2021 Grammy Nominations Relevant to Country & Roots
The 2021 Grammy Award nominees were announced on Tuesday (11/24), and as can be expected, there is some good, some bad, many worthy nominations, a few probably born of virtue signaling as you can expect. But overall, it’s about par for the course.
From the big country categories, Ingrid Andress comes out as the surprising upstart with Best Country Song and Best Country Album nominations, along with an all genre New Artist of the Year nomination. Miranda Lambert is also a big player with “Bluebird,” while Brandy Clark and Ashley McBryde pick up nominations from the “better than most” mainstream crowd.
About the only category that doesn’t give you someone good to root for is Best Country Duo/Group Performance, with even the Brothers Osborne selection feeling forced. Snubs in the category would be John Anderson and his comeback record Years, while it might have been nice to see someone like Charley Crockett or Lori McKenna get some love, either in country or the Americana categories.
Many are already crying about The Highwomen getting “snubbed” even though they picked up a nomination in Best Country Song for “Crowded Table,” as if that isn’t good enough. But remember, the group still hasn’t addressed the controversy where they disinvited Mickey Guyton from a video shoot. Though the media has ignored the story, maybe the voters haven’t. Guyton herself picked up a nomination for Best Country Solo Performance, but there’s a fair question if the signaling from the Grammy nominees does any good when Lady A gets a nod with the controversy still swirling around them.
In the American Roots categories (Americana, Folk, Bluegrass), 2021 feels pretty ho-hum, without a lot of enthusiasm behind many of the nominees, with a few exceptions. The nominations for John Prine’s “I Remember Everything” feel pretty worthy, and the Black Pumas—who are also well-represented in the top all-genre categories—would be the Americana risers this year.
Former bluegrass prodigies are one of the big stories in 2021’s American Roots categories, with Billy Strings picking up a nomination for Best Bluegrass Album, and both Sierra Hull and Sarah Jarosz picking up worthy nominations, while Lucinda Williams is the living legend in contention.
Still, you maybe would have liked to see American Aquarium finally see some recognition for their critically-acclaimed work, it’s a bit surprising Steve Earle’s Ghosts of West Virginia didn’t receive anything, and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are absent for what feels like the first time in a long time following an eligible release, though opinions have been mixed behind Reunions.
Some of the biggest Grammy intrigue for some country and roots fans in 2021 will be outside of the country and American Roots categories. Sturgill Simpson is up for Best Rock Album for Sound & Fury, while Brittany Howard is all over the place in rock as well, along with her nomination in Best American Roots Performance.
A lot of other non-genre categories have entries with country music ties to country and roots as well. Both Dan Auerbach and Dave Cobb are up for Producer of the Year, while Brandi Carlile and Linda Ronstadt are big players in visual media categories. See all the nominations relevant to the country and roots world below.
Best Country Solo Performance:
“Stick That In Your Country Song” — Eric Church
“Who You Thought I Was” — Brandy Clark
“When My Amy Prays” — Vince Gill
“Black Like Me” — Mickey Guyton
“Bluebird” — Miranda Lambert
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“All Night” — Brothers Osborne
“10,000 Hours” — Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber
“Ocean” — Lady A
“Sugar Coat” — Little Big Town
“Some People Do” — Old Dominion
Best Country Song:
–“Bluebird” — Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, Songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
–“The Bones” — Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz, Songwriters (Maren Morris)
–“Crowded Table” — Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna, Songwriters (The Highwomen)
–“More Hearts Than Mine” — Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis & Derrick Southerland, Songwriters (Ingrid Andress)
–“Some People Do” — Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey & Thomas Rhett, songwriters (Old Dominion)
