Alabama musicians had a huge night at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards yesterday. Artists with Alabama roots won awards in major categories and gave some incredible performances during the live broadcast.
The Grammy Awards took place Monday evening in Los Angeles in a two-part ceremony. Most of the awards were given out in the afternoon, but the high-profile awards were saved for the broadcast on CBS last night. Alabama artists won big at both ceremonies.
Alabama Shakes had a huge night, with three wins and a rocking performance. The group, formed in Athens, Alabama by lead singer Brittany Howard, took home the trophies for Best Alternative Music Album for “Sound & Color,” Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for “Don’t Wanna Fight.” The group also performed their now Grammy-winning song “Don’t Wanna Fight” during the show.
(More after the video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP3D8PaxAaQ
Country mega-group Little Big Town won their second trophy last night for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, for their powerful song “Girl Crush.” The quartet has a number of Alabama connections. Jimi Westbrook is originally from Sumiton, and the two female members of the group, Karen Fairchild and Kimberly Schlapman, met at Samford University in Birmingham. The group also performed a stripped-down arrangement of “Girl Crush” backed by an all-female string section.
Green Hill native Jason Isbell won two Grammys at the afternoon ceremony, taking home the trophies for Best Americana Album for “Something More Than Free” and Best American Roots Song for “24 Frames.”
The SteelDrivers, a group with connections to North Alabama, won the award for Best Bluegrass Album for “The Muscle Shoals Recordings.” Gary Nichols, the group’s lead singer and guitarist, is a native of Muscle Shoals.
The movie Selma, based on the famous civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, won Best Song Written for Visual Media for its original song “Glory,” written by John Legend and Common. The movie, which was partially filmed in Alabama, and “Glory” have already seen great success, with the song already winning a Golden Globe and an Academy Award.
The Grammys also paid tribute to Tuskegee native and music industry superstar Lionel Richie, who was named the 2016 MusiCares Person of the Year. John Legend, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan, Meghan Trainor, and Tyrese sang a medley of Richie’s hits, and Lionel Richie himself joined them on stage to sing “All Night Long.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMvWhI6JCRk
