SUGARLAND ON THE SUCCESS OF TAYLOR SWIFT AT AN EARLY AGE

There’s no question Taylor Swift has taken the Country Music genre by storm and 2010 is already looking to be another huge year for the teen country sensation. Swift was recently nominated for 8 Grammy Awards including recognition for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for her hit “You Belong With Me” and Best Country Album for “Fearless” all after being the youngest artist in Country Music history to win Album of the Year award for “Fearless” at the 2009 Country Music Awards. Swift was also awarded the Country Music Academy’s Crystal Milestone Award, given for Outstanding Achievement in Country Music for her break out success as a solo artist as well as her cross over success and her ability to attract a younger audience. Fellow Grammy Nominated Country act Sugarland, which consists of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, know what it’s like to break into the business at an early age, although no one has ever duplicated the success at an early age as Taylor Swift.

Back stage at the Grammy Nomination event, Sugarland talked about Taylor Swift’s success at a young age and why she’s so great for Country music.

“I think it’s exciting for Country Music right now in the sense that Taylor has done a lot for the Country genre. She’s brought a lot of young people into Country music and exposed them to Country music so I think it’s exciting. I was just laughing about it the other day thinking, alright she’s 20 years old and she’s nominated for Grammy’s and she’s done all this and she’s making all these decisions and when I was 20 years old I was playing clubs and learning how to drink Jim Beam and Coke. Very different, very different. But I think she’s doing great things for herself.”

Taylor Swift also received Grammy Nominations for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “You Belong with Me”, Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Song for “White Horse” and Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for “Breathe.” Her latest album, “Fearless,” is nominated for overall album of the year in a category that also includes Beyoncé’s “I Am … Sasha Fierce,” the Black Eyed Peas’ “The E.N.D.,” Lady Gaga’s “The Fame” and the Dave Matthews Band’s “Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King.” Sugarland were also nominated for best country performance by a duo or group with vocals for their song “It Happens” and they recently released their first holiday album, “Gold and Green” which features five original songs and five traditional carols.