Best Country Album:
“Lady Like” — Ingrid Andress
“Your Life Is a Record” — Brandy Clark
“Wildcard” — Miranda Lambert
“Nightfall” — Little Big Town
“Never Will” — Ashley McBryde
Best American Roots Performance:
“Colors” — Black Pumas
“Deep in Love” — Bonny Light Horseman
“Short and Sweet” — Brittany Howard
“I’ll Be Gone” — Norah Jones & Mavis Staples
“I Remember Everything” — John Prine
Best American Roots Song:
“Cabin” — Laura Rogers & Lydia Rogers, songwriters (The Secret Sisters)
“Ceiling to the Floor” — Sierra Hull & Kai Welch, songwriters (Sierra Hull)
“Hometown” — Sarah Jarosz, songwriter (Sarah Jarosz)
“I Remember Everything” — Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters (John Prine)
“Man Without a Soul” — Tom Overby & Lucinda Williams, songwriters (Lucinda Williams)
Best Americana Album:
“Old Flowers” — Courtney Marie Andrews
“Terms of Surrender” — Hiss Golden Messenger
“World on the Ground” — Sarah Jarosz
“El Dorado” — Marcus King
“Good Souls Better Angels” — Lucinda Williams
Best Bluegrass Album:
“Man On Fire” — Danny Barnes
“To Live in Two Worlds, Vol. 1” — Thomm Jutz
“North Carolina Songbook” — Steep Canyon Rangers
“Home” — Billy Strings
“The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 1” — Various Artists
Best Folk Album:
“Bonny Light Horseman” — Bonny Light Horseman
“Thanks for the Dance” — Leonard Cohen
“Song for Our Daughter” — Laura Marling
“Saturn Return” — The Secret Sisters
“All the Good Times” — Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
All Genre Categories:
Album of the Year
“Chilombo” — Jhené Aiko
“Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)” — Black Pumas
“Everyday Life” — Coldplay
“Djesse Vol.3” — Jacob Collier
“Women in Music Pt. III” — HAIM
“Future Nostalgia” — Dua Lipa
“Hollywood’s Bleeding” — Post Malone
“Folklore” — Taylor Swift
Record of the Year
Black Parade” — Beyoncé
“Colors” — Black Pumas
“Rockstar” —DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch
“Say So” — Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now” — Dua Lipa
“Circles” — Post Malone
“Savage” — Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé
Song of the Year
–“Black Parade” — Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
–“The Box” — Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
–“Cardigan” — Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
–Circles Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters (Post Malone)
–“Don’t Start Now” — Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren, songwriters (Dua Lipa)
–“Everything I Wanted” — Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
–“I Can’t Breathe” — Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)
–“If the World Was Ending” — Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, songwriters (JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels)
Best New Artist
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
Producer of the Year, Non Classical
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
Dave Cobb
Flying Lotus
Andrew Watt
Best Rock Album
“A Hero’s Death” — Fontaines D.C.
“Kiwanuka” — Michael Kiwanuka
“Daylight” — Grace Potter
“Sound & Fury” — Sturgill Simpson
“The New Abnormal” — The Strokes
Best Rock Performance
“Shameika” — Fiona Apple
“Not” — Big Thief
“Kyoto” — Phoebe Bridgers
“The Steps” — HAIM
“Stay High” — Brittany Howard
“Daylight” — Grace Potter
Best Rock Song
“Kyoto” — Phoebe Bridgers, Morgan Nagler & Marshall Vore, Songwriters (Phoebe Bridgers)
“Lost in Yesterday” — Kevin Parker, Songwriter (Tame Impala)
“Not” — Adrianne Lenker, Songwriter (Big Thief)
“Shameika” — Fiona Apple, Songwriter (Fiona Apple)
“Stay High” — Brittany Howard, songwriter (Brittany Howard)
Best Album Notes
–“At the Minstrel Show: Minstrel Routines From the Studio, 1894-1926” — Tim Brooks, album notes writer (Various Artists)
–“The Bakersfield Sound: Country Music Capital of the West, 1940-1974” — Scott B. Bomar, album notes writer (Various Artists)
–“Dead Man’s Pop” — Bob Mehr, album notes writer (The Replacements)
–“The Missing Link: How Gus Haenschen Got Us From Joplin to Jazz and Shaped the Music Business” — Colin Hancock, album notes writer (Various Artists)
–“Out of a Clear Blue Sky” — David Sager, album notes writer (Nat Brusiloff)
Best Music Film
