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Reply With QuoteCountry's brightest come out in force for ASCAP Awards
By Beverly Keel • October 14, 2008
Rascal Flatts, Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, Martina McBride, Dierks Bentley and Alan Jackson are just a few of the major country stars who turned out at the Ryman Auditorium on Monday night to celebrate the songwriters at the 2008 ASCAP Country Music Awards.
"The songwriting community has been awesome to Rascal Flatts," said guitarist Joe Don Rooney, who was decked out in a black Dolce & Gabbana suit accented with metallic silver pinstripes. "Our career lives and dies by hit songs, and as long as these songwriters keep writing hits and we write hits, Rascal Flatts is going to be around for a long time."
Joe Don's bandmate Jay DeMarcus also was in attendance, sporting a black Paul Smith jacket with muted floral embroidery and a Dolce & Gabbana shirt. Singer Gary LeVox was noticeably absent due to illness. But Joe Don promised that Gary will be well in time for the group's Friday night show at Sommet Center.
Kellie Pickler,Rascal Flatts' one-time tourmate, was the picture of old-world glamour, wearing a strapless, bright red chiffon dress embellished with ruffles at the empire waist and matching lipstick. But don't ask her who designed it. Kellie laughed that she hadn't been with her stylist all day and didn't have a clue. The one thing she did know: Jimmy Choo shoes.
"I love red," she said. "It's my favorite color because I think it signifies who I am. I think it's a strong color, and I am a strong woman."
Dierks Bentley was one of the first country singers to walk the red carpet last night. Dierks admitted that he didn't spend a lot of time picking out his plaid shirt and pair of jeans, but he has an excuse: new daughter Evalyn Day, who is a little over a week old. The proud father was showing off pictures to friends on his digital camera.
"She's back home tonight so I can go out partying," he joked.
Billy Currington knows what it's like to get dressed at the last minute. Billy, whose new CD, Little Bit of Everything, comes out today, was wearing a black suit and white shirt with no tie.
"I bought it just waiting for someone to die," Billy joked. "My grandfather used to tell that joke. I just pulled it out of my closet and put it on 30 minutes ago."
Also in black, Alan Jackson walked the carpet with his wife, Denise, who said she picked out his clothes a couple of days ago.
"I've never been crazy about getting dressed up and going to awards shows," said Alan, who wore a black jacket with white embellishments, dark jeans and a cream cowboy hat.
LeAnn Rimes and husband Dean Sheremet arrived looking snazzy as always. LeAnn was wearing an over-the-shoulder brown chiffon dress with gold accents by Stella McCartney and Halston shoes that her hubby picked out.
"I feel a little glamour and a little bohemian in this dress," she said. "It's kind of sparkly, and I feel pretty."
Reba McEntire, in true superstar style, was one of the last country singers to walk the carpet. Radiant in grape satin knee-length Versace, Reba said she chose the fitted scoop-neck dress because she liked the color and it was very comfortable.
But if there was a belle of the ball, it had to be ASCAP senior VP Connie Bradley. Impeccably put together as always, Connie was wearing a carob-colored double-breasted taffeta jacket and matching fitted skirt that flared at the bottom by Sylvia Heisel. Connie greeted every artist on the carpet and served as the evening's emcee.
"It always turns out well," she said of the evening. "What's really amazing is (that the event has) the top five songs of the year performed by the songwriters who wrote them. That's what makes this different."
