After Faith Hill and her management reps tried their best attempt at damage control after Monday night's Carrie Underwood incident, Faith's friend Leann Rimes has opened back up a can of worms that may have closed quickly on its own. Directly after the CMA broadcast, blogs and message boards were abuzz with outrage and shock over the way Faith, normally a down to earth, friendly woman, handled losing to American Idol alumnus Carrie Underwood.
Hill's management quickly released this statement once USA Today picked up the story, "I've worked with Faith for many years now and the idea that she would ever insult or undermine another artist, let alone another human being's success, is absolutely preposterous. Those who know her know that she's incapable of such actions. She was being playful while the nominations were being read and playful after."
After the story was picked up by even more media outlets, and the video made its way all across the internet, I guess they decided it was important Faith actually release a statement herself. "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me," Hill said in a statement. "For this to become a focus of attention given the talent gathered is utterly ridiculous. Carrie is a talented and deserving Female Vocalist of The Year."
Jesse Schmidt, Underwood's publicist said the two of them spoke after the show and they were fine. Of course, I doubt directly after the show Carrie knew anything of Faith's reaction to her win. There are currently 14 different videos of the now infamous "Faith Hill Freak-Out" on YouTube, with a combined viewership of nearly 3 million. Even if Faith was joking, you have to admit it was a pretty stupid move on her part. With her big voice fading as fast as her sales, Faith now comes across as a bitter woman jealous of the young prolific starlet. What makes this story still noteworthy however, is a third blonde country belter that's been thrown into the mix - Leann Rimes. Known for her big pop-country hits back in the '90s including a cover of Trisha Yearwood's How Do I Live, Rimes has apparently been a longtime friend of Hill, and came to her defense today.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - DVA
I think the whole thing is an unfortunate mess. Whether she was joking or not Faith's reaction reflects pretty bad judgment despite her veteran status. I think Faith got caught by the speed and power of the Internet.
As for LeAnn's comments, man, if it's really what she said that was truly stupid.
I do feel bad for Carrie as it was her night, but she appears to have moved on. She's got class. Makes me respect her more.
I hope it all goes away.
2 - Mark Saleski
this post is currently on the front page at google.
3 - Karen Berry
I think Carrie has had an amazing year. I rooted for her on American Idol, and I'm rooting for her now. She has an incredible voice and can actually sing live. I've been very disappointed in live performances by Faith, whose voice seems to crack a lot. I guess it's a lot different when you don't have sound mixers to work out the bad stuff for you and you're singing without a net.
Move over ladies, there's a new powerhouse in town and it's wrapped up in a bubbly, beautiful and spiritual package named Carrie Underwood. You go girl!
4 - Linda
As we all try to teach our children, take responsibility for your actions. Faith take a lesson take responsibility.
5 - Leslie
If I remember correctly didn't Leann Rimes get her start due partially to her appearances on Star Search? I don't think she's any different than Carrie, because of the way they started if that's the case. The only difference is that American Idol has far more viewers than Star Search did.
6 - mebaby
I like and respect Carrie but she aint singing circles around Leann.
Her 15 minutes may be up but she is one hell of a singer.
7 - Cory
Umm, I feel that this article is far too unfair to LeAnn and in my opinion underscores country music's love affair for the current "fad-female of the moment." (See Gretchen Wilson)
I take offense to the coment that Carrie would sing circles around LeAnn. Come on. Carrie is good, but to say she is better than LeAnn is a laugh. LeAnn has one of the very best voices in music, period. Songwriters write songs with LeAnn in mind.
Secondly, Trisha covered LeAnn's "How Do I Live." LeAnn recorded it first, made it a hug pop-smash, not Trisha.
Finally, I find the "15-mins are up" comment laughable too. LeAnn has sold over 40 million albums...WORLD-WIDE. She has the most successful single in Billboard Chart history (How Do I Live spent over a year on the Hot 100), recently had a #1 hit with "Something's Gotta Give" and based on the singles chart over the past 12 months, was the second-most successful female behind Carrie. So, to say her "time is up" seems to be very uninformed. I believe that the author here owes LeAnn an apology.
8 - Red
Not to be nitpicky...
Alumnus- Male
Alumna- Female
9 - Mike
Did you actually see these statements on Leann's Web site?
It's so funny to see "Personal Attacks Are Not Allowed" for the comments. Guess that doesn't apply to the blog itself.