–“Beastie Boys Story” — Beastie Boys — Spike Jonze, video director; Amanda Adelson, Jason Baum & Spike Jonze, video producers
–“Black Is King” — Beyoncé
–“We Are Freestyle Love Supreme” — Freestyle Love Supreme — Andrew Fried, Video Director; Andrew Fried, Jill Furman, Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sarina Roma, Jenny Steingart & Jon Steingart, video producers
–“Linda Ronstadt: The Sound Of My Voice” — Linda Ronstadt — Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman, video directors; Michele Farinola & James Keach, video producers
–“That Little Ol’ Band From Texas” — ZZ Top — Sam Dunn, video director; Scot McFadyen, video producer
Best Song Written for Visual Media
“Beautiful Ghosts [From Cats]” — Andrew Lloyd Webber & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
“Carried Me With You [From Onward]” — Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
“Into the Unknown [From Frozen 2]” — Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters (Idina Menzel & Aurora)
“No Time to Die [From No Time To Die]” — Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas Baird O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“Stand Up [From Harriet]” Joshuah Brian Campbell & Cynthia Erivo, songwriters (Cynthia Erivo)
November 24, 2020 @ 12:41 pm
“Once again, Jon Pardi was snubbed. And why was Little Big Town nominated for their mediocre album?? Capitol should have pushed for Heartache Medication.. Surprised nothing for Dixie Chicks and Combs”
– Team “Hey Arnold”
November 24, 2020 @ 1:01 pm
Jon Pardi is too white, and too male to get nominated in 2021. Little Big Town has been the awards darling for years, and it has never made sense.
With The Chicks, I think the Grammy Awards would have loved to nominate them, but they were a band without a home. The new album didn’t belong in country, so you send it to pop. Then in pop, you get drilled by all the big, superstar names of the day. I expected maybe an all-genre nomination, but it’s just too crowded of a year.
November 25, 2020 @ 1:52 pm
Yup, diversity means including everyone but white males.
That is what makes it fair!
December 2, 2020 @ 5:27 am
Buddy, get a life, get a clue, and get over yourself and your white person butthurt about this.
November 24, 2020 @ 1:06 pm
if u have to ask why Lil Big Town was nominated u dont no shit about country music they are the ABBA of country music
November 24, 2020 @ 1:47 pm
But ABBA has zero nominations so this doesn’t make any sense
November 24, 2020 @ 2:01 pm
One could make a case that the ABBA-related “Nashville Train” project in the 1970s sounds more “country” than most material nominated in the country category this year.
November 24, 2020 @ 12:42 pm
Only real disagreement is that there’s nothing to root for in the duo/group category. I still think Sugar Coat by Little Big Town is an absolutely fantastic song. Nightfall just feels like a really slept on album to me, in general.
November 24, 2020 @ 12:47 pm
Comparing the lists of who has people on the Nashville grammy committe and who was nominated is fun (I mean I like Brandy, but really? and hi Trey Fanjoy)
November 24, 2020 @ 12:53 pm
Some of these nominations are excellent, but a lot of them are real headscratchers. Also while I appreciate the grammy’s spotlighting artists who aren’t commercially successful, you do need to have a balance.
November 24, 2020 @ 1:05 pm
As peer-voted awards, and with many past winners voting on new winners, you see a lot of the same names come up. Anything Bradi Carlile touches is going to get nominated. No offense to The Secret Sisters, but I have seen no buzz for that record. But Brandi Carlile’s involved, so…
One of the great things about the Grammys is they give a space for the critically-acclaimed. But it still must be music that have proved to be resonant in some capacity. I agree some of these nominations fail to take that into consideration. The 2021 nominees just feel a bit lackluster. Nothing really to buzz about.
November 24, 2020 @ 1:17 pm
I agree with you on Brandi Carlile, but I actually meant Brandy Clark. She is literally on the Nashville nominating committee.
And I agree with you on the peer voted awards, but the grammy’s takes it to the nth level with the committee’s. That’s not even voted on anymore, it’s do you have a friend in the right room.
