Swift Wins Her First, Second, and...

Biggie of the night was Taylor Swift’s win for Album of the Year.   Zac Brown took the New Artist honors and Lady A, Keith Urban, and Taylor all walked away winners at the Grammy’s. Performances included a powerful version of “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum that’s sure to sell a few extra thousand copies of their CD just out.

Zac Brown’s performance with Leon Russel started slow but buit to manic fun.

Country Album went to Taylor Swift…

Country Song Award for Songwriter went to Taylor Swift and Liz Rose for White Horse

Country Collaboration to Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis

Country Group/Duo Performance went to Lady A for Need You Now

Country Instrumental to Steve Wariner

Female Country Vocal to Taylor Swift White Horse

Male Country Vocals to Keith Urban / Sweet Thing

Additional Winners and all the non-Country categories can be found HERE at Grammy.com

Find music fast on iTunes. Search for any artist, song, or album on the store.

Looks like you can expect to see Taylor Swift and Keith Urban on TV this weekend.  Both will be part of the Friday night celeb-a-thon for Haiti.  The telethon will air on all the major networks Friday night (8pm Eastern) as well as CNN, MTV, YouTube and CMT.

The following from the AP:

The music world’s top stars are signing on for Friday’s “Hope for Haiti” telethon.
Bruce Springsteen, Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban and Alicia Keys are just a few of the performers who will be featured, according to MTV Networks, an integral partner in the two-hour event.
Haiti was devastated and thousands of its citizens killed when an earthquake hit the Caribbean nation last week.

Swift Rumor Won't Fly

Taylor Swift is so hot right now any sort of rumor can spread like wildfire. Latest being that she was in talks to play the lead in a new film version of “SuperGirl.”

Apparently there was a previous “SuperGirl” film that flopped in the early 80’s from the makers of the Christopher Reeve “Superman” movies.

The Swift rumor not only sent the Country Music world buzzing… but also the Taylor tween fans… and the SUPER HERO Fanboys. Reading their comments they seem to want a more buff girl (think she could get some workout tips from her werewolf boyfriend)?

Seems the whole argument is all for not… Our sources say they haven’t heard anything… and this source says DC insiders say it aint so.     But the buzz factor – along with the new extended “Valentines Day” trailer featuring Swift – show us there is definitely a future in film is she wants it.     More likely scenario:   a musical or romance chick flick.   A big screen musical could also help drive radio play despite programmers that may question her level of overexposure.

Prediction: she will land a lead before 2010 year end.    She’s bigger than Country or Pop radio.

Up For Best Album

Taylor Swift told NBC’s Matt Lauer last week a Grammy was still on her wish list… and with all the nominations she racked up for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards that are coming up in January she’s likely to get her wish. Beyonce lead with ten nominations (hush Kanye) and Taylor was right behind with a jaw dropping EIGHT!

Zac Brown broke through with a suprising album nod too.  Much deserved!

Our most interesting Category is SONG — hey, we’re CountrySONGSonline.com!

Best Country Song
(A Songwriter(s) Award. For Song Eligibility Guidelines see Category #3. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.)

All I Ask For Anymore
Casey Beathard & Tim James, songwriters (Trace Adkins)
Track from: X (Ten)
[Capitol Records Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Acuff Rose Music/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing, T-Bird's Music.]

High Cost Of Living
Jamey Johnson & James Slater, songwriters (Jamey Johnson)
Track from: That Lonesome Song
[Mercury Records; Publishers: EMI Blackwood Music/Big Gassed Hitties, Hope-N-Cal Music/Pick Them Maters Music/Diversion Music.]

I Run To You
Tom Douglas, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley & Hillary Scott, songwriters (Lady Antebellum)
Track from: Lady Antebellum
[Capitol Records Nashville; Publishers: Warner-Tamerlane Publishing/DWHaywood Music/Radiobulletspublishing/Hillary Dawn Publishing/Shaw Enuff Songs/Sony/ATV Music Publishing/Tomdouglasmusic.]

People Are Crazy
Bobby Braddock & Troy Jones, songwriters (Billy Currington)
Track from: Little Bit Of Everything
[Mercury Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Tiltawhirl Music/Crozier Music Enterprise.]

White Horse
Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
Track from: Fearless
[Big Machine Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Taylor Swift Music/Sony/ATV Timber Publishing, Hillsboro Valley Songs.]

See the Grammy’s entirelist here. And see who wins on “Grammy Sunday” Jan. 31 2010

Taylor Swift Fearless Platinum

NASHVILLE – Superstar Taylor Swift was surprised backstage during the dress rehearsals for “The 43^rd Annual CMA Awards” when Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn presented her with the 2009 CMA International Artist Achievement Award. Brooks and Dunn were last year’s recipients of the Award, which recognizes outstanding achievement by a U.S.-based artist who contributes to the awareness and development of Country Music outside the United States.

