Grammy whistles Dixie

Three and a half hours! Hey, any American Idol spinoff show that moves from a reunion of that hip, lute-plucking Sting and the Police to Rascal Flatts rocking out on the Eagles to James Blunt sparking suicides across the country is worth an extra half hour of prime time. At least we had Quentin Tarantino and Scarlett Johansen’s chest to keep us awake til the end. Anyway, there were a few surprises on the The 49th Annual Grammy Awards (and we’re not talking about noticing Julie Chen sitting in one of the front rows). Like: we thought The Dixie Chicks were big, brave articulate anti-war activists– when it turns out they’re just a bunch of giggling airhead soccer moms.

And we’re still pretty sure that Crazy by Gnarls Barkley was definitely the record of the year. And the song of the year.

Pop quiz: Hum Not Ready To Make Nice.

Now… the big winners… and most important in our part of the world, winner in the Musical Show, Film/TV/Visual Media and Composing and Arranging categories… after the jump…RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Not Ready to Make Nice,” Dixie Chicks

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Taking the Long Way,” Dixie Chicks

SONG OF THE YEAR
“Not Ready To Make Nice” Martie Maguire, Natalie Maines, Emily Robison & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Dixie Chicks)

BEST NEW ARTIST
Carrie Underwood

BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
‘Ain’t No Other Man,” Christina Aguilera

BEST MALE POP VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Waiting On The World To Change,” John Mayer

BEST POP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL
“My Humps,” The Black Eyed Peas

BEST POP COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
“For Once In My Life,” Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
“Mornin’,” George Benson (& Al Jarreau)

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
“Fingerprints,” Peter Frampton

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
“Continuum,” John Mayer

BEST DANCE RECORDING
“Sexy Back,” Justin Timberlake

BEST ELECTRONIC/DANCE ALBUM
“Confessions On A Dance Floor,” Madonna

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
“Duets: An American Classic” Tony Bennett

BEST SOLO ROCK VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Someday Baby,” Bob Dylan

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL
“Dani California,” Red Hot Chili Peppers

BEST HARD ROCK PERFORMANCE
“Woman,” Wolfmother

BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
“Eyes Of The Insane,” Slayer

BEST ROCK INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
“The Wizard Turns On…,” The Flaming Lips

BEST ROCK SONG
“Dani California,” Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis & Chad Smith, songwriters (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

BEST ROCK ALBUM
“Stadium Arcadium,” Red Hot Chili Peppers

ALTERNATIVE, R&B, RAP AND COUNTRY NOMINEES
49th annual Grammy Awards

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
“St. Elsewhere,” Gnarls Barkley

BEST FEMALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Be Without You,” Mary J. Blige

BEST MALE R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Heaven,” John Legend

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS
“Family Affair,” (Sly & The Family Stone), John Legend, Joss Stone With Van Hunt

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“God Bless The Child,” George Benson & Al Jarreau Featuring Jill Scott

BEST URBAN/ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE
“Crazy,” Gnarls Barkley

BEST R&B SONG
“Be Without You”

BEST R&B ALBUM
“The Breakthrough,” Mary J. Blige

BEST CONTEMPORARY R&B ALBUM
“B’Day,” Beyoncé

BEST RAP SOLO PERFORMANCE
“What You Know,” T.I.

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP
“Ridin,” Chamillionaire Featuring Krayzie Bone

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLABORATION
“My Love,” Justin Timberlake Featuring T.I.

BEST RAP SONG
“Money Maker,” Christopher Bridges & Pharrell Williams, songwriters (Ludacris Featuring Pharrell)

BEST RAP ALBUM
“Release Therapy,” Ludacris

BEST FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“Jesus, Take The Wheel,” Carrie Underwood

BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE
“The Reason Why,” Vince Gill

BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCAL
“Not Ready To Make Nice” Dixie Chicks

BEST COUNTRY COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS
“Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” Bon Jovi & Jennifer Nettles

BEST COUNTRY INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE
“Whiskey Before Breakfast,” Bryan Sutton & Doc Watson

BEST COUNTRY SONG
“Jesus, Take The Wheel,” Brett James, Hillary Lindsey & Gordie Sampson, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
“Taking The Long Way,” Dixie Chicks

BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM
“Instrumentals,” Ricky Skaggs And Kentucky Thunder

BEST MUSICAL SHOW ALBUM
“Jersey Boys”

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
“Walk The Line,” (Joaquin Phoenix & Various Artists)

BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
“Memoirs Of A Geisha,” John Williams, composer

BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR MOTION PICTURE, TELEVISION OR OTHER VISUAL MEDIA
“Our Town,” Randy Newman, songwriter (James Taylor)
Track from: “Cars”

BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION
“A Prayer For Peace,” John Williams, composer (John Williams)

BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT
“Three Ghouls,” Chick Corea, arranger (Chick Corea)

BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT ACCOMPANYING VOCALIST(S)
“For Once In My Life,” Jorge Calandrelli, arranger (Tony Bennett & Stevie Wonder)

–Tabloid Baby