CMAs Get Lil Wayne & Kid Rock Performance, Robert Plant Win

Lil Wayne invaded his most unlikely venue yet yesterday, taking the stage at the Country Music Awards to perform with Kid Rock. Wayne joined Kid Rock on "All Summer Long," as he did at the MTV VMAs, but instead of rapping this time around, Wayne stuck to strumming a guitar. The Eagles were also on hand to perform at the Nashville ceremony, but the band did not win in the Vocal Group category, as Henley and the boys lost to Rascal Flatts. However, Robert Plant won a CMA award as his collaboration with Alison Krauss, Raising Sand, picked up the Musical Event trophy. George Strait was among the biggest winners, picking up three awards including the coveted Album of the Year for Troubadour and Single of the Year for "I Saw God Today." The CMAs were hosted by American Idol winner Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley, who picked up awards for Male Vocalist and Video of the Year. Finally, for the third time in four years, Kenny Chesney won the Entertainer of the Year award.

Related Stories:
• Kid Rock's Hot Summer, No iTunes Required
• How Lil Wayne Became a Superstar
• Beauty and the Beast: On the Road With Robert Plant and Alison Krauss

• 
  MUSIC The Top 25 Teen Idol Breakout Moments
• 
  MOVIES & TV 'Game of Thrones': The Show Vs. the Books
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Facebook IPO vs. Shareholders
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive: Garbage Rip Through 'I Think I'm Paranoid'

Song Stories

“Smells Like Teen Spirit”

Nirvana | 1991

"Smells Like Teen Spirit," named after a brand of deodorant marketed to girls, was Kurt Cobain's attempt to "write the ultimate pop song," he said, using the soft-loud dynamic of his favorite band, the Pixies. Cobain "had that dichotomy of punk rage and alienation," the song’s producer, Butch Vig, told Rolling Stone, "but also this vulnerable pop sensibility. In 'Teen Spirit,' a lot of that vulnerability is in the tone of his voice." Sadly, by the time of Nirvana's last U.S. tour, in late '93, Cobain was tortured by the obligation to play "Teen Spirit" every night. "There are many other songs that I have written that are as good, if not better," he claimed.

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter