Blondes, Baubles and Bad Taste at the CMT Awards

Jewelry hounds, I'm not trying to be disagreeable. Red carpet jewelry and fashion gawking is certainly not saving any oil-soaked pelicans or curing cancer anytime soon. But when Jersey Shore's Snooki looks better than half the divas doing the rounds at the Country Music Television (CMT) Awards, you know you're in for a long night.

And what is Snooki doing at the CMT Awards?

Let's start with the good. Taylor Swift. Always a fashion winner. Love the straight hair. Hoops. Galliano. Louboutin. What's not to like?


What's not to like? How about this unfortunate statement necklace choice by Kellie Pickler?


Or this bizarre lace mini green monster thing on Hayden Panitierre?


Or the weird day-glo dress meets sparkly gold teardrop earring look on Leann Rimes?


Or Laura Bell Bundy's gold stripper, I mean, red carpet get-up?


Or Miranda Lambert's Snooki impression?

Or this ho-hum look an the usually stunning Faith Hill (love the trendy big hoops, though)?


Clearly this battle of the blonde bombshells left me battered and bruised. Am I going off the rails here? Or is Country Music in desperate need of a Rachel Zoe makeover?

Carrie Underwood's Diamond Engagement Ring Details

Carrie Underwood flashed her diamond engagement ring this week after news hit that her hockey-player boyfriend, Mike Fisher, popped the question. Trouble was? No one could find any details about the little tidbits we jewelry hounds find most important - carat count, cut, and COST!

But People Magazine reports that the large center stone we could barely make out in all the photos isn't just any old diamond, folks. It's a flawless yellow diamond designed in a platinum setting by her by jeweler Johnathon Arndt, who said in a release,

“This ring is a symbol of love from Mike Fisher to Carrie Underwood,” as he wished the couple congratulations.

The five+ carat rock is reportedly worth over $150,000

Johnathon Arndt Gallery of Jewels came into the national spotlight when they formed an alliance with the Academy of Country Music and The Country Music Association. His Gallery of Jewels is an "invitation only" Gallery with only six locations Worldwide.


Here are some other links of Carrie's red carpet bling over the past year if you're curious how Arndt bedazzled her for her high profile events. I can only imagine what the wedding will bring!

Carrie at the CMAs
Carrie at the AMAs
Carrie at the Acamedy of Country Music Awards (ACMAs)
Carrie at the Vanity Fair post Oscar party
Carrie at the Grammys

Grammys' Diamond Glamour and Gaudy Misfires

The 2009 Grammy Awards brought us glittering diamond divas, gauche attempts at rock and roll glamour and gasp-worthy no-shows. Whitney Houston presented without slurring her words, Rhianna dropped out because boyfriend, Chris Brown, is in trouble with the law, and Paula Abdul showed up in a gown worthy of the lido deck on the Starship Enterprise – if it had a lido deck.

Just another day in the life of the music industry.

Lucky for us, musicians love to flaunt the ice, and the Los Angeles Staples Center was frozen over with it. Teen sensations and BFFs, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus, looked all grown up in classic black. Taylor wore a floor-length Kaufman Franco number with Lorraine Schwartz brown diamonds, and Miley matched her moxy with black Max Azaria and Mimi So diamond danglers. Keep it up, ladies.










Grammy winner and heart warmer, Jennifer Hudson, wore square diamond dangle earrings and a matching bracelet that worked much better than the Roland Mouret dress that said 'dinner napkin' more than dazzle. And fellow American Idol, Fantasia rocked the ice on every surface from designers, H. Stern and First Lady-favorite, Loree Rodkin.










Not to be outdone was Katy Perry in H. Stern six-stone princess-cut diamond drop earrings, a diamond Sofia bangle bracelet and an H. Stern floral diamond Right Hand. Keyshia Cole brought out the big guns with her Damiani diamond statement necklace, and the wattage winner has to be my new favorite singing obsession, Adele, in over 30 carats of Stephen Russell diamonds. Take that Amy Winehouse!









Metallics made their usual appearance on a sequined Gwenyth Paltrow in Versace and Chopard, Grammy-winner Carrie Underwood wearing Zuhair Murad and Jonathan Arndt diamond drops , Lee Ann Rhimes in Philosophy and Bleeding Love chanteuse, Leona Lewis in Rhandi Rahm.


















But what is a Grammy red carpet without the shenanigans – a.k.a. “The Courtney Love” factor? You just never know what’s going to come at you when musicians on medication dress themselves. This year the big winner is rapper, M.I.A., who busted out with bad roots, a baby bump and a Manish Arora dress that defied explanation.

While the look might not be as shocking as the Lil’ Kim doily episode at the MTV Music Awards (or the Bjork Oscar swan), combine it with the aforementioned Paula Abdul disaster, throw in a dash of trash from Paris, and add the My Favorite Martian choice from Estelle - and we may have us a red carpet catastrophe worthy of a Courtney Love MySpace rant.


















You gotta love the Grammys.

Click here for a complete list of Grammy’s big winners!