Many of you were wondering last night about the young woman who livened up Carrie Underwood’s performance of "Last Name" with a face-melting guitar solo. Who was that righteous axe warrior, anyway? Question answered: Her name is Orianthi, she’s a 24-year-old Aussie, and guitar heroes including Carlos Santana, Prince, and Steve Vai reportedly agree that she rocks. Check out Orianthi’s MySpace here, relive last night’s "Last Name" below (skip to around 1:50 for the serious shredding), and get ready: Orianthi is signed to 19 Recordings/Geffen Records, with a debut album in the works. Anyone else psyched to hear it?
More on the 51st annual Grammys:
Gallery: Best and Worst Performances
Gallery: Best and Worst Style
Full list of winners
Our PopWatch live blog
She was awesome! The song was lame, but the solo rocked. I’m very excited that a female guitarist has an album in the works. Bring it on!
I have her first album (from a few years ago)- it is worth getting a hold of, because she is going to be big with the right producing.
Orianthi, more like Ori-hottie.
This is why I loveeee ew.com! I noticed right away and wanted to learn more — you guys are the best!
It would be really cool to see a new star launched from that performance. Cool idea having Orianthi play with Carrie Underwood, that was a great performance all around.
Ori-hottie? I saw her play with Steve Vai before and shes too butch and not feminine on stage at all. Although her talent is a huge as her nose, just cause she has the chops doesnt me shes THAT good. She overplays in all her songs and needs to work on her craft. Theres better and more melodic female guitarists out there that I hope get some recognition too.
marc you are a idiot!!!! I do think you are just JEALOUS you can’t play like her. Santana even said that “If i was going to pass the baton to somebody, she would be my first choice” and check this http://www.elle.com/Entertainment/Movies-TV/12-Greatest-Female-Electric-Guitarists
Probably the most exciting event in the guitar playing world in a decade.
Can’t wait to buy her stuff.
I’m in. I respect any female that has badass guuitar skills.
Carrie is sure moving up in the world…really fast. She’s crossing all boundaries.
Wow, Marc don’t be hatin (or trolling). Criticizing her nose? Wow. And so what if there are “better” female guitar players. She’s on stage with an American Idol winner for Pete’s sake. It’s not a zero-sum world, let Orianthi have her talent showcased.
Carrie ROCKED last night!!! She was incredible!
She has come a long long long long long long WAY from the shy American idol fembot. She has arrived.
She was on F—-I–R–E!!!!!
Oic both Carrie & Orianthi are in the same label, both signed under 19 recordings. Glad Carrie asked her to join her to performed… yah carrie and orianthi rock on !!! the best performance at this year Grammy
Excellent, Excellent, Excellent!
That was one of the few performances I watched… I was shocked that the Grammy’s would allow a shredder on their stage, cause why get somebody with talent when you can just pull out some rapper from the from the over diluted “hip hop” barrel!
I’ve been playing the guitar for 15 years and it was refreshing to see someone with the skill of Orianthi rocking the grammy’s!
The B.B. king,Buddy Guy,Keith Urban, and John “teenie boper” mayer tribute to Bo Diddley should have been great but, it just wasen’t. B.B. didn’t have a good noght, Buddy hardly played, Urban was good and mayer played his ussual safe riffs!
WOW ! when I heard and saw you next to Carrie Underwood on Grammys, I said oh my gosh that girl can play and has just blown away Carrie on the looks too !!! Can’t wait for your CD, you have won me over in a matter of five seconds.
Jack