Award Season
Texas talent wins big, can't outshine Kanye drama at 2015 Grammys
Texas loomed in the 2015 edition of the Grammy Awards, but maybe not large enough. Houston native Beyoncé took home three trophies, and rising star St. Vincent, aka Dallas native Annie Clark, won her first Grammy for the 2014 album St. Vincent.
Beyoncé, who performed the gospel hymn "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" at the ceremonies, won best R&B performance and R&B song for "Drunk in Love," and best surround sound album for Beyoncé.
What Bey did not win was the award for best album; that went to Beck for Morning Phase. But in a night light on drama, Kanye West offered some up by bum-rushing the stage when Beck won, in a self-reference to the time he staged a similar interruption of Taylor Swift at the 2009 VMAs.
St. Vincent won for best alternative music album, but that award was non-televised. Clark, who is touring in Australia and did not attend the event, told Pitchfork that she learned of her win at 7 am in Perth, via a text from her mom that said "Annie won!" She also wrote a long note thanking her producer John Congleton and her fans.
Congleton did not attend, but a number of Texans did, including Idol Records honcho Erv Karwelis, and producers Chris Bell and Tim O'Heir. The latter, a Dallas resident, had received a nomination for Best Musical Theater Album for Hedwig and the Angry Inch (with Justin Craig and Stephen Trask).
Up-and-coming country singer Brandy Clark, who's co-writing the world premiere Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical for Dallas Theater Center later this year, lost her bids for best new artist and best country album, but she did deliver one of the night's most memorable performances, singing her song "Hold My Hand" with Dwight Yoakam.
British singer Sam Smith won the most awards with four, including best new artist and best pop vocal album for In the Lonely Hour. The full list of winners is here.