November 24, 2020 @ 2:13 pm
No, I understand you we’re talking about Brandy Clark. I was just expanding on your point. Brandy Clark has been nominated 6 times previously for Grammy awards, and won one for “Follow Your Arrow.” Being peer-voted awards where nominations and awards make you eligible for such positions, this makes her a strong voice in the room when it comes to Grammy nominations. This is how the Grammys can become sort of a self-fulfilling prophesy for certain artists or cliques of artists.
I do believe there are rules in place, and they were reinforced last year with all the drama surrounding the Grammy Awards, that you cannot vote on awards you are up for. So hypothetically, there wouldn’t be a moment where Brandy Clark is literally voting for herself. However, that doesn’t mean that her presence in the room couldn’t naturally influence voters. This is the trapping of having the awards peer voted. Your “peers” are going to show preference towards you, as opposed to let’s say journalists, DJs, etc., who may be more impartial, and also may have more of a finger on the pulse of who is resonating and receiving more critical acclaim in the open market that your average performer.
November 24, 2020 @ 2:31 pm
Yes, and they tightened the rules around that too. One of the reforms Deborah Dugan wanted to make though was giving more control to the vote, and less to the post vote committee. I think it’d be one thing if 500 peers were voting on it, it’s another when you have 20 people in a room (or zoom call).
November 24, 2020 @ 2:53 pm
To add to this, you’re supposed to complete a disclosure form, and if you have any financial incentive, you’re not allowed to participate in discussions. So no, Brandy Clark could absolutely not vote on best country album.
However Trey Fanjoy is the video director for Bluebird (and all of Miranda’s stuff), but she has no writing or producing credit on the song or album, so does that count as a financial incentive? And then of course as you pointed out, it’s a very small circle anyways. So the whole thing tends to sometimes feel more an old grammy network.
Some of the other genres (pop for instance) have moved away from the committees, so it’s just membership vote, top votes are nominees.
November 25, 2020 @ 8:13 am
Trey Fanjoy’s fingers are all over the grammys and it’s snubs in country. it’s hard to look at the country noms with any sort of relevance. How the Nashville’s President’s work gets more than a handful of noms and not be looked on askance, I will never understand.
November 24, 2020 @ 12:47 pm
“Ingrid Andress is a Grammy darling already. & unlike Maren Morris… Ingrid actually deserves it”
– Team “Hey Arnold”
November 24, 2020 @ 1:16 pm
I don’t get Ingrid Andress. She has a solid single with More Hearts, an album full of radio-friendly singles (Both, Bad Advice, Anything but Love, etc.), but radio forgot about her. Until last month, I figured she was a one-hit wonder. Maybe she will still be.
November 24, 2020 @ 1:31 pm
She’s definitely not country, but there’s an old school Skeeter Davis vibe to her, especially with a full orchestra.
– Team “Hey Arnold “
November 24, 2020 @ 1:55 pm
I’m talking mainstream radio. I agree she isn’t country, but only like 2-3 songs on the Country Airplay Top 30 are. I get why radio doesn’t play McBryde. I thought Andress would have had a couple more pop radio singles.
November 24, 2020 @ 2:15 pm
I think “More Hearts Than Mine” is a great song, and I’m glad it got nominated. Digging deeper into her material, I found it very hit and miss, both in the writing and in style. I’m glad it’s Ingrid getting anointed in these nominations compared to some other artists, but it does seem a little “much” for just one or two good songs. All genre New Artist of the Year nomination is a big deal.
November 24, 2020 @ 4:37 pm
I think “More Hearts Than Mine” is a great song, and I’m glad it got nominated. Digging deeper into her material, I found it very hit and miss, both in the writing and in style.
again …TOTALLY agree with this , trigger
November 24, 2020 @ 1:22 pm
“My woke @$$ is wondering where Kane Brown & Jimmie Allen are??”
– Team “Hey Arnold”
November 24, 2020 @ 1:31 pm
I think there needs to be more categories that Billy String’s incredible album can fit into.
I suppose it’s going to be the subject of quite a bit of grumbling by people who thinks it’s been shoved down their throat by the establishment etc. But IMO Mickey Guyton’s “Black Like Me” is legitimately the best performance and song writing that got into this category this year. It’s not cliché or posing like so much is. It’s personal, affecting and timely like the best songs are.
