Jennifer Garner made an appearing at the CMAs last night, where she presented New Artist of The Year, which went to Maren Morris. Garner said some nice things in her introduction about her upbringing in West Virginia, where she said community was important and was something that’s stayed with her. You can read her quotes on US Magazine’s site. She’s a savvy woman.
Garner mixed up her typical staid look somewhat. We’re used to seeing her in black dresses with her hair pulled back but this is a different look for her. She was in a strapless black and gold Jenny Packham gown accessorized with gold jewelry. This is gorgeous and the semi circular sequins manage to elevate a very classic cut dress. Overall this look is a win, this venue appeals to her base, and she looked so pretty and just a tad bit daring.
Garner posed with her friend Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Brad Paisley’s wife and an actress whom I know from Nashville. Williams-Paisley was in an emerald Rubin Singer sweetheart neckline gown with a large thigh slit. This looks very much like something Sofia Vergara would wear. That’s not to say it’s bad, just predictable. I like the mix of fabrics, that’s well done. The silver shoes with the buckles just do not go.
Also in Rubin Singer we have Martina McBride. This metallic silver and black gown is like a bizarre twist on the distressed jeans trend. I don’t always dislike these dresses which are made to look like the fabric has worn off, but I don’t think the mix of patchy fabrics – matte and shiny, striped and smooth – works together. The split sleeves are cool though. I have an athletic jacket with the thumb hole sleeves and I love it. We rarely see long split sleeves on dresses.
Performer and New Artist nominee, Kelsea Ballerini, was in Michael Costello, a designer who often dresses Laverne Cox and Meghan Trainor. I feel like we’ve seen this silhouette a lot but I like it on her, and I like the bright floral print, it’s striking.
Do you guys remember Rihanna’s amazing pink tiered 2015 Grammys dress? That was Giambattista Valli and was a gown by which I judge all these other giant tiered gowns. This Christian Siriano on Kacey Musgraves just pales in comparison and reminds me of those crocheted doll toilet paper roll covers we had in the 70s. This is one of those “the dress is wearing her” situations. Plus it needs some tailoring.
Speaking of tiered fug, here’s Cassadee Pope in Marchesa. I like the horses meeting on the bodice, that’s clever, but the ruffled asymmetric hem is too much. So many Marchesa gowns look like bad trends which shouldn’t be put together. Plus she has that slicked back hair which is popular for some reason.
photos credit: WENN.com
Amazing Amy always looks purdy
What was up with that horrific southern accent she tried to pull off while presenting. Like we all know that’s not how she talks.
She had the shout out to West Virginia too. I was just thinking of the Whites of WV and she must have lots of family members she doesn’t talk to!
It was all just bizarre and weird to me. I get the shout out to West Virginia because that’s where she’s from but like she’s been in the business for so long and we have heard her speak before so it’s like we know you don’t have an accent.
Bahaha. Read my comments below. She’s full of it. She pulls out that “simple southern conservative girl from WV” crap when it’s handy. Bet she didn’t use that accent when she was in Nevada campaigning for Hillary.
When I was little girl (a very long time ago), my grandmother had a toilet tissue cover. It was a plastic doll, with a gown that you would cover a roll of toilet tissue with. That was the first thing I thought of when I saw that gown on Kacey Musgraves….Does anyone else remember those?? lol
That’s exactly what I wrote in the article and I linked it.
Hahah Daring to do what?? Speak Up at the PTA Formal?? LOL No this is legit her regular ass Red carpet style, God Bless…
Well the rest are good for are what they are… dresses at a Country Award Show which we know go in a “Dresses you find at the mall” scale (this is their Neiman/saks , There’s sure to come you Charlotte Russe/Off Brand name/Ross and Macy’s…)
Amazing Amy: while I love how you wax poetic about WV to reach your fan base, those of us that are from WV (and grew up with you!) know that Brad Paisley didn’t “grow up down the road from you,” he grew up four hours north of you above Wheeling, WV, in a Pittsburgh steel town suburb, and seriously doubt that as a teen living in Crw (the last time you lived there) you went to the “bluegrass music” at the Vandalia Gathering.
While I really do appreciate the positive spin you do your best to put on WV as the state needs all it can get, the creative license is a little….icky.
Teehee, I love YOU!!!!
