Dixie Chicks Sweep Grammys

Mary J. Blige, Red Hot Chili Peppers Also Take Home Multiple Awards

(CBS/AP)  The evening had its share of interesting performances.

Carrie Underwood, who was named best new artist, joined Rascal Flatts to perform a medley of songs in tribute to two Grammy lifetime achievement honorees, Bob Wills and Don Henley. Underwood showed range by performing Wills' traditional country tunes and the country rock of the Eagles with equal ease.

5Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, and Chris Brown each performed in a salute to R&B through the decades. Robinson performed "Tracks of My Tears," Lionel Richie sang "Hello" and then Chris Brown performed "Run It" with a team of dancers including two little kids who drew cheers from the audience.

After they finished, Christina Aguilera, in a white three-piece suit, rose from below the stage to bring the house down with "It's A Man's, Man's, Man's World" in tribute to the late James Brown.

Ludacris performed his "Runaway Love" with the record's featured artist, Mary J. Blige, backed by Earth, Wind & Fire. A row of girls holding candles appeared on the stage, representing the troubled teens addressed in the song.

Dressed like airplane pilots, the funk/electronica duo Gnarls Barkley performed their hit "Crazy" with a full choir and orchestra.

Justin Timberlake accompanied himself on the piano as he began his song "What Goes Around Comes Around."

Timberlake came back later to sing with Robin Troup, 19, of Houston, the winner of the "My Grammy Moment" online contest.

While Timberlake played guitar, they sang the Bill Withers classic, "Ain't No Sunshine" and then were joined by rapper T.I. for "My Love."

"This is just the most amazing thing that ever happened to me," she said after the show. In addition to performing with Timberlake, Troup won a Chevy HHR.

Shakira, decked out in a gold lame two-piece belly dancing outfit, joined Wyclef Jean to perform their song "Hips Don't Lie."

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Grammy winners list

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Carrie Underwood was among the winners of the 108 Grammys announced during the "pre-show" ceremony, held a few hours before the nationally televised event.

Underwood won best female country vocal performance for her hit "Jesus Take the Wheel."

"This is my first Grammy! Hopefully the first of a few more," said Underwood, the 2005 "American Idol" champ, who also singled out "Idol" creator Simon Fuller in her acceptance speech. (Last year, another "Idol" champ, Kelly Clarkson, was criticized for not paying tribute to her "Idol" roots.)

Madonna, Justin Timberlake, and Beyonce each won "pre-show" awards. Gnarls Barkley's two awards included a win for alternative music album. Another double winner was rapper T.I.

Irma Thomas, known as the Queen of New Orleans Soul and a Hurricane Katrina survivor, was a tearful winner for best contemporary blues album for "After the Rain."

4"First of all I want to say thank you God, and thank you New Orleans — 49 years you believed in me and it finally paid off," she said.

Ike Turner also picked up a Grammy, for best traditional blues album, which his son produced. "Wow, I really don't know what to say and I'm scared to death," said the rock pioneer.

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Photos from Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy bash

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But most of the major names who were winners in the pre-telecast were not on hand, which did not go unnoticed by Lynn Redgrave, one of the presenters.

"I wish these guys would show up so I could say hello!" she joked after announcing a win by an absent Bob Dylan, for best contemporary folk/Americana album.

[emme32]

At last year's Grammy's, Mary J. Blige sang "One" as a duet with Bono and U2, brought down the house, and her career took off. She has on occasion given Bono and U2 some credit for helping her gain respect and popularity. However, she forgot all about them last night in her endless list of "thank you"s, when they were the ones who gave her her big break. Evidently Mary J. quickly forgets who her friends are. She hasn't anymore talent than most other popular singers.

[bunlady-2009]

Last time I checked this was still a free country and the DC's are entitled to thier opinion and are entitled to express it. I never quit listening to thier music or buying it and never will. I try to judge artists on thier talent not on thier political beliefs, which I don't really care about anyways. If we shunned everybody that said something that we didn't like there would be nobody left in Washington. They may have picked the wrong forum to express their opinions but I will give them credit for having the courage to stand up for what they believe in. Go Girls I'm proud of you.

[pakaal]

Great music, courageous people, congrats to the Dixie Chicks!

Looks like a couple of those "Bush can do no wrong ever" folks decided to show up here and bash them for being so successful and talented.

Can you blame them? It's gotta hurt to see that the Dixie Chicks have been embraced by America, leaving the haters behind....

[one_american]

That fact that the Dixie Chicks took the awards is further proof that all of Hollywood and the music industry is nothing but bigotted liberal ideology and hate speech set to music.

I will never buy anything that reeks of political bigotry like what the Dixie Chicks put out.

Their careers have just ended, as far as half of America is concerned.

[e7eryday]

The fact that the Dixie Chicks took home so many awards speaks volumes on the fact that the Grammys are based on TALENT and not POLITICS. Frankly I'd prefer not to know ANY of the political, religious, or even sexual views of actors, musicians, and artists. I'd prefer to judge them based on their talent vs. their opinions. Ignorance is bliss in the entertainment industry.

[dogband]

Way to go DC! This will definately be my next CD purchase. Continue to speak out, because last time I looked, we still had that freedom in MY country. Hope it lasts.

