Cowboy Corner

By Michael W. Stout

Dixie Chicks Rule 1999 CMA Awards

When the 33^rd Annual Country Music Association Awards were handed out last month, the Dixie Chicks continued to "Fly," with three more awards under their belts. Emily, Natalie and Martie walked home with trophies for Vocal Group of the Year, and Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year for "Wide Open Spaces." Following closely behind the Chicks with two awards each were Shania Twain and Tim McGraw. Shania took home the top prize of the evening when she was named Entertainer of the Year. In addition, she received the CMA International Artist Achievement Award. Tim was named Male Vocalist of the Year and took home the trophy for Album of the Year for A Place In The Sun. Martina McBride was named Female Vocalist of the Year.

The entire list of winners is as follows: Entertainer of the Year: Shania Twain; Female Vocalist of the Year: Martina McBride; Male Vocalist of the Year: Tim McGraw; Vocal Group of the Year: Dixie Chicks; Vocal Duo of the Year: Brooks & Dunn; and Horizon Award: Jo Dee Messina.

Album of the Year: Tim McGraw's A Place In The Sun; Single of the Year: Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces"; Song of the Year: Beth Nielsen Chapman, Annie Roboff and Robin Lerner's "This Kiss"; Video of the Year: Dixie Chicks' "Wide Open Spaces"; Vocal Event of the Year: Vince Gill and Patty Loveless' "My Kind Of Woman/My Kind Of Man"; and Musician of the Year: Randy Scruggs on guitar.

In addition to all of the above awards, international superstar Dolly Parton and the late Conway Twitty and Johnny Bond were each inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame during the three-hour ceremony, which was once again hosted by Vince Gill.

Congratulations to all the winners!

Wilkinsons Rule CCMA Awards

When the 1999 Canadian Country Music Awards were handed out last month in the Ottawa Civic Centre, the evening belonged to the hot country trio the Wilkinsons, which consists of father Steve Wilkinson and daughter Amanda and son Tyler. The Wilkinsons walked away with five awards, including Vocal Group of the Year, Wrangler Rising Stars, Single of the Year and SOCAN Song of the Year for "26 cents," and Album of the Year for Nothing But Love. Although she was unable to attend, superstar Shania Twain received four awards, including Female Artist of the Year, Video of the Year for "That Don't Impress Me Much," Vocal/Instrumental Collaboration of the Year with Bryan White for "From This Moment On," and the CMT Maple Leaf Foods Fans' Choice Award, which is voted on by country music fans via toll-free telephone numbers.

The entire list of winners is as follows: CMT Maple Leaf Foods Fans' Choice Award: Shania Twain; Female Artist: Shania Twain; Male Artist: Paul Brandt; Group or Duo of the Year: The Wilkinsons; and Wrangler Rising Star Award: The Wilkinsons.

Single of the Year: The Wilkinsons' "26 cents"; Album of the Year: The Wilkinsons' Nothing But Love; SOCAN Song of the Year: The Wilkinsons' "26 cents" written by Steve Wilkinson & William Wallace; Video of the Year: Shania Twain's "That Don't Impress Me Much"; and Top Selling Album: The Dixie Chicks' Wide Open Spaces.

Independent Female Artist: Patricia Conroy; Independent Male Artist: Jamie Warren; Independent Group or Duo of the Year: Thomas Wade & Wayward; and Independent Song of the Year: "Cried All The Way Home" written by Jamie Warren and Naoise Sheridan.

Congratulations to all the winners north of the border!

Searching for "The Hawk" (WHKW 98.9-FM)?

If you've flipped on your radio and attempted to tune into WHKW 98.9-FM anytime during the past few weeks, then you have learned that "The Hawk" is no longer at 98.9-FM. Well, the scoop is that what was formerly "The Hawk" swapped places with "She 93" - WQSH 93.1 FM, - and was renamed "The Bull." 93.1 FM "The Bull" has also changed its format to include more older country music as opposed to "The Hawk's" Top 40 country. Stay tuned in to 93.1 to check out all the changes, as there will likely be plenty more that will take place before "The Bull" is completely settled.