I also think “When My Amy Prays” deserves this recognition as well. He’s seen as somebody who best years have past him by but he just keeps getting better in my opinion.
They are really out to lunch missing Luke Combs though.
November 24, 2020 @ 1:39 pm
Luke Combs is way overrated… I’m surprised but glad his repetitive, over-stuffed album received no recognition.
His latest slew of hits have been fluffy, Hallmark card crap (ex: Better Together, Forever After All)
I don’t understand the hoopla surrounding him.
– Team “Hey Arnold “
November 24, 2020 @ 2:05 pm
I think that’s true of a lot of the most popular classic country. I never got Randy Travis and a long list of others. Not everybody can write like Hank or Willie but some people can still do an exceptional job that connects deeply to people.
I personally find his albums to be unlistenable because I hate that kind of production and the schmaltzy writing. But watching him play live and the way he has been able to connect with fans with his Internet videos is exceptional. I can understand what people see in it. He looks like the dude behind the counter at a convenience store in any rural town but can express himself well.
November 25, 2020 @ 7:06 pm
Some of the best country songs have allowed the narrator/character to be honest and vulnerable when confronting obstacles that indelibly mark one’s life–heartbreak, death of loved ones, poverty. “Black Like Me” does that with racism. First time I heard it/watched the video, I just sat with my mouth open. Well done, Ms. Guyton. Well done.
February 20, 2021 @ 12:22 am
Amy Grant was one of my favorites growing up. Vince seems to have made her so happy. Seeing this song being nominated made me smile because Vince isn’t the only one who loves Amy.
November 24, 2020 @ 1:33 pm
A year ago when Trig reviewed Sound & Fury a commenter said it would be nominated in the Best Rock category. I replied, “no way in hell.” In a year that felt like we are in hell, naturally it got nominated.
November 24, 2020 @ 1:58 pm
Do you think Brandy Clark literally being involved with the nominations impacts herself getting nominated? I just find it kind of surprising that she could be on the nominating committee when her own work is in consideration, which would most likely greatly benefit herself.
November 24, 2020 @ 2:27 pm
I addressed this a bit above. First off, I don’t know that Brandy Clark is on the nominating committee. Many others seem pretty sure of that, so I’ll take it at face value, but who serves on both the screening and nominating committees for the Grammy Awards is kept private so they don’t get lobbied (or harassed), though sometimes that info does leak out. I have addressed similar issues to this before in detail …
https://savingcountrymusic.com/five-years-after-linda-chorney-the-grammy-awards-still-cant-get-americana-right/
…but what I was assured at that time by the Grammys, and what was reinforced last year after all the drama with the Grammys is that artists aren’t allowed to vote for themselves. That said, are certain artists shown favor by nominating committees? I’d say there’s a good chance. That’s why you see so many of the same names come up each year. Could Brandy influence the vote simply by being in the room? Perhaps. That’s one of the concerns when you have artists voting on artists, which is unique to the Grammys, instead of a wide range of voters from the industry, journalism, radio, touring, etc. as well as artists, though that’s an imperfect system too, because of all the bloc voting and horse trading that goes on there.
November 24, 2020 @ 2:38 pm
The screening and nominating committees every year are secret, the board is not
https://www.grammy.com/recording-academy/membership/recording-academy/about/chapters/nashville/governance
(and for instance Liz Rose is on the board, and sits on nominating committees, she’s talked about it publicly)
November 24, 2020 @ 6:10 pm
Yes, but the board does not nominate artists or screen them, the nominating and screening committees do. That is the reason they’re kept secret. That doesn’t mean some on the board may not also be on the nominating or screening committee. But just because an artist serves on a local chapter, I’m not sure it’s fair to assume they’re voting on themselves or influencing the voting process. Perhaps they do. But I think we have to be careful taking that as a given.
November 27, 2020 @ 12:05 pm
that’s just the kind of ridiculous awards process…they have ppl from the industry promoting their own work or those they like or have been paied to push
November 24, 2020 @ 2:41 pm
Regarding the Lady A point, my take is that the industry didn’t judge them nearly as harshly as Twitter did.
