The 51st annual Grammy Awards air Feb. 8 on CBS.
In fact, you know it’s going to be a great Grammy year for the genre when the powers that be select a country artist to help announce the nominations. This go around they elected to have country starlet Taylor Swift serve as co-host for that prime-time broadcast event, where all learned who had been given the "G" nod.
There are a number of compelling contests in this year’s Grammy event, but among the 2009 nods that may be of particular interest to country fans are the contests boasting longtime Lone Star country-music icon George Strait, who's nominated in four categories this time.
Will "King George" finally ride away with a Grammy?
Also in this year’s contest, this writer is especially hoping to see Tompkins Square recording artist Charlie Louvin, who made his name as one-half the Country Music Hall of Fame-inducted duo The Louvin Brothers, score a much-deserved Grammy in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album area.
The Alabama-born, Tennessee-based Louvin, 81, was nominated last year in the same category, but the prize managed to elude him. My money’s on Charlie to take this one, and if not, call 9-1-1 'cause somebody's been robbed!
Did you say Lady Antebellum versus The Jonas Brothers?
Of course, the country masses are rooting for newcomers Lady Antebellum to pull it out on the trio’s first go at the Grammy this year. The players—Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood—are the lone country act in their category, and let’s face it, if they lose to The Jonas Brothers, there could be rioting—in my living room, if nothing else. (It's probably relevant to note here that I have a teen son, not a daughter, so Lady A's music rules at our place, not the Jonas boys.)
This writer is also closely watching the songwriting category, where every nominee is a winner. However, Nashville tunesmith Lee Thomas Miller, who pens under the BMI publishing umbrella, has not one, but two songs nominated in the Best Country Song contest; namely, "You're Gonna Miss This," which was recorded by Trace Adkins, and "In Color," a track he penned with co-writers/recording artists James Otto and Jamey Johnson. ... Looks like it will be a double nail-biter in the Miller home these days.
Charlie Louvin, 81, is nominated for Steps to Heaven.
As for Grammy-trivia buffs, it may be of interest to note that bluegrasser/country artist Alison Krauss has won more than 20 Grammys to date, which is more than any other female in Grammy history, thanks to her talents as a solo artist, producer, collaborator and member of Union Station.
For a full overview of the country, bluegrass and country-gospel artists, albums, songs and songwriters in this year’s contest, as well as their competition, please access 51st Grammy Awards: 2009 Country Music Nominees.
Want to pick the Grammy Award winners from the office or your living room? Download Examiner.com's printable Grammy ballot and amaze your friends with your choice of who will win Song of the Year!
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Comments
I pray so hard that the Best Male Performance and Best Country Song Grammy awards are given to James Otto, I love him so much!!! (big smile)
God bless you and him always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
Huzzah, Alison Krauss! I've been a tremendous fan of hers since I bought her Now That I've Found You: A Collection CD merely because I liked the cover (I'd never even heard of her before that). Now, I own everything she's ever recorded. If any of you Alison Krauss fans out there have never been to one of her concerts, you really have to find a way to get to one; the one I saw (back in the pre-Jerry Reynolds days, when Adam Steffey was still with Union Station)was pretty much the most incredible thing I've ever heard.
Good luck to Ms. Krauss -- she deserves every one of her Grammys.
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