Country Music's Diva's Strike Again!

Begin with a newcomer from Checotah, Oklahoma who hit the country music industry hard, Carrie Underwood. Carrie took the country music charts by storm indicated by her quadruple-platinum selling debut album, Some Hearts. The album contains three number one country singles, "Before He Cheats", "Jesus Take The Wheel", and "Don't Forget To Remember Me".

Next in line is an established, much loved country music artist, Faith Hill. Faith is very well known throughout the entire country music industry and even attempted to cross over to the pop music industry with her self titled album, Faith.

Okay so how does that create a jealousy match that turned big and ugly?

Well there are still two more additions. The next addition is the 2006 CMA Awards Controversy. Add that into the mix and you're on your way.

Faith Hill made the national news headlines in November when she appeared at the CMA Awards and was up against Carrie Underwood, amongst other notables for Female Vocalist of the Year. When Carrie's name was called as winner, Faith could be seen on camera backstage throwing up her hands, mouthing "what?!?" and then storming off camera. Faith continues to claim the entire scenario was a joke, but one has to almost wonder. She released the following statement. "The idea that I would act disrespectful towards a fellow musician is unimaginable to me. 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."

So everyone thought it was over. But there was one more twist to add to this already ugly pot of jealousy.

Leann Rimes.

It saddens me to type that name, as Leann Rimes has continued to be one of my absolute favorites in country music. I own every single album she has ever released and have attended concerts since before she made it big and was still a small town gal singing in Garland, Texas at our local fair.

However, she was the final twist to add to this horrible situation.

As the buzz was beginning to die down, the headlines beginning to fade, Faith's life was probably beginning to resume some sort of normalcy, but nope, it was short lived.

Enter Leann Rimes, a third amazing country artist who threw herself right into the pot with much more than just a twist.

Leann, being the friend she is to Faith, decided to help her friend by posting a message to her official website. It was not the smartest move.

The message:
"Okay, I usually keep quiet on topics like this but I feel I need to stand up for my friend, Faith. She was just being honest and emotional like every other person sitting at home with an opinion. These awards shows are SO political and we all get fed up with them. We all work very hard and have for many years so to see someone come in and win Female Vocalist that has been here for a VERY short time, is a little disheartening. That is why we have the Horizon award and Carrie had an incredible year, enough to sweep that one. I don't think Faith was angry about her loss, she probably felt, as I did that Carrie has not paid her dues long enough to fully deserve that award. As artists and public figures, we have to keep our feelings so repressed so we don't get called ungrateful as Faith has on this board many times now. She is a very sweet and gracious woman, whom I adore. Please cut her some slack!"

Enter pure shock. Many long time fans of both Leann and Faith were outraged to say the very least, as they had begun to enjoy this inspirational young woman who had entered the country music world on a wing and a prayer, and felt that Carrie totally deserved this award no less than any other country superstar.

But it doesn't end there. Nope. Leann decided to stir the pot, yet again. She retracted the posting and replaced it with,

"This post is going to become more controversial than it needs to be. I have enjoyed talking with you about our opinions but feel that this already is blown way out of proportion. I stand by Faith as my fellow artist and friend as an honest mistake was magnified. I also, as you know from previous post, respect Carrie and wish her well!"

Uhm. Okay. Well Faith's management team was obviously upset with LeAnn's original posting as well as her retraction and subsequent final posting and asked her to remove everything. It's gone.

What a shame this entire jealousy situation has been. Both country music superstar's have amazing voices and I own albums by both. However, the jealousy that was so apparent here, is simply unprofessional in my opinion.

And I have one last question to leave you with. What dues does Carrie Underwood need to pay? Who is LeAnn to even imply that there should be? It doesn't matter how Carrie Underwood came into her record deal, she did. And it is because she has a beautiful voice and talent. Something both Faith and Leann posses, but obviously they both possess jealousy as well. A stirred up pot has created the first country music diva drama in sometime.

And I'm also curious, if the entire thing was a joke, why did Leann post that if her and Faith were such good friends? Wouldn't Leann have known it was a joke? Wouldn't Faith have told her? Wouldn't they have at some point communicated about the entire thing? Or did they, and that is where Leann's previous statements came from? I almost think she sounded as if she was speaking for both of them when she released her statements on her website.

I realize I chose to write about this, as it's slowly beginning to die down again, however it has been on my mind. Two talented ladies are changed in my eyes forever, by a seemingly playful "joke".