Country Music at the 2009 Grammys

Country music was well represented at the 2009 Grammy Awards.

Keith Urban offered a soulful jam on Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" with the Reverand himself, Justin Timberlake and Boyz 2 Men.

The unlikely couple of rock guitar legend Robert Plant and bluegrass fiddler Alison Krauss took home five Grammys for "Raising Sand," including Record of the Year and Album of the Year honors. T Bone Burnett produced the album. The pair also won Country Collaboration with Vocals, Pop Collaboration with Vocals and Contemporary Folk/Americana Album.

Carrie Underwood brought the house down with her voice and her outfit in a performance of "Last Name," the song that won her the Country Female Vocal Performance Grammy.

Brad Paisley took home the Country Male Vocal Performance Grammy for "Letter to Me."

Sugarland won Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Stay."

George Strait won the Grammy for Country Album for "Troubadour."

Country Instrumental Performance honors went to "Cluster Pluck," Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Steve Wariner.

Bluegrass Album was awarded to "Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947," Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder.

"Lovin' Life," Gaither Vocal Band, won Southern, Country, Bluegrass Gospel.

Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift sang a Swift duet: "15."

Country Music Award Nominations

It's time for the Country Music Award nominations again, and Kenny Chesney leads the pack with seven nominations.

Kenny, the hardest touring man in country music, is the reigning "Entertainer of the Year," and he is up for the honor again this year.

George Strait and Sugarland received five nominations each.

Congratulations to all the nominees. They are:

Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Sugarland and Keith Urban.

Female Vocalist: Alison Krauss, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood.

Male Vocalist: Kenny Chesney, Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, George Strait and Keith Urban.

New Artist: Jason Aldean, Rodney Atkins, Lady Antebellum, James Otto and Kellie Pickler.

Vocal Group: Eagles, Emerson Drive, Lady Antebellum, Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts.

Vocal Duo: Big & Rich, Brooks & Dunn, Montgomery Gentry, Sugarland and The Wreckers.

Single of the Year (to artist & producer): "Don't Blink" by Kenny Chesney, produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney; "Gunpowder & Lead" by Miranda Lambert, produced by Frank Liddell and Mike Wrucke; "I Saw God Today" by George Strait, produced by Tony Brown and George Strait; "Stay" by Sugarland, produced by Byron Gallimore, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles; "You're Gonna Miss This" by Trace Adkins, produced by Frank Rogers.

Album of the Year (to artist and producer): "Carnival Ride" by Carrie Underwood, produced by Mark Bright; "Cowboy Town" by Brooks & Dunn, produced by Tony Brown, Dunn and Brooks; "Good Time" by Alan Jackson, produced by Keith Stegall; "Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates" by Kenny Chesney, produced by Buddy Cannon and Kenny Chesney; "Troubadour" by George Strait, produced by Tony Brown and George Strait.

Song of the Year (To Songwriter): "Good Time" Alan Jackson; "You're Gonna Miss This" Lee Miller, Ashley Gorley; "I Saw God Today" Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell, Wade Kirby; "Letter to Me" Brad Paisley; "Stay" Jennifer Nettles.

Musical Event of the Year: "Another Try" Josh Turner featuring Trisha Yearwood; "Every Other Weekend" Reba McEntire & Kenny Chesney; "Gone, Gone, Gone" Robert Plant & Alison Krauss; "Life in a Northern Town" Sugarland featuring Little Big Town and Jake Owen; and "Shiftwork" Kenny Chesney (duet with George Strait).

Music Video of the Year: "Don't Blink" Kenny Chesney; "Good Time" Alan Jackson; "Stay" Sugarland; "Waitin' on a Woman" Brad Paisley; and "You're Gonna Miss This," Trace Adkins.Musician of the Year: Jerry Douglas, Paul Franklin, Dann Huff, Brent Mason and Mac McAnally.

The awards show will be held in Nashville on Nov. 12 and televised live on ABC.

get the inside scoop on all of your favorite fan clubs in the Black Book Guide to Country Music Fan Clubs: The Top 100.

My Top 10 George Strait Songs

It is a big day for George Strait fans. His new album, Troubadour, is released today. And XM radio is launching Strait Country on XM 17.

To mark the occasion, here are my Top 10 favorite George Strait songs:

In alphabetical order:

1. All My Exes Live in Texas
2. Carried Away
3. Carrying Your Love With Me
4. Easy Come, Easy Go
5. How ‘Bout Them Cowgirls
6. I Cross My Heart
7. I Hate Everything
8. She Let Herself Go
9. You Look So Good in Love
10. Write This Down

You can find the lyrics, listen to music and watch videos free online at www.georgestrait.com.

