Women Relaunched Grammy's Country Album
Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shania Twain were the first two women to win a Grammy for country album when the category was resurrected in 1994 after nearly three decades' absence. (Formerly titled "best country and western album," the category had been dormant since Roger Miller won it twice in the mid-1960s.) Carpenter's exquisite Stones in the Road earned the top honor in early 1995, while Twain won the first of her five Grammys in early 1996 for The Woman in Me. At first glance, you might think the two women couldn't be more opposite, even though they're both accomplished singer-songwriters who never made their home in Nashville. Of course, Twain set herself apart with super-stylish outfits and an upbeat personality. Has any other musician won for a song with double exclamation points? ("Man! I Feel Like a Woman!") But although Carpenter has been endlessly described as literate and a folkie, she was quite flirtatious, too. Note her Grammy-winning songs: "Down at the Twist and Shout," "I Feel Lucky," "Passionate Kisses" and "Shut Up and Kiss Me."
Carpenter and Twain aren't the only women to conquer the category. In fact, the Dixie Chicks have won it four times. Faith Hill's Breathe earned the award in 2001; Loretta Lynn and Alison Krauss & Union Station have claimed it as well. To be fair, four men have heard their names called: Lyle Lovett, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill and George Strait. In addition, two titles from various artists have been rewarded, too: Timeless -- Hank Williams Tribute and Livin', Lovin', Losin' - Songs of the Louvin Brothers.
Who do you think will win it this year? Here are the nominees: The Foundation, Zac Brown Band; Twang, George Strait; Fearless, Taylor Swift; Defying Gravity, Keith Urban; Call Me Crazy, Lee Ann Womack.
Photo by Jim Smeal/WireImage
©2008 Country Music Television, Inc., a Viacom company. A division of
hotelmotel says:
I don’t know who will win it this year, but I think “Fearless” by Taylor Swift is the most deserving by far.
In fact, I don’t even think Womack or Strait are worthy of a nomination this year. Womack especially. Her album was a total bomb. Critics liked it, but an award show on national tv surely should take notice of the fact that fans have rejected Lee Ann Womack and made her a has-been. Strait at least still has appeal to a large audience, but I just don’t see that the “Twang” album is especially interesting.
Taylor Swift deserves Country album; in fact, she deserves album for all genres.
michku3 says:
My vote would definitely go to Keith! No matter what the outcome is, Defying Gravity will be the winner in my eyes!
Faye says:
I personally hope that Keith Urban finally wins a Grammy for Best Country Album! Not only does he deserve it after making country music for 10 years but this new album is one of his best in a while! Not only does it express his love of his music and his life but it already has generated 2 number one singles, 1 top 3 single and 1 more on the way to the top! Keith has already won 2 Grammys in the past both for Country Male Artist and it would be great to see him add one for Country Album this year! I truly hope Keith walks away with this one as well as the other awards he is nominated for this year…GOOD LUCK KEITH!
Granna says:
I personally would love to see Keith Urban win Best Country Album! If it weren’t for Keith I would not have become a Country Fan. I love his uplifting songs and my goodness his country concerts are out of this world great!! I can be down and put in Keith’s album and all my troubles are forgotten!! Never heard a singer put so much passion and life into a song as Keith does! Along with Faye, I want to say GOOD LUCK to Keith as well!!
fluffy says:
personally , I am so sick of hearing about taylor swift , she can’t sing , I wish when she opened her mouth kayne west would stick a dirty sock in it to shut her up
A REAL Country Fan says:
Hey, Fluffy, I agree 100%! She is pop and should not win anything country. My favorite is Keith Urban but anyone but Taylor could win and that would please me.
flower says:
go taylor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Redmaz says:
To “A REAL Country Fan”, if you were a real country fan you would know Keith Urban is just as much a Pop act as Taylor Swift. Both are in a genre of music called Pop Country. Neither has been recognized in any other form of today’s Country Music.
Peacock Queen says:
And they are happy right where they are, and so are their fans.
Redmaz says:
I see you’re still having a problem seperating personal preference over basic music fundamentals. Why is that? Do you believe there is any substance in basic fundamentals in any form, or is it just with music you have a problem with? For example…I don’t know how much of a sports fan you are (I’m not but I do know some basic fundamentals of the game) but since the superbowl is coming up. Maybe this will help you understand. Football has many basic fundamentals…The NFL has the NFC, and the AFC, and in turn that is seperated even more with different divisions. A team(no matter what conference, or division) gets 6 points for a touchdown, 3 points for a field goal, 10 yards to make a first down etc. NONE of that changes because you have a favorite football team that you want to win, and be in the superbowl. For argument sakes lets say your favorite team is the Colts. That doesn’t change the basic fundamentals of the game itself. This common sense and aquired knowledge pertains to music also.
NOT HAPPY says:
I HOPE THAT KEITH URBAN WINS!!
rockerbillie says:
…..It would be great if George Strait would get recognition for his CD. And he is always deserving. Lil miss blondie Taylor has won enough that she is not really qualified for.
Lee Ann Womack will never be a has been. She is way too talented and her voice is true.
