Paltrow seemed nervous and shaky at the start, but opened up as the audience warmed to her song and even cheered for her.  At the end of the song, Paltrow and singing partner Vince Gill got a standing ovation and audience members were shouting and cheering, as Paltrow appeared visibly relieved and overwhelmed.  Personally, I’m not much on country music, but I think Paltrow did a great job, and it was an excellent advertisement for her film, Country Strong.

The movie has a soundtrack coming out on October 26th, and Paltrow will supposedly be performing a song from the soundtrack.  The movie itself, however, will not be coming out until early next year, so all you die-hard Gwyneth fans (do I hear crickets?) will have to make do with her country singing until then.

Miranda Lamber (Photo: Lukelambert)

Miranda Lambert is up for a total of nine CMA Awards, including Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year and Song of the Year.

Lambert will actually be going up against her fiance, Blake Shelton, in three award categories. That should make for some fun times at home!

The CMA Awards will air on November 12 on ABC. Check out the full list of nominees below.

Entertainer of the Year
Lady Antebellum
Miranda Lambert
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban
Zac Brown Band

Female Vocalist
Miranda Lambert
Martina McBride
Reba McEntire
Taylor Swift
Carrie Underwood

Male Vocalist
Dierks Bentley
Brad Paisley
Blake Shelton
George Strait
Keith Urban

Album of the Year
Need You Now, Lady Antebellum
Producers: Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum

Play On, Carrie Underwood
Producers: Mark Bright and Max Martin

Revolution, Miranda Lambert
Producers: Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke

Twang, George Strait
Producers: Tony Brown and George Strait

Up on the Ridge, Dierks Bentley
Producer: Jon Randall Stewart

Musical Event
“Bad Angel,” Dierks Bentley featuring Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson
“Can’t You See,” Zac Brown Band featuring Kid Rock
“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins
“I’m Alive,” Kenny Chesney with Dave Matthews
“Till the End,” Alan Jackson with Lee Ann Womack

Musician of the Year
Paul Franklin
Dann Huff
Brent Mason
Mac MacAnally
Randy Scruggs

Music Video of the Year
“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, directed by Roman White
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum, directed by David McClister
“The House that Built Me,” Miranda Lambert, directed by Trey Fanjoy
“Water,” Brad Paisley, directed by Jim Shea
“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert, directed by Chris Hicky

Single of the Year
“A Little More Country Than That,” Easton Corbin, produced by Carson Chamberlain
“Hillbilly Bone,” Blake Shelton featuring Trace Adkins, produced by Scott Hendricks
“Need You Now,” Lady Antebellum, produced by Paul Worley and Lady Antebellum
“The House That Built Me,” Miranda Lambert, produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke
“White Liar,” Miranda Lambert, produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke

Song of the Year
“A Little More Country Than That,” written by Rory Lee Feek, Wynn Varble and Don Poythress
“Need You Now,” written by Dave Haywood, Josh Kear, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott
“The House that Built Me,” written by Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin
“Toes,” written by Zachry Alexander Brown, Wyatt Beasley I. Durrette, John Hopkins and Shawn Mullins
“White Liar,” written by Natalie Hemby and Miranda Lambert

Vocal Duo
Brooks & Dunn
Joey Rory
Montgomery Gentry
Steel Magnolia
Sugarland

Vocal Group
Lady Antebellum
Little Big Town
Rascal Flatts
The Band Perry
Zac Brown Band

New Artist
Luke Bryan
Easton Corbin
Jerrod Niemann
Chris Young
Zac Brown Band

>> Previously:  Dancing With the Stars Cast and Pairings Announced

Papa Joe thought Jessica could revive her “career” by making the switch to country music, but this idea has turned out to be a flopper. Jessica’s country album is a yawner, and the songs she wrote are crappy. This is a singer-songwriter town, but you have to be a GOOD singer-songwriter to get any respect. Great for fans of country music, not great for Jessica. No amount of milkmaid dresses and cowboy boots can change that.

Carrie Underwood hosted the CMAs with Brad Paisley, and everyone knows that Carrie is not a Jessica Simspon fan. It’s quite within the realm of believability that Underpants banned Jess from the awards. It’s definitely something the diva would do, and would be another dig at Jess in their ongoing feud over Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo.

So…Jessica’s gonna have to go off, nurse her wounds, and if she wants to make it in country music: cut a decent album. It’s pretty bad when your hometown newspaper, The Dallas Morning News, gives you a scathing review. Oh, and one more thing- CUT OUT THE ONSTAGE BLABBERING ABOUT YOUR LOVE LIFE, JESSICA! Nobody wants to hear that shizz.

Shania Twain is rumored to make an appearance as well- she’s been absent from the scene for quite awhile, especially since her recent divorce from reclusive hubby Robert “Mutt” Lang. The LA Times is live-blogging and handicapping the awards, so check in and see how well they do!

The CMA awards are really a week-long event in Nashville; performing rights management organizations BMI, ASCAP and SESAC give their annual songwriter and producer awards during the days before the big night. Last night, BMI gave Hank Williams Jr. its ICON award for extraordinary musical achievement. It puts Hank one step closer to membership in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

So tune in and watch a star-filled night! We’ll all be here trying to stay out of the limo gridlock.

“In addition to their musical talent, Brad’s quick wit and Carrie’s gracefulness will serve them well in this role. CMA is happy to offer both of them their first opportunity to host a nationally televised network awards show. “

Brad and Carrie will perform on the show, as will Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban. Don’t look for newly countryfied Jessica Simpson to perform! If arch-enemy Carrie can’t maintain her “gracefulness” and takes a swipe at her from the stage it would be MUST SEE TV!