LOS ANGELES -- The Dixie Chicks' triumphant comeback was the big story last night at the Grammy Awards, as they won all five categories in which they were nominated.
The Texas trio swept the big three awards at the Staples Centre -- song and record of the year (for Not Ready To Make Nice) and album of the year (for Taking The Long Way).
"I'm ready to make nice!" singer/songwriter Natalie Maines said after the band won their fifth award to end the night, album of the year.
The Chicks' single Not Ready To Make Nice was their first since alienating a large chunk of their country-music fanbase in 2003 with their outspoken criticisms of U.S. President George W. Bush.
"I, for the first time in my life, am speechless," Maines said after the band collected the song-of-the-year trophy.
The Dixie Chicks also won for best country album, and best country performance by a duo or group with vocal.
"I think people are using freedom of speech tonight with all these awards," said Maines, whose anti-Bush comments began the severe country-music radio and fan backlashes against the group.
Given those trials and tribulations, documented in a highly praised documentary, Maines was amused her group fared so well last night.
"That's interesting," she said. "Well, to quote the great Simpsons, 'Heh, heh.' "
"We have no regrets," added Maines' bandmate Emily Robison.
After the show kicked off with a performance by newly reunited '80s rockers the Police, who played a super-charged rendition of their uberhit Roxanne to immense applause, R&B star Mary J. Blige won only three of the eight awards she was up for.
The second biggest winner of the night was veteran L.A. funk-rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Nominated six times (second only to Blige), they won two Grammys for the song Dani California (rock song and rock performance by a duo or group) and two for their CD Stadium Arcadium (rock album, and boxed or special limited-edition package).
Blige won for R&B album for The Breakthrough, and R&B song and female R&B vocal performance for Be Without You.
"Tonight we celebrate the better human being, because for so many years I had been talked about negatively," said Blige, who has often discussed her past substance abuse and less-than-glowing image.
"But this time I have been talked about positively by so many people."
Double winners included Justin Timberlake, Gnarls Barkley, Atlanta rapper T.I., Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, John Legend, John Mayer, Carrie Underwood and the late sax player Michael Brecker, who passed away on Jan. 13.
Bennett's victories meant defeat for two Canadians -- Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado, the latter of whom had to settle for being a presenter for best pop vocal album during the telecast.
When asked backstage if Buble, whom Bennett said he had been hanging out with all day, had any hard feelings, the legendary crooner said jokingly: "You'd have to ask him. That's his problem."
The lone Canadian winner of the evening was Cape Breton singer-songwriter Gordie Sampson, who picked up the Grammy best country song for Jesus, Take The Wheel, which he co-wrote for Underwood.
"Thank you very much, this is quite an honour," Sampson, who spends half the year in Nashville as a songwriter-for-hire, said during the pre-telecast.
All but 11 of the 108 awards were given out during the pre-telecast ceremony next door to the Staples Centre, at the L.A. Convention Centre.
http://www.torontosun.com/Entertainment/Music/2007/02/12/pf-3596224.html
Good for them!
The Texas trio swept the big three awards at the Staples Centre -- song and record of the year (for Not Ready To Make Nice) and album of the year (for Taking The Long Way).
"I'm ready to make nice!" singer/songwriter Natalie Maines said after the band won their fifth award to end the night, album of the year.
The Chicks' single Not Ready To Make Nice was their first since alienating a large chunk of their country-music fanbase in 2003 with their outspoken criticisms of U.S. President George W. Bush.
"I, for the first time in my life, am speechless," Maines said after the band collected the song-of-the-year trophy.
The Dixie Chicks also won for best country album, and best country performance by a duo or group with vocal.
"I think people are using freedom of speech tonight with all these awards," said Maines, whose anti-Bush comments began the severe country-music radio and fan backlashes against the group.
Given those trials and tribulations, documented in a highly praised documentary, Maines was amused her group fared so well last night.
"That's interesting," she said. "Well, to quote the great Simpsons, 'Heh, heh.' "
"We have no regrets," added Maines' bandmate Emily Robison.
After the show kicked off with a performance by newly reunited '80s rockers the Police, who played a super-charged rendition of their uberhit Roxanne to immense applause, R&B star Mary J. Blige won only three of the eight awards she was up for.
The second biggest winner of the night was veteran L.A. funk-rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Nominated six times (second only to Blige), they won two Grammys for the song Dani California (rock song and rock performance by a duo or group) and two for their CD Stadium Arcadium (rock album, and boxed or special limited-edition package).
Blige won for R&B album for The Breakthrough, and R&B song and female R&B vocal performance for Be Without You.
"Tonight we celebrate the better human being, because for so many years I had been talked about negatively," said Blige, who has often discussed her past substance abuse and less-than-glowing image.
"But this time I have been talked about positively by so many people."
Double winners included Justin Timberlake, Gnarls Barkley, Atlanta rapper T.I., Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Tony Bennett, John Legend, John Mayer, Carrie Underwood and the late sax player Michael Brecker, who passed away on Jan. 13.
Bennett's victories meant defeat for two Canadians -- Michael Buble and Nelly Furtado, the latter of whom had to settle for being a presenter for best pop vocal album during the telecast.
When asked backstage if Buble, whom Bennett said he had been hanging out with all day, had any hard feelings, the legendary crooner said jokingly: "You'd have to ask him. That's his problem."
The lone Canadian winner of the evening was Cape Breton singer-songwriter Gordie Sampson, who picked up the Grammy best country song for Jesus, Take The Wheel, which he co-wrote for Underwood.
"Thank you very much, this is quite an honour," Sampson, who spends half the year in Nashville as a songwriter-for-hire, said during the pre-telecast.
All but 11 of the 108 awards were given out during the pre-telecast ceremony next door to the Staples Centre, at the L.A. Convention Centre.
http://www.torontosun.com/Entertainment/Music/2007/02/12/pf-3596224.html
Good for them!
