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 Goes To New York City

Is anyone left in Nashville? Seems like some of country music's biggest stars spent the holiday in New York City.

The "tall man in a black hat" was everywhere. Country music superstar and Celebrity Apprentice finalist Trace Adkins was back in the Big Apple for the Macy's Day Parade. You also saw him on Fox and Friends and The O'Reilly Factor.

Sugarland remains a favorite of this blog. Here taping a performance in NYC. Click here to check out the Sugarland "movie" trailer. It's fun!

Darius Rucker rocked country at the parade. Click here to check out the pics on his web site.

Did you see Faith Hill on David Letterman? Here's the video. Man, can she sing!

And, of course, who can get enough of Tim McGraw on SNL?

On the Left Coast, Taylor Swift performed live at the AMAs.

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.

All I Want To Do Is Listen to Sugarland

That song! That do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do...all I want to do.

All I want to do is listen to Sugarland's hot new single from their third album, Love on the Inside, which drops today. Click here to see the video.

I heard Jennifer on a local radio station, and she said Kristian's daughter inspired the little ditty that makes the song irresistible. It's flat fun!

"All I Want To Do" is #3 on the Billboard country music chart. There's a short review in praise of the album at Billboard with one error: Sugarland is not on the "cusp of super stardom"; Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush have broken through the barrier that separates new sounds we like and making music that will last a lifetime.

Nettles' star has long been shining. Before Nashville took notice, she fronted one of my all time favorite Georgia bands and the subject of my best obscure mix DVD - Soul Miner's Daughter. She had it then - a voice that could make you see inside yourself and cry- playing folk rock at bars around Athens. She's a little less angry and the songs are a little lighter, but the voice remains true. She can make you smile, too.

So, to correct Billboard, Sugarland has reached super stardom, and Love On The Inside is the fruit of their labors, ripe and lush and ready to be picked and played and enjoyed by country music fans everywhere.

A "deluxe fan edition" of the album was released last week at itunes.com. It includes a chance to WIN one of 5 Ultimate Sugarland Fan Experience Trips to the CMA Awards in Nashville, TN in the "PLATINUM TICKET" Instant Win Game. Check out the details at the Sugarland website -- http://www.sugarlandmuisc.com/

Upcoming shows:

TONIGHT 7/29/2008
Mississippi Valley FairgroundsDavenport, IA

8/1/2008
Oregon JamboreeSweet Home, OR

8/3/2008
BIG VALLEY JAMBOREECAMROSE, AB, CANANDA

Of course, Sugarland is in the Black Book Guide to Official Country Music Fan Clubs: The Top 100. Get your copy today at Black Book Press. Join the fan club today.

MaGraw & Underwood Honored at 2007 American Music Awards

Tim McGraw and Carrie Underwood were among the top country winners last night at the American Music Awards.

Tim was named Favorite Male Artist.

Carrie was named Favorite Female Artist, and also took hone favorite album honors for "Some Hearts."

Rascal Flatts was named Favorite Group.

Sugarland performed to a full house during the ABC live broadcast.

2007 CMT Award Winners

CARRIE UNDERWOOD, KENNY CHESNEY, RASCAL FLATTS, SUGARLAND, JACK INGRAM & TAYLOR SWIFT Take Home Top Honors

The fans have voted, and the belt buckle goes to….

American Idol CARRIE UNDERWOOD was queen of the 2007 Country Music Television Awards last night in Nashville, taking home the Video of the Year and Female Video of the Year for her anger-fuel hit single “Before He Cheats.”

Said Underwood, “Thank you, fans. I've had such an amazing, blessed two years. I started out on a fan-based show, and you guys have continued to support me throughout everything. ... Everybody around me has been so amazing. We're so blessed. I hope we continue to be blessed because this is awesome."

KENNY CHESNEY won the Male Video of the Year for “You Save Me.”

RASCAL FLATTS was awarded the Group Video Award for the smash hit “What Hurt the Most.”

SUGARLAND continues their meteoric rise with Duo Video of the Year for “Want To.”

JACK INGRAM won the Wide Open Country Video for the clever “Love You.”

And newcomer TAYLOR SWIFT picked up the Breakthrough Award for a single named for a previous buckle winner, “Tim McGraw.”

These superstars and more are included in the Black Book Guide to Official Country Music Fans Clubs: The Top 100. Click here buy the book at Amazon.com

Click here to check out the 2007 CMT Awards photo gallery.