10 - Ed Sommers
Are you kidding ? Faith's not joking. Faith's disappointed and surprised, and not a good actor.
She'll get over it. For me, I'm turned off to
the country music establishment. They blacklisted
the most talented act ever to perform country
music -- The Dixie Chicks. The Dixie Chicks
have found and will build a new audience. I know
because I'm part of that audience.
11 - Don
Duhhh, Leann can't sing her recorded songs LIVE. I remembered listening to her unplugged version of 'Life Goes On' she can't belt it out the way she should have in the recorded version. Carrie can sing everything in her album LIVE and she probably would have sounded better. One things for sure--she's just jealous!!!
12 - mike o
Gretchen Wilson sings better, performs better, writes better and sure as sh** paid more dues than Carrie, Faith or Leann.
(Rimes, by the way, got thrust into the spotlight on Star Search, so she might wanna shuddup).
13 - Cory
I suggest that people take a stop by YouTube and type "LeAnn Rimes Live." Or, specifically, search "Love Is An Army." This should quiet all "haters" on LeAnn. I ask this, "Where will Carrie be in 10 years?" LeAnn's debut sold over 10 Million copies and "Blue" is considered a country Classic. I doubt "Jesus..." will achieve the same success.
14 - Jack
The Dixie Chicks are "the most talented act ever to perform country music?" Haha... good one.
15 - YeouxLeigh
country girls behaving badly...when was the last time there was a situation where such a beautiful and talented artist was caught on tape expressing a negative reactions to losing? my reaction was wow, she really thought she had it in the bag, almost too sure, then she lost. But what if Gretchen, Terry or another typically "BAD" country girl would have had that reaction? We would be like "YES" finally a true reaction to loosing. And what about the men... like Toby, Willie and Waylan? What if they had that reaction....they would be haled as truly "Country Bad Boys"....right?
16 - TSanderson
let's get real! Intentional or not....Faith Hill is one of the best female singers there is....And most importantly she's HUMAN!! With Real emotions. I'm sure she was as shocked as were many of the people sitting at home watching the show. I do agree that Carrie Underwood has had a great start and a great year, but she has not earned the status "Female Vocalist of the Year" just yet. Faith need not explain her actions to me. She is an awesome woman and performer and deserves the utmost respect. Let's get real here many women would kill to be half the woman she has proven herself to be! As for Leann...you go girl!!! Honesty doesn't get any better than that!!!
17 - Carole Groves
Well I have admired Faith Hill ever since I heard her sing Wild One, the video only added to it, since then she has only gotten better, as for who is better we all need to agree to disagree, personally I will always feel Faith is by far the best, her tour with her husband Tim who in my opo is another prime example of how the CMA's really work, its all politics, Faith is a down to earth sweet "classy lady" so she might have felt as did many umm "Horizon" congratulations Carrie,well deserved, umm top female, umm last time I checked horizon meant up and coming, where as Top meant you already made it,so what gives, in my opo Faith is not at fault it is the folks who voted in this category and all the others, as many well deserved artists were notably overlooked, i.e. Toby, Tim ( again top selling tour) didn't even get nominated,face it, we their true fans will always know the real top entertainers which is exactlly why they sold the amount of tickets and will always do so, we love you Faith you and Tim will always be tops in our books and you owe nobody but nobody any appology or exsplanation, no way, they should be appologizing to you for their complete and total lack of common sense!!
18 - Rena
Are you kidding, this was a genius PR move, have you noticed how much attention Faith is getting. Carrie won, but the publicity is all on Faith. Don't believe it... just check youtube.com.
Faith's PR person deserves a big bonus for coaching the "WHAT" move!
19 - mandi
Who cares how much sh** Gretchen Wilson has been through? CARRIE AND MARTINA ARE THE BEST FEMALE SINGERS IN THE COUNTRY MUSIC INDUSTRY!!!!!! Gretchen is nothing more than a famous redneck woman.
20 - michael s
have to say that the process in which the awards are given out are flawed...The board memebers need to address this apparent problem that exists...The CMA Awards have shown us all that they have failed us in the true fair way awards are given out. Musicians should be treated and judged fairly to their talent.We would all hope that our peers do this correctly.Lets all wait and see what changes are made at the top, right Rod...so we can all enjoy our favorite 'God bless every musician for their sacrifices' country artist.