PRE-SHOW:
It's that time of year again... time for the CMA AWARDS!!!! There are four nights in television that I look forward to every year. The CMA Awards The ACM Awards The CMT Awards The Daytona 500 (Don't judge that last one :) Country music has been a part of my life since I was a baby. It's what I grew up on and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. The CMA Awards is one of the biggest nights in country music and it starts... NOW!!!! 7pm: Show Time! Kenny Chesney opens with his latest single. Still not sold on this one. I feel like it should have been a summer release. On a side note, the stage crew and set-up is very Kenny-esque. Good artist pick to open the show! Meghan Treanor and Miranda Lambert singing "All About That Bass" is badass. Can I just say that Miranda looks freaking AH-MAY-ZING!!!!! Oh my... here we go. Carrie and Brad! These songs... I can't even! George Strait next to Martina McBride? Yes Please!!! Lets get them on stage together! Oh wait... I've already seen that :) There is the first pregnancy joke... that didn't take long. Now taking bets on how many we will hear tonight in total... comment below! You know you've made celebrity status when you get a parody song sang by Brad and Carrie on the CMA's. PPTSD? Post-Partum Taylor Swift Disorder? :| GARTH BROOKS!!!!! OH-EM-GEEE!!!!!!! Full Frontal of Luke Bryan? I think I'd rather have his backside please! Is it just me or is Steven Tyler looking more and more like a chick? SINGLE OF THE YEAR GOES TO "AUTOMATIC" BY MIRANDA LAMBERT!!!!!! Waiting for the day when I can be THATCLOSE to the stage at the CMA Awards. This may be my favorite song of FGL. I WANT MORE "DIRT"!!!!!!!!! This commercial break is brought to you by my parents telling me I am going to learn how to move snow with the bobcat... so I can do it before I go to work in the morning. I go to work at 4:30am. I don't think so. I remember a day... when I used to hate Keith Urban. What in the hell was I thinking?! I wasn't expecting this one. Thought Miranda Lambert had Song of the Year for sure. Kasey Musgraves is a great up-and-coming artist though! Love Glen Campbell and his version of Gentle on My Mind. The Band Perry puts their own modern twist on it. Not sure how I feel about Kasey Musgraves' dress... or whole outfit... LORETTA LYNN!!!!! Excuse me while I go fangirl for a moment. New Artist of the Year...WAY too many great new artists. They all deserve this award in my opinion. AND WE HAVE REACHED THE 8:00 HOUR!!! Burnin' It Down is one of my new favorite songs on the airwaves right now... but I'm about ready to kill this live version. No Bueno. Little Big Town!!!!!!!!!! I may be slightly obsessed with these four. This song does NOT belong on the CMA Awards. No Grande for me please. Heard "Shotgun Rider" many times on the radio at work today. Loving it more and more each time!!! Vocal Duo of the Year. Should be Sugarland. I WANT THEM BACK!!!! Pretty awesome to see an Omaha station win Medium Market Radio Station of the Year! MARTINA MCBRIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3 And Miranda Lambert takes home Album of the Year!!!!!! I can personally say... there is not ONE bad song on that album. This song... I want someone to sing this to me one day. Perfect Storm. Blake Shelton and Ashley Monroe? Can't we just have Blake and Miranda? Do love me some Ashley Monroe though!!!! 9:00 Hour!!!! Carrie Underwood has NEVER had a bad performance in my opinion. Vocal Group of the Year is.... LITTLE BIG TOWN!!!!!!!!! Luke Bryan + Tight Pants = Very happy CMA Audience. Little Big Town and Miranda Lambert? Together? I don't know if I can handle this. #Eargasm Vince Gill... and that HAIR!!!!! "The attendance at your funeral will be largely dependent on the weather." That's one way to end an acceptance speech. Thanks Vince Gill. George Strait... Cowboys Like Us. Nothing More To Say. And the Male Vocalist of the Year is??? Blake Shelton... no surprise!!! I'm calling it now... Miranda Lambert will be our Female Vocalist of the Year. The Doobie Brothers? With Jennifer Nettles and Hillary Scott and Hunter Hayes? Damn. Jennifer Nettles wears some of the strangest outfits. But she can definitely pull them off. Blake and Miranda hug shot. My night is now complete. Why on earth is Taylor Swift still nominated for CMA Awards? Female Vocalist of the Year... CALLED IT! "Dammit, I cry every time!" Miranda... yes you do. Garth Brooks... I will see you live in concert some day. Last but not least, Entertainer of the Year... Luke Bryan!!! I was NOT expecting that one... I thought Miranda or George for sure. POST-SHOW!!!! Great awards show this year! They really need to keep Brad and Carrie as hosts, their comedic acts and stage presence are hard to beat! My only complaint, sound. It was OFF all night during the live performances, some more than others. Here is to the 49th Annual CMA Awards in 2015!!!!
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If you were to ask anyone who knows me personally whether they could picture me dancing and singing along to “International Love” in the middle of a big arena show, they’d call you crazy. I would have agreed with them. That is, until I found myself doing just that this past Thursday night (Oct.2).
I’ve always been a self-proclaimed country girl. I’ve seen countless artists such as Reba McEntire and George Strait live in concert. Any music outside of the country genre was foreign to me. That changed a little over a year ago when my friend Morgan introduced me to her love for Pitbull. When she asked if I wanted to see him in concert, I couldn’t say no. How could I pass up two days off of work, a concert and road trip with my best friend? We purchased our tickets in May and I was officially going to my first “non-country” concert: Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias. I “studied up” on Pitbull’s music. I created a playlist of his biggest singles and listened to them constantly over the summer. My family and friends were stunned with my new music choices, and I quickly knew every song by heart. We had to wait five months for the show, but the day finally came. Heels on and makeup done, we were off to the Sprint Center for the show. The Sprint Center in Kansas City is easily the biggest arena I’ve ever been in. Thousands of people invaded the Power and Light District to see the two artists in person. Looking around, we were shocked at the diversity of the crowd. Very young children and even the elderly were standing in line awaiting entrance to the show. After waiting in line for what seemed like an eternity and passing through the metal detectors, we were in. We found our seats just as the opening act took the stage. The time was finally here; our long wait was over. I couldn’t believe how excited I was to see Pitbull live. J Belvins was the opening act. Playing mainly to the Hispanic crowd, his three male dancers were the stars of the show. Half an hour for his performance was plenty, and it got us warmed up for Enrique Iglesias. Oh Enrique. His pictures do him zero justice. Zero. All I can say about him is “wow.” With tight jeans, a simple t-shirt and a hat, he was mesmerizing on stage. Although it seemed like he was lip-syncing through a good part of his show, his rendition of “Stand By Me” brought the crowd to its feet. He chose a Hispanic gentleman from the crowd to join him on stage for a shot of tequila. Three shots in and a swig from the bottle, this poor man could barely stand, but taking shots with Enrique Iglesias is the chance of a lifetime. His hour-long performance was flawless, complete with his hit song “Hero.” He left the stage to a standing ovation, and it was time for the main event. It was time for Pitbull. We had the perfect seats. Sitting up in the main section, right beside the stage jutting out into the middle of the arena, we could see everything. The lights dimmed, his music started, and it was time for the main event. Lights, strobes, smoke and more accompanied Pitbull on the stage. It was clear that this was going to be a show that the three of us wouldn’t soon forget. I immediately took note of Pitbull’s stage presence. His engagement with the crowd was hard to miss. Welcoming the “blacks, whites and Hispanics,” he made sure everyone in his audience felt like they belonged and he gave praise to the United States. Going into the show, I wondered how he was going to incorporate other artists that he has collaborated with into his show. Playing their voices, along with the music videos on the big screen behind his band, he sang his hits such as “Timber,” “Feel This Moment,” and more. His hour and a half performance seemed like mere minutes, and before we realized it, Enrique Iglesias was joining him on stage for the final song, their hit single “I Like It.” The show left us talking about it long after it was over. In the spare bedroom of her aunt’s house that night, Morgan and I couldn’t stop talking about how great it was. Although he left out a few of his hits, Pitbull put on one of the best concerts I have ever seen. For a girl who lives and breathes country music, that’s a big compliment. I survived my first “non-country” concert. I got to experience one of the best performers in the business and have some great memories with my best friend and her sister. This country girl has new love for Armando Christian Perez, and, if ever given the opportunity to see him perform again, I would jump at the chance. Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?
