American artists dominate 2009 French Country Music Awards

November 3, 7:05 PMNashville Country Music ExaminerLisa L. Rollins

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The 2009 French Country Music Awards had no shortage of homegrown talent in the winners' circle.

Courtesy of FCMA

Access the official Web site of the French Country Music Awards and familiar faces abound; namely, a slew of country talent from the good ole' U.S. of A, from Reba McEntire, Big Kenny and Rodney Atkins, to Garth Brooks, Sam Bush, Sugarland and international sensation Taylor Swift.

It shouldn't be too surprising, then, to note that country artists from the United States dominated the recent 2009 FCMA contest, which is now in its seventh year. In fact, American country artists have led the contest since its 2003 inception, it seems, but only recently have folks on this side of the pond begun to take note of the contest's winners.

Granted, this scribe isn't sure how closely the French Association of Country Music eyes the contenders in stateside contests such as the annual Academy of Country Music and Country Music Association Awards, but the FCMA's latest lineup of winners isn't one that too many American country fans would argue with.

In particular, this year's Meilleur Artiste is Brad Paisley, and for those who don't speak French (including moi), this win translates to Best Entertainer of the Year. Alan Jackson, meanwhile, scored the contest's Best Male Vocalist of the Year prize and Sara Evans took Best Female Vocalist for '09. (I must say, I didn't recognize her photo at first on the results page, because I'm not accustomed to seeing her, or any other country artist, donning so much baby oil, but perhaps it helped her "slide" across the finish line in the FCMA contest.)

The trophy for Meilleur Espoir--um, I mean, Best New Talent of the Year--went to a familiar face on the current American country scene, Zac Brown Band, while Best Duo of the Year went to Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally for their "Down the Road" offering. Chesney was a two-fisted winner in the FCMA event, also winning Best Song of the Year for "Out Last Night."

Paisley, in addition to winning the Entertainer honor, also took home two more wins in the French contest, landing Best Album of the Year for his American Saturday Night CD and Best Musician of the Year. Moreover, recent Inspirational Country Music Awards winner Ricky Skaggs was presented with the French event's Best Bluegrass Band of the Year title, while John Rich notched its Best Video of the Year for his truly American-themed "Shuttin' Detroit Down" music clip.

For those who would like to peruse the FCMA's full rundown of winners and categories, including the top French country performers, please click here. And kudos--or rather, félicitations--to this year's winners!