Alabama for FREE

If you've been living under a rock for the past few months, then you haven't heard some of the hottest news in country music right here in Louisville. 97.5-FM WAMZ is co-sponsoring a FREE, yes, I said FREE, concert featuring hot newcomers Shane Minor, SHeDAISY, and the 1980's Entertainers of the Decade, supergroup Alabama. This must-see spectacular will be held at the Louisville Motor Speedway on Oct. 10. Although admission is free, you must have a ticket to attend the concert. For further details about this show and when and where to pick up tickets, tune into 97.5-FM WAMZ, or call the folks at WAMZ at (502) 571-9736.

Mark Collie Celebrity Race for Diabetes Cure

If you are a race fan as well as a country music fan, then you'll want to make a road trip to the Nashville Speedway USA on Oct. 27 for the 6^th Annual Mark Collie Celebrity Race for Diabetes Cure. Mark, a diabetic since his late teens, will be joined on the racetrack by some of the biggest names in country music for this charity race. All proceeds from this race, as well as a special VIP party to be held at the Wildhorse Saloon on Oct. 26, will help fund research to find a cure for the dreaded disease diabetes.

Shania Rules CMT Top 100 Video List

When Country Music Television recently counted down the Top 100 videos of the year, the brand-new CMA Entertainer of the Year, Shania Twain landed on the list with ten different videos. "Any Man Of Mine" landed at #3; "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)" at #4; #11 was "Man! I Feel Like A Woman"; #12 "(If You're Not In It For Love) I'm Outta Here"; #13 "You Win My Love"; followed by "Love Gets Me Every Time" at #16; "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under" at #21; "The Woman In Me" at #22; "That Don't Impress Me Much" at #41; and "Honey, I'm Home" landed at #92. Not too bad for a country gal from Canada. Garth followed in a close second with eight videos, Tim McGraw landed in five spots, and the Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, LeAnn Rimes and George Strait all had four videos each in the countdown.

CMT's Top 10 Videos of the Year are as follows: #1 Tim McGraw & Faith Hill's "It's Your Love"; #2 Garth Brooks' "The Dance"; #3 Shania Twain's "Any Man Of Mine"; #4 Shania's "Don't Be Stupid (You Know I Love You)"; #5 Tim McGraw's "Don't Take The Girl"; #6 Garth's "The Red Strokes"; #7 Martina McBride's "Independence Day"; #8 "I Wanna Fall In Love" by Lila McCann, #9 Lila's "With You"; and #10 is George Strait's "Carrying Your Love With Me."

Congratulations to all the top video artists.

The Country Family Album

There is plenty of news in the country family album this month. First of all, congratulations are in order for Sara Evans and husband Craig Schelske upon the birth of their first child. The "No Place That Far" singer recently gave birth to son Avery Jack Lyons Schelske in a Nashville hospital. Avery weighed in at 7 lbs., 8 3/4 oz. and measured 20 ½ inches.

Congratulations are also in order for "Ordinary Life" singer Chad Brock. This country newcomer was recently married in none other than Bowling Green, Ky. It has been reported that Mr. and Mrs. Brock met after Chad moved out of his former apartment and the soon-to-be Mrs. Brock moved into the apartment and hand delivered Chad's mail to him after it began piling up. Needless to say, those pieces of mail led to sparks.

And last, but definitely not least, Tanya Tucker's impending nuptials are back on track. The "Texas Tornado" and fiancé, songwriter Jerry Lasseter, are reportedly scheduled to tie the knot on October 10. The happy couple postponed their wedding earlier this year until their first child together, daughter Layla LaCosta Lasseter was born. Congratulations and best wishes to Tanya and Jerry!

Don't Forget Merle Haggard

As I told you last month, you won't want to miss the Merle Haggard's pay-per-view concert "Merle Haggard For The Record," to be broadcast live from the Las Vegas Hilton at 8 p.m. EDT on Oct. 2. Check local listings or call your cable or satellite company for further details.

Well, that's it for another month. This month's "Cowboy Corner" marks the column's fifth year. I hope each of you has enjoyed reading what I have had to say about country music each month as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Here's to many more columns ahead! Always remember: "Keep your boots shined up and your hat on straight, `cause country music is comin' your way."