Grammy Awards Recap: Sam Smith’s Golden Evening

Sam Smith

The Grammy voting audience stayed with British neo-soul singer Sam Smith during the 57th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday evening (Feb. 8). Smith took home Grammys for Best New Artist, Song of the Year and Record of the Year (both for “Stay With Me”), and Best Pop Vocal Album, for In The Lonely Hour.

“Thank you all for the best night of my life,” said Smith.

After picking up three awards this year, Beyoncé became the second most-awarded woman in Grammy history (20 total Grammys). She was honored for best surround album, as well as Best R&B Song, and Best R&B Performance (both for “Drunk In Love”). This places Beyonce’s trophy tally behind Alison Krauss, who has 27 career wins.

Country-turned-pop songstress Taylor Swift presented the first award of the evening, for Best New Artist. She also imparted some advice to the nominees. “As a former loser of Best New Artist in 2008, you’re gonna be fine, just shake it off,” said Swift. The honor went to Smith. Country singer-songwriter Brandy Clark was among the nominees for the award. Clark took the stage later in the evening for an acoustic performance with Dwight Yoakam providing harmony. She performed fan favorite “Hold My Hand” from her sterling, Grammy-nominated album 12 Stories.

Miranda Lambert was the first country performer of the evening, giving a swagger-filled rendition of “Little Red Wagon” from her album Platinum. Lambert was nominated for four trophies. Nashville resident and “All About That Bass” songstress Meghan Trainor helped present the award for Best Country Album, which went to Lambert’s Platinum. It was Lambert’s lone win of the evening. “I love every album in this category. I put my heart and soul in this record. Thank you for this amazing night,” said Lambert.

Eric Church performs during the 57th Annual Grammy awards. Photo: Grammy.com

Keith Urban introduced Eric Church, who performed “Give Me Back My Hometown,” which was nominated for Best Country Song.

As previously reported, Carrie Underwood, Glen Campbell, Rosanne Cash, The Band Perry, Lecrae, and For King & Country were among Grammy winners earlier in the evening, prior to the telecast on CBS. Underwood picked up a Best Country Solo Performance Grammy for “Something In The Water,” while The Band Perry won Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their rendition of Campbell’s “Gentle On My Mind.”

Campbell himself picked up a Grammy win as a songwriter (along with Julian Raymond) in the category of Best Country Song for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You.” Rosanne Cash earned Best Americana Album for The River & The Thread.

For King & Country took home Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Run Wild. Love Strong. Live Free. Lecrae (feat. For King & Country) earned Best Contemporary Christian Performance/Song for “Messengers.”

Perhaps the most anticipated performances of the evening belonged once again to Smith and Beyonce. Sam Smith teamed with Mary J. Blige for a duet of “Stay With Me,” backed by a choir, while Beyonce performed a rendition of the Gospel classic “Take My Hand Precious Lord.”

Overall, Nashville’s eclectic music scene made a strong showing on music’s biggest night.

Miranda Lambert performs “Little Red Wagon” during the 57th annual Grammy Awards. Photo: Grammy.com

Selected 57th Annual Grammy Winners (in bold)

Album of the Year
Beck, Morning Phase
Beyonce, Beyonce
Ed Sheeran, x
Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour
Pharrell Williams, Girl

Record of the Year
“Fancy,” Iggy Azalea ft. Charli XCX
“Chandelier,” Sia
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith
“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift
“All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor

Song of the Year
“Chandelier,” Sia
“All About That Bass,” Meghan Trainor
“Shake It Off,” Taylor Swift
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” Sam Smith
“Take Me to Church,” Hozier

Best New Artist
Bastille
Iggy Azalea
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith

Best Country Album
Riser, Dierks Bentley
The Outsiders, Eric Church
The Way I’m Livin’, Lee Ann Womack
12 Stories, Brandy Clark
Platinum, Miranda Lambert 

Best Country Song
“American Kids,” Kenny Chesney
“Automatic,” Miranda Lambert
“Give Me Back My Hometown,” Eric Church
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” Glen Campbell
“Meanwhile Back at Mama’s,” Tim McGraw ft. Faith Hill

Best Americana Album
The River & The Thread, Rosanne Cash
Terms of My Surrender, John Hiatt
Bluesamericana, Keb’ Mo’
A Dotted Line, Nickel Creek
Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, Sturgill Simpson

Best Country Solo Performance
Carrie Underwood, “Something In The Water” 
Eric Church, “Give Me Back My Hometown”
Hunter Hayes, “Invisible”
Miranda Lambert, “Automatic”
Keith Urban, “Cop Car”

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
The Band Perry, “Gentle On My Mind”
Miranda Lambert With Carrie Underwood, “Somethin’ Bad”
Little Big Town, “Day Drinking”
Tim McGraw feat. Faith Hill, “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Keith Urban Featuring Eric Church, “Raise ‘Em Up”

Best Country Song
“I’m Not Gonna Miss You”
Glen Campbell & Julian Raymond, songwriters (Glen Campbell)
Track from: Glen Campbell, I’ll Be Me Soundtrack
Label: Big Machine Records

“American Kids”
Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird & Shane McAnally, songwriters (Kenny Chesney)
Track From: The Big Revival
Label: Blue Chair Records, LLC / Columbia Nashville

“Automatic”
Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
Track from: Platinum
Label: RCA Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Pink Dog Publishing admin. by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, LLC/Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp./EMI Blackwood Music Inc./Wruckestrike

“Give Me Back My Hometown”
Eric Church & Luke Laird, songwriters (Eric Church)
Track from: The Outsiders
Label: EMI Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Longer And Louder Music, admin. by Sony/ATV Music PublishingLLC/Songs Of Universal , Inc./Creative Nation Music/Twangin And Slangin, admin. by Songs Of Universal, Inc.

“Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston & Jeffrey Steele, songwriters (Tim McGraw Featuring Faith Hill)
Label: Big Machine Records

Best Rock Performance
Ryan Adams, “Gimme Something Good”
Arctic Monkeys, “Do I Wanna Know?”
Beck, “Blue Moon”
The Black Keys, “Fever”
Jack White, “Lazaretto”

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
Lecrae feat. For King & Country, “Messengers”
Francesca Battistelli, “Write Your Story”
Crowder, “Come As You Are”
MercyMe, “Shake”
Needtobreathe, “Multiplied”

Best Gospel Album
Erica Campbell, Help 
Ricky Dillard & New G, Amazing [Live]
William McDowell, Withholding Nothing [Live]
Smokie Norful, Forever Yours
Anita Wilson, Vintage Worship

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
For King & Country, Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
Francesca Battistelli, If We’re Honest
Natalie Grant, Hurricane
MercyMe, Welcome to the New
Royal Tailor, Royal Tailor

Best Gospel Performance/Song
Smokie Norful, “No Greater Love” 
Erica Campbell feat. Lecrae, “Help”
Karen Clark Shearda, “Sunday A.M. [Live]”
Mali Music, “I Believe”
The Walls Group, “Love On The Radio”