Billboard Music Awards Red Carpet 2012 (PHOTOS)
Peter Jones Dead: Crowded House Drummer Dies of Brain Cancer at 45
Jennifer Lopez, Casper Smart TV Show: J.Lo to Star in Reality Series With Boyfriend (REPORT)
Miranda Lambert, W Magazine Interview: Songstress Talks Marriage, Touring and Taylor
Loretta Lynn Three Years Older Than She Claims: Records Show She's 80, Not 77
'Big Bang Theory' Star Officially Revealed As Gay
Eddie Blazonczyk Dead: Grammy Award-Winning 'Polka King' Dies at 70
PHOTOS: When Your Last Names Spell Disaster
Selena Gomez Earthquake: Singer Caught Up in 'Scary' Bulgaria Quake
SUPERSIZED MEALS: Nearly All Restaurant Entrees Exceed USDA Nutrition Recommendations
Usher, Tameka Foster Trial: Crooner Claims Ex-Wife Attacked, Spat on Girlfriend
PHOTOS: Most And Least Mormon States In America
George Jones in Nashville Area Hospital Undergoing Tests
Zimmerman's Witnesses Change Their Stories
Chris Brown Fans Send Death Threats to John Legend's Fiancee Chrissy Teigen
'I Knew I Needed To Get Healthy For My Daughter'
'Dancing With The Stars' Crowns A New Champion
Teenage Girl 'Kidnapped For Vatican Sex Parties'
Casey Anthony Found In Hiding
9 Ways You're Wasting Money At The Grocery Store
Colin Powell Trashes Mitt Romney's Team Of Foreign Policy Advisers
Woman Shot Grandson Eight Times
Study: Fox News Viewers Least Informed
WATCH: Anderson Cooper Kicks Guest Off Show
Lolo Jones: Staying A Virgin Is Harder Than Training For The Olympics
Roger Ailes: Jon Stewart 'Wouldn't Do Well Without Fox,' Has Admitted To Me 'He's A Socialist'
The Top 25 Bike-Friendly Cities In The U.S.
The 14 Best Series Finales Ever
PHOTOS: 'America's Oldest Italian Restaurant' Closes
LISTEN: 911 Dispatcher Snores During Emergency Call
Sarah Leon: PHOTOS: Why I Still Wear My Prom Dress
Rebecca Dolan: Exploring Bermuda's Abandoned NASA Outpost
The Ultimate Argument For Keeping Old Balloons
WireImage for NARAS
"I could have recorded that song and put it out," Kenny tells the Boot, "and I don't feel like it would have been quite as special because I felt like the song needed the other person's voice. I kind of wanted Grace's vocal to be the haunting voice that was haunting me, the person that was haunting me in the song, and what the character was singing about in the song. Because I think we all have that person, or those things that we know are not good for us, but we can't let 'em go. That's why I think this song is so well-written."
The song was recorded by both Matraca and Deana on their own albums before Kenny released it. He recalls how he first got the news that the tune had been nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song and Best Country Performance by a Duo/Group. "I think Deana told me -- she sent me a picture of herself with her cell phone with her mouth wide open! That's how I found out!" [Laughs]
For Deana, the nomination is just the latest in a string of great things that have come from Kenny recording the song. "My publisher called me and said, 'Go to your email, open the thing you've gotta see what's going on.' It was really cool!" Deana tells the Boot. "I'm out in L.A. so I'm behind on news, and it was amazing! To hear Kenny cut the song was the same feeling for me, honestly, that was the same kind of feeling as getting the Grammy nomination, because that was like a gift. It really was. It's just been like dominoes of good stuff going on and I'm so excited!"
Win or lose at this Sunday night's Grammy ceremony, Kenny says the song will always hold a special place in his heart, and in his setlist, too.
"I couldn't be more proud to be nominated for the song I'm nominated for, I can tell you that. It's just very simple but very beautifully written, very brilliantly written. It just goes to show you that a great song has a life of its own. Deana recorded it and Matraca recorded it, and now Grace Potter and I have a record with it, and it's one of my favorite songs that I've ever recorded."
The Grammy Awards air live from Los Angeles on Sunday (Feb. 12) at 8:00 PM ET on CBS.
Watch the 'You and Tequila' Video
3 Comments