LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 10: Singer Carrie Underwood, winner Best Country Solo Performance, poses in the press room at the 55th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 10, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Carrie Underwood blew away the audience at the 55thAnnual GRAMMY Awards with a stripped-down performance of “Blown Away” that led into her latest single, “Two Black Cadillacs.” While her dress turned out to be a visual centerpiece thanks to laser technology, the highlight of Carrie’s night was walking away with the GRAMMY for Best Solo Country Performance for “Blown Away.”
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“Country music has always been so good to me and I thank the good Lord that I’m part of such a wonderful, talented amazing family,” Carrie said as she accepted her award. “Blown Away” also picked up the GRAMMY for Best Country Song, which went to songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins.
Taylor Swift opened the GRAMMYs with an Alice In Wonderland-themed performance of her GRAMMY-nominated hit “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.” In a white outfit and matching top hat, Taylor strutted around the stage with a troupe of dancers and aerialists falling from the ceiling. When she reached the speaking part of the song, she spoke first in a British accent and then changed up the words, saying “I’m busy opening the GRAMMYs.”
Taylor was also a winner. She picked up the GRAMMY for Best Song Written for Visual Media for “Safe & Sound,” her collaboration with The Civil Wars which was featured in The Hunger Games. She accepted her award off camera.
Miranda Lambert and Dierks Bentley teamed up early in the show for a special performance of their songs “Over You” and the GRAMMY-nominated “Home.” Currently on tour together, the pair traded vocals and ended their performance by blending the two songs seamlessly.
Kelly Clarkson had a memorable night as well. She picked up the GRAMMY for Best Pop Vocal Album and gave an enthusiastic acceptance speech saying “So sorry, I got stuck to Miranda Lambert … there’s a story and a song, for later … after alcohol, I’m just kidding, children,” before calling out her fellow nominees and thanking those who supported her, including her fiancé, Brandon Blackstock (stepson of Reba McEntire & manager of Blake Shelton). She later gave a powerful tribute to the late Patti Page and Carole King with performances of “Tennessee Waltz” and “(You Make Me Feel) Like A Natural Woman.”
Zac Brown Band took home the GRAMMY for Best Country Album for Uncaged. Zac, sans his usual beanie and wearing a fedora instead, accepted the award with the rest of the band behind him. “I want to thank all the people who help us do what we do,” he said before listing members of their team, the fan and his band adding an emotional “Much love,” Before leaving the stage. Zac later returned to take part in a tribute to the late Levon Helm.
Before the live broadcast, Little Big Town picked up the GRAMMY for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their summer smash “Pontoon.” Hunter Hayes as well as Americana acts Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers also gave performances during the evening. For a full list of GRAMMY winners from country, bluegrass and Americana, see below. A complete list of winners can be found at www.GRAMMYs.com.
2013 Grammy Awards Winners:
Record of the Year
The Black Keys, “Lonely Boy”
Kelly Clarkson,”Stronger”
Fun. (Feat. Janelle Monae), “We Are Young”
Gotye (Feat. Kimbra), “Somebody That I Used to Know” – WINNER
Frank Ocean, “Thinking About You”
Taylor Swift, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
Fun. – WINNER
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Best Country Solo Performance
Dierks Bentley, “Home”
Eric Church, “Springsteen”
Ronnie Dunn, “Cost of Livin”
Hunter Hayes, “Wanted”
Blake Shelton, “Over”
Carrie Underwood, “Blown Away” — WINNER
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Eli Young Band, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart”
Little Big Town, “Pontoon” — WINNER
Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars, “Safe & Sound”
The Time Jumpers, “On the Outskirts of Town”
Don Williams (Feat. Alison Krauss), “I Just Come Here For the Music”
Best Country Song
Carrie Underwood, “Blown Away” (Songwriters Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins) — WINNER
Ronnie Dunn, “Cost of Livin’” (Songwriters Phillip Coleman & Ronnie Dunn)
Eli Young Band, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” (Songwriters Will Hoge & Eric Paslay)
Alan Jackson, “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore” (Songwriters Jay Knowles & Adam Wright)
Eric Church, “Springsteen” (Songwriters Eric Church, Jeff Hyde & Ryan Tyndell)
Best Country Album
Zac Brown Band, Uncaged — WINNER
Hunter Hayes, Hunter Hayes
Jamey Johnson, Living For a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran
Miranda Lambert, Four the Record
The Time Jumpers, The Time Jumpers
Best Americana Album
The Avett Brothers, The Carpenter
John Fullbright, From the Ground Up
The Lumineers, The Lumineers
Mumford & Sons, Babel
Bonnie Raitt, Slipstream — WINNER
Best Bluegrass Album
Dailey & Vincent, The Gospel Side Of
The Grascals, Life Finds a Way
Noam Pikelny, Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail
Special Consensus, Scratch Gravel Road
Steep Canyon Rangers, Nobody Knows You — WINNER
Best Song Written for Visual Media
Arcade Fire, “Abraham’s Daughter” (From The Hunger Games)
Birdy and Mumford & Sons, “Learn Me Right” (From Brave)
Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty, “Let Me Be Your Star” (From Smash)
Jason Segal and Walter, “Man or Muppet” (From The Muppets)
Taylor Swift and the Civil Wars, “Safe & Sound” (From The Hunger Games) — WINNER