There is no one more grating than Cassadee pope. I think I mostly hate her because she stole Rian from All Time Low from his long time girlfriend Kara (and endlessly bragged about it) and I’M STILL SO UPSET ABOUT IT hahahah
Why was Jen Garner even there? She doesn’t have a movie coming out, nothing on the horizon. Just self promotion I guess, catering to the mid west moms out there that listen to country music and trying to connect with that demo…… I think this is part of CAA, her new agency, attempt at trying to resuscitate her brand, what’s left of it anyway and if it’s even salvageable at her age and limited talent, plus her not willing to take a risk and make a movie without worrying about her kids not seeing either parent for long periods. Ben will never make his kids a priority, so its up to Jen to sacrifice. It’s sad that’s she’s become this desperate, pathetic “actress” who is probably not getting any offers, Sidney Bristow is dead. On another note, she’s been looking chubby lately but here she looks trim and toned, she must have two pairs of spandex on.
I think you are right about the re-branding with CAA. Plus yesterday she was on a top 25 people list for her charity work.
As far as her doing a movie that would take her away from the kids – maybe she should have that written into her divorce settlement – that Ben has to be with the kids while she attempts to resuscitate her career etc.
I’ve read before that she’s friends with Brad Paisley and his wife, and I think they support each others’ charities., etc. I know you always call me out for this, but I think she and Ben are back together. The constant stories about them have almost completely vanished now that he’s back. Star published a story a few days ago that they’re back together and he’s moved back into the main house. Not that Star is a reliable source by any means, but Gossip Cop hasn’t been able to deny it, which they always rush to do. You can even see the public narrative around them starting to change. When they split, it was all about the years and years of turmoil Jen suffered, including infidelity. Now they’re sweeping that under the rug to make it look like they just had “differences” that they’re now working out. I think they’re back together and will continue on with a Hilary and Bill marriage.
I don’t know – either you are right – or maybe they really are able to be “great friends” and raise their children together without being a couple. X17 reported a few weeks ago that Ben had moved back into the house. – that was not refuted either.
Boy what a story that would be if they did stay together – I would think Ben would use it to promote Live by night if that is the case.
Time will tell
JoJo
I don’t think they’re back together, in fact if anything they’ve grown even more apart, when Jen isn’t around Ben disappears, able to go unnoticed by the paps. He actually looks pretty depressed lately, not depressed about the divorce but the fact that HE can’t get himself to file for divorce and be free to date whoever he wants like his brother Casey is doing, it’s like he’s afraid of what impact it will have on his career, clearly the recent success of The Accountant should prove that the trajectory in his career has nothing to do with being married to her. Jen is the one who should worry, behind that smile of hers is a very insecure and lost woman, CAA might dump her if she can’t land jobs, Ben would be smart to cut her loose.
Kate,
No matter who has a better career between the two, they had 10 years and three kids between the two of them. You made it sound that JG is such a heavy burden for Ben to carry around his neck. To drop her because her career is going nowhere is such a weak excuse to leave your family. Ben, put his career first before his marriage and his family. There is no doubt he is very successful today because of this.
I think it’s pretty obvious they’re back together but are lying about it. For what reason? I don’t know. Check out gossip cop’s story about that dumb Anna Kendrick article, the wording is very interesting. Do they know something we don’t?
@Mel – Yeah, I thought that was weird too. If they’re separated, then why would it matter to Jen if Ben was flirting with someone. I think that they just don’t want to be public about being back together. It’s going to take years (and years and years and years to infinity) for trust to be repaired, if that’s even possible at all, so I’m sure they don’t want to make it public only to have everything go south again.
@jojo.
So what are you suggesting – they are going to be “secretly” back together while not divorcing or seeing other people for years!! That sounds really crazy even to me.
I think there are a few public “tests” coming up – Jenn Is being honored for her work for baby2baby next week – is Ben going to be in LA? Will he show up to support her as “the best mother” (he was quoted as saying this are press conference for the accountant)
Then the Holidays are coming up – will they give stories to people magazine about how they spent Thanksgiving as a family for the kids? Etc.
And then the Live by night press tour and subsequent oscars run. Will Jen have any part in that ? Lainey always says Jen is Ben’s good luck charm and how she “won” that Oscar for him by effectively campaigning for it via couple and family photo ops.
If there truly is a rekindled relationship , my bet it gets “unveiled” for that run. ” the how we saved our marriage press tour”
It would make for some good gossip
Of course I’m not suggesting they’d keep it a secret forever. Lol. I think they will keep it quiet for a while though. My guess is that they’re not sure of how things are going to play out, so they’re being careful. I don’t think either will show up to each other’s events, but I do think we might get the “family holiday” stories. There was a CDAN blind yesterday about Jennifer being with someone at the CMAs, but I take Enty blinds lightly.
