For 50 years, the CMA Awards have spotlighted the top performers of America’s favorite music, capturing the songs and artists who’ve long provided a soundtrack for our lives. In addition to the yearly accolades presented to the biggest stars in country music, the program is famous for historic performances and collaborations – many of which are the first time legendary songs were featured on television.
Taking home audiences from the early days of the CMA Awards to the present, CMA AWARDS LIVE: GREATEST MOMENTS 1968-2015 is a handsomely packaged 10-DVD collector’s set filled with 127 unforgettable performances from five decades of the nationally-televised ceremony. The set features performances from many of the premiere artists in the genre who’ve helped to shape the history of country music – Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, Barbara Mandrell, Buck Owens and Kenny Rogers as well as artists who’ve nurtured the sound over the past decade and taken the music to new heights, like Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, and Keith Urban.
Across the 10 packed discs, home audiences will discover a who’s who of country artists, which also includes Alabama, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Trisha Yearwood, Dwight Yoakam, and dozens more. And music lovers will thrill to the memorable, once-in-a-lifetime performances including Loretta Lynn’s “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” Merle Haggard’s “Okie from Muskogee,” and Alan Jackson’s “Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning),” as well as famous country duets and collaborations including “Jackson” by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” by Brooks & Dunn and Reba McEntire, and “Lady” by Kenny Rogers and Lionel Richie.
What We Thought:
Earlier in the year Time Life released a 3 DVD set of CMA Awards Live Greatest Moments: 1968-2015, but this week we get a monster 10 disc set. There are 4 discs from 1968-1991 and 6 discs from 1992-2015 with all the names you expect (and some you don’t) from country music.
I’m not the biggest country music fan, but even I was impressed with the collection. I like older country, not so much the new pop country, but this spans decades so it has a little bit for everyone. Whether you prefer your country with Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash or Kenny Rogers or Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, or Keith Urban, this has them all plus dozens more.
What it does best is span the generational gap. I prefer my country Johnny Cash Man in Black style, but my niece likes Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood. My sister likes Keith Urban and Chris Stapleton so it really does have something for people of every generation.
What is also great is the live unexpected performances. Loretta Lynn joins two others to a surprised crowd. Someone older like Buck Owens will share the stage with a newer (at the time) name. Everyone loves Reba and wants to perform with her. It shows how those before you set the stage and how all the artists seem to genuinely respect one another.
Obviously the more you are into country music the more you’ll love CMA Awards Live Greatest Moments: 1968-2015. It is an absolute beast of a collection and I’m always shocked at how much of the music I actually know because I’m not a huge fan. I grew up with my dad listening to Willie Nelson and Marty Robbins and now know some of the more pop crossover names, but I am always surprised when I know a George Strait song or Rascal Flatts song. I know my sister will be borrowing this from me because she’ll absolutely love it.
Additional Highlights include:
- Newly produced bonus interviews with country legends including Charley Pride, Kenny Rogers, Naomi Judd, Ronnie Milsap and more. Plus CMA bonus features with Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Vince Gill, George Strait, Carrie Underwood and many other country music stars.
- 44-page memory book including show photos, a history of the CMA Awards, plus a year-by-year guide to 50 years of Award winners.
The Nerds Templar 