Grammy Awards: Speeches and Songs

by Alison Bonaguro

1 hour ago

The best part of the Grammy Awards is not always the one that wins. Sometimes it's the speeches of performances and acceptances that really steal the show.

This was the case for country and American music on Sunday night (February 10), when the show was broadcast live from Staples Center in Los Angeles and when a country artist won the grand prize of the evening. Kacey Musgraves' Gold hour was named the album of the year. She was confronted with outstanding albums by Cardi B., Drake, H.E.R., Post Malone, Janelle Monea, Brandi Carlile and Kendrick Lamar. Musgraves is the first country artist to win in this category in nine years.

Musgraves – the darling of all genres of the evening in all genres – was one of the first country artists to perform in this show. She took the stage in a sober white dress and sang her latest single "Rainbow" with only her pianist (producer and songwriter) – Ian Fitchuk – the second.

Musgraves also took the lead in homage to Dolly Parton. She and Katy Perry first shared the stage for Parton's "Here You Come Again" (1977). Parton has joined them on the song that she has performed countless times. Then Miley Cyrus joined Parton – her godmother – for the movie "Jolene" (1973). At the end of this song, Maren Morris came on stage to share the song with Parton and Cyrus on "After the Gold Rush," a Neil Young song that Parton had performed on screen. Trio II album that she did with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. Little Big Town then joined Parton on a new song, "Red Shoes", from the band Dumplin ' soundtrack. And everyone – Parton, Musgraves, Perry, Cyrus, Morris and Little Big Town – came together for "9 to 5 years" from 1980 to close the memorable medley.

Dan + Shay, who won the Grammy for the best duo / group of countries for their "Tequila" earlier in the day, had the chance to share the winning ballad with the world on the coveted stage. With Dan Smyers on guitar, Shay Mooney on piano and a six-string section, the duo was the perfect piece.

Brandi Carlile performed his Grammy-winning "The Joke" at the end of the show, and the powerful self-made hymn was greeted by almost everyone's cheers, from Maren Morris to Post Malone.

Throughout the television broadcast and the non-television presentation ceremony that took place before the series began, country and American artists collected prizes. And you could hear the sincerity, the emotion and the humility of their voices when they went on stage to accept the golden gramophone.

At the very end of the show, when Musgraves won her award for the album of the year, she said she did not know what to say. But then she found the words. "Oh my God, oh my God, it was amazing to be even in a category with such gigantic albums, really brilliant works of art, it's really crazy, but I'm very I know that winning it does not make my album better than anyone in this category, they're all so good.

"Life is pretty tumultuous right now for all of us, I feel it, it can be felt this way. And I feel like for that, the art is really booming. And it's very beautiful to see that. Thank you for defending mine. I would not have anything without songs. For me, "she added," it's all about songs. "

Musgraves, who also won for his latest album Gold hourseemed visibly stunned as she climbed the steps of the stage. "I never imagined that this album would meet such love, such warmth, such positivity. It seriously means the world for me. I love country music with all that I am, "she said," and I am very proud to be able to share my version of this music with the world. "

Earlier, when Musgraves' "Space Cowboy" was crowned Best Country Song, she was not able to land this award herself. So, his co-authors Shane McAnally and Luke Laird did it for her. "Honestly, Kacey is one of the greatest songwriters and artists of our generation and just staying in the room with her is an honor," said McAnally. "She came with this incredible idea and we felt like we had just received the best gift." Laird echoed this sentiment. "I feel really lucky to have the opportunity every day to become creative to make a living. I must also thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, "he said," because I am fully convinced that without creators, there would be no creativity. "

Dan + Shay's first Grammy Award was awarded before the show. After thanking a long list of collaborators and supporters, Mooney admitted he was in shock. "I can not believe this has just happened. I am a little blown away. And I could be on the verge of losing consciousness. It's an incredible honor, "he said. Smyers added that he could feel the love of his Music City brothers. "It's the beautiful thing about Nashville and country music: we're all family, we imitate each other," he said.

Brandi Carlile won three Grammy Awards before the show and she had to thank many people. During a trip on the stage, for the best American song of "The Joke", Carlile told a story of her past that helped to understand why this important music was so dear to her heart.

"American music is the island of unsuitable toys," Carlile explained. "I am so inappropriate. It is this music that shaped my life and made me what I am. And even gave me my family. I came out of the closet at the age of 15, while I was in high school. And I can badure you that I have never been invited to parties and have never been to a dance.

"To be embraced by this lasting and loving community has been the dance of a lifetime," she said. "Thank you for being my island."

See the full list of country, folk and americana winners here.