2011 Grammy Awards Winners

Country music stars are shining just a little bit brighter than any other genre at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. Lady Antebellum are in the lead with four Grammy wins: Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals, Country Song and the all-genre Song of the Year for their crossover smash, 'Need You Now,' along with Country Album of the Year. It was a night that highlighted country talent more so than most Grammy years past, with country artists nominated in three of the all-genre categories, along with more country performances than the Grammys normally include.

Martina McBride kicked off the show alongside Yolanda Adams, Christina Aguilera, Jennifer Hudson and Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine in a spine-tingling tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. The five ladies traded lead vocals on a medley of Aretha's hits, with Martina taking the lead for 'Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do),' receiving thunderous applause.

After a glowing introduction from fiancé Blake Shelton, Miranda sang 'The House That Built Me' without any bells and whistles production -- just her flawless vocals, two guitarists, a steel guitar player and upright bassist, allowing the audience to really concentrate on the song's poignant lyrics. Dressed in a strapless gold form-fitting dress with her hair in flowing curls, Miranda hit every note on the tune that has catapulted her to superstar status.

Just a few minutes after her performance, Miranda took home the Grammy for Best Female Country Performance. "First Grammy performance ever, first Grammy," said a beaming Miranda upon accepting her first gramophone with a nervous laugh. "Thank you Tom [Douglas] and Allen [Shamblin] for writing such a beautiful song. Thank you so much for loving the lyrics to this song, because it means the world to me and I know everyone can relate to it. To everyone who's ever inspired me -- a lot of you are in this room -- thank you very much. I love country music."

Lady Antebellum also gave a very stripped-down performance, choosing to showcase their unmistakable harmonies over any big production. With all three dressed in head-to-toe black, the multiple Grammy winners started off singing a cover of 'If You Don't Know Me By Now,' followed by a few verses of their own 'American Honey' and 'Need You Now.' And just seconds later, the trio won Best Country Album for their triple-platinum selling sophomore project, also titled 'Need You Now.'

Keith Urban, armed with an acoustic guitar, joined John Mayer and Norah Jones for a rendition of Dolly Parton's classic, 'Jolene,' in celebration of Dolly's Lifetime Achievement Grammy award. The three then announced the winner for the all-genre Song of the Year category -- Lady A for 'Need You Now,' which beat out hits by Ray LaMontagne, Cee Lo Green, Miranda Lambert, Eminem & Rihanna.

"What an amazing year; we are so blown away," said Lady A's Dave Haywood upon accepting Song of the Year honors. "We want to thank God, we want to thank our families back in Nashville and Augusta, Ga.

"Thank you so much to the fans; thank you to radio," added a teary-eyed Hillary Scott. "This past year has completely changed our lives. We love you all so much."

Most of the country categories were announced in the Grammy pre-telecast. Lady A took home two early gramophones -- Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals and Best Country Song for 'Need You Now,' sharing the latter award with co-writer Josh Kear. Keith Urban is the winner of Best Country Male Performance for ''Til Summer Comes Around.' The Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson's 'As She's Walking Away' is the Grammy's Best Country Collaboration With Vocals. Diamond Rio, Marty Stuart, Patty Loveless, Patty Griffin and Ryan Bingham are also early Grammy winners.

See below for a list of nominees in the country categories and four major all-genre categories. Click here for a full list of Grammy nominees and winners.

Female Country Vocal Performance

Jewel, 'Satisfied'
Miranda Lambert, 'The House That Built Me' - WINNER
LeAnn Rimes, 'Swingin'
Carrie Underwood, 'Temporary Home'
Gretchen Wilson, 'I'd Love To Be Your Last'

Male Country Performance

Jamey Johnson, 'Macon'
Toby Keith, 'Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song)'
David Nail, 'Turning Home'
Keith Urban, 'Til Summer Comes Around' - WINNER
Chris Young, 'Gettin' You Home'

Country Song (Songwriter award)

'The Breath You Take,' George Strait
'Free,' Zac Brown Band
'The House That Built Me,' Miranda Lambert
'I'd Love To Be Your Last,' Gretchen Wilson
'If I Die Young,' The Band Perry
'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum - WINNER

Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals

Zac Brown Band, 'Free'
Dailey & Vincent, 'Elizabeth'
Lady Antebellum, 'Need You Now' - WINNER
Little Big Town, 'Little White Church'
SteelDrivers, 'Where Rainbows Never Die'

Country Album

'Up On The Ridge,' Dierks Bentley
'You Get What You Give,' Zac Brown Band
'The Guitar Song,' Jamey Johnson
'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum
'Revolution,' Miranda Lambert

Country Collaboration With Vocals

'Pride (In The Name of Love),' Dierks Bentley, Del McCoury & The Punch Brothers
'As She's Walking Away,' Zac Brown Band and Alan Jackson - WINNER
'Bad Angel,' Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson
'Hillbilly Bone,' Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins
'I Run To You,' Marty Stuart and Connie Smith

New Artist

Justin Bieber
Drake
Florence + The Machine
Mumford and Sons
Esperanza Spalding

Song of the Year (Songwriter award)

'Beg Steal or Borrow,' Ray LaMontagne
'Forget You,' Cee Lo Green
'Love The Way You Lie,' Eminem
'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum
'The House That Built Me,' Miranda Lambert

Record of the Year

'B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray,' B.o.B.
'Empire State of Mind,' Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
'Forget You,' Cee Lo Green
'Love The Way You Lie,' Eminem
'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum

Album of the Year

'The Fame Monster,' Lady Gaga
'The Suburbs,' Arcade Fire
'Need You Now,' Lady Antebellum
'Recovery,' Eminem
'Teenage Dream,' Katy Perry