We all know the words, or have at least heard the song that Alan Jackson wrote and made famous not long after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. A day forever engrained in the lives and minds of Americans all over the United States. For me, I just old enough to remember what was going on, but not quite old enough to understand the severity of that fateful day. I was in third grade, just coming back from my PE class. We walked in to our classroom to our teacher crying in front of the TV set. We didn't continue on with class that day. We couldn't turn off the TV. Little did I know that I would have the humble opportunity to see Ground Zero just a few years later and again once the Memorial was completed. Where were you when the world stopped turning? Although I nor my family were directly affected by the Terrorist Attacks, something resonated with me that kept drawing me in long after it happened. Today, I find myself glued to the TV, watching countless documentaries and reflections about that day. Roughly 3000 Americans perished that day and the days following. First responders, firefighters, police officers, volunteers and countless others risked their lives to save those trapped in the World Trade Center Towers, the Pentagon and that field in Pennsylvania. Today, more than 2,000 of those brave American's are battling cancer and other deadly diseases from the toxic dust and debris they inhaled. Where were you when the world stopped turning? Today, on the 13th Anniversary of 9/11, ceremonies in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania of those lost. Moments of silence marked each individual impact, along with the collapse of each tower. Family and friends read the names of those who perished. It all started in New York at 8:46am EST, the same time that the first plane hit the North Tower 13 years ago today. Today, a country remembers that fateful day, a day that changed America forever. I have had the humble privilege of visiting Ground Zero twice in my life. Once in 2009, when there was still a visible hole where the towers once stood. Then again just last year, shortly after the new memorial opened to the public in 2013. Seeing the two memorial pools, build where the towers once stood and engraved with the names of everyone who perished that day, left me speechless. Now, as I sit here watching a documentary titled "Voices from the Towers," it becomes more real than ever. In the words of Alan Jackson: Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones And pray for the ones who don't know? Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble And sob for the ones left below? Did you burst out with pride for the red, white and blue And the heroes who died just doing what they do? Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer And look at yourself and what really matters? Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day? (There is a website that I have visited everyday for the past two years. With articles written by people all over the world about everyday topics and opinions, it gets hundreds of thousands of hits a day. I submitted a piece on a whim, not expecting it to get picked from the hundreds of submissions I assume they get. Well, yesterday it was published on ThoughtCatalog.com and then linked on HuffingtonPost.com as well. To say I am still in shock is an understatement. This piece means a lot to me and I wrote it with inspiration from my two best friends; my soul sister. Enjoy!)
There is something different about a soul sister. They are the select few who sneak their way into your like without you really knowing. Soul sisters are more than friends; they make you a better person, in more ways than one. Without them, you life would be lacking something extraordinary. For me, I’m lucky enough to have two in my life. One has been by my side for years. Our friendship has survived the awkward pre-teen years, even the time before boys and high school drama and most recently, the distance of college. The other is a newer friendship; a somewhat unlikely pair brought together in the confines of a workplace. Without these two amazing and strong-willed women in my life, I’d go crazy. So here are my 26 promises to you and to all of the soul sisters of the world. 1. I promise to always be your third-wheel, your wing-woman, the Monica to your Rachel, the DJ to your Kimmy, and your right-hand (wo)man. 2. I will always be here as your sounding board, no matter what the issue. 3. Don’t worry about paying me back for that lunch I bought you last week, it will all even out in the end. 4. I promise to always pick up the phone, even if it is 3am on a Wednesday. 5. I promise to always laugh with you and never at you, well…in public that is. 6. I will always give the men in your life a fair chance, but know that they will have to work hard to prove that they are good enough for you. 7. I will always be there as a diversion to get you away from the creep at the bar, but also quietly sneak away if he is a total catch. 8. I promise to always push you, both to try new things outside your comfort zone and on the treadmill at the gym. 9. I promise to always tell you the truth, to never hide something from you, even if I know it’s not what you would like to hear. 10. Know I will always be by your side, in person or in spirit, so you will never have to be truly alone. 11. I will always tell you when you have something in your teeth. 12. I promise to be your distraction when life just becomes a little too much. 13. I promise to always let you borrow my favorite clothing items or accessories, because I know they will look better on you than me. 14. When I’m mad at you, I promise to tell you why so that we can get over it rather than let it fester between us. 15. I promise to always be your “emergency call,” especially when you need bailed out of a blind date. 16. I am here help you analyze that text or Facebook status, even if I know you are being a little ridiculous. 17. I will never shy away from a heart-to-heart, no matter the time of day. 18. I promise to protect and keep your secrets like they are my own, no matter how embarrassing they may be. 19. I promise to make you want more, to help you reach for more, to make you want to do better than you ever knew you could. 20. I truly enjoy it every time you text me pictures of your outfits to get my stamp of approval. 21. I promise to like every Facebook and Instagram post you ever upload. 22. I promise to bail you out of jail, but the chances of me being in the cell next to you are quite high. 23. Whenever you feel like crying, make me your first call. I can’t promise to make you laugh but I’ll always do my best. 24. I promise to never let you walk out the door looking anything less than stellar. 25. You can continue explaining to me your personal stuff, without ever having to remind me not to tell anyone because my lips are always sealed. 26. You will always be my sister from another mister, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Link to article on ThoughtCatalog.com As my senior year of college is getting closer, I am beginning to find myself more and more unsure of what it is I want to do once I walk across that stage and get my degree.
