Shoals native earns Grammy

LOS ANGELES - Greenhill native Chris Tompkins nailed down a Grammy Award on Sunday when the Carrie Underwood song he co-wrote, "Before He Cheats," was named the Country Song of the Year.

Tompkins and Josh Kear wrote the song, which also was nominated for Song of the Year. That category was won by Amy Winehouse, for "Rehab."

Tompkins, who attended the Grammys event in Los Angeles, also has been nominated for awards by the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association within the past year.

There was an additional Shoals connection at the Grammys. R&B/soul singer Bettye Lavette's album, "Scene of the Crime," was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album. It lost out, however, to "The Road to Escondido," by JJ Cale & Eric Clapton.

The song was recorded at FAME studios in Muscle Shoals. The Shoals-bred rockers Drive-by Truckers produced and provided the music for "Scene of the Crime."

Meanwhile, trapped half a world away by the place she promised to never "go, go, go," a vibrant, exuberant Winehouse dominated the Grammys on Sunday night, winning five awards and delivering a defiant performance of her autobiographical hit "Rehab" via satellite from London.

Wearing a sly smile as she performed for a small cabaret audience, Winehouse gave a sultry, soulful rendition of the hit that has defined her recent fall from grace. She looked just as coy as she sang the song "You Know I'm No Good" - almost reveling in the irony of her words.

But she seemed dumbfounded when she was announced as the record of the year winner. She was immediately enveloped by her band, then her mother and father, who have publicly worried whether Winehouse - who recently entered a drug rehabilitation center after months of erratic behavior and canceled performances - would survive her demons.

"To my mom and dad, for my Blake, my Blake incarcerated, and for London!" shouted Winehouse, referring to her incarcerated husband - another tabloid aspect of her troubled life.

In a major shocker, Winehouse lost the final award of the night, album of the year, to Herbie Hancock's "River: The Joni Letters."

"You know it's been 43 years since the first and only time that a jazz artist got the album of the year award," Hancock said.

"I'd like to thank the Academy for courageously breaking the mold this time. In doing so, honoring the giants upon whose shoulders I stand, some of whom like Miles Davis, John Coltrane ... unquestionably, deserved the award in the past. But this is a new day, that proves that the impossible can be made possible."

Winehouse's performance was not the only dramatic moment of the night. Kanye West, who had a leading eight nominations and won four trophies, delivered an electric, glow-in-the-dark rendition of "Stronger," then segued into a stirring tribute to his mother, Donda West, who died unexpectedly last year at age 58.

"Last night I saw you in my dreams, and now I can't wait to go to sleep," sang West, dressed in all black and with MAMA etched into his haircut, as he launched into "Hey Mama," a celebratory tune from his second album that has now turned into a somber ode.

He won awards for best rap album for "Graduation," best solo performance for "Stronger," best rap song for "Good Life" and best rap performance by a duo or group for his collaboration with Common on "Southside."

When West accepted the best rap album trophy, the orchestra was trying to play him off the stage when he began speaking about his mother.

"It would be in good taste to stop the music," West said - and the music stopped.

"I know you're really proud of me right now and I know you want me to be the No. 1 artist in the world and Mama," West continued, "all I'm going to do is keep making you proud. We run this."

The Grammys, celebrating its 50th year, emphasized its history from the first performance. Alicia Keys, glammed-up with a '50s style, sat at the piano and sang "Learnin' the Blues" along with a black-and-white video performance from the late Frank Sinatra.

"Frank Sinatra looked good for 150, didn't he," Prince joked moments later before introducing Keys as the best female R&B vocal winner for her smash "No One."

Later, the casts from Cirque Du Soleil's "Love" Beatles' show and the Beatles-inspired movie "Across the Universe" paid tribute to the Fab Four as Ringo Starr, Yoko Ono and George Harrison's widow Olivia Harrison watched from the audience.

It was a hot-legs competition when Tina Turner teamed up with Beyonce on "Proud Mary." The senior citizen kept up with her younger counterpart, showcasing her famous dance moves while wearing a tight-fitting silver bustier and pantsuit.

Carrie Underwood earned two Grammys, including for best female country vocal performance. Bruce Springsteen took three awards, including best rock song for "Radio Nowhere." Other winners included the White Stripes, Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige with two each, the Foo Fighters, Herbie Hancock and even Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama for best spoken-word album.

In any other year, West would have been the main storyline thanks to his history of awards-show tirades, his huge album "Graduation" and the shocking death of his mother. But the absent Winehouse, up for six trophies, upstage West and everyone else.

TimesDaily Staff Writer Bernie Delinski contributed to this story.