“This is beautiful!” said Swift. “Thank you so much! This is an awesome way to start the day!”

“What Taylor has done for Country Music inside the United States is amazing in itself, but what she has done for the format internationally is outstanding,” said Tammy Genovese, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “She recognizes the importance of taking her music around the globe, and in doing so, has become a phenomenal ambassador for Country Music. She is very deserving of this Award.”

Swift’s second album Fearless has made a huge international impact, achieving Gold and Platinum certifications in fourteen countries that span five continents. In addition to her native United States, those countries include Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Norway, The Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Fearless has also reached the Top 10 on album charts in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, The Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and more.

Her hit song “Love Story” raced up airplay charts around the globe, reaching No. 1 in Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom; Top Five in the Czech Republic, Ireland, and Norway; Top 10 in Denmark and Finland; and Top 20 in Greece, Holland, Hungary, Spain, Sweden, South Africa, and on the European Chart. Airplay resulted in strong sales, causing “Love Story” to rise on many international Single Sales Charts including No. 1 in Australia; No. 2 in the United Kingdom; No. 3 in Ireland and New Zealand; the Top 10 in Norway, Sweden, and on the European Chart; and Top 20 in Denmark, Finland, and Holland.

Swift performed promotional and concert tours in Australia, Canada, Europe, and the United Kingdom in both 2008 and 2009. Among her sold out shows and appearances was the high profile V Festival series in the United Kingdom.

No doubt it was Taylor Swift’s night at the 2009 CMA Awards as she took home the biggest award plus two other top honors.   Swift became the youngest ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR in CMA history (she’s 19).   She also won Album of the Year for “Fearless“, and Female Vocalist of The Year.    “I’d like to thank everyone in this room for not rushing up on stage” she quipped in her heartfelt and eloquent acceptance speech.   It was also touching to see her parents in tears in the the front row.   They should be proud.

Swift’s victories along with surprise wins from Lady Antebellum (Flatts are now left to do Wendy’s commercials?!) and Darius Rucker’s new artist win (great speech) signals a seismic shift in Country Music.  Is it the class of 2009?  It may be too early to tell but with the “departure” of Brooks and Dunn it feels a bit different.   Are things leaning too pop?  Can’t stop change.

The other surprise of the evening was, perhaps, that Zac Brown walked away empty handed after the best musical performance of the night.

Overall the best awards show in decades.

Other winners:

Musical Event – Paisley / Urban “Start a Band”

Male Vocalist – Brad Paisley

Song Of The Year – Jamey Johnson “In Color”

Single Of The Year – Lady Antebellum “I Run To You”

Taylor Swift

As Taylor Swift’s about to step into the spotlight as the first COUNTRY Saturday Night Live host and musical guest since Dolly (decades ago) and after just re-releasing “Fearless” in a Platinum edition… here’s a re-cap of how far the teen has come. Is the Entertainer Of The Year Award in the cards?

Taylor Swift – The Rise of a Superstar
By Gregory Ortel

Taylor Swift, born in December 1989, is a rising superstar in the music world. At such a young age, she has been able to appeal and capture fans from all over the world. This American pop singer is a song writer, guitarist as well as a good actress. She made her debuted in the music world in 2006 with “Tim McGraw” which reached sixth position on Billboard country charts. And later in October of the same year, she released another album “Taylor Swift” with five major hit singles and the album got certified with 3X Multi-platinum. This album was for sure a delight experience for pop music lovers.

The great ability of writing makes her songs potential hits. Swift is a great music artist with beautiful and delighting voice, writing skills and guitar playing skills as well. She has a very rare ability of infusing conventions of country music within modern themes. Taylor Swift has been able to create her mark in the music industry and has taken pop music and country music with storm.

The best thing about her songs is that she includes her personal experience in them and takes the listener to their young and teen age when one experiences the most beautiful feeling of love.

Albums of Swift:
Taylor Swift 2006
Fearless 2008

Famous tracks:
Teardrops on my Guitar
Just to see you smile
Last Christmas
Picture to burn
Should’ve said no
Love story
White horse
Forever & Always

EP’s:
Sounds of the Season: The Taylor Swift Holiday Collection 2007
Beautiful Eyes 2008

Apart from being a singer, guitarist, piano player and song writer, the talented Swift is working on a movie Valentine’s Day which is all set to release in 2010. Otherwise she has worked in music videos such as Online, 2007; Best days of your life, 2008 and also played a small role in Hannah Montana: The movie.

Taylor Swift has been reported to be one of the most visited artists on MySpace.

Gregory has been involved with internet marketing online for over 10 years. Not only is he a stay-at-home dad, but he is into building web sites and internet marketing. You can also check out his latest experiment at Lake Tahoe Hotels which reviews a few Lake Tahoe hotels.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregory_Ortel
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