The ceremony was held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. "Before He Cheats," which Carrie performed on the show, earned Carrie a Best Female Country Vocal Performance award, as well as Best Country Song honors for writers Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins. Vince's win was somewhat ironic, as he had turned down a performance slot on the show after Grammy producers asked him to cut his song down to 90 seconds. Brad Paisley performed "Ticks," and won in the Country Instrumental Performance category for his song "Throttleneck." There were a couple of interesting cross–genre picks: Rock band the Eagles won Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals for "How Long," while bluegrass luminary Alison Krauss won Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for the Robert Plant duet "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)." Earl Scruggs was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award during a ceremony held Feb. 9 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in L.A. Here are the 2008 country Grammy winners:

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM

These Days, Vince Gill

BEST COUNTRY SONG

"Before He Cheats," Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins, songwriters

BEST FEMALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE

"Before He Cheats," Carrie Underwood.

BEST MALE COUNTRY VOCAL PERFORMANCE

"Stupid Boy," Keith Urban

BEST COUNTRY PERFORMANCE BY A DUO OR GROUP WITH VOCALS

"How Long," Eagles

BEST COUNTRY COLLABORATION WITH VOCALS

"Lost Highway," Willie Nelson and Ray Price

BEST COUNTRY INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE

"Throttleneck," Brad Paisley

BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM

The Bluegrass Diaries, Jim Lauderdale

BEST SOUTHERN, COUNTRY OR BLUEGRASS GOSPEL ALBUM

Salt of the Earth, Ricky Skaggs and The Whites

BEST CONTEMPORARY FOLK/AMERICANA ALBUM

Washington Square Serenade, Steve Earle

BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK ALBUM

Dirt Farmer, Levon Helm

BEST SHORT FORM MUSIC VIDEO

"God's Gonna Cut You Down," Johnny Cash (Tony Kaye, director)