In other words...I'm completely confused. This summer, I have submerged myself in my work. Working for a non-profit like the YMCA has been a blessing in disguise. Although I worked here as a lifeguard all through high school, moving to members services a year ago gave me a new respect for the Y and everything that we do for the community and the youth in the area. This summer I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of kids, from youth sports to summer camp to boys club to various day cares and more. It has helped me realize that the world of sports is where I belong, in some capacity. Will that be in racing? I honestly don't know. And that scares me. For so long I had my head and heart set on working in motorsports but lately, I am not even sure if that is where I belong. There is something about being told "no" or "you won't make it" that really wears on a person. Starting my senior year, I just have a handful of classes that I need to complete to finish my degree in Mass Communication and since the title of this post is "Honesty" I feel like I should live up to that. I don't even think the world of media is where I really belong either. So where does that leave me? Completely and utterly confused. I will always love the media world. I've spent a lot of time (as a student) on the radio and I do really enjoy it. Can I see myself being on the radio every day as a career? I don't know. Can I see myself sitting down behind my laptop and writing a handful of stories every day? Possibly. Could I stand or sit in front of a camera every day and tell the world what's going on? Maybe. See my dilemma here? I thought that I would know exactly what I wanted out of my work life by now but it seems to be exactly the opposite. What does that mean for me? Good question. I've been told many times by some of my closest friends that this is normal, that everything will work out. While I know in my heart that they are right, it's hard for my head to agree. Stubborn little thing! With a month until classes start, I have a lot of thinking to do. A lot of soul searching. A lot of problem solving. I hate problem solving. Honesty. It's something that I have had to learn a lot of recently. Mostly by being honest with myself. Hopefully I will have this all figured out and once I do, you'll be sure to know. I promise not to be a stranger anymore. K Growing up, I remember giving a sigh of disgust whenever I saw the words “NASCAR” or “IndyCar” on my TV screen. Back in high school, if you would have told me that I would be a diehard race fan in college, I would have laughed. If you would have told me that I would be planning my entire life around racing, I would have called you crazy. Indeed, I caught the racing bug the beginning of my freshman year in college and have not looked back since.
I had always known about racing, at least, in some aspect. I could have told you Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt were racecar drivers but that was about it. I have been a fan of Danica Patrick for years, but not because of her driving. As an athlete in high school, I perceived racing as a joke and I didn’t think of the drivers to be real athletes. Anyone can sit behind the wheel of a car. It wasn’t until I actually sat down and watched a few races that I realized that these people are true athletes. My addiction to racing started one weekend afternoon in the fall of 2011, when I was sitting in my dorm room at college doing everything possible to focus on my homework. Flipping through the channels, I noticed a NASCAR race was on TV. I thought it would be the perfect thing to keep on as background noise as I tried to write a paper. Needless to say, my paper did not get done that day, as I could not take my eyes off the race! A sport that I had dismissed for virtually all of my life, I spent the rest of the night reading and learning all that I could about racing. The pivotal moment that solidified racing in my life was the 2011 IndyCar Finale in Las Vegas. Little did anyone know that before the end of the day, IndyCar Racing was going to lose one of its biggest and brightest stars after Dan Wheldon was killed in a horrific accident. Seeing the camaraderie between the drivers, crews, media and teams showed what a great sport racing really is as well as the human side of motorsports. I continued honing in on my racing knowledge as the NASCAR season came to a close and waited patiently for the Daytona 500. Needless to say, I was hooked on racing and nothing was going to change that. During the sport’s offseason, I dove head first into the 2012 NASCAR season with everything I had. A sign that racing became a part of my life was when I switched my major in school to mass communications with a dream of being the next big NASCAR broadcaster. I started writing for a few racing websites and would research tracks and past results before race weekends. Friends and family who don’t watch racing still get annoyed with my constant racing references. In 2013, I attended my first race, which was the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. My dad, not really a racing fan, and I spent the entire weekend at the track. While I was there, I got to meet Danica Patrick before the Nationwide race thanks to her sponsor TISSOT and Kansas Speedway. As previously mentioned, I have been a fan of Danica for a long time, even before I got into racing. As someone who watched a loved one suffer with COPD and then lung cancer, her involvement in the Drive4COPD campaign hits close to home. Seeing what she has done for women in racing, both on and off the track, is something I admire. I want to be the first female to broadcast from the booth. I want my voice to be heard all over the world. Knowing that she never backed down from her dreams and achieved them makes me work as hard as I can to achieve mine. Racing is a big part of my life. If I could be at the track every weekend, I would be the happiest girl in the world. I have met so many amazing people through racing, whether it is in person or through social media. Race fans are truly one of a kind and loyal. One thing is for sure, I have caught the race bug, and I don’t want to give it back. And if you are wondering about my dad, let’s just say the bug is slowly making its way to him and it won’t be long before he too, is an avid fan like his daughter. I have met so many amazing people through racing and have had so many amazing opportunities as well. The racing community really is one of a kind and I cannot wait to be a part of it some day. Thank you for supporting me in my budding career and I hope to meet you at the track one day. Katie Copple |
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June 2017
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