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Grammy Nominations Concert Packed a Country Punch!
Posted: Dec 06, 2012
Country was front and center at last night’s Grammy Nominations Concert Live!!, and so were its biggest stars!Taylor Swift, who raked in three nominations, co-hosted the party with hip-hop icon LL Cool J. Hunter Hayes sung – yes, sung – the nominees for “Best Pop Vocal Album” and also earned three Grammy nods himself, tying Taylor for the most from a country artist this year.
Backstage Hunter revealed how “insanely lucky” he felt to get his first-ever Grammy nominations, especially in the all-genre “Best New Artist” category.
“To wave the country flag in that category means a lot to me,” he told press.
Luke Bryan took to the stage to perform his hit “I Don’t Want This Night To End,” and Little Big Town brought more country cred with the announcement of the “Best New Artist” category.
Dierks Bentley and The Band Perry opened the show with a tribute to country legend Johnny Cash.
“Walking out on that stage tonight with those guys and singing that song was a career highlight,” Dierks told reporters backstage.
The 55th Annual Grammy Awards airs February 10th at 8PM Eastern on CBS. Full list of nominees with country connections:
Record of the Year
“Lonely Boy” – The Black Keys
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” – Kelly Clarkson
“We Are Young” – Fun. Feat. Janelle Monae
“Somebody That I Used to Know” – Gotye feat. Kimbra
“Thinkin Bout You” – Frank Ocean
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” – Taylor Swift
Best New Artist
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Best Country Solo Performance
“Home” – Dierks Bentley
“Springsteen” – Eric Church
“Cost of Livin’” – Ronnie Dunn
“Wanted” – Hunter Hayes
“Over” – Blake Shelton
“Blown Away” – Carrie Underwood
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – Eli Young Band
“Pontoon” – Little Big Town
“Safe and Sound” – Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars
“On the Outskirts of Town” – The Time Jumpers
“I Just Come Here For The Music” – Don Williams feat. Alison Krauss
Best Country Song
“Blown Away” – Carrie Underwood
“Cost of Livin’” – Ronnie Dunn
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” – EYB
“So You Don’t Have To Love Me Anymore” – Alan Jackson
“Springsteen” – Eric Church
Best Country Album
Uncaged – Zac Brown Band
Hunter Hayes – Hunter Hayes
Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran – Jamey Johnson
Four the Record – Miranda Lambert
The Time Jumpers – The Time Jumpers
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