I’d actually be happy for her if she was with someone new that she could be happy with. If so, why the secret? By all accounts they have not been together for over 2 years.
I don’t know – can you really spend a month overseas with “the love of your life” who you are in the middle of divorcing? It’s 5 months later and they stil have not filed for divorce and hang out a lot together. In September when Ben got back from London, they were photographed practically every day for a week. Now less so – but you don’t have to be photographed together to be together.
Then again who really knows certainly not me. And since I think I have been paying way too much attention to the story, I really do wish they would either be publically together or move on publically with someone else or file for divorce. Look at Ben’s brother Casey. He announced his divorce in March (I think) and he is public with a new girlfriend.
I’d actually be happy for her if she was with someone new that she could be happy with. If so, why the secret? By all accounts they have not been together for over 2 years.
I don’t know – can you really spend a month overseas with “the love of your life” who you are in the middle of divorcing? It’s 5 months later and they stil have not filed for divorce and hang out a lot together. In September when Ben got back from London, they were photographed practically every day for a week. Now less so – but you don’t have to be photographed together to be together.
Then again who really knows certainly not me. And since I think I have been paying way too much attention to the story, I really do wish they would either be publically together or move on publically with someone else or file for divorce. Look at Ben’s brother Casey. He announced his divorce in March (I think) and he is public with a new girlfriend.
Maybe they’re waiting until they’re away for Christmas to confirm they’ve reconciled, like they did with the split announcement last year. They know that once it’s confirmed they’ll be hounded nonstop.
My take is that they don’t move on publicly with anyone new because privately they are still “together” in some shape or form. But they don’t put their rings back on or publicly confirm they’ve reconciled because even they are probably not sure yet about how things are going to work out. Remember, these two have been the subject of divorce and infidelity rumors going way back to 2008, so if Jen has decided to stay – yet AGAIN – then I’m sure there are still massive trust issues to deal with, and it isn’t as simple as just putting your ring back on and celebrating.
New radar online article this morning for our entertainment – I would suspect gossip cop will deny this one.
If they’re secretly back together I would think that Ben would seem to be happier. He always still looks like he wants to open a vein, going through the motions.
Their holidays will probably be spent exactly like last year.
As for Gossip Cop, they’ve got better, more interesting things to report on these days: Brangelina, and now Prince Harry. If the Garner/Affleck stories don’t get many hits anymore, they may not bother.
@J – If we’re taking bets … 🙂 My guess is Gossip Cop will go to their camps, but they’re not going to get anything back anymore. Maybe Gossip Cop will actually do something out of the box and publish a story with the truth – that both of their camps are being silent all of a sudden (if that’s the case.) I’ve seen GC do that in the past, although not often.
Very cute article about Jen staring in a capital one commercial with her dad in people yesterday. I think she is trying to keep herself in the public consciousness – with the commercials and award show appearances as well as her charity efforts (which I do believe are genuine). All that is fine if that is what she is angling for. If she still wants to be a movie star – she is going to have to land some better roles. Maybe radar on line in right (lol). And Ben will cast her in a movie. Though I do believe she said on a talk show that she would never have him direct her, she would rather be married to him. Well maybe now that they are “not together” she would be in one of his movies
– anyone thinking “cat woman”😀
Actually I think she would do better in a dramatic role.
Yeah, I think with her switch to CAA, they are trying to revamp her image and increase her industry (vs mom) profile – hence all of the appearances, etc. Working together in movies has never been a great idea – from Liz/Richard to Angie/Brad and Nicole/Tom, so it definitely doesn’t seem like a good idea for an already shaky marriage. (Plus, Gossip Cop already denied this a few months ago, but who knows what the truth is … :))
I think the lack of coverage has more to do with story fatigue than anyone’s PR shushing them. They still print the same old stories but they’re not covers anymore. I think most people are tired of the same recycled crap and until there is actual new news (filing or dating others or putting their rings back on), it’s all mindless speculation and no one can give it anymore energy. I mean, except for a couple of posters here, that is… who seem to care more than the rest of the world combined.
I am apparently one of those posters, and that’s ok with me. I think the news dying down has more to do with their respective camps shutting down all talk and leaks. They’re no longer going to confirm or deny – that’s my take. Even Gossip Cop can’t get a denial now, and I think it has more to do with them not being able to get info from their regular sources than the stories not driving clicks.
All I can think of when I see Kacey is that huge fight she got into with Bobby Bones where she came off as a spoiled, entitled brat.
The fake accent omg. What is her damage? She looks like she can’t move or breathe in that corset.