CMT Blog: 2010 January

Congratulations to Randy Travis for collecting his seventh Grammy Award on Sunday night (Jan. 31). He and Carrie Underwood picked up best country collaboration with vocals for "I Told You So." Incidentally, Travis' own rendition appears on his 1987 album, Always and Forever -- which earned Travis his first Grammy in 1988. The soft-spoken traditionalist repeated in the category of country male vocal performance with his 1988 album, Old 8x10, then later won for 1998's all-star recording, "Same Old Train," and three recent gospel albums. I wish I could catch his next concert because it's at one of my all-time favorite venues -- Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth. Need another reason? Because "I Told You So."

Here's hoping that Steve Wariner's Grammy victory on Sunday (Jan. 31) will entice curious country fans to check out his winning tune, "Producer's Medley." Claiming the Grammy in the country instrumental category, the track features a bunch of snippets from Nashville Sound-era classics that were originally produced by Chet Atkins. The full album is worth a listen, but if you like to dabble in a few tracks before committing, "Producer's Medley" is a pleasant way to get reacquainted with one of the most important figures in Nashville history -- and Steve Wariner, c.g. p., is not a half-bad guitar picker, either.

Here are some other Grammy winners and an appealing track from each one:
Americana Album: Levon Helm's Electric Dirt -- "When I Go Away"
Bluegrass Album: Steve Martin's The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo -- "Words Unspoken"
Contemporary Folk Album: Steve Earle's Townes -- "Colorado Girl"
Traditional Folk Album: Loudon Wainwright III's High Wide and Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project -- "High Wide and Handsome"

Photo Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Carrie Underwood is singing the national anthem at Super Bowl XLIV next Sunday (Feb. 7) and I know what you're thinking: It is about time. I mean, c'mon. What took them so long? I asked the NFL that very question. I didn't phrase it quite that way, but still. They told me that singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl is one of the most coveted spots in the music industry. "It provides the 70,000-plus crowd and the hundreds of millions of people (151 million folks watched it last year) around the world watching on TV with a goose-bump moment," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told me.

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If you've ever read Taylor Swift's blog, seen her talk to a reporter, met her and/or had her autograph something, you have an idea of her personality's voice. And now there are greeting cards that sound exactly like that voice. It's American Greetings' newest line of cards from Swift, so obviously they are going to sound like her. The company could've just slapped pictures of her on the cards, or lyrics from her songs, and called it a day. These sentiments, though, are genuinely Swift. With things like "Happy birthday/And I mean that in a screaming and jumping around kind of way!" "You believe that love can find you and last forever/And when you smile, I believe it, too." "Congratulations, Bday Girl!/You've officially been AWESOME for ____ years!" My favorite one says nothing on the front, and inside it just says "Here's a glittery card to remind you on your birthday, I'll always have your back -- and love you like family." Only one of them has lyrics buried inside, from "Fearless," when it says, "Capture it, remember it, 'cause I don't know how it gets better than this. Here's to this moment. Here's to you. Happy Birthday."

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."

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Oh, to be in Florida right now, where the temperature is not in the single digits and the country music is about to rock the dolphins right out of their pools. Starting next week, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens are playing host to a cool concert series called Bands, Brew and BBQ. So if you are at all in the area, mark your calendar for LeAnn Rimes (Feb. 6), Montgomery Gentry (Feb. 13), Willie Nelson (Feb. 14) and John Rich (Feb. 20). Even if you aren't near Orlando and Tampa Bay, it still might be worth the trip because the kids get things like flying roller coasters and orangutans, and you get country music. The concerts are free with park admission, but for $50 you can sit up close AND pig out at the All You Can Eat BBQ.

I think I know what books Jessica Harp's been reading. Either The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. Because her new video for "A Woman Needs" is all about BFFs you grow up with and have the best memories with. And as they are growing up, they have a star symbol they draw on their hands. So Harp actually got that very tattoo, saying, "I wanted to get the tattoo because this song means more to me than any other song on the record. Every time I look at this, I'll think of that song, I'll think of my first solo record that I'm really proud of and I'll think of the message of 'A Woman Needs,' which is to follow your dreams." I think what it also means is to never forget the power of childhood friendships.

Legendary producer Quincy Jones is planning an all-star sequel to "We Are the World" to benefit Haitian earthquake relief efforts. Contrary to several reports on the Web, however, it's not going to involve a reunion of Taylor Swift and Kanye West. Everyone recalls West storming the stage to disrupt her acceptance speech at last year's MTV Video Music Awards. As awkward as that unplanned moment was, it only strengthened her position among fans and within the entertainment industry. The original version of "We Are the World," released in 1985, featured co-writers Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie singing in a cast that also included Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and many others. According to Entertainment Weekly, "We Are the World 25," apparently the same song, will be recorded in Los Angeles on Monday (Feb. 1), the day after the Grammy Awards show. EW says the artist lineup for Monday's recording session is still being finalized, but Access Hollywood reported that "a source has exclusively confirmed" that Swift and West will be there. Not so, Swift's publicist tells CMT.com, adding, "It will be a wonderful event, but Taylor is flying out to Australia the same night as the Grammys, right after the show, to start her tour." Her first show there is Feb. 4 in Brisbane.

In case you haven't noticed, it's Lady Antebellum week. Meaning, their new album, Need You Now, is out and so are they. They own this week. And with good reason. The trio of Charles Kelley, Hillary Scott and Dave Haywood is on fire. "Need You Now," a song that drunken booty calls are made of, has already shot to the top of the charts. Their newest sweet, slow, innocent and pure tune, "American Honey," is one of the countriest-sounding tracks on the new album, thanks to the mandolin. So I'm glad they brought that player to their performance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show yesterday (Jan. 27). While they were there, they also sang DeGeneres a birthday song they'd written just for her.

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"My Best Days Are Ahead of Me" is an uplifting piece by Danny Gokey, a Top 3 contestant on last year's season of American Idol. He begins the video by singing alone in an empty warehouse while scenes of happy life moments and inspirational quotes flash across the screen. I particularly identify with the statements, "Life is too short to be anything but happy" and "The biggest mistake you make is being afraid to make one." I especially appreciate how the video progresses, with Gokey walking through the city and ending up on a hill overlooking the Nashville skyline at night. I have now lived in Nashville for four years and recognize its rich musical culture and vast opportunity, specifically for people like me who are just entering the working world and trying to make our dreams come true.