I'm about to go full on Keren-mode on the Grammy Awards. How are they not going to honor ANY country artists/music in the major categories.
Usually, the academy finds at least one or two country artists or albums to nominate in one of the major categories. This year, not so much...not even best new artist. Disappointing.
Here are the nominations for the Country Grammy categories, with my picks in bold:
Best Country Solo Performance
For new vocal or instrumental solo country recordings.
- Heartfirst - Kelsea Ballerini
- Something In The Orange - Zach Bryan <-MoJoe's Pick
- In His Arms - Miranda Lambert
- Circles Around This Town - Maren Morris
- Live Forever - Willie Nelson
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative country recordings.
- Wishful Drinking - Ingrid Andress & Sam Hunt
- Midnight Rider's Prayer - Brothers Osborne
- Outrunnin' Your Memory - Luke Combs & Miranda Lambert
- Does He Love You (Revisited) - Reba McEntire & Dolly Parton
- Never Wanted To Be That Girl - Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde <-MoJoe's Pick
- Going Where The Lonely Go - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
Best Country Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.
- Circles Around This Town - Ryan Hurd, Julia Michaels, Maren Morris & Jimmy Robbins, songwriters (Maren Morris)
- Doin' This - Luke Combs, Drew Parker & Robert Williford, songwriters (Luke Combs)
- I Bet You Think About Me (Taylor's Version) (From The Vault) - Lori McKenna & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
- If I Was A Cowboy - Jesse Frasure & Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
- I'll Love You Till The Day I Die - Rodney Crowell & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Willie Nelson)
- 'Til You Can't - Matt Rogers & Ben Stennis, songwriters (Cody Johnson) <-MoJoe's Pick
Best Country Album
For albums containing greater than 50% playing time of new country recordings.
- Growin' Up - Luke Combs <-MoJoe's Pick
- Palomino - Miranda Lambert
- Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville - Ashley McBryde
- Humble Quest - Maren Morris
- A Beautiful Time - Willie Nelson