Hurrah for this. After all that foolish controversy that surrounded their anti-George Bush remarks four years ago, and the resulting mixed reception to their 2006 album from the patriotic country music community, the Dixie Chicks last night reaffirmed their position in the US music world by taking five Grammy awards, including three of the flagship categories - Best Song, Best Record and Best Album. Their role within the country genre was also seemingly reaffirmed as they won Best Country Album and Best Country Performance.
According to the BBC, on collecting one of her band's awards, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines, who started the rift with their country fanbase by speaking out against George Bush's foreign policy at a London gig in early 2003, told the Grammy audience: "That's interesting. Well, to quote the great Simpsons: 'Heh-heh'". Bandmate Emily Robison commented: "We wouldn't have done this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets".
Other big winners at last night's awards bash in LA were the Red Hot Chili Peppers who took four awards (including Best Rock Album and Best Rock Song), and Mary J Blige and former American Idol Carrie Underwood, who each won three (Blige's awards included Best R&B Album, Performance and Song, while Underwood took Best Country Song, Best Female Country Solo, and Best New Artist).
Other winners included Madonna, who took Best Dance/Electronic Album for 'Confessions On A Dance Floor' and Bruce Springsteen who took Best Traditional Folk Album for 'We Shall Overcome' as well as the prize for Best Long-form Video. That great OK Go promo won Best Short Video, while Justin Timberlake took Best Dance Recording for 'Sexy Back', and shared Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with TI for 'My Love'. TI also won best solo rap performance for 'What You Know', while Ludacris and Pharrell took Best Rap Song for 'Money Maker'. Australian rockers Wolfmother took Best Hard Rock, while Slayer took Best Metal Performance. Gnarls Barkley took Best Alternative, while Christina Aguilera, John Mayer and The Black Eyed Peas each got a pop Grammy.
Performance wise, an opening reunion set from The Police caused a standing ovation, with frontman Sting telling the audience "Ladies and gentlemen, we are The Police and we are back", furthering speculation that a reunion tour will be announced at that press conference the band have called for later today.
While a predominantly UK band may have been one of the stand out acts of the night, awards wise UK music didn't do so well, despite being pretty well represented in the short lists. James Blunt, up for five awards, won none, while other nominated Brits like Coldplay, Corinne Bailey Rae, KT Tunstall and Arctic Monkeys also failed to grab a Grammy on the night.
There are far too many categories in the Grammys for me to even contemplate listing all the winners here - I'd check this URL if I wanted the full list.
http://www.grammy.com/GRAMMY_Awards/49th_Show/list.aspx