Brandi Carlile Leads 2019 Country & Roots Grammy Nominations
The nominees for the 2019 Grammy Awards were announced Friday morning (12-7) after being moved back a couple of days to make way for the funeral of President George H.W. Bush, and some of the things we anticipated happening have happened. We knew with the political and social climate, women would be well-represented, which they were, including in the “American Roots” categories that primarily deal with country and Americana music. And we knew minorities would also be well-represented, which they were by hip-hop’s dominance of many of the all-genre awards.
But the biggest takeaway, and surprisingly so, is Brandi Carlile earning six total nominations, including all-genre nominations for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. Maren Morris earns five nominations, including two all-genre nominations for the pop song “The Middle” with Zedd. Kacey Musgraves earns four nominations, including the all-genre nomination for Album of the Year. John Prine ended up with three nominations, including being nominated for two separate songs in the Best American Roots Song category. Dan + Shay got two nominations, as did Brothers Osborne, Lee Ann Womack, and Chris Stapleton.
As songwriters, important names such as Waylon Payne, Dave Cobb, and Jeff Tweedy were also nominated. Dave Cobb and Shooter Jennings also pick up big nominations via Brandi Carlile as producers. It’s good to see Ashley McBryde acknowledged. Country legends were also represented with Willie Nelson and Loretta Lynn walking away with nominations, including Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Willie’s Frank Sinatra tribute, My Way. It’s also good to see Austin’s often overlooked bluegrass band Wood and Wire walk away with a nomination. Vince Gill also receives two nominations via “Dear Hate.”
In the all-genre Best New Artist category, country music also was well-represented, with Luke Combs and Margo Price receiving nominations in an expanded field from five to eight. This is a big distinction for east Nashville’s Margo Price, even though her recent record All-American Made was surprisingly locked out of the song and album distinctions (it was still eligible, being released after October 1st, 2017).
With the country nominees, we’re seeing the continuance of a trend that first emerged in 2018 of Music Row and mainstream labels in country actually seeing the value of courting the Grammy Awards, as opposed to seeing them as just an also-ran to the CMAs and ACMs. Cole Swindell, Kelsea Ballerini, and Dan + Shay are names that could be thought to be a more on the outside of this more refined awards apparatus, but now Nashville has seen it as a way to attain hardware for some of their 2nd-tier stars systemically locked out of country’s own awards, which they can accomplish due to the Grammy Awards’ weak voting system.
Brandi Carlile, Lee Ann Womack, Kacey Musgraves, John Prine, and Chris Stapleton are all worthy nominees that you probably would have predicted. Maren Morris has always been a critic’s favorite, and isn’t unfamiliar with the Grammy Awards. But to nominate “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” for Best Country Solo Performance, which is an Elton John cover song she did for a tribute record, is a piss on the leg of the public, especially on a year with so many other worthy songs out there. Maren’s “Dear Hate” with Vince Gill is much more what the Grammy Awards are all about (and should have been released as a single).
Overall, the 2019 Grammy Awards feel like a mixed bag, with a lot of good stuff, some very questionable stuff, and the feel of political motivation behind some of the selections in both positive and negative ways. But whether she wins a single award or not, the story of the 2019 Grammy nominations might be a coming out party for Brandi Carlile, who has deserved major national recognition for her music for many years, and just received it in a big way.
Country & Roots Awards
Best Country Solo Performance
“Wouldn’t It Be Great,” Loretta Lynn
“Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters,” Maren Morris
“Butterflies,” Kacey Musgraves
“Millionaire,” Chris Stapleton
“Parallel Line,” Keith Urban
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“Shoot Me Straight,” Brothers Osborne
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay
“When Someone Stops Loving You,” Little Big Town
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
“Meant to Be,” Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
Best Country Song
“Break Up in the End,” Cole Swindell (Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill and Jon Nite, songwriters)
“Dear Hate,” Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill (Tom Douglas, David Hodges and Maren Morris, songwriters)
“I Lived It,” Blake Shelton (Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley and Ben Hayslip, songwriters)
“Space Cowboy,” Kacey Musgraves (Luke Laird, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves, songwriters)
“Tequila,” Dan + Shay (Nicolle Gaylon, Jordan Reynolds and Dan Smyers, songwriters)
“When Someone Stops Loving You,” Little Big Town