of fun with him.”
Dustin Lynch offered a red carpet tale about some of the fun he’s been having with his tour mate Luke Bryan.
“He tweeted a picture of me trying to get a suntan a couple weeks ago which opened a can [of worms],” Dustin said, referring to the shirtless photo Luke shared on social media. “So I got him back a few nights ago in Chicago. He comes out of the stage on a truck at the end of his show and I found one of those Little Tyke battery operated Silverado Chevrolet trucks and I came rolling out onstage on that thing and wrecked his world. It was awesome. None of his crew had any idea. I was afraid I was going to get tackled by security, but luckily, they recognized me. The hat kinda gives me away, so they recognized who I was pretty quick.”
By the time the awards show wrapped a little more than three hours later, Dustin’s partner on the Kick the Dust Up trek had extended his reign as CMA Entertainer of the Year for twelve more months.
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