The Eagles or Eagles? In his autobiography 'Born Standing Up,' Steve Martin writes that group member Glenn Frey insists the name is Eagles (without 'the'). In any event, the group began their partnership in the early 70s, as players in Linda Ronstadt's band. Their name was a tribute to another California-based country-rock band, The Byrds (or is it Byrds?). Disbanded in 1980, they re-formed 14 years later, and in 2007 topped the pop and country album charts with 'Long Road out of Eden.'

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Instead of saying the Eagles "went country," it 's more like country "went Eagles." By the early '90s, country singers may have paid lip service to George Jones and Merle Haggard but more often sounded like they'd grown up listening to the California group; bands like Restless Heart would have been unimaginable without them. A 1993 Eagles tribute album, 'Common Thread,' featured Alan Jackson, Brooks & Dunn and other country crooners.

The Eagles continued their successful migration into the country world this past weekend, headlining day-one of the second annual Stagecoach Festival. While classic Eagles fare such as 'Tequila Sunrise' and especially 'Desperado' have always been somewhat rooted in country, Don Henley tells The Boot the group's acceptance into the Nashville world "is a whole new universe for us."

The crossover actually began in earnest last year when the group headlined the opening of L.A.'s new Nokia Theater with the Dixie Chicks. Henley admits that the Eagles, who got a standing ovation when they played the Country Music Awards, have been able to speak unfettered while others have not.

"I think people expect us to do what we do, and where other people might not be able to get away with it -- like our friends the Dixie Chicks, bless their hearts -- we get away with it," Henley tells The Boot. "I've said some outrageous things about Bush in the press. Every time I do an interview and they ask me who I would like for President this time I say, 'Any of the front-runners would be fine with me, because frankly a f---ing chimpanzee would be an improvement.' I've said that numerous times in the press and nothing has come of it."

'Tequila Sunrise'--Eagles (1973)

Cheers-worthy lines: "Take another shot of courage / Wonder why the right words never come / You just get numb."

Eagles co-founder Glenn Frey came up with the title of this song after staying up all night writing while drinking tequila. He supposedly finished the song just as the sun was rising.

Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, the Eagles, Willie Nelson and Brad Paisley have all won Grammy awards before the show has even started. With 109 total awards in tonight's ceremony, the majority of the awards are given out during a pre-telecast. Underwood takes home the gramophone for Best Female Country Vocal Performance for 'Before He Cheats,' while the writers who penned that song, Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins, took home awards for Best Country Song. For the second year in a row, Keith Urban takes home the award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, this year for his No. 1 ballad 'Stupid Boy.'

The Eagles are the winners of Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group for 'How Long.' Willie Nelson and Ray Price stake claim to Best Country Collaboration for 'Lost Highway.' And Brad Paisley is the winner of Best Country Instrumental Performance for 'Throttleneck.' The only country music Grammy to be given during the regular broadcast went to Vince Gill for Best Country Album.