Grammy Winners Named; Dixie Chicks Reap Top Awards

From country music outcasts to winning 5 Grammy’s is not a bad turnaround for The Dixie Chicks. The group, who jeopardized their career by criticizing U.S. President George W. Bush, won all five Grammy Awards for which they were nominated on Sunday, including the coveted album of the year.

“The victory for their work on the chart-topping album “Taking the Long Way” marked a stunning validation for the female Texan trio almost four years after their dream run as the darlings of Nashville came to an abrupt end,” reported Reuters

Singer Natalie Maines told fans during a 2003 concert in London she was ashamed to come from the same state as Bush.

As news of the remark spread, country radio stations stopped playing their songs, while album and ticket sales suffered.

“I think people are using their freedom of speech tonight with all of these awards,” Maines said, as the group accepted the final award of the ceremony, album of the year.

Bandmate Emily Robison said: “We wouldn’t have made this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets.”

The Dixie Chicks’ tally included best country album, as well as record of the year, song of the year and group country vocal performance for the appropriately wry single “Not Ready To Make Nice.” Their career Grammy haul stands at 13.

Reuters noted that the last time an act won the album, record and song categories was in 1993, when Eric Clapton led the field. The last country act to win album of the year was Glen Campbell in 1969 with “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.”

In other happenings, former “American Idol” winner Carrie Underwood took the best new artist Grammy, further enhancing the star-making power of the hit TV talent show.

Underwood, the winner of the fourth season of “American Idol” in 2005, also clinched the Grammy for best female country vocal performance.

“This is absolutely unbelievable! I love country music,” the 23-year-old Nashville star said.

A sentimental highlight came at the opening of the show, as reunited rock band The Police played their first major public show in more than 20 years, dusting off a jazzy version of their breakthrough hit “Roxanne”.

R&B singer Mary J. Blige had led the field going into the show with eight nominations. She went home with three awards but said backstage that “the wins were icing on the cake after the thrill of being nominated.”

Blige won best R&B album for “The Breakthrough,” as well as R&B song and female R&B vocal performance, both for the tune “Be Without You.”

The Red Hot Chili Peppers ended up with four statuettes from six nominations, including best rock album for their double set “Stadium Arcadium.” The flamboyant surf-funk quartet has now won six Grammys. Meanwhile, the vocals on their live performance were rather shaky, which is uncharacteristic of the rock quartet.

Motown icon Stevie Wonder won a Grammy, and his career tally of 25 statuettes now makes him No. 4 on the all-time list, tied with late classical pianist Vladimir Horowitz. The record of 31 is held by late conductor Georg Solti.

Two artists with five nominations each going into the telecast, James Blunt and Prince, went home empty-handed.

Below is a list of the winners from the 2007 Grammy Awards:

Record Of The Year

Not Ready To Make Nice
Dixie Chicks

Album Of The Year

Taking The Long Way
Dixie Chicks

Song Of The Year

Not Ready To Make Nice
Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Dixie Chicks)

Best New Artist

Carrie Underwood

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Ain’t No Other Man
Christina Aguilera

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

Waiting On The World To Change
John Mayer

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

My Humps
The Black Eyed Peas

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

For Once In My Life
Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder

Best Pop Instrumental Performance

Mornin’
George Benson (& Al Jarreau)

Best Pop Instrumental Album

Fingerprints
Peter Frampton

Best Pop Vocal Album

Continuum
John Mayer

Best Rock Song

Dani California
Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis & Chad Smith, songwriters (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

Best Rock Album

Stadium Arcadium
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Best Alternative Music Album

St. Elsewhere
Gnarls Barkley

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Be Without You
Mary J. Blige

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance

Heaven
John Legend

Best R&B Song

Be Without You
Johnta Austin, Mary J. Blige, Bryan-Michael Cox & Jason Perry, songwriters (Mary J. Blige)

Best R&B Album

The Breakthrough
Mary J. Blige

Best Contemporary R&B Album

B’Day
Beyoncé

Best Rap Solo Performance

What You Know
T.I.

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group

Ridin
Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

My Love
Justin Timberlake Featuring T.I.

Best Rap Song

Money Maker
Christopher Bridges & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Ludacris Featuring Pharrell)

Best Rap Album

Release Therapy
Ludacris

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

Jesus, Take The Wheel
Carrie Underwood

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

The Reason Why
Vince Gill

Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal

Not Ready To Make Nice
Dixie Chicks

Best Country Album

Taking The Long Way
Dixie Chicks

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