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Grammys wrap-up: Big night for Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars

Monday, February 13, 2012 – Taylor Swift and The Civil Wars were the big winners Sunday night at the Grammys for the country crowd.

And, in fact, the two are linked because Swift caught a show of the duo at a Nashville club, bought up their merchandise and championed John Paul White and Joy Williams on social media. On her latest single, Safe & Sound for "The Hunger Games" soundtrack, The Civil Wars provide vocal help.

Swift won a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance for Mean, which she sang at the awards after an intro from The Civil Wars. Mean also scored a Grammy for Best Country Song.

Written in response to a zealous critic, Swift joked, "There's really no feeling quite like writing a song about someone who's completely mean to you and completely hates you and then winning a Grammy for it."

The Civil Wars won Grammys for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Folk Album for "Barton Hollow." The disc is their debut studio effort.

Lady Antebellum won the Grammy for Best Country Album for "Own This Night."

Levon Helm took the Americana Grammy for "Ramble At The Ryman," a live disc.

Alison Krauss & Union Station won two Grammys - Best Bluegrass Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical for their sixth album "Paper Airplane." This latest accomplishment brings the band's total Grammy award count to 13 and is the 27th personal win for Krauss. She is the most awarded singer, the most awarded female artist and tied second for the most awarded artist overall in Grammy history.

Glen Campbell performed at the Grammys after wining a Lifetime Achievement Award. This was expected to be Campbell's swan song appearance at the Grammys because he is suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. He also received a tribute from Blake Shelton and The Band Perry before he came onstage for a rousing version of Rhinestone Cowboy.

George Jones also received a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson teamed up for a duet of Don't You Wanna Stay.

More news for The Civil Wars

CD reviews for The Civil Wars

Barton Hollow CD review - Barton Hollow
Upon first listen, The Civil Wars comes off like a more Southern version of She & Him. While She & Him draws upon classic pop elements, The Civil Wars is much more country and folk focused. Charlie Peacock produced "Barton Hollow," giving it a simple, sparse acoustic sound; one that is very different from the man's usual solo music or other productions (early Switchfoot albums, which are all comprised of sharp electric guitar rock, and his own solo work veers closer to blue eyed soul). »»»
Editorial: Walking the talk – When names like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon and the Hag are invoked, you're talking hard core country. These are the touchstones of country , the guys who made country music what it was and still is (or maybe can be). When these folks would sing about being down-and-out and the rough-and-tumble, they knew of what they were singing about. Fast forward a few years to the country singers of today. »»»
Concert Review: McGraw has plenty of fight left – Despite the fact that Tim McGraw is five years sober, fit as a triathlete and touring behind a number one album, he is still in an unenviable position. As he approaches 50, McGraw has to stay a step ahead of the current crop of young country hunks with TV shows, cross format radio airplay and wider appeal. But as he proved at First Niagara's... »»»
Concert Review: Steve Earle doesn't rest (on laurels) – If you didn't realize Steve Earle had a new disc out, "The Low Highway," it would have been no problem realizing that quite and quickly. That was because Earle started the two-hour show with three straight tracks from "The Low Highway," and he would not be done for the night. The title track of was a midtempo effort... »»»
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