Country music show draws a diverse A-list

By Ken Tucker

NASHVILLE (Billboard) - Snoop Dogg was there and so was Bobby Brown. Sisqo was in the house and Ryan Seacrest appeared in the show's opening skit. The MTV Video Music Awards? Nope, it was the 2008 CMT Music Awards.

Reality show stars were omnipresent at the country music awards show, which was held April 14 at Nashville's Curb Event Center at Belmont University and broadcast on cable music channel CMT and cmt.com.

In fact, the night's big winner, Kellie Pickler, who took home three awards, is herself the product of a reality show, having been a finalist on the fifth season of "American Idol." Paradoxically, she was not able to make it because of a prior performing commitment in Arizona.

Fellow North Carolinian and "American Idol" season-five finalist Bucky Covington did play at the event, and was a nominee in the breakthrough category that Pickler won. Season-four winner Carrie Underwood, a two-time nominee, also performed. Diana DeGarmo, who starred on "American Idol" in season three and was recently part of the cast of CMT's "Gone Country," was on hand.

Even "American Idol" judge Paula Abdul, who introduced a performance by Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, made the connection. "There are so many 'American Idol' alumni here, I feel like this is a reunion and I'm their mom," she said from the stage.

Meanwhile, "Gone Country" veterans Brown, Maureen McCormick and Sisqo, and host John Rich introduced Kenny Chesney, and two-time "Dancing With the Stars" champion Julianne Hough, who has a single at country radio and an album out May 20, helped introduce Brad Paisley.

Country star Trace Adkins, who picked up a "buckle," as the awards are known, for top male video, said his recent run on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice" may have factored into his win. "I would think that didn't hurt at all," he told reporters backstage.

Adkins was the centerpiece of an opening video skit that found him seeking tickets for the show. The bit included cameos by presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain as well as Donald Trump.