Grammy nominations concert photo gallery

North Carolina had a decent showing in the Grammy Award nominations announced Wednesday, highlighted by country singer Eric Church's two-category breakthrough. The Granite Falls native (and Appalachian State University alumnus) picked up a pair of nominations for his hit single "Springsteen," for country song and country solo performance -- and this is fresh off winning album of the year at last month's CMA Awards.

Charlotte native Anthony Hamilton was also a multi-category nominee, in R&B song ("Pray For Me") and album ("Back To Love"). Hamilton shared a Grammy in 2009 with Al Green.

Concord's Avett Brothers earned their first-ever Grammy nod with their current album "The Carpenter," nominated for best Americana album alongside Mumford & Sons (one of their half-dozen nominations) and rising young star John Fullbright.

After winning best folk album with their 2010 major-label debut, Triangle old-time group Carolina Chocolate Drops will try to start a streak. Their latest album "Leaving Eden" picked up a nomination, also in the folk-album category.

Brevard's Steep Canyon Rangers were nominated last year alongside Steve Martin. This year, they get a bluegrass-album nomination all to themselves for "Nobody Knows You."

Finally, Triangle expatriate Ryan Adams didn't get a direct nomination himself. But Adams' most recent release, 2011's "Ashes & Fire," was nominated for best-engineered non-classical album. Producer Glyn Johns and mastering engineer Bob Ludwig would get that trophy.

The Grammys will be presented Feb. 10 in Los Angeles.

Photo gallery

DURHAM -- In the pantheon of downer songs, "For the Good Times" ranks as one of the saddest. Penned by Kris Kristofferson and taken to the top of the country charts by Ray Price, it's as downcast a song as you'll ever hear.

Unless, of course, it happens to be Al Green singing it. Onstage at Durham Performing Arts Center Wednesday night, the Memphis soul icon turned "For the Good Times" into a mildly pornographic slow burn, punctuating his delivery -- lay your WARM and TENder BOdy next to MINE -- with pelvic thrusts. It was brilliant, and hilarious.

Green brought in a 13-piece backup band featuring a sharp horn section, the better to recreate the hits from his 1970s prime. There have been times when Green refused to sing the old hits, forsaking the pop world for gospel. But he seems comfortable doing both nowadays, and Wednesday's show moved back and forth between secular and sacred.

After an enjoyable half-hour from local singer Jo Gore (who showed immense charm while rocking an amazing-looking green dress), the Rev. Green sashayed onstage as his band vamped, resplendent in black suit, shades and red vest and tie. Handing out roses as he went, Green started his set with "It Ain't No Fun to Me."

Despite that title, Green gave every appearance of having a blast. At 66 years young, his voice sounds like it has plenty of miles left on it -- he can still do those high trills, and bear down hard enough to peel paint if the mood strikes. And the years have done nothing to dull the man's charisma.

Showing off a radiant Cheshire-cat smile that could melt glaciers, he'd dance a little soft shoe and prance around, giggling. And I've never seen anyone pantomime music so precisely -- it really did look like he was "playing" the entire band. Dude was so beautiful, wolf whistles broke out between songs.

"For the Good Times" wasn't the only non-soul song that Green recast in his own style. The Bee Gees' "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart" received similar treatment, as did Roy Orbison's "Pretty Woman." And of course, his own hits were impeccable, including "Take Me to the River," "Love and Happiness" and "Tired of Being Alone."

He also showed exquisite timing and worked the crowd perfectly, both during and between songs. In the midst of some banter with the crowd, he quipped, "Better hush your mouth, you got a preacher lyin' to you!"

A few songs prior to "For the Good Times," Green slowed things down and did a bit of wordless scatting, accompanied by quiet keyboard fills. As the song took shape, it turned into "Amazing Grace." Suddenly we were in church, with Rev. Green presiding (backed up by his three daughters, the Green Sisters, who stepped forward to sing). He waved his hand and the crowd began singing, too -- better than most of us ever had.

It was the next best thing to being at a Sunday morning service at his church in Memphis.

It's not often that a show gets booted off a network, disappears for more than a year, and then re-launches on a new network, with the entire cast in tact to boot.

Yet that's the journey "The Game" (BET, 10 tonight) has taken, and so consider this premiere a cause for celebration for all fans who've had a favorite show dropped without satisfying resolution.

If you're not familiar with the show, it chronicles the life and times of the players of a San Diego pro football team, The Sabres, and their families and hangers-on. It's billed as a half-hour comedy, but it's better described as a dramedy. There are comic moments for sure, but "The Game" isn't afraid to tackle serious/timely issues like gay athletes, interracial relationships, workplace sexism and politics.

Black History Month often means a lot of programming featuring African-Americans but not a lot of actual history.

But tonight at 9:30, VHI premieres "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip in America" a documentary on the iconic show that gives plenty of history, culture and nostalgia.

I luuuved it!

Here's a sad piece of news for a cold week, Willie Mitchell has passed on at age 81. Even if you don't know Mitchell's name, you know his sound. Mitchell discovered Al Green and produced his signature '70s hits, conjuring up one of the most inviting catalogs in all of popular music. And Mitchell might not be around anymore, but we'll be hearing his work for the rest of our lives. So dig it.

Maybe you don't have tickets to Saturday's Soul Picnic or maybe you like to shake your groove thing privately.

Fear not.

Tune in to TV One on Sunday at 8 pm for "TV One Night Only: Live From the Essence Music Festival."

It's a two-hour sampling of performances from the 15th annual New Orleans gathering.

The lineup: Beyonce, En Vogue, Ne-Yo, Jazmine Sullivan, Salt N Pepa, John Legend, Charlie Wilson, the Rev. Al Green, Teena Marie, Anita Baker, Robin Thicke.