"I didn't even know there was such a thing as a folk chart," LaMontagne told CNN shortly after the record debuted at No. 1 on that Billboard chart. "I don't really think of myself as a folk singer."  In reality, "God Willin' & the Creek Don't Rise" is a CD that transports the listener far beyond city streets and the hustle-and-bustle of modern life. It takes you to a barn in the woods of western Massachussetts, where the 37-year-old shoemaker-turned-troubadour crafted his latest masterpiece.  "The house was owned by this guy, William Butler, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Russia. This was his summer place, which in essence is just a farmhouse built in 1811," explained the soft-spoken singer. "They turned all of the connecting barn structure into this big, beautiful room with all these windows looking out over the field. It didn't feel like a studio. It just felt like making music in the living room."  Despite the distinctive rasp that's front and center on his albums, LaMontagne's speaking voice is gentle, almost shy. When he laughs, he covers his entire face with his hand.  "Social situations, for me -- it's very natural for me to be an observer. That's where I'm most comfortable. I observe things. If I have something to say, I'll say it, but I don't seek out those situations to interject myself into. That's just my personality," he said with a sly smile.  LaMontagne recently spoke with CNN about his inspiration, why you probably won't catch him stretching out at a luxury hotel while on tour and his music.  CNN: Where do you find inspiration for your songs?
At "The Grammy Nominations Concert Live" a gasp went up in the press room when nominees for Song of the Year were revealed.Alongside expected nods for the Eminem-Rihanna duet "Love the Way You Lie"