Country Represents At Tonight’s Grammy Awards

Tonight, CBS has the honor of serving up the world's hottest musicians, when the 54th Grammy Awards are handed out and broadcast live from the Staples Center in L.A.

Sadly, what would have been a gigantic toast over a year filled with some phenomenal talent, is also forced to become a eulogy for the passing of a legend, known as much for her tremendous voice as for her ongoing private and public struggles in her latter years. She'll be mentioned and remembered throughout the evening, as the awards take on a more somber and thoughtful tone. Even though as most, she would have loved to have heard the applause and accolades again, I don't believe she thought for one moment that they would be delivered in such a way, or so soon. My Country joins in the mourning for the incredible Whitney Houston. 

So we also take on a more somber and thoughtful tone. Still, it's going to be a very memorable night. Country music can, and should be proud of a fantastic year that brought us songs that we love to sing with over and over again.

Tonight we'll witness performances by Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, The Band Perry, Blake Shelton, Glen Campbell, and even Steve Earle if I'm getting my facts straight.

Just to refresh your memories, here are tonight's Country categories and nominees.

BEST NEW ARTIST

The Band Perry

Bon Iver

J. Cole

Nicki Minaj

Skrillex

BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE

Blake Shelton, Honey Bee

Carrie Underwood, Mama's Song

Martina McBride, I'm Gonna Love You Through It

Jason Aldean, Dirt Road Anthem

Taylor Swift, Mean

BEST COUNTRY SONG

Thompson Square, Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

Vince Gill, Threaten Me With Heaven

Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter, You And Tequila

Blake Shelton, God Gave Me You

Taylor Swift, Mean

Trace Adkins, Just Fishin'

BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE

Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Don't You Wanna Stay

The Civil Wars, Barton Hollow

Thompson Square, Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not

Kenny Chesney and Grace Potter, You And Tequila

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM

George Strait, Here For A Good Time

Eric Church, Chief

Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party

Taylor Swift, Speak Now

Lady Antebellum, Own The Night

Blake Shelton, Red River Blue

BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM

Alison Krauss and Union Station, Paper Airplane

The Del McCoury Band, Old Memories: The Songs Of Bill Monroe

Chris Thile & Michael Daves, Sleep With One Eye Open

Jim Lauderdale, Reason And Rhyme: Bluegrass Songs By Robert Hunter & Jim Lauderdale

Ralph Stanley, A Mother's Prayer

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers, Rare Bird Alert

BEST AMERICANA ALBUM

Emmylou Harris, Hard Bargain

Levon Helm, Ramble At The Ryman

Ry Cooder, Pull Up Some Dust And Sit Down

Lucinda Williams, Blessed

Linda Chorney, Emotional Jukebox

The 54th Annual Grammy Awards get started at 6 pm Mountain Standard Time, live on CBS.

Go Country!