Last night, the 47th annual Country Music Association Awards were held in Nashville’s Bridgestone arena to honor all the very talented humans in country music. From my understanding of the night, the two main themes were “Taylor Swift” and “not Miley Cyrus.” As usual, the red carpet was swarmed with sparkles, ruffles and big hair.
Let’s dive in:
Carrie Underwood looked gorgeous in a sheer Ralph & Russo gown; Taylor Swift oozed glamor in Elie Saab, and Connie Britton stunned in a sleek black Georges Hobeika dress.
Chaley Rose of Nashville opted for glittery and body-hugging as well and looked flawless doing so. Her hair is amazing. Kellie Pickler looked lovely in an architectural gown with a long train; Kimberly Williams-Paisley (also of Nashville) kept it relatively simple.
Pretty Little Liars‘ Lucy Hale looks ethereal in her fluttering halter dress; I really like Jana Kramer‘s “delicate watercolor on the bottom, business bitch on top” look; and Jennifer Nettles‘ Naeem Khan gown is divine.
Here we have a Patriotic Triptych: OnTheRedCarpet host Rebecca Smith wore an almost-interesting dress by Tadashi Shoji; Miranda Lambert looked stunning in sequins, but her dress is a bit prom-y for me; Faith Hill opted for an ill-fitting toga.
Yes to Kimberly Perry‘s embroidered dress; nope to Sheryl Crow‘s look, which somehow manages to straddle the border between boring and tacky; and yes to Robin Roberts for doing formal pants right.
Some failed experiments with lace: Laura Bell Bundy in some fabric scraps; Cassadee Pope in one of those sexy aprons they sell at Victoria’s Secret; Kacey Musgraves hot-glued some appliques to a shower curtain liner.
Couples! Lennon Stella and Maisy Stella, who famously made Mumford & Sons listenable on Nashville, look lovely. Luke Bryan rocks a plum jacket, while his wife Caroline Boyer tops her customary slinky dress with eye-catching jewelry and a lil’ peplum. Jace Robertson and Willie Robertson of Duck Dynasty continue to look like Duck Dynasty cast members.
Blake Shelton, also in purple, and Miranda Lambert again; Nashville‘s Charles Esten and his lady-companion; Seth Meyers and Alexi Ashe.
Men in hats: Dustin Lynch, Jason Aldean and Craig Morgan.
Men without hats: Hunter Hayes, Jason Mraz (I count that thing on his head a nuisance rather than a hat), Keith Urban, and Brett Eldredge wearing, like, a space suit.
The ugly: Hayley Orrantia in an terrible print with a top that looks like a mistake; Lauren Alaina of American Idol wearing something that could be from Forever21; Colbie Caillat in a bunch of bland and ugly triangles.
The bad: Brandy Clark does formal trousers very wrong; Shawna Thompson pairs a very strangely-tailored dress with clashing accessories; Aubrey Peeples is possibly wearing a burgundy sports bra.
Images via Getty.