Peacock Queen says:
What’s not to understand? You said they were Pop Country, and I said they were happy there and so are their fans. It doesn’t matter to the “pop country artists” if they are considered “pop” as long as their fans are happy. The fans are happy regardless of whether they are played on “pop country” radio or anywhere else on radio. If you want to use the football analogy, fine. Football fans are happy watching their teams in any stadium. It doesn’t even matter when they play football in a totally different city and stadium than they usually play, as in the SUPER BOWL. It’s still FOOTBALL, just as “country” music is still COUNTRY music no matter what station (commerical, pop country, Americana, Roots, etc.) it is on. Common sense? Yep.
Veeta says:
Shania!!! Just seeing her GORGEOUS face lights up my day. I hope she comes back to the industry soon, she was the QUEEN of country music before Faith Hill and Taylor Swift. Love her!!
Peacock Queen says:
Red,
You said “Super Bowl” and I automatically assumed you meant AMERICAN FOOTBALL. That was understood. However, to follow your logic in order to appear “educated,” you did not specify exactly what type of “football” you were speaking about, Association football, Five-a-side football, Futsal Indoor soccer, Paralympic Football, Beach soccer. Street football, Rush goalie, Cubbies, Keepie uppie, Footbag, Freestyle Football, American football, Arena football, Touch football, Flag football, Canadian football, Canadian flag football, Gaelic football, Australian rules football, International Rules Football, Auskick, Austus. Not all of these types of “football” games use the scoring system you were describing, but it was UNDERSTOOD that you were talking about AMERICAN football. Correct? Just as when Alison says “Number one” it is understood that she is speaking about “pop country” charts. Correct?
Peacock Queen says:
More common sense from the pushy Peacock Queen.
Melissa Correa says:
IMO, Defying Gravity, should win the Grammy for Album of the Year! GO KEITH!
Ernie says:
Too bad Miranda Lambert’s “Revolution” wasn’t released during the eligibility period (before Aug. 31, 2009). I believe she would be the leading contender for the Country Album award. Miranda’s is certainly much more deserving than Ms. Swift’s.
Wait till next years show.
Redmaz says:
I believe I clearly stated the NFL, and it’s basic musc fundamentals, and even though I don’t care, thanks for the sports lesson. As stated I’m not a sports fans so my knowledge is limited. Seriously, I don’t even know who won the superbowl last year, and can name maybe only a couple of players in the NFL. I wonder if I should go to a sports/football website and start acting like a know it all?
In my next installment of fundamentals I will be discussing weather, and how no matter what type of weather you prefer, it doesn’t change the basic fundamentals, so be ready;)
Redmaz says:
Weather can be quite vast as music. If someone were to say it’s snowing here, and I look out my window and it’s sunny and warm, one would have to ask “where is snowing?”, so it is very important to specify where your and what situation you are defining. Same goes for music. If someone was to say a certain singer has a #1 song and I look at lets say at a certain chart and this person is not even listed let alone at #1, one would have to ask “what chart are you talking about?” Specifying is one key to understanding. So no matter what weather conditions surround you, there is always something different. You may personally like sunny and 80 degrees, that doesn’t mean it might not be snowing somewhere else. Similiar to a person may like an artists better than another but it doesn’t change the genre of music they are in, and there’s always an alternative. I wonder if I should go to a weather website and start acting like a know it all, because I know it needs to be cold in order for it to snow? Bottom line is I strongly believe in basic fundamentals in many areas(probably all), anything less to me shows a lack of knowledge and a lack of respect for the subject in question.
Robert says:
Bravo Redmaz!
Redmaz says:
Hey thanks Robert. I appreciate that, but It really doesn’t take much to put the know it alls in their place around here. There’s always at least one keeping the seat warm;)
Peacock Queen says:
Redmaz,
I wasn’t arguing with you. You said Taylor and Urban are POP country, and I said they were happy where they are (in Pop Country) and so are their fans (to have them in Pop Country). You said “pop” and I said “happy.” No argument about it is equal to someone agreeing with you and not suggesting to know more than you, right?
As for being a know-it-all, on the article “Ryan Bingham Gives Crazy Heart Musical Weight” posted December 29th, 2009 by Chris Parton, you said:
“Ryan Bingham continues to put out some very good music, but does anyone notice anything peculiar about that picture above? I’ll wait to see if anyone else picks up on it. Just curious how observant you are.”
In answer to your question, I said Jeff Bridges looks like Kris Kristofferson. Another blogger mentioned the position of his fingers on the guitar. Anyway, you never came back and told us what was special about the photo. So give us the answer, please, because I am curious.
By the way, if I am in the kitchen and my husband comes in and says “It’s snowing” I am not going to expect it to be sunny and warm outside because I KNOW where I am and what time of year it is. He doesn’t need to tell me WHERE I am and that it is February. I may look out the window just to see for myself, but I can take his word for it. I don’t need to doubt that he doesn’t know what he is talking about just because he didn’t specify “It’s snowing because it is February and it usually snows here in February and it’s cold outside.” All he has to do is say “It’s snowing” and I understand what he means. He doesn’t have to specify ALL THE TIME. See how that works?
BTW, it’s still SNOW, no matter where it is (Alaska or Tennessee)! ;)
Redmaz says:
I’m glad you believe your husband when he tells you it’s snowing PQ, and I’m certainly glad you know where you are. Keep up the good work
Peacock Queen says:
What about the picture of Jeff Bridges????? I want to know!
flower says:
way to go taylor youngest and the only solo country artist to win album of the year at the grammy’s!!!!!!!!!!!