On a night when Whitney Houston was remembered, Adele anointed, and McCartney rocked, superstar Taylor Swift, country/folk duo The Civil Wars, and country trio Lady Antebellum all came up winners in the Country categories at The 54th Annual Grammy Awards, billed as music’s biggest night.
Swift won two Grammy’s for Best Country Solo Performance for ‘Mean,’ and Best Country Song, a songwriting award, for ‘Mean.’ The Civil Wars also won two Grammy’s for Best Country Duo/ Group Performance for their song ‘Barton Hollow’ beating out Thompson Square, Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter, and Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, and the duo also won a Grammy for Best Folk Album for Barton Hollow. Lady Antebellum took home the Grammy Award for Best Country Album for the album, Own The Night.
In other country-related categories, legendary drummer/ former The Band member Levon Helm, won a Grammy for Best Americana Album, for his album Ramble At The Ryman. The Best Bluegrass Album Grammy Award went to Alison Krauss & Union Station for their latest work, Paper Airplane.
As always there were some terrific performances on the award shows including a tribute to country star Glen Campbell. The Band Perry and Blake Shelton each performed a Campbell classic (‘Gentle On My Mind and ‘Southern Nights’ respectively) and then Glen took the stage for a great rendition of perhaps his biggest hit, ‘Rhinestone Cowboy.’ Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars, and Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson also played live for a full house at L.A.’s Staples Centre.
But the two big themes of the night were the tribute to the late Whitney Houston and the number of Grammy’s won by British soul singer Adele.
Host LL Cool J opened the night with a prayer for Whitney and Jennifer Hudson sang a simple, amazing version of Houston’s biggest hit, Dolly Parton‘s song, ‘I Will Always Love You.’
Adele had to keep walking up the stairs to accept six Grammy’s on the night. She won for Album of the Year for her album, 21, and ‘Rolling In The Deep,’ won her the Grammy for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video. She also won Best Pop Vocal Album, and was honored with Best Pop Solo Performance for ‘Someone Like You.’ The powerful singer tied Beyonce for most Grammy wins in one night by a female artist.
