Brad Paisley Won Two Grammys – But Didn't Go
Brad Paisley put himself out there, won two Grammys, and all he got was a phone call?
The self-conscious teenager in him wrote the poignant "Letter to Me," which won best male country vocal performance at the 51st Grammy Awards. But, since his award (along with Carrie Underwood's for best female country vocal performance for "Last Name") was pushed into the ugly underbelly of the Grammy world -- the pre-telecast portion -- he didn't get to really bask in the glow of Grammy fame with the audience and viewers listening to his words of gratitude. In fact, he was at home when he got the news. So I'm going to tell you what he told the press via a press release, and you will just have to imagine him on stage holding that little gold phonograph trophy:
"I am so thrilled to have won these awards tonight. As a singer, what an honor to be recognized in this way, especially for a song about the insecurities I had to overcome as a teenager. I can't tell you how this energizes me as a recording artist."
He also won a Grammy for best country instrumental performance for "Cluster Pluck," and of that one he said: "And as a player, accompanied by these guitar legends, I am beyond humbled to be in the record books along side my heroes for 'Cluster Pluck.' I am thinking tonight of my collaborators on this record that had never won a Grammy before now and add to that the fact that my hero John Jorgenson did the accepting of the award."
I have no idea why the Grammy people decide some awards are worth televising and some aren't. I would've been totally ok with fewer performances if it meant every artist had their 60 seconds of nationally televised fame. What about you? Would you rather see more of the awards awarded or more of the songs sung?
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solongsowrong says:
Quite a few fans around this blog, don’t even care what the Country legends are still up to, let alone who wins for best Polka Album. Pop fans are interested what happens in the Pop world. Proof of that, is all the comments that were posted last night and deleted already, about Swift, who wasn’t even nominated for anything.
Since there are around 115 Grammy awards handed out, going by the things you write about here, I doubt if you or others here would sit thru award after award of Classical, Latin, or Jazz artists getting honored for music they know absolutely nothing about. That is why the show is becoming more and more about performances.
Elaine Jonas says:
You call some of those actions on stage ‘performances’? That is stretching it for me!
Pop and rock I can handle - hip hop and rap - no way!
highwayman3 says:
Alison, did you watch the pre-telecast streamed on the Grammy Website?, its still on-demand for a while. Watch it and that will give you a indication as to why all the awards arent on the televised awards and you’d know how boring it is to watch an art diector accept an award for best album art work. Country fans dont care, or never heard of anyone up for Classical producer of the year. I dont think you’d want to give up performance slots to see that.
I know in previous years, the winners from the pre-cast would show, as they were cutting to commericals but I dont recall seeing them this year. Maybe I wasnt paying close attention.
hotelmotel says:
I have a hard time believing that Alison “[has] no idea why the Grammy people decide some awards are worth televising and some aren’t.”
That said: solongsowrong is right: with 115 grammys, many in categories that a mass audience (which is needed for a prime time show) don’t care about, the Grammys are going to emphasize performances and not awards in categories that are obscure to many people.
Gail says:
What was Brad’s other Grammy win? I didn’t know he won 2 last night!
Denise says:
I watched the whole thing just waiting to see Brad get his awards (I knew he’d win both). What a bummer to not get to see it. I can’t believe I wasted my time watching that stupid “I kissed a girl” performance! Brad is much more talented than most of those other acts if you ask me.
Holly says:
Congrats to Brad on his Best Male Performance and Best Instrumental Grammy awards!!! (smiles)
God bless you and him always!!!
Holly in East Tennessee
Dee says:
I love Brad but given the choice of seeing awards handed out and performances its a no brainer - performances! I want to know why they won not who they need to thank.
MiaT says:
Congrats to Brad..Well deserved i must say!
Hollie says:
I also watched the grammy’s and was disappointed to not see Carrie Underwood go on stage to accept her much deserved award. I think we could do away with the acceptance speeches and show more recipients being honored and recognized for their talents. Also, Country music does not get the respect it deserves at these awards. Not everyone likes rock and rap.
Octavio says:
Why would a country fan care about the Grammys anyway? I don’t.
The Grammys are voted on by clueless Hollywood and New York types that learned everything they “know” about country music from NPR or “Urban Cowboy.” Much like the bloggers at 9513.
C’mon. Carrie Underwood has a great voice, and has made some great songs. But “Last Name” is a freaking awful sequel. This is like giving an Academy Award to “Rocky IV.” What a horrendous choice.
We have our own awards, and our own shows, with our own clueless judges insulting our intelligence twice a year.
The Grammys show doesn’t need country, and country doesn’t need the Grammys.
solongsowrong says:
I’m sure people like Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, and Jerry Douglas would be surprised to learn they’re clueless Hollywood and New York types.
I think Octavio needs to go to the Grammy website and do a search on who votes for Grammy awards.
Jamie C says:
i think people who listen to rock and rap should try out country becuase they might be surprised at what they think about it becuse even being a young teen i am in love with country music i like other music but country is my favorite type of music