AP-AM Prep-Country

       MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP - MORNING PREP            

---------------------------

! COUNTRY !

---------------------------

GRAMMYS ARE SUNDAY

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Taylor Swift has taken home just about every other music award. Sunday, she finally could take home her first Grammy. Or, Grammys, plural. Swift is nominated for eight Grammys. The only other artist with more is Beyonce, with 10. Some other country artists with multiple nominations are Keith Urban with four, the Zac Brown Band, Willie Nelson, George Strait and Lee Ann Womack with three each, and Jamey Johnson, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood with two apiece.

Sound:

<<CUT …001 (01/29/10)>> 00:32 "''

Margie Szaroleta (zar-oh-LEH'-tah)

The Grammys continue to add more entertainment to the lineup for Sunday's show. AP Music Correspondent Margie Szaroleta has more. ((opens with music))

<<CUT …002 (01/29/10)>> 00:16 "in two categories"

Margie Szaroleta (zar-oh-LEH'-tah)

AP Music Correspondent Szaroleta reports Beyonce' and Taylor Swift have the most nominations going into the Grammys.

<<CUT …003 (01/29/10)>> 00:15 "for Use Somebody"

Margie Szaroleta (zar-oh-LEH'-tah)

AP Music Correspondent Margie Szaroleta reports the album of the year and record of the year categories have a lot of repeat.

<<CUT …018 (01/29/10)>> 00:33 "''

Excerpt of Taylor Swift

This is an excerpt of Taylor Swift performing "White Horse."

<<CUT …013 (01/29/10)>> 00:50 "''

Excerpt of "Here Comes Goodbye"

This is archived audio of "Here Comes Goodbye," performed by Rascal Flatts.

<<CUT …011 (01/29/10)>> 00:53 "''

Excerpt of "Chicken Fried"

This is archived audio of "Chicken Fried," performed by Zac Brown Band.

<<CUT …009 (01/29/10)>> 00:50 "''

Excerpt of "You Belong With Me"

This is archived audio of "You Belong With Me," performed by Taylor Swift.

GRAMMYS - LORETTA LYNN

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Loretta Lynn knows in advance she's coming home with hardware from Grammy weekend. She's being honored with a lifetime achievement award. The ceremony is tomorrow, the night before the Grammys. Lynn already has three competitive Grammys. Now, she's one of seven being honored with lifetime achievement awards. The other musicians are Michael Jackson, Leonard Cohen, Bobby Darin, Andre Previn, jazz musician Clark Terry and Delta Blues musician David "Honeyboy" Edwards.

Sound:

<<CUT …033 (01/29/10)>> 00:39 "''

Excerpt of Loretta Lynn

This is archive audio of Loretta Lynn performing "Coal Miner's Daughter" from 1970.

GRAMMYS - PRE-TELECAST

LOS ANGELES (AP) — There are so many Grammy categories that they can't possibly fit into the evening's three-hour broadcast, especially with all those performances. So, there's a pre-telecast that'll be shown live on the Grammy Web site. Ninety-nine Grammys will be awarded at this event. There will be performances from all styles of music. This pre-telecast will be available at www.Grammy.com through the end of February.

CARRIE UNDERWOOD - SUPER BOWL

LOS ANGELES (AP) — February 7, Carrie Underwood will have her biggest TV audience ever. Even bigger than when she won "American Idol." She'll sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. The game airs on CBS. Three weeks later, Underwood makes her acting debut on CBS. Her guest role on "How I Met Your Mother" is on March 1.

WYNONNA - ON TV THE DAY BEFORE THE SUPER BOWL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Super Bowl festivities begin days before the game itself. And, Wynonna will be part of them. She'll be in Miami the Saturday before the Super Bowl to perform on "The Early Show." Along with performing, Wynonna is expected to make a special announcement. Her people aren't saying what she'll be talking about. "The Early Show" and the game are on CBS.

WYNONNA, OAK RIDGE BOYS, LEE GREENWOOD, RESTLESS HEART - HAITI SINGLE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wynonna, the Oak Ridge Boys, Phil Stacey, Lee Greenwood, Restless Heart and dozens of others have recorded a single to raise money for the people of Haiti. About 250 elementary school kids, including 14 children from Haiti, also are part of the record. It's called "Come Together Now." It was recorded on Wednesday. The sale date hasn't been announced.

BILLBOARD CHARTS

UNDATED (AP) — "The Truth" wins out, beating "White Liar." That applies anywhere. But, that's also the line-up of Billboard's latest Country Songs chart. "The Truth" from Jason Aldean is in first place. Miranda Lambert's "White Liar" is in second. "Southern Voice" by Tim McGraw goes from first last week to third this week. And, while the top-five albums from last week remain in the same order on the Country Album chart, the big story here is the soundtrack from the movie, "Crazy Heart." It debuts at number six. A couple of weeks ago, one of the songs from the movie won the Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Movie Award. So, Billboard's top Country Albums this week are: "Fearless," ''Lady Antebellum," ''Play On," ''The Foundation," ''Wide Open" and "Crazy Heart."

by Rosalie Fox