Sunday, December 6, 2009

TAYLOR SWIFT POISED FOR A BIG GRAMMY NIGHT

Taylor Swift continues her dominance at awards shows. The country-pop crossover sensation is among the top nominees for the 52nd annual GRAMMY Awards, with bids in eight categories. Her hit "You Belong With Me" is up for Record and Song of the Year as well as Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, while her hit "White Horse" is putting her in the running for Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song and her track "Breathe" with Colbie Caillat is giving her a shot at Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals. Meanwhile, Swift's CD "Fearless" is up for Album of the Year and Best Country Album.

Keith Urban is another top country contender. He's up for four awards including Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album. George Strait, Lee Ann Womack, Lady Antebellum, and the Zac Brown Band are also in the running in multiple categories, along with Brad Paisley, Carrie Underwood, and Jamey Johnson. Brooks & Dunn, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert, Trace Adkins, Billy Currington, and Sugarland are among the hopefuls as well.

Nominees in select categories for the 52nd annual GRAMMY Awards were revealed in a TV concert special which aired on CBS Wednesday night. Sugarland and Dwight Yoakam were among the stars who participated in the announcement event, which took place at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles. The 52nd annual GRAMMY Awards will be presented in a ceremony at L.A.'s Staples Center on January 31st, also on CBS.

A list of nominees for select General Field and Country categories for the 52nd annual GRAMMY Awards follows.

GENERAL FIELD:

Record Of The Year:
Beyonce, "Halo"
Black Eyed Peas, "I Got A Feeling"
Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody"
Lady GaGa, "Poker Face"
Taylor Swift, "You Belong With Me"

Album Of The Year:
"I Am...Sasha Fierce," Beyonce
"The E.N.D.," Black Eyed Peas
"The Fame," Lady GaGa
"Big Whiskey & The GrooGrux King," Dave Matthews Band
"Fearless," Taylor Swift

Song Of The Year:
Lady GaGa, "Poker Face"
Maxwell, "Pretty Wings"
Beyonce, "Single Ladies"
Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody"
Taylor Swift, "You Belong With Me"

COUNTRY:

Best Female Country Vocal Performance:
Miranda Lambert, "Dead Flowers"
Martina McBride, "I Just Call You Mine"
Taylor Swift, "White Horse"
Carrie Underwood, "Just A Dream"
Lee Ann Womack, "Solitary Thinkin'"

Best Male Country Vocal Performance:
Trace Adkins, "All I Ask For Anymore"
Billy Currington, "People Are Crazy"
Jamey Johnson, "High Cost Of Living"
George Strait, "Living For The Night"
Keith Urban, "Sweet Thing"

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
Brooks & Dunn, "Cowgirls Don't Cry"
Zac Brown Band, "Chicken Fried"
Lady Antebellum, "I Run To You"
Rascal Flatts, "Here Comes Goodbye"
Sugarland, "It Happens"

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals:
Dierks Bentley & Patty Griffin, "Beautiful World"
Kenny Chesney & Mac McAnally, "Down The Road"
Brad Paisley & Keith Urban, "Start A Band"
Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis, "I Told You So"
Lee Ann Womack & George Strait, "Everything But Quits"

Best Country Song:
"All I Ask For Anymore," Casey Beathard & Tim James, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
"High Cost Of Living," Jamey Johnson & James Slater, songwriters (Jamey Johnson)
"I Run To You," Tom Douglas, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)
"People Are Crazy," Bobby Braddock & Troy Jones, songwriters (Billy Currington)
"White Horse," Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

Best Country Album:
Zac Brown Band, "The Foundation"
George Strait, "Twang"
Taylor Swift, "Fearless"
Keith Urban, "Defying Gravity"
Lee Ann Womack, "Call Me Crazy"
SUGARLAND "FEELS GOOD" ABOUT GRAMMY BID

Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush note they're excited about receiving a GRAMMY nomination. The duo took part in Wednesday night's live televised event unveiling the hopefuls in select categories, and were on hand to learn they were a contender for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "It Happens." Following the announcement on CBS, host LL Cool J asked the country stars about their bid. Nettles said being recognized by the Recording Academy, quote, "feels good," noting that GRAMMY night is "the biggest night in all of music." Regarding the difference between the GRAMMYs and country music-specific award shows, the singer added, quote, "It's a big honor when we win country awards, but to be here at the GRAMMYs, you know, nominated, that's nice, yeah."

A collaboration between the rapper and the country duo could also be in the making. When asked how it felt to get the nomination, Kristian Bush told LL, quote, "It feels like you need to come play with us," to which LL responded, quote, "Anything can happen. I'm open to it." Nominees in select categories were revealed in a TV concert special which aired on CBS Wednesday night. The 52nd annual GRAMMY Awards will be presented in a ceremony at L.A.'s Staples Center on January 31st, also on CBS.