Kelly Clarkson stuns with “Don’t Rush” live at the CMA Awards

I don’t listen to nearly as much country music as I’d like to, but the annual Country Music Association Awards is by far my favorite awards ceremony in the industry. Pretty much everyone there is talented and can sing, you don’t have to second guess every winner and wonder who they sucked off to get their trophy like at the Scammys, and the entire show doesn’t get eaten up by stupid publicity stunts like who dressed up as a nun or who announced their pregnancy on the red carpet like at the VMAs.

One woman who’s becoming a force to be reckoned with at the CMA Awards is Kelly Clarkson. She served up one of the best performances of 2010 when she teamed up with Jason Aldean on stage to perform their hit duet “Don’t You Wanna Stay” two years ago, but she may have just outdone herself tonight when she was joined by Vince Gill to perform her breezy new country single, “Don’t Rush”.

This is one of the very few performances today in which the live vocal is virtually indistinguishable from the recorded one. Close your eyes, and you won’t be able to tell the difference, and if there is one to be found, it’s that Kelly sounds even better live than she does on CD. Vince Gill can’t be ignored either, who elevated Kelly’s performance even higher thanks to his killer guitar work and smooth background vocals.

And can we stop for a moment and talk about how ridiculously stunning Kelegendary looked? She was skinny, stylish, and radiating joy and contentment like she just touched the hand of Jesus. Easily the best she’s looked since she slayed the 2006 Grammy Awards.

It looks like Greatest Hits – Chapter 1 is coming for Breakaway’s wig as Kelly’s peak era!

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 1st, 2012 at 10:50 pm and is filed under Performances. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

  • http://twitter.com/SuzySooyoung Suzy Sooyoung

    Im shocked at how good she looks. Werq it Gurl you deserve it!!!!

    And yasss ! Slayed by this awesome performance. Such kween!

  • KingBeaArthur

    Whoooo!!! Those vocals are milky! It’s impossible not to love her.

  • thugplaya56

    Stunning.Flawless.Epic.Radiant.K.Legend never ceases to amaze me.this is an old school Bonny Raitt esque classic…K.Legend has made quality pure pop music without selling her soul to the music industry or compromising her morals

  • Brandon

    Hopefully this becomes her first big solo hit on country radio! Also looking like “Catch My Breath” is finally climbing on Hot AC and Top 40 radio.

    Two successful singles at once? Could happen!

  • gotgotgone

    This has been such an amazing year for Kelly probably her biggest since 2005, I proudly own all of her albums and will be getting the greatest hits to support her,it will be nice to have all the hits on one disc. As for the performance its flawless and is just one of the many performances she has done this year that makes me think she is currently the best vocal performer we have. She has gained so much momentum and I am hoping she can carry it on to her next era.

  • gotgotgone

    She does look amazing especially with that hair. Shes one of the only people who can rock light and dark hair.

  • http://davidsask.wordpress.com/ DavidSask

    I don’t understand how Kelly Clarkson does a duet and one new country tune and now she is eligible to be among the CMA Female artist of the year, that is a huge WTF??? I don’t care if her manager is Reba’s husband and she is dating his son, who looks to old for her. As for the song over rated and not like her last kick ass one!

  • theprophetblog

    Lol it’s because she also released a country version of Mr Know It All

  • http://twitter.com/HBF82 Bojan Goranović

    Unbelievable!!!

  • mimifan

    amazing kelly!

  • greggo86

    i’ve been a follower of this website for a long long time, and don’t think i’ve ever commented. i’m not a fan of kelly clarkson, I have no hate, i’m just not a fan, though I cannot deny her talent, and its nice to see someone who came from such a manufactured start (american idol) hasn’t sold her soul to the devil and sold out!

  • shamelesskclarkstan

    made my morning, thank you proph! best friend and i last night after the show… one of first things we said?… “can’t wait for proph’s response!!” — I actually thought you’d note Tay or Carrie first and foremost, and being the shameless stan that I am for K Clark… thank you. :-) there is absolutely nothing i could add to this post..

  • shamelesskclarkstan

    he is not too old for her, he is a flawless beautiful cub of a man you twinky freak. that is all, bless your heart.

  • EL

    Yes, Kelly! This is a real-live jam! It’s so groovy.

  • http://www.twitter.com/themusicprophet The Music Prophet

    She is just flawless. Classy, sexy, and flawless

  • http://www.facebook.com/JamesFluker James Alexander Fluker

    Omg. Shaking and crying at this perfection. My fav can, and my fav did. This flawless, genre-defining Bonnie Raitt realness can do no wrong. Heavenly Fleetwood Mac-esque harmonies, Guitar so smooth John Mayer & Carlos Santana would kill for it, and a live vocal that sounds every bit as polished as the studio recording. That flop republican voting audience is not worthy, tbh.

  • http://www.facebook.com/JamesFluker James Alexander Fluker

    Omg, this reply is giving me life. #Slayed

  • Sass

    I freaking loved the performance and song!!! The bluesy country Clarkson is amazing. I love when she does stuff like this. I could listen to bluesy Kelly forever. Her bluesy voice is so HOT!!!

  • sass

    Kelly sings better than all the other country folks which is why they nominated her. Brandon is only 5 yrs older. Not too old for her at all. My man is 10 yrs older than I am.

  • Educated South

    Can’t get enough of it! Kinda 70′s 80′s meets today. Perfection!