Easton Corbin on the Ram Trucks Red Carpet
In a continuing effort by Ram Trucks to Put the Blog in Country, we invited two popular country music bloggers to the 48th Academy of Country Music Awards and asked them to record their experiences. Yesterday we posted our first account from the event; today we post another, this one courtesy of Tanya McQuillan from Country Music Tattle Tale
By Tanya McQuillan
Ram Trucks gave me the weekend of a lifetime when they sent me to Las Vegas to cover the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards. For three brief days, I enjoyed pampering, posh accommodations and a primo spot on the Ram Truck red carpet along with a cozy seat to country music’s biggest party.
Raminator on display at the Ram Ride and Drive
I arrived in sunny Las Vegas on Saturday, April 6, just in time to check in to the hotel before scooting over to the Party for a Cause event at The Orleans. What used to be a one-night party has turned into a full-blown festival honoring the greatest genre of music. Sponsors, local vendors and artists littered the parking lot, giving fans an opportunity to spend the day meeting and greeting, all while helping a great cause.
Sponsored by Ram Trucks, the Ride and Drive event gave country music lovers an up-close look at the hardest-working truck and their favorite country artists. During the multiday event, fans rode in Ram Trucks through obstacles created to showcase all it has to offer along with autograph sessions and meet ’n’ greets with Easton Corbin and Thompson Square, who happily posed away with fans in the sweltering desert heat.
Thompson Square signing autographs for fans
Sunday morning after a poolside breakfast, I primped for the Ram Trucks Red Carpet. With minutes to spare, I dressed in a flash just in time to be whisked away in a Dodge Charger Limousine to the ACM Awards. Over the next several hours, I snapped photos of Easton Corbin, Thompson Square and a handful of other artists on the red carpet.
The best way to describe a red carpet is hectic. There are people everywhere! Publicists hurry along, mapping out their artist’s next stop; hair and make-up people go from person to person, primping and buffing out shine; and artists move about, smile ready from interview to interview. Every artist was happy to pose for a quick photo. Easton Corbin joked that his powder blue suit was borrowed from his father’s closet. It was amazing to be in the middle of all the action and see the stars act like regular people, fanning themselves in the heat and enjoying some time with their peers.
Once settled into my seat at the MGM Arena, I knew immediately I was in for something special. The set was amazing, the performances were stellar, and the artists were truly grateful to be recognized by their peers and fans for all of their hard work. Blake Shelton and Luke Bryan didn’t disappoint with their first time co-hosting. Instead of heckling the crowd, the duo took a new approach and heckled each other like brothers, throwing low blows with the best of intentions. The ACM pulled out all the stops with the stage setups this year, truly making each performance unique. After re-watching the awards on television, I can really appreciate how stunning everything looked in person. The entire stage was filled with something to see.
When all was said and done, the amazing experience was worth the epic blisters my poor feet suffered. The weekend went by entirely too fast. It was a whirlwind of music, pampering, mingling and meeting some truly amazing people. Thank you, Ram Trucks, for allowing me to be part of such an amazing event.
– Tanya McQuillan, Country Music Tattle Tale
Another look at Raminator
