American Idol

Carrie Underwood performs ‘Before He Cheats’ at Sunday night’s 50th Grammy Awards.

After a high-energy performance of her hit single Before He Cheats at the 50th Grammy Awards, Season 4 American Idol winner Carrie Underwood picked up a couple more trophies to add to her growing award collection.

Underwood took home Grammys, thanks to Before He Cheats, in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Song categories. The Best Country Song award actually was presented to songwriters Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins.

Carrie Underwood poses with her Grammy backstage at the awards show.

Several former Idol contestants and/or winners were nominated, including four nominations for Daughtry. The rock band fronted by Season 5 finalist Chris Daughtry is nominated in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rock Song categories for It’s Not Over; Best Rock Album; and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for Home.

Chris Daughtry and his wife, Deanna, attended Sunday night’s Grammy Awards.

As a co-writer of It’s Not Over, Ace Young was included in the Best Rock Song nomination.

Season 3 winner-turned-Broadway star Fantasia garnered three nominations in R&B categories. She was nominated in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for When I See You, as well as in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category for her self-titled release.

Underwood also was a nominee in the Best Country Collaboration category for her work on Oh Love. She was up against the original Idol, Kelly Clarkson, who was a Best Country Collaboration nominee for her Reba McEntire debut, Because of You.

Mandisa earned a nomination in the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album category for her CD True Beauty.

American Idol, Carrie Underwood, Mandisa, Daughtry, Ace Young, Grammy, Grammy Awards

Nick Cokas and Season 5 American Idol runner-up Katharine McPhee were married on Saturday.

Katharine McPhee is now Katharine Cokas. The Season 5 American Idol runner-up married her fiancee, Nick Cokas, on Saturday in Beverly Hills.

McPhee and Cokas were surrounded by 300-plus guests, according to reports, including some former Idol contestants. Reports indicate the bride wore a strapless ivory Manuel Mota gown and diamond and platinum Neil Lane jewelry for the ceremony, which took place at the Beverly Hills Presbyterian Church.

Among the guests in attendance were Season 5 finalists Kellie Pickler and Mandisa.

McPhee and Cokas, who were engaged last year, met in 2005 when working together on the production of The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. McPhee’s debut CD was released in January 2007, but the singer recently left her label, RCA.

American Idol, Katharine McPhee, Nick Cokas, Kellie Pickler, Mandisat

Daughtry, led by former American Idol finalist Chris Daughtry, racked up four nominations for the 50th Grammy Awards.

It’s going to be a monumental year at the Grammy Awards, for sure. Not only is it the 50th year for the music industry’s most celebrated and recognizable night, but it also is the year American Idol is most represented with nominations.

Six former Idol contestants and/or winners are nominated in several categories, led by Daughtry with four nominations. The rock band fronted by Season 5 finalist Chris Daughtry is nominated in the Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Rock Song categories for It’s Not Over; Best Rock Album; and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group for Home.

Ace Young shares part of the Best Rock Song nomination, being named as a co-writer of the hit.

Season 3 winner-turned-Broadway star Fantasia garnered three nominations in R&B categories. She is nominated in the Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song for When I See You, as well as in the Best Contemporary R&B Album category for her self-titled release.

Multiple Grammy and Idol winners Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood also made the short list for the 50th Grammys. Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood was nominated in the Best Female Country Vocal Performance category for Before He Cheats from her debut release, which helped her carry away some awards at last year’s ceremony. Underwood also is a nominee in the Best Country Collaboration category
for her work on Oh Love. She is up against the original Idol, Kelly Clarkson, who is a Best Country Collaboration nominee for her Reba McEntire debut, Because of You.

The sixth Idol finalist to be recognized at the awards is Mandisa, who earned a nod in the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album category for her CD True Beauty.

The Grammy awards will be broadcast at 8/7c Feb. 10 on CBS.

Grammy Awards, American Idol, Daughtry, Chris Daughtry, Ace Young, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, Mandisa