When CMT debuted the genre-mixing concert series CMT Crossroads in 2002 with Americana darling Lucinda Williams and English singer-songwriter Elvis Costello performing each others songs, the network established a musical mutual admiration society that continues to this day.
A year after CMT Crossroads premiered, the network was slowly but transitioning from primarily a music-video channel to one occasionally featuring special programming. Music videos became the focus of their annual fan-voted awards show, then called the Flameworthys, which remains one of the channels highest-rated events and continues to present one-of-a-kind artistic collaborations.
Such was the case when globally recognized country-pop superstar Shania Twain teamed with acoustic bluegrass-country band Union Station, fronted by Alison Krauss, at the 2003 Flameworthys. Twains dystopian clip for Im Gonna Getcha Good won for Concept Video of the Year the same night, but for her performance of the ballad Forever and for Always, the Canadian stripped away the glossy production of the original and allowed the breezy, unplugged instrumentation to take center stage. With a band that features Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Dan Tyminksi and Ron Block on guitars, Barry Bales on bass, Larry Atamanuik on drums, and the angelic-voiced Krauss on fiddle and harmony, Twain shines in a glorious performance that keeps her seated throughout, even as the crowds excitement and appreciation reaches its crescendo near the songs end.
Shania Twain: 'Too Much Sameness' on Country RadioHear Levi Hummon's Gorgeous Collaboration With Alison Krauss 'Love Heals'20 Insanely Great Van Halen Songs Only Hardcore Fans Know20 Insanely Great Eminem Tracks Only Hardcore Fans Know
Krauss and Union Station would join Twain later in 2003 for Up! Close and Personal, an in-concert video album which took much of its inspiration from Elvis Presleys 68 Comeback Special. It was released on DVD in 2004. Among the songs covered was You Shook Me All Night Long, from one of Krausss favorite bands, AC/DC, whose 1980 recording of the song was produced by Robert John Mutt Lange, Twains then-husband and producer.
Collaborations in the spotlight at tonights CMT Music Awards include Video of the Year finalist Coming Home, by Keith Urban and Julia Michaels, as well as Brandi Carlile and Tanya Tucker, Brett Young and Boyz II Men, and Toby Keith with Cole Swindell. The show airs Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. ET, live from Nashvilles Bridgestone Arena.