I think the name change itself, if anything, won them points for “being woke” and subverting stereotypes about country not being sensitive to race issues.
My sense is that they even had some support on the injunction issue with the original Lady A. I do feel that the “original Lady A is just looking for a money grab” narrative played with some people. Shane McAnally publicly Tweeted in defense of Lady A at the time, and fairly or not, he’s not exactly the kind of person who’s going to be dismissed as un-woke.
Not that this is a huge part of your piece, but I just wanted to clarify that I don’t think nominating Lady A de-wokifies the Mickey Guyton nomination.
November 24, 2020 @ 2:59 pm
Ocean was never a single either… It makes no sense.
– Team “Hey Arnold”
November 24, 2020 @ 5:43 pm
Good point. And I think most in the industry have a vested interest in making sure they have free right to their own trademarks that they’ve spent money to upkeep for years. Lady A tried to do the right thing. They just did it the wrong way. Nonetheless, I don’t think they deserve a Grammy nomination. But whatever.
November 24, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
Let the statement Grammy’s begin.
December 3, 2020 @ 4:47 am
Yeah, so long as said statements are neocon, super-patriotic, and support the (then) Dear Leader Lord Donny, right? Or do I need to be corrected?
November 24, 2020 @ 2:49 pm
Marcus King being nominated as “Americana” while American Aquarium, who put out the best damn album of the year, gets ignored is why all this crap is meaningless.
November 24, 2020 @ 3:07 pm
Probably the Auerbach connection. I love Marcus King, but that album didn’t do much for me. American Aquarium, BJ in particular, will probably never get the mainstream love they deserve, but they probably don’t care.
November 24, 2020 @ 3:58 pm
I was very excited to see Courtney Marie Andrews get a nomination for best Americana album. Very worthy album and I think she’s such a special artist. The way I feel about her work so far is similar to the way I felt about Patty Griffin in the early part of her career. Here’s hoping she keeps it going like Patty has.
I think maybe Sturgill got nominated for the wrong album. Sound and Fury hasn’t aged all that well with me. Still like the first two and last two songs on the album, but don’t find myself in the mood to listen to the whole album straight through.
The only nominated blues album that I’m familiar with is Robert Cray’s “That’s What I’ve Heard,” as I always pick up the new Robert Cray album. One of my favorite albums this year.
November 28, 2020 @ 7:41 am
I’m also rooting for Courtney Marie. On top of great songwriting, what makes her unique is that inimitable (unfakeable might be a better word) human warmth she communicates with her music. Another one of this (mind you, exceptionally brilliant) generation of female singer-songwriters that for me has that quality in her own unique way is Erin Rae.
November 24, 2020 @ 4:03 pm
The only voters I’ve known personally didn’t know shit about what they were voting for. And I don’t mean that we didn’t have similar tastes. I mean they were seriously, admittedly out of touch. Haven’t watched the Grammys for at least 15 years or cared whatsoever, but read through the list anyway to see if by some miracle it made any sense. Back to not caring.
November 24, 2020 @ 4:13 pm
For what it’s worth, I thought the Black Pumas’ album was very good. Surprised to see it nominated for album of the year but they seem like good dudes. More retro R&B vibes, but could probably be lumped in as Americana.
November 24, 2020 @ 4:18 pm
Really glad to see Lucinda getting some love. I thought her album was really good. I like seeing recognition for Marcus King cause I really like his stuff, but “Diablo” didn’t do it for me at all. Also, not disapointed in not having any Isbell. Again, I love most of what he has done, but “reunions” was a big bust for me too.
November 24, 2020 @ 4:22 pm
I doubt it would appeal to most SCM readers, but that Bonny Light Horseman record is so damn good.
November 27, 2020 @ 5:03 pm
Here’s another SCM reader who loved that album. That Folk Album category has got the best nominations overall.
November 24, 2020 @ 4:28 pm
I really think Beyonce needs one more person to help her write that song
November 24, 2020 @ 4:33 pm
Regarding The Highwomen, I don’t feel like the controversy was the issue since there wasn’t much of one. They were called out by Guyton, Marren Morris apologized, Guyton accepted. I guess the media could have skewered them anyways but that would ignore how Guyton feels, which would have been tactless.
