Dixie Chicks Rule Grammys

Natalie MainesWe love it when the unexpected happens - and it did at the Grammy awards.

The big winners of the night were the Dixie Chicks.

They swept the board with their hit single Not Ready To Make Nice, a song which bashes President Bush.

The Chicks walked home with the best album, record and song of the year, as well as best country album and best country group performance - meaning they won in every category they had been nominated in.

"I think people are using their freedom of speech here tonight with all these awards. We get the message... I'm very humbled," said singer Natalie Maines, accepting the coveted best album award.

Emily Robison and Martie Maguire It was Nat who infamously said during a London gig in 2003: "We're ashamed the president is from Texas."

Which didn't go down too well and saw their music being banned by country music stations and even sparked death threats.

Singer Emily Robison said after receiving the best country album award: "We wouldn't have done this album without everything we went through, so we have no regrets."

Mary J Blige took home best R'n'B song and best female R'n'B vocalist.

Madonna took home the gong for best electronic dance album.

Unfortunately, James Blunt - who was nominated a whopping five times - walked away empty handed...

So did singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, who was nominated three times but did not take home any awards.