There were no big winners at the Grammy Awards last night. “N(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk)s in Paris” (note: explicit lyrics) by rappers Jay-Z and Kanye West won two awards. Dance/techno recording artist Skrillex won three.
The most shocking win of the evening was Janis Ian’s award for spoken word album, “Society’s Child: My Autobiography.” She beat Michelle Obama (and friends), Bill Clinton, Rachel Maddow, and Ellen DeGeneres. There is a North Carolina connection. Ian started a foundation that funds scholarships to Warren Wilson College students. She gave the commencement address at the Swannanoa, NC college last year.
Speaking of North Carolina, Steep Canyon Rangers was the only Grammy winner from the state. They won the award for best bluegrass album, “Nobody Knows You.”