Sugarland Talks Hair Extensions, Rihanna, & Being Honored By Peers

Sunday night was a big one for Sugarland. In addition to headling the first-ever ACM Fan Jam at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Sugarland won the title of ACM Vocal Duo of the Year and Jennfier Nettles performed alongside Rihanna. After the duo performed and were presented with their new ACM Award, Nettles and Kristian Bush phoned into the press room at the MGM Grand to chat with reporters about the evening.

“Obviously it was very exciting,” Nettles said about her performance with Rihanna. “The energy for me on stage was great, I think it felt comparable in the room, I don’t know how it translated on television thorough the screen but it felt great. I had a great time, I thought it sounded good.”

“[Rihanna] is a wonderful performer. Country music is hip and it’s cool and it’s young and it’s fresh and I think her being there is every more a testimony to that.”

Nettles says it means a lot to be recognized by the industry.

“I think always these awards are really exciting because they are about the acceptance from your peers, or at least being celebrated by your peers,” she said. “The duo category is a wonderful one to be in, I think everyone does a wonderful job to do this job anyway there is accolades that needs to be given to everyone so to be singled out in a certain way by your peers is very special.”

As you may have noticed, Nettles debuted new longer, locks on Sunday. Many thought Nettles was trying to make a statement with her new “do,” but she says she just wanted something different.

“I think it’s all about fun when we get to come these the award shows and when you want something different, you just do something different, she said. “There is no deeper hidden message other than wanting to look glamorous and feel good about yourself and be able to have fun.”

“There is no secret meaning in my hair,” Nettles added with a laugh.

“You know what I loved about it,” asked Bush. “I couldn’t tell who was going to have extensions and who wasn’t, Rhianna or Jennifer. Their hair both went to like three different lengths in a day.”