By the way, I won a Grammy
Despite the National Academy of Recording Arts & Science’s 61st
Grammy gala being conducted in Los Angeles via CBS, Nashville
artists made a commendable showing. Kacey Musgraves (above
right) won four, the most of any woman, thanks to her critically
acclaimed album Golden Hour, marking the first win in the pop
field by a country female since Taylor Swift in 2010 for Fearless.
Brandi Carlile (above left) garnered three wins, while eight-times
Grammy winner Dolly Parton also helped dominate the scene,
Feb. 10, thanks to being honoured with the academy’s MusiCares
Person on the Year.
Musgraves wins were for best country album, best country
solo performance, and best country song, Space Cowboy, which
she co-wrote with Shane McAnally and Luke Laird. Alicia Keys
acted as host, while other music giants honoured were Aretha
Franklin and Diana Ross, indicating - correctly - it was Ladies
Night at the Staples Center. Another surprise was seeing Lady
Gaga, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Jennifer Lopez and former First Lady of
the U.S. Michelle Obama taking the stage. Her book “Becoming,”
has become a hot seller and she was there, too, to support the
women’s movement and friend Alicia Keys. According to Michelle,
“From the Motown Records I wore out on the South side to the
‘Who Runs the World’ songs that fuelled me through this last
decade, music has always helped me tell my story, and I know
that’s true for everybody here. Whether we like country, rap or
rock, music helps us share ourselves, our dignity and sorrows,
our hopes and joys. It allows us to hear one another, to invite each
other in.”
Carlile’s By the Way, I Forgive You single, The Joke, followed the
theme, indicating women should make their own choices, including
those of LGBTQ community and proved a crowd favourite, garnering
a standing ovation. It looks like being a great year for Carlile who
is part of the Highwomen supergroup and produced a forthcoming
Tanya Tucker project. Apart from the album win produced by
Dave Cobb, The Joke earned Grammys for Best American Roots
Performance and Best American Roots Song.
Parton joined the others Musgraves and Katy Perry on her hit Here
You Come Again; then did a duet of sorts with Goddaughter Miley
Cyrus on the uptempo Jolene, which led into Neil Young’s After the
Gold Rush, which incidentally won The Trio - Parton, Linda Ronstadt,
Emmylou Harris - a 2000 Grammy. A TV performance to remember
was Dolly’s collaboration with Little Big Town on Little Red Shoes,
heard on her latest soundtrack Dumplin’, until the all-star finale,
another highlight of the show, 9 To 5, which earned Dolly her first
Oscar nomination (1980).
Dan+Shay copped the best country duo statuette for Tequila,
Lauren Daigle and Jason Crabb earned top honours in the Christian
and Gospel categories. Daigle’s wins were for the Christian single You
Say and her CD Look Up Child. Crabb’s victory came with his gospel
roots album, Unexpected, produced by (Rascal Flatt’s) Jay DeMarcus,
and featuring guest vocals by (Rascal Flatts’) singer Gary LeVox and
Kaya Jones. Perennial favourite Willie Nelson won with My Way,
a Frank Sinatra tribute album, in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal
category, while the Del McCoury group won Best Bluegrass Album
for their Travelin’ McCourys collection.
Got My Name Changed
On Valentine’s day, Pistol Annie’s front woman and The House That Built Me singer, Miranda Lambert
revealed on Twitter that she had tied the knot with NYPD officer Brendan McLoughlin. She wrote, “In honor
of Valentine’s Day I wanted to share some news. I met the love of my life. And we got hitched! My heart is full.
Thank you Brendan Mcloughlin for loving me for.... me.” Miranda split from her ex, Blake Shelton, in 2015.
MARCH 2019 - cmp 5