SOME AWARDS NOTES…

GRAMMYS: before Kasey Musgraves won the big award, Album of the Year (all music genres, BTW), on Sunday, country artists had rarely won in that category. And when it did happen, women did pretty good. Taylor Swift won in 2010 for “Fearless” and The Dixie Chicks’ “Taking the Long Way” took the trophy in 2007. The only solo male country artist to win was Glen Campbell, back in 1969 for “By the Time I Get to Phoenix.”

ACMs: Reba McEntire will be back for the second year in-a-row to host the Academy of Country Music Awards on April 7 in Las Vegas. It’ll be her 19th time hosting or co-hosting, 33 years after her first time!


CMAOntario: A while ago it was announced that Jason McCoy will be back as host of the awards, set for June 16 in Ottawa. He’s hosted every year except the first year and this will be the first time the provincial awards will be held in Ottawa. Today, the first round of performers were announced and they include Jason Blaine (who I think has performed on just about every show), Andrew Hyatt, Meghan Patrick, The Reklaws and guests The Washboard Union. Voting for the first round of nominations has begun and will continue until Feb. 21.

And you already know about the Junos (Mar. 17 in London).