Carrie Underwood wins sixth Grammy

Checotah native Carrie Underwood added a sixth golden gramophone to her collection Sunday night at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.

“Country music has always been so good to me, and I think the good Lord that I'm a part of such a wonderful, talented, amazing family,” Underwood said, her voice choking with emotion as she thanked her label, family, fans and husband, Mike Fisher. “And just really, glory to God, thank you so much.”

Underwood won the best country solo performance award for her chart-topping story song “Blown Away.” She beat out two other nominees with Oklahoma ties: Tishomingo resident Blake Shelton was nominated for his hit power ballad “Over” and former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn for his timely anthem “The Cost of Livin'.”

In addition, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins earned the best country song Grammy for penning “Blown Away.”

When she took the Grammys stage to sing, Underwood changed up the tempo of the song, the title track to her platinum-selling 2012 album, and then merged it with her latest hit single, “Two Black Cadillacs.”

But her soaring vocals weren't the only showstopping aspect of her performance: Her grand silver gown became a projection screen for roses, swirls and finally, a swarm of butterflies that soared away as the crowd gave her a standing ovation.

Although she was the only nominee with Oklahoma ties to win, Underwood wasn't the only one to perform. Tishomingo resident Miranda Lambert and tourmate Dierks Bentley did a duet that mingled her heartbreaking ballad “Over You” with his heartfelt anthem “Home.”

After winning the best pop vocal album for “Stronger” — and briefly getting stuck to Lambert's dress as they hugged — Kelly Clarkson used her big voice to pay tribute to two of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners. She sang “Tennessee Waltz” in honor of the late Claremore native Patti Page and “Natural Woman” in a nod to Carole King.

It was one of many star-studded tributes: Bruno Mars, Sting, Rihanna and members of the Marley family paid homage to late Bob Marley, while Elton John, Mavis Staples, Zac Brown, Mumford & Sons, T Bone Burnett and Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes played “The Weight” in honor of the late Levon Helm.