HOLLYWOOD - The Dixie Chicks stunned America at the Grammy Awards Sunday night by claiming five big prizes, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Just four years after the trio was ostracized for making anti-President George W. Bush comments onstage during a London concert, they were celebrated for hit song "Not Ready to Make Nice" and album Taking the Long Way.
In accepting the Best Song prize, newly brunette singer Natalie Maines--who made the infamous comments onstage in 2003--personally thanked her bandmates Martie Maguire and Emily Robison for supporting her during the controversy.
She joked, "I told you I'd take you to the Grammys, stick with me."
The 49th Grammys also served up a night to remember for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who claimed four top honors with wins for Best Rock Album and Best Boxed/Special Limited Edition Packaging for Stadium Arcadium and Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for "Dani California."
Meanwhile, American Idol winner-turned country sensation Carrie Underwood and Mary J. Blige claimed three awards apiece. It was a bittersweet night for Blige, who entered the Grammys leading the pack of nominees with eight nods.
Composer John Williams, Justin Timberlake, John Mayer, Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Ludacris, jazz great Chick Corea and Gnarls Barkley were among the double Grammy winners.
The full winners list can be seen on the next page...