For information about the George Strait Fan Club, check out the Black Book Guide to Country Music Fan Clubs: The Top 100 at www.blackbookpress.com

George Strait on XM Radio

Tomorrow is the launch date for the new George Strait Channel 17 on XM radio.

The "All George All The Time" channel will run during April and May.

Strait Country - XM 17 celebrates Strait's new album, Troubadour.

The channel will showcase all the music from his 30 year career, plus even more features just for Strait fans, including:

• Exclusive interviews with George Strait
• Tracks from George's new album, Troubadour, every hour
• Today's country stars talking about the influence George Strait has had on them and country music
• Frequently asked questions about George's life, music, and career
• Interviews from the biggest songwriters who George has showcased over the past 30 years
• Exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the people and stories from the road over the past 30 years, including his long-time managers, producers, and more

"It's always a thrill to hear one of your songs played on the radio, but to have XM Radio dedicate an entire channel to my music is just amazing. I'm hoping fans and the millions of XM subscribers will enjoy hearing the new music from Troubadour, as well as revisiting their favorites from years past," said George Strait.

"King of Country" George Strait is one of the most successful and prolific country music artists of all time. With a career that spans more than 25 years, Strait has 55 number one songs on the country charts, more than any other artist, regardless of genre, 74 Top 10 and 78 Top 20 hits. He has sold more than 67 million records and counting, garnering him 32 different platinum or multi-platinum albums, the second most certifications of any artist in any genre, following only Elvis Presley.

Strait has received more than 50 major entertainment industry awards and countless nominations. The winner of 18 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, Strait has received a record-breaking 73 CMA Award nominations.

In 2006, Strait was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

George Strait on XM Radio

Country music superstar George Strait is getting his own XM satellite radio channel.

Strait Country is set to launch on April 1 on XM Channel 17. It's the same date his new album Troubadour drops.

The channel will air from April 1 through May 31. It will play all George Strait music, plus interviews and programs about the star, all of the time.

Country Music: Billboard Top 10

Big and Rich have the number one song in country music this week, according to Billboard (7-28-07):

1. Big & Rich - Lost in this Moment
2. Kenny Chesney - Never Wanted Nothing More
3. Keith Urban - I Told You So
4. George Strait - Wrapped
5. Taylor Swift - Teardrops on My Guitar
6. Jake Owen - Startin' With Me
7. Montgomery Gentry - Lucky Man
8. Rodney Atkins - These Are My People
9. Jason Aldean - Johnny Cash
10. Bucky Covington - A Different World

It is good to see some of the new country music voices holding their own on the charts.

Billboard's Top Country Albums are:

1. Brad Paisley - 5th Gear
2. Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift
3. Toby Keith - Big Dog Daddy
4. Carrie Underwood - Some Hearts
5. Big & Rich - Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace
6. Tim McGraw - Let It Go
7. Jason Aldean - Relentless
8. Rascal Flatts - Me & My Gang
9. Sugarland - Enjoy the Ride
10. Keith Urban - Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing

Carrie Underwood's "Before He Cheats" is #18 on the Billboard Top 100 chart this week, down one. Still, the unmistakeably country song has crossed over onto the mainstream chart for 46 weeks now!

Big & Rich's "Lost in This Moment" stays at #38 on the Hot 100, with 17 weeks on the chart.

Taylor Swift's "Teardrops On My Guitar" is up one spot to #40 on the Hot 100, with 19 weeks on the chart.

Tim McGraw & Faith Hill's "I Need You" is up four to #50 on the Top 100, with 9 weeks on the chart.

Country Music Award Winner Fan Clubs

There were no big surprises in Tuesday night's 42 Annual Academy of Country Music Awards, and all of the winners are on the Black Book Guide to Country Music Fan Clubs: The Top 100 list.

• Entertainer of the Year: Kenny Chesney
• Top Female Vocalist: Carrie Underwood
• Top Male Vocalist: Brad Paisley
• Top Vocal Duo: Brooks & Dun
• Top Vocal Group: Rascal Flatts
• Top New female Vocalist: Miranda Lambert
• Top New Male Vocalist: Rodney Atkins
• Top New Duo or Group: Little Big Town
• Single of the Year: "Give It Away," George Strait
• Album of the Year: Some Hearts, Carrie Underwood
• Video of the Year: "Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood
• Vocal Event of the Year: "Building Bridges," Brooks & Dun, with Cheryl Crow and Vince Gill

Featuring 100 fan clubs in a black book, the Black Book Guide to Official Country Music Fan Clubs: The Top 100 gives you complete information about how to join your favorite fan clubs and how to get free stuff like photos, music downloads and autographs. The cost is $7.95. The Black Book Guide to Official Country Music Fan Clubs is available at http://www.blackbookpress.com/ and amazon.com