[classicbike]

Although I have tended to agree with the Dixie Chicks opposition to the way we were brought to war in Iraq (Afganistan is wholly different and legitmate), Natalie certainly isn't my first choice as a spokesperson (sorry Natalie, you need to mature just a bit more). In interviews with the DC's Martie (even Emily) I've found has been the most articulate and considered. The Grammy wins do reflect the mood of much the nation and a poke in the eye of the Country Music Establishment (it was deserved) and a voice against the war in Iraq. Nevertheless, the awards, regardless of why they were awarded were earned by the creativity and quality of the music and lyrics of the album. Congratulations ladies and band, you did a heck of a job.

[BlueInWI]

:-) Go get em gals!! Richly deserved for the quality of the album, and even more richly deserved for their courage to speak out!!

True Patriotic Americans they are!

[perception5]

It's pretty simple........if you trash Bush in liberal Hollywood you too can get all the awards too.....

it worked for Michael Moore's propaganda film two years ago and today it's still working for the Dixie chicks........

[actornaught]

bigwhtpony, you lead off with enuff of a truth, tho' the "left-wingers" are your silly equivolent of boogie men. you're just another anti-rights neocon hate soldier, and your idols don't give a wit about you.

The Chicks put out a great album and deserved the Grammies. i personally don't think Natalie is much of a spokesperson, but she has her rights, no matter how hard the neocons want to take them away. She is a great artist and i wish the Chicks all the success they want.

Frankly, their winning the Grammy's speaks volumes on the mood of the country today. We are tired of Bush's lies and his deceit. I agreed with Natile 4 years ago and it's about time America wakes up and sees what the Bush administration has done. In my opinion Bush doesn't deserve any respect and Natile does for speaking out which is supposed to be one of our most basic rights.

[bigwhtpony]

Big surprise there.....more left-wingers voting to stick a stick in Bush's eye. They could have put out an album of Jewish party songs on accordian and it would have won Grammy's.

Nothing new here.....more left-wing BS.

[news3497]

Yeah, koolcuebaby, and you still think Jane Fonda is a traitor. Get over it! The American people voted for a change in Iraq. Every foreign entity knows that we do not support the President. Our soil, their soil... what does it matter??

The Dixie Chicks are talented women and deserved these awards regardless of how you may feel about what they said and where they said it!

[ekucrew]

Good for the Dixie Chicks!

Toby Keith made HUGE bucks on two tours using Natalie Mannes comments as fodder, then was gutless in a 60 Minutes II interview....claiming he did not know how it all went so far so fast. Then he admitted he DID NOT support the invasion into Iraq at all, but only the invasion into Afghanistan but completely supported the troops! He claimed the mess with Mannes went too far...too bad he did not have that opinion while he was raking in the $$$$$.

CMT reruns this interview every so often, now with the Chicks' Grammy wins CMT will rerun the interview again.

[koolcuebaby]

I said it when it happened & I will say it again...regardless of what your political thoughts or beliefs, you don't disrespect America or its' President on foreign soil...which is exactly what she did...freedom of speech is great, when you use it in conjuction with common sense, WHICH Natalie did not...The COMEBACK KID?...ummmm I don't think so...I didn't see the CMA Awards loading her up with awards.....OF COURSE this is just MY OPINION....lol

[bluestardad]

This is a great big I told you so against the Bush Administration!

This is the contact address for your Senator! Send them a message of your opinion. All Class Two Senators are up for Reelection in 2008. firststatehttp://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[skyk-2009]

Yet AGAIN, as they have done so many times in our past, American Fascist have made a cult HERO out of someone who INSISTED on their rights. During the 50's it was the Attorney who told Joe McCarthy off, in the 60's it was those who stood up to the Religious Extremist and the Klan, in this decade it was the Dixie Chick. The point good people that the POWER of this nation comes from our desent PERIOD. When we as a nation can not show the world that we can walk the walk then we are no longer the becon of freedom. Lets all hope we can return to those times when we in fact did LEAD the Free Worlk and did not allow our citizens to be subjected to what this lady was... PERIOD!!

[acauble1]

-- The_mirror:

Natalie Maines was in her rights to criticize the President no matter where she was. AS AMERICANS, WE ALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WE ARE!

So the fact that she was in a foreign country has nothing to do with anything. The statements she said back then were simply her opinion, and though shared by some in America, it was just her opinion.

Those who feel she is wrong for expressing her opinion, wherever she was at the time, should seriously review the history of the rise of the Nazis during the late 1930s in Germany. Perhaps, if you can comprehend the history of that time, you would realize how dangerous it is to supress the opinions of others simply because it goes against a particular politician you so desire.

[the_mirror]

Natalie Maines and the Dixie Chicks are performers and at their craft they do quite well, but statesman they are not, smarter they are not. Natalie could not even articulate a respectable reponse upon winning the awards, she quoted the "Simpsons" for goodness sakes. And you want to make her a Senator. America is a forgiving country - but that doesn't change the fact that she classlessly disrespected the President on foreign soil, and that's what got people ticked with her in the first place.

[mikekleber]

I was in complete agreement with Natalie Manes four years ago. Many people thought I was crazy to think Bush was starting a war that had been planned before 9/11 hit. All of those people now agree with me. The whole world now knows Bush is a liar and is an embarassment to our nation. It is going to take a long time for our country to be looked upon as a leader nation. Excellent job Natalie. I will always be a fan.