Two weeks ago the second season of CMT’s talent show Can You Duet (CYD) began, a scant 14 days that brought us to tonight’s third episode. Perhaps a short period of time for us, but for the ten singles remaining in the competition I’m sure it must have seemed like forever. Whether they came to audition as a solo or with a partner, it was now down to waiting for the judges to place them into permanent duos so they could make their mark in the field of country music.
As Lance Smith, CMT VJ and host of many specials, including this season of CYD, put it, “Singles Night, where the remaining top ten singers will turn into five duos, right before your very eyes.” He ran down the turn of events for us; we’d see why each new pair were put together and they would perform. By the end of the night, three of these partners would remain in the competition to return next week with O’Shea, Steel Magnolia, and The Stellas, they having won their rounds last Saturday night.
Our esteemed panel of judges are all in fine array as their clothes certainly seemed to suit their personas. Big Kenny (of Big & Rich) for example had on a cool jacket with a cut-up tee with the word ‘freak’ in large red letters. Ms. Naomi thought it made a statement as she even had BK (as he is otherwise known as) stand up and model it for us. Scott Borchetta, founder, president, and CEO of Big Machine Records (Taylor Swift, Trisha Yearwood, Jack Ingram) and its sister imprint label Valory Music Co. (Reba, Jewel, Emerson Drive) was every inch the breezy gentleman of business in a dark shirt and blazer. He makes it look so casual when in fact, as the label of name for contracting the winner of CYD, there's quite a bit riding on the end result of this season for his company. This is as good a time as any, I think, to remind us of what he is looking for while checking out these acts:
- Undeniable talent
- Undeniable desire
- Character
- Individuality
- A great vocal blend
- Star power
Lastly, but by no means least, Ms. Naomi Judd made quite the fashion statement as befitting her stature in the country music community. In a stunning electric/cobalt blue outfit and a sassy updo, it seemed to me that she also had an extra twinkle in her eye. I’m of the mind it’s because this was her night in a sense. Outside of Can You Duet, Ms. Naomi is a multi-talented tour de force. Her stint as one half of country music’s most famous mother/daughter duo, The Judds, singing with her daughter Wynonna, garnered her many accolades with 20 top ten hits (15 of them as #1) and numerous honors including five Grammy Awards.
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