Country Music's 2009 Grammy Award Winners

Alison Krauss Remains Top Grammy-Winning Female of All Time

Feb 9, 2009 Lisa L. Rollins

Country music's favorite Texas cowboy, George Strait, won his first Grammy after three decades of hits, while other country music favorites landed Grammys of their own.

The 51st annual Grammy Awards were held Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles, Calif., and some of country music's finest, along with bluegrass and Southern-gospel favorites, were among the event's prize winners.

Leading the list, far and away, among this year's Grammy recipients was country/bluegrass queen Alison Krauss, who scored five Grammy trophies this outing, thanks to her unorthodox musical collaboration with Robert Plant, former lead singer for Led Zeppelin. (This brings the Illinois-born musician's total Grammy tally to 25 thus far, securing her status as the female artists who holds the most Grammy wins.)

Country Singer George Strait Finally Wins a Grammy

A highlight of the 2009 event for country fans was the first-ever win by longtime country-music favorite George Strait, who has been a record-breaking country artist both on the concert circuit and country charts for more than three decades. With four nominations this time, Strait finally scored the one industry prize that had eluded him thus far.

Nonetheless, to secure the Best Country Album win, Strait and his Troubadour CD overcame stiff competition for hot-selling albums and artists; namely, That Lonesome Song by Jamey Johnson, Sleepless Nights by Patty Loveless, Around the Bend by Randy Travis, and Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love by Trisha Yearwood.

Hot-country newcomers Lady Antebellum were first-time Grammy nominees this year, yielding nominations in the all-genre Best New Artist contest and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals category. Although the trio failed to win either prize, the group's self-titled album for Capitol Nashville was certified gold on Feb. 5, 2009, making it a winning week for the Lady A players, Charles Kelley, Dave Haywood and Hillary Scott.

Grammy Appeal: Country Singers Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley Shine

Oklahoma native Carrie Underwood took home a top prize this year, Best Female Country Vocal Performance, giving the country singer a combined total of four Grammys to date since her first Grammy nod in 2007. Underwood, who will turn 26 in March 2009, sang her way to this year's Grammy with her recent hit single, Last Name, overcoming fierce competition from Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Ann Womack and Trisha Yearwood.

West Virginia native Brad Paisley took home the 2009 Best Male Country Vocal Performance trophy for his Letter to Me country single. His competition was steep, with artists such as Trace Adkins, newcomer Jamey Johnson, James Otto and perennial favorite George Strait in the running.

In the Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals category, which is for established duos or groups versus one-time collaborations, duo Sugarland won for its smash-country ballad, Stay. The act overcame category contenders God Must Be Busy by Brooks & Dunn, Love Don't Live Here by Lady Antebellum, Every Day by Rascal Flatts and Blue Side of the Mountain by The SteelDrivers.

Not surprisingly, the Best Country Collaboration With Vocals category, which is presented for a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together, was one yet another award that was swept away by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss for their Killing the Blues track.

The "on-a-roll," Grammy-winning pair rose above a number of country-star hopefuls; specifically, Shiftwork by Kenny Chesney & George Strait, House of Cash by George Strait & Patty Loveless, Life in a Northern Town by Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town, andLet the Wind Chase You by Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban

Hot-Country Guitars Garner 'Best Country Instrumental' Grammy

Meanwhile, in the Best Country Instrumental Performance Category, which honors solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals, an instrumental number titled Cluster Pluck, from Brad Paisley's latest album, won the trophy. Performing with singer-guitarist on the song were a string of hot-country pickers such as James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner.

Sugarland lead-singer Jennifer Nettles captured the coveted Best Country Song award this go around for the stirring Stay single. In doing so, the blond vocalist rallied over top-notch competition that included masterful songsmithing and tunes such as Dig Two Graves, written by Ashley Gorley & Bob Regan; I Saw God Today, written by Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell & Wade Kirby; In Color, written by Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto; and You're Gonna Miss This, written by Ashley Gorley & Lee Thomas Miller.

Grammy-Winning Bluegrass, Southern Gospel and Traditional Folk Music

In other Grammy categories of the country persuasion, the prize for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album went to the Gaither Vocal Band for its Lovin' Life CD.The group beat out strong competion from a number of nominees, including the Steps To Heaven album by Country Music Hall of Famer Charlie Louvin.

In the 2009 Best Bluegrass Album Category contest, which is given to either a vocal or instrumental release, Ricky Skaggs and his band, Kentucky Thunder, captured the Grammy with their Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947CD.

Then, in the Best Traditional Folk Album (vocal or instrumental release) contest, 89-year-old Pete Seeger, with his At 89 disc, trounced the competition, which included Coal by Kathy Mattea, Comedians & Angels by Tom Paxton, Bring Me Home by Peggy Seeger, and Strangers in Another Country by Rosalie Sorrels.

As for the Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album, which is presented to a vocal or instrumental release, Krauss and Plant prevailed once more, with the pair's Raising Sand CD. In doing so, they beat competitors Day After Tomorrow by Joan Baez, All I Intended to Be by Emmylou Harris, Sex & Gasoline by Rodney Crowell, and I, Flathead by Ry Cooder

Fore more information regarding the 51st Grammy Awards, please access the official Grammy site at www.grammy.com.

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