I’m excited to see if Laura Marling can pull off a win in the Folk category. She’s been consistently great for a really long time, and her latest album is definitely a peak. Against Leonard Cohen, though? Tough.
November 24, 2020 @ 6:28 pm
All I’m saying is that if there are ZERO men in the Best Country Album category, and ZERO men in the Best Country Song category, and The Highwomen actually did receive a Grammy nomination, major country periodicals like “Rolling Stone Country” do not need to be composing a title that reads, “Why Did the Grammy’s All But Snub The Highwomen?” That is high volume stanning to an irresponsible level, and an insult to all the other artists who put out excellent country records in 2020, and didn’t receive a nomination at all.
November 28, 2020 @ 7:21 am
Hard to talk about peaks with someone like Marling, who’s been relentlessly churning out one stellar album after another ever since she was a teenager. One interviewer once asked her how she manages not to become conceited, having never ever received a single negative review in her life. Not an idle question. Still, everyone in that folk album category will give her a run for her money, and yeah, the late Leo the Great is gonna be tough to beat.
November 24, 2020 @ 4:44 pm
The Grammys or the Wokeys?
Quality doesn’t matter anymore and it hasn’t for a long time.
December 2, 2020 @ 6:19 am
What is it with neocon ‘people’ like you and this ‘woke’ thing?
December 2, 2020 @ 9:13 am
Countless people not on the right have spoken out about “this woke thing,” from prominent academics to Barrack Obama. You can put your head in the sand about it all you want, but if you’re going to try to label and dehumanize someone, at least be less ignorant about it.
December 3, 2020 @ 4:43 am
Sorry, Jake, but I need credible links to these sources, or the insult stays; people (mostly Americans) like North Wood Country love to demonize anybody progressive that shows compassion for other people, a lot, and the need to stop doing so
December 3, 2020 @ 7:46 am
Look in the mirror dude, specifically at the language you use. Everything from your label of “neocon,’” your dehumanizing “people” to your authoritative “it needs to stop” You’re the name calling intolerant one here. And apparently you do have your head in the sand:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/31/obama-woke-shaming-bipartisan-support-yang-coulter-gabbard/
https://harpers.org/a-letter-on-justice-and-open-debate/
December 4, 2020 @ 11:02 am
Jake, it’s still not going to change what I said about you or people like you; you lot vote against your own best interests, are usually racist or sexist, and your voting in of Lord Donny shows that you all don’t understand this or are willing participants in this:
https://voxpopulisphere.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/fascism-50-728.jpg
(I do agree with the declaration stated at Harper’s website, but it still won’t change what I said.)
December 4, 2020 @ 11:04 am
This discussion has nothing to do with the Grammy Awards. Move on.
November 24, 2020 @ 5:44 pm
I’m happy that LINDA RONSTADT: THE SOUND OF MY VOICE was nominated in the Best Music Film category, because I don’t think enough of today’s listeners, country or otherwise, really know why or how she was such a force of nature for almost half a century. Her peers, however, clearly do; and some of them got their props, including Courtney Marie Andrews, Brandy Clark, and Brandi Carlile
November 24, 2020 @ 6:00 pm
Disappointed Maddie & Tae’s ‘Die From a Broken Heart’ wasn’t nominated for Best Country Duo/Group performance. Sure, it was released in 2018, but it hit #1 at radio this year, and is better than anything in the that category by a mile.
Carly Pearce and Lee Brice’s ‘I Hope You’re Happy Now’ should’ve also earned a nomination. I don’t understand why we needed to nominated ‘10,000 Hours’ when all the other categories decided to snub the mediocre commercial hits
November 24, 2020 @ 6:08 pm
10 THOUSAND HOURS, AND TEN THOUSANDS MORE.
WHATEVER IT TAKES TO LEARN THAT SWEET HEART OF YOURS.
AND I MIGHT NEVER GET THERE, BUT IM GONNA TRY,
EVEN IF IT TAKES THE REST OF MY LIFE.
IM GONNA LOVE YOU
OHHHH WHOA WHOA OHHH ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
– Team “Hey Arnold”
November 24, 2020 @ 6:24 pm
I don’t put much stock in the Grammys. George Strait has only one Grammy. Elvis only won two – both for gospel music.
November 24, 2020 @ 8:40 pm
Rooting for Stu, Harlow, Prine, and Strings to bring home some hardware.
Post humous Prine is probably a shoo in, but it’s nice to see Strings getting some mainstream recognition.
November 24, 2020 @ 8:48 pm
Brandy is nominated because she is a lesbian in the genre of country music. You know it’s so. That is too good of a narrative for the Grammy’s to pass up. Gotta teach all us old fart right-wing bigoted racist God an flag-loving neophytes a lesson.
No reason to beat around the bush about it.
November 24, 2020 @ 9:22 pm
Look, there’s no doubt the sexual orientation of Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile give them an advantage when to comes to the Grammy Awards. They also happen to be two very talented performers and songwriters, and Brandy Clark happens to be one of the few bright spots for artists signed to major labels.
Brandy Clark didn’t just get nominated for a Grammy Award. It was her song “Who You Thought I Was” that got the nomination. I think that’s an excellent song. When It was first released, I added it to the Saving Country Music Top 25 Playlist, and highlighted it as the standout in my album review. It may not be my pick in the top 5 of country songs all year, but it might be in my Top 20. Her new album overall left me a bit wanting, but it was fine. I’ve got no problem with her nominations. And if the fact that she’s a lesbian meant she got nominated over some Bro-Country or Boyfriend Country act, more power to her.
Sometimes wokeness can work against recognizing merit. But sometimes it can work towards it.
Are Grammy voters trying to send a message? Of course they are. But they’re still getting it more right than the ACMs or CMAs.
November 25, 2020 @ 7:30 am
“Are Grammy voters trying to send a message? Of course they are. But they’re still getting it more right than the ACMs or CMAs.”
Sad but true statement. Grammy’s are not the cream of the crop. They are the cream of the crap.
November 25, 2020 @ 4:24 am
I was surprised Katie Pruitt wasn’t nominated for anything considering her album was nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Expectations
Gary Paczosa & Mike Robinson, engineers; Paul Blakemore, mastering engineer (Katie Pruitt)
This was one of the first categories on the livestream and I definitely thought this was a harbinger of things to come like a all genre Best New Artist nomination in the vein of Margo Price.
November 25, 2020 @ 5:52 am
haven’t watched the Grammys in years, I see no reason to start now.
November 25, 2020 @ 9:18 am
It’s crazy they have no love for Lori Mckenna, i mean c’mon, one of the best songwriters of our generation
November 25, 2020 @ 11:37 am
Teen gossip magazines hold no interest for me- I do like reading the comments though 😉
November 25, 2020 @ 1:39 pm
Mickey Guyton’s Black Like Me got nominated as well as my all time favorite album from ones I discovered on this site, Sturgill Simpson’s Sound & Fury,.
I dont care about anything else, I’m ecstatic!
November 25, 2020 @ 8:53 pm
I am glad to see the Black Pumas on there. Some good choices but some not great ones.
And predicted that Sturgill would be nominated for a Grammy for Sound and Fury. Glad to see I was right.
November 27, 2020 @ 11:51 am
i feel its wrong to even talk about this joke of awards
soon enough no males will be included except of course the biebers and his likes
i can’t believe this puppet is included in a country category while the chicks were ignored normally
its all cheap theatrics and politics and ppl with money buying awards so why were help promote this
let the real artists rise above this fiasco and decline participation
December 2, 2020 @ 6:06 am
December 1, 2020 @ 1:43 pm
Trigger,
I emailed the Hall of Fame again last night about the 2020 Medallion Ceremony being postponed to next year and how will it effect 2021 inductions and in their reply back to me this morning, they said:
We have not made any decisions regarding both the 2020 and 2021 Medallion Ceremonies due to the pandemic. Once we have more information, we will post it on our website and include it in our E-Newsletter.
What do you think?.