What better to way honor the lovely and talented Miss Trisha Yearwood on the occasion of her birthday (September 19) than to reflect on one of the biggest nights of her life and career. It’s hard to believe this week also marks the 10th anniversary of Trisha’s very first win for CMA Female Vocalist of the Year at the 31st Annual Country Music Association Awards; a win that marked the beginning of what was arguably the biggest year of her career.
I remember exactly where I was the night of September 24, 1997. I was a 21-year-old college student and watched the show in the bedroom of the apartment I shared with two roommates. I had been hoping Trisha would finally win the female vocalist award she so richly deserved, so to say I was ecstatic for her is an understatement.
First, the performance of a lifetime: Trisha, elegant and regal in her long, black gown, performed her current hit “How Do I Live” in front of industry peers and fans, and she simply wowed them. She was accompanied by an orchestra as she sang into an overheard microphone while scenes from the movie Con Air played on a screen in the background. (The song was from the movie’s soundtrack – but that’s an entirely different story.) During the performance, Trisha was visibly moved by the applause from the crowd as she sang her heart out. When the song ended, she was completely overwhelmed by the standing ovation and applause from the audience, and she can be seen shaking her head in amazement as she hurriedly walked backstage.
Now, I have seen Trisha sing this signature song many times over the years, both on television and in concert. But there was something absolutely magical and breathtaking about her performance that night. To this day, I still get chills anytime I happen to see it. It was that good.
That performance alone would have made for a great night for Trisha, but the best was yet to come. The female vocalist category was announced right after her performance, so she was still standing backstage as the nominees were called: Deana Carter, Patty Loveless, LeAnn Rimes, Pam Tillis and Trisha Yearwood. Finally, the moment of truth: Ronnie Milsap announced “The winner is Trisha Yearwood.” The camera captured her reaction as she made her way back to the stage to accept her award. Trisha is not normally one to get teary and too emotional on stage, but that night, the tears flowed. In her speech, she marveled, “I don’t know what to say except that this is what I have wanted ever since I saw Reba McEntire win female vocalist of the year and stand on this stage and say into the tv set, ‘If you have a dream, you can make it come true.’ I believed you Miss Reba and I’m here.” After thanking the obligatory manager, label, etc., she thanked her parents by saying, “As proud as you are of me right now, I’m prouder to be your daughter.” She went on to say, “But most of all, I want to thank the fans, who have made me feel like I’ve won this award every year. I love you guys.”
It goes without saying that Trisha’s moving performance of a beautiful song and her subsequent female vocalist win were definitely my favorite moments of the ‘97 CMAs. It had been quite a while since I have watched my vhs tape of that award show, but I recently found clips of Trisha’s performance and win posted online and got chills all over again as I watched and remembered where I was that night. I just thought back to that night and how it will always remain a magical moment in time for my favorite artist. I know it’s a night she will never forget.
Trisha’s CMA win led to several other awards that season. She won her first solo Grammy for female country vocal performance for “How Do I Live” in 1998, the same night she also won a Grammy for country vocal collaboration with future husband Garth Brooks for their duet “In Another’s Eyes.” Trisha also received top female vocalist honors from the Academy of Country Music for the first time in 1998, and she went on to receive a second female vocalist of the year award from the CMA that same year. On CMA night, Trisha gave another powerful performance and accepted her award live via satellite from Buffalo, New York, where she and Garth had a show that night. Their performance of “Where Your Road Leads” in front of a manic, packed-house crowd was yet another truly magical, chill bump-raising performance.
Trisha’s performances at the ’97 and ’98 CMA Awards shows remain two of my all-time favorite award show performances of hers to this day. Watching them brings back such great memories of the high point of Trisha’s career. With the help and support of a new record label, and with fresh, exciting new music on the horizon, Trisha is well-poised to make her way back to the top, where she belongs.
I remember exactly where I was the night of September 24, 1997. I was a 21-year-old college student and watched the show in the bedroom of the apartment I shared with two roommates. I had been hoping Trisha would finally win the female vocalist award she so richly deserved, so to say I was ecstatic for her is an understatement.
First, the performance of a lifetime: Trisha, elegant and regal in her long, black gown, performed her current hit “How Do I Live” in front of industry peers and fans, and she simply wowed them. She was accompanied by an orchestra as she sang into an overheard microphone while scenes from the movie Con Air played on a screen in the background. (The song was from the movie’s soundtrack – but that’s an entirely different story.) During the performance, Trisha was visibly moved by the applause from the crowd as she sang her heart out. When the song ended, she was completely overwhelmed by the standing ovation and applause from the audience, and she can be seen shaking her head in amazement as she hurriedly walked backstage.
Now, I have seen Trisha sing this signature song many times over the years, both on television and in concert. But there was something absolutely magical and breathtaking about her performance that night. To this day, I still get chills anytime I happen to see it. It was that good.
That performance alone would have made for a great night for Trisha, but the best was yet to come. The female vocalist category was announced right after her performance, so she was still standing backstage as the nominees were called: Deana Carter, Patty Loveless, LeAnn Rimes, Pam Tillis and Trisha Yearwood. Finally, the moment of truth: Ronnie Milsap announced “The winner is Trisha Yearwood.” The camera captured her reaction as she made her way back to the stage to accept her award. Trisha is not normally one to get teary and too emotional on stage, but that night, the tears flowed. In her speech, she marveled, “I don’t know what to say except that this is what I have wanted ever since I saw Reba McEntire win female vocalist of the year and stand on this stage and say into the tv set, ‘If you have a dream, you can make it come true.’ I believed you Miss Reba and I’m here.” After thanking the obligatory manager, label, etc., she thanked her parents by saying, “As proud as you are of me right now, I’m prouder to be your daughter.” She went on to say, “But most of all, I want to thank the fans, who have made me feel like I’ve won this award every year. I love you guys.”
It goes without saying that Trisha’s moving performance of a beautiful song and her subsequent female vocalist win were definitely my favorite moments of the ‘97 CMAs. It had been quite a while since I have watched my vhs tape of that award show, but I recently found clips of Trisha’s performance and win posted online and got chills all over again as I watched and remembered where I was that night. I just thought back to that night and how it will always remain a magical moment in time for my favorite artist. I know it’s a night she will never forget.
Trisha’s CMA win led to several other awards that season. She won her first solo Grammy for female country vocal performance for “How Do I Live” in 1998, the same night she also won a Grammy for country vocal collaboration with future husband Garth Brooks for their duet “In Another’s Eyes.” Trisha also received top female vocalist honors from the Academy of Country Music for the first time in 1998, and she went on to receive a second female vocalist of the year award from the CMA that same year. On CMA night, Trisha gave another powerful performance and accepted her award live via satellite from Buffalo, New York, where she and Garth had a show that night. Their performance of “Where Your Road Leads” in front of a manic, packed-house crowd was yet another truly magical, chill bump-raising performance.
Trisha’s performances at the ’97 and ’98 CMA Awards shows remain two of my all-time favorite award show performances of hers to this day. Watching them brings back such great memories of the high point of Trisha’s career. With the help and support of a new record label, and with fresh, exciting new music on the horizon, Trisha is well-poised to make her way back to the top, where she belongs.
Here’s to future female vocalist nominations and wins for the birthday girl. Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary Miss Trisha!
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