Today's country tidbits...

The Grammy nominations are out, and it's not a surprise that Taylor Swift is up for a bunch. Eight, actually, second only to Beyonce, who's up for 10. The full list of country nominees is at the end of today's post, and the awards will be handed out January 31st, 2010. Security has already been alerted to keep Kanye West in his seat at all times.

And speaking of the glittery blond one, Taylor Swift's name doesn't appear on Barbara Walters' annual most fascinating people list. Don't dismay, though, since she never releases the most fascinating person in advance, everyone is betting that it will be Taylor Swift. Who else makes the list? Adam Lambert, Sarah Palin, Kate Gosselin, Glenn Beck, Lady Gaga, Brett Favre, Tyler Perry and Michael Jackson's kids. The special will air December 9th on ABC.

That free concert that Billy Currington is doing at Sloppy Joe's in Key West this Saturday has an ulterior motive: it's the launching pad for his new organization, Global South Relief. Billy's been going to South America on trips to help poverty-stricken people there, and has decided to formalize the arrangement. He'll do the show, along with Brett Jones, Scotty Emerick and Dallas Davidson and then head to Guatemala and Costa Rica to deliver the first round of necessities.

Also in the holiday giving mood, Craig Morgan has thrown down the Twitter follower gauntlet for a good cause, tweeting: "We are going to donate a dollar to the wounded warrior foundation for every follower added between now and Christmas Here we go" If you don't follow him already, he's at cmorganmusic on Twitter.

While basking in the success of "The Blind Side," Tim McGraw is looking forward to his next film role, playing opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in "Love Don't Let Me Down." Filming begins in January in Nashville. Tim will shoot his parts before heading out on tour in February.

What did Sara Evans eat on Thanksgiving? Turkey. Only turkey. She skipped all the fattening appetizers, side dishes and deserts, saying that she gets much more joy from looking good on stage than from eating too much, even on America's eatingest holiday. Her tour kicked off the next night in Idaho, giving her some serious incentive not to go face-down in the dressing. The show features her hits, plus Christmas songs, and she's working on a new album, so will probably work a new song or two into the shows.

Keith Urban's concert tour to Australia next week does double duty for his family: he, wife Nicole Kidman and daughter Sunday Rose will spend Christmas down under with all of their combined families. Keith says that Sunday is in her "raccoon phase," meaning into everything, and that he and Nicole are really looking forward to Christmas with their families. There are six other children, so there'll be lots of wide-eyed Christmas excitement.

Got Comcast? Then you've got Taylor Swift on-demand, in HD. The channel features all of Taylor's videos, plus her Saturday Night Live episode and other special, Swift-centric programming.

The 113th Cheyenne Frontier Days festival tickets go on sale Saturday for next summer’s fun. The line-up for the Frontier Nights shows is:
July 24th - Brooks & Dunn
July 25th - Aaron Tippin and Neal McCoy
July 26th & 27th - Professional Bull Riders
July 28th - Clay Walker
July 30th - Sugarland
July 31st - Alan Jackson

Josh Gracin is in Alabama, writing songs with Ruben Studdard.

Here are the country nominees for Grammy awards:

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or tracks only.)

"Dead Flowers"
Miranda Lambert

"I Just Call You Mine"
Martina McBride
Track from: Shine

"White Horse"
Taylor Swift
Track from: Fearless

"Just a Dream"
Carrie Underwood
Track from: Carnival Ride

"Solitary Thinkin'"
Lee Ann Womack
Track from: Call Me Crazy


Best Male Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or tracks only.)

"All I Ask For Anymore"
Trace Adkins
Track from: X (Ten)

"People Are Crazy"
Billy Currington
Track from: Little Bit of Everything

"High Cost of Living"
Jamey Johnson
Track from: That Lonesome Song

"Living for the Night"
George Strait
Track from: Twang

"Sweet Thing"
Keith Urban
Track from: Defying Gravity


Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals
(For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or tracks only.)

"Cowgirls Don't Cry"
Brooks & Dunn
Track from: Cowboy Town

"Chicken Fried"
Zac Brown Band
Track from: The Foundation

"I Run to You"
Lady Antebellum
Track from: Lady Antebellum

"Here Comes Goodbye"
Rascal Flatts
Track from: Unstoppable

"It Happens"
Sugarland
Track from: Love on the Inside


Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or tracks only.)

"Beautiful World"
Dierks Bentley and Patty Griffin
Track from: Feel That Fire

"Down the Road"
Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally
Track from: Lucky Old Sun

"Start a Band"
Brad Paisley and Keith Urban
Track from: Play

"I Told You So"
Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis

"Everything but Quits"
Lee Ann Womack and George Strait
Track from: Call Me Crazy


Best Country Instrumental Performance

"Under the (Five) Wire"
Alison Brown
Track from: The Company You Keep

"The Crystal Merchant"
The Greencards
Track from: Fascination

"Mansinneedof"
Sarah Jarosz
Track from: Song Up in Her Head

"Producer's Medley"
Steve Wariner
Track from: Steve Wariner c.g.p. My Tribute to Chet Atkins


Best Country Song
(Awarded to songwriters. Singles or tracks only.)

"All I Ask For Anymore"
Casey Beathard and Tim James, songwriters
Track from: X (Ten), Trace Adkins

"High Cost of Living"
Jamey Johnson and James Slater, songwriters
Track from: That Lonesome Song, Jamey Johnson

"I Run to You"
Tom Douglas, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott, songwriters
Track from: Lady Antebellum, Lady Antebellum

"People Are Crazy"
Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones, songwriters
Track from: Little Bit of Everything, Billy Currington

"White Horse"
Liz Rose and Taylor Swift, songwriters
Track from: Fearless, Taylor Swift


Best Country Album

The Foundation
Zac Brown Band

Twang
George Strait

Fearless
Taylor Swift

Defying Gravity
Keith Urban

Call Me Crazy
Lee Ann Womack


Record of the Year

"Halo"
Beyoncé

"I Gotta Feeling"
The Black Eyed Peas

"Use Somebody"
Kings of Leon

"Poker Face"
Lady Gaga

"You Belong With Me"
Taylor Swift


Album of the Year

I Am ... Sasha Fierce
Beyoncé

The E.N.D.
The Black Eyed Peas

The Fame
Lady Gaga

Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
Dave Matthews Band

Fearless
Taylor Swift


Song of the Year
(Awarded to songwriters. Singles or tracks only.)

"Poker Face"
Lady Gaga and RedOne, songwriters
Track from: The Fame, Lady Gaga

"Pretty Wings"
Hod David and Musze, songwriters
Track from: Blacksummers' Night, Maxwell

"Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)"
Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash and Christopher Stewart, songwriters
Track from: I Am ... Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé

"Use Somebody"
Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill and Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings of Leon)

"You Belong With Me"
Liz Rose and Taylor Swift
Track from: Fearless, Taylor Swift


Best New Artist

Zac Brown Band

Keri Hilson

MGMT

Silversun Pickups

The Ting Tings


Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or tracks only.)

"Hometown Glory"
Adele
Track from: 19

"Halo"
Beyoncé
Track from: I Am ... Sasha Fierce

"Hot N Cold"
Katy Perry

"Sober"
Pink
Track from: Funhouse

"You Belong With Me"
Taylor Swift
Track from: Fearless


Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals
(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or tracks only.)

"Sea of Heartbreak"
Rosanne Cash and Bruce Springsteen

"Love Sex Magic"
Ciara and Justin Timberlake
Track from: Fantasy Ride

"Lucky"
Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
Track from: We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.

"Baby, It's Cold Outside"
Willie Nelson and Norah Jones
Track from: American Classic

"Breathe"
Taylor Swift and Colbie Caillat
Track from: Fearless


Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

A Swingin' Christmas
Tony Bennett

Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden
Michael Bublé

Your Songs
Harry Connick Jr.

Liza's at the Palace
Liza Minnelli

American Classic
Willie Nelson