Here’s a list of the winners from last night’s CMA’s. (Is it CMAs or CMA Awards? Isn’t it Country Music Awards? Therefore, CMA Awards is Country Music Awards Awards? Or maybe it’s Country Music Association. Anyway….)

Single of the Year — “I Run to You” by Lady Antebellum
Song of the Year — “In Color” by Jamey Johnson
Vocal Group of the Year — Lady Antebellum
New Artist of the Year — Darius Rucker
Album of the Year — Fearless by Taylor Swift
Vocal Duo of the Year — Sugarland
Music Video of the Year — “Love Story” by Taylor Swift
Male Vocalist of the Year — Brad Paisley
Female Vocalist of the Year — Taylor Swift
Entertainer of the Year — Taylor Swift
Musical Event of the Year — Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
Musicians of the Year — Mac Macanally

Here’s a look at the monologue from last night:

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I try to keep an open mind when listening to music. I look for some kind of intrinsic value or something worthy of saying there’s talent. However, when I heard this song, I couldn’t find a damn thing about it that I liked. It’s like taking an ice pick to the ear drum.

Disagree? That’s fine. But if you do, leave a comment and let me know what it is about this song, particularly the vocals, that give any hint to some kind of talent. Sure, she was married to John Lennon, but that doesn’t mean she should be allowed near a recording studio.

“Enjoy.”

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Kiss performed on the Late Show with David Letterman last night… Pretty impressive that they could basically get their regular stage show into the Ed Sullivan Theatre.

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Lady Gaga took on Madonna in a Saturday Night Live skit over the weekend…

Best line was by Madonna, “What kind of name is Lady Gaga? It sounds like baby food.”

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The Avett Brothers were on the Late Show with David Letterman last night. Well done, guys!

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Apparently, some people are upset (read the comments on this blog) about Shakira’s performance the other night on “America’s Got Talent.” The Colombian singer’s lip synching wasn’t the most offensive part of it, either.

Nope, people weren’t happy about her ass shaking (1:37) and speaker humping (2:40). Personally, I’m more offended that people were watching “America’s Got Talent” in the first place.

Regardless, Lady Gaga’s outfits are a lot more scandalous — she prances around without pants on a regular basis. Get your complaints straight when it comes to Top 40 female singers.

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I was all set to post some thoughts about last night’s Video Music Awards, but I can’t do that until I voice my opinion on Kanye West’s antics of last night.

First off, it’s sad that Kanye is getting exactly what he wanted and everyone is talking about him. I’m glad that it’s all negative towards him though. One person said, “He was just stating his opinion.” That’s great, but hijacking the acceptance speech of a young woman (Taylor Swift) who had just won her first award was not the time or place to do it.

Kanye should have posted it on his blog or Twitter feed so that only the people who give a shit about this arrogant asshole would have cared what his opinion is. I don’t care if Kanye West loves bacon sandwiches, thinks Eminem is fantastic or wants to share his opinion that Beyonce had the best video. This isn’t the Kanye West Awards.

Swift was apparently backstage hysterically crying after the incident. Well done, Mr. West. May your next album and concert be a flop.

Put simply — Kanye West has no class. The question is, for how long are people going to continue to put up with this crap? It should be noted — there are some people defending West and saying he just made a mistake — “it’s not like he killed someone” — but it’s also not the first time he’s hijacked a show. Remember “George Bush doesn’t like black people”?

If only he stood by his words from a few years ago when he said he’d never return to the VMAs because he didn’t win any awards that year.

And kudos for Beyonce for giving her spotlight back to Swift who was allowed to give her acceptance speech.

Anyway — as far as the rest of the awards, here are some brief thoughts:

• The show opened with a heartfelt speech by Madonna that was a little self-centered, but well stated. It was followed by a Michael Jackson tribute. I could have done without the dancing reenactments, but it built up to a performance by Janet Jackson. I’d rather watch her reenact MJ’s dance moves instead of other random people.

• Katy Perry showcased a bit of her vocals as Joe Perry played guitar on “We Will Rock You.”

• Russell Brand did his best not to offend and wasn’t as entertaining as last year.

• Does MTV even play videos anymore? They handed out about 5 or 6 awards all night. Best Female Video went to Swift.

• Best Rock Video to Green Day.

• Lady Gaga. Yeah, I’m not a fan. I don’t like the style, I don’t like her singing and thought she’d be a one-hit wonder. She’s not the ground-breaking artist she thinks she is.

• Best Pop Video to Britney Spears. Isn’t she still crazy? And why give awards to people who lip synch their whole show? I guess because it’s for a video and not live talent.

• Green Day put on a great performance.

• Yeah, I’m tired of Beyonce’s “Single Ladies.” Get your ring and go home.

• Best Male Video to T.I. The crowd unleashed boos for Kanye when his name was read.

• Muse performs in theatre across the street.

• Best Hip Hop Video to Eminem. More boos for Kanye.

• Best New Artist to Lady Gaga who walks up in her fourth outfit of the night.

• Serena Williams should have gotten more boos for the crap she pulled at the U.S. Open on Saturday night.

• Pink’s performance was impressive. Looked like something from Cirque du Soleil.

• Video of the Year to Beyonce.

• Jay-Z and Alicia Keys sing together to close the show in style.

• Premiere of the Michael Jackson movie. Can anyone else see him on screen and not focus immediately on his nose?

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R&B singer Calvin Richardson has seen the ups and downs of the music industry.

The North Carolina native sold 100,000 records 10 years ago but was still dropped from Uptown Records. His second album, on the other hand, went certified gold earlier this year. But through all that, he never forgot where he came from.

So when it came time to shoot a video for his new record, Charlotte was the first place that came to mind. Richardson sat down with CL at his “Woman’s Got To Have It” video premiere party at the Sunset Club on Monday night to talk about his new album Facts of Life: The Soul of Bobby Womack, that dropped on Tuesday.

Creative Loafing: So where are you from in North Carolina?
Calvin Richardson: Well originally I’m from Monroe, North Carolina but I’ve been in Charlotte for so long so that’s what I’m claiming; that’s home for me now.

So you’re not new to this, everybody knows you sold 100,000 10 years ago …
Yeah, I sold 100,000 10 years ago and my second album just went gold, officially, in February. I dropped another one that’s out there last year, and it’s still out there working. But I got another one getting ready to drop …

Lets talk about the journey real fast, from ‘99 to 2009, how did everything go? Explain that trip.
From ‘99 to 2009, it was just a lot of hard work. A lot of set ups and set backs to me, it was a learning lesson for me. I grew a lot in the business. Now, I just feel like I’m more seasoned as far as the business goes.

Do you appreciate it more with the struggles you went through?
Oh, I definitely appreciate it, everyday, like I said, I don’t take nothing for granted anymore. When you come into the music business, it’s easy for you to have a perception of the game like you’re going to be an overnight success and for some people that’s true. Like you can get on American Idol, but I didn’t have those outlets and stuff like that … but you cant build no house without no foundation that’s going to stand, so that’s what I am.

So you’re as much apart of N.C.’s soul roots — what can you say about the state and the kinds of artists we put out? You got Anthony Hamilton, you got Jodeci, you got people like that and you fit right in with them. How do you feel to be among that crew?
I mean it feels good. They are the keepers of real music … WE are the keepers of real music, not just they, but that’s what we do. You know I grew up with K-Ci and Jo-Jo. And you know Anthony — he’s doing his thing, and he’s keeping it real as well, so it’s all good man to be a part of that elite crew from North Carolina.

So what can people look forward to on the album coming out tomorrow?
Tomorrow I have 11 songs on there, that were some of Bobby Womack’s greatest hits that I felt like, you know, he had some many, so I picked 11 songs that I felt like would really make a statement and introduce people that don’t know anything about Bobby Womack to who he is, to his music, to his greatness and so that’s what you’re going to get. You’re gonna get “110^th Street,” “Stop On By,” “I’m Through Trying to Prove My Love to You,” “Hairy Hippy,” “Love Has Finally Come At Last,” “American Dream” … did I say “Daylight”? (laughing) I can go on and on, until I get to 11 of course, but that’s basically what you’re going to get.

Why Bobby Womack?
I say, why not? I mean Bobby Womack is the greatest storyteller of my time, our time, that I know of and my style is just so similar to Bobby Womack’s. My first album that I recorded 10 years ago, I did a cover of “I Wish You Didn’t Trust Me So Much” and who would know 10 years later I’d go back and do a whole cover of Bobby Womack’s songs man just to pay homage and tribute because that’s who’s shoulders I’ve been standing on for the last 10 years.

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ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” has announced the new cast for the upcoming season and it’s full of music-related names. Thankfully, I don’t put myself through the torture of watching this show, but if you do, here’s who you’ll see this year among the contestants — singer Aaron Carter, songwriter Ashley Hamilton, singer Donny Osmond, singer Macy Gray, singer Mya and singer Kelly Osbourne.

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The memorial for Michael Jackson is going on right now and is being covered all over the place — television, internet, blogs, magazines and just about everywhere you look.

I figure that my opinions on the ceremony and his career are not important in the grand scheme of things. He’s flooding every medium at the moment.

Go watch the ceremony, enjoy the performances and remember the King of Pop in whatever way you’d like.

R.I.P. Michael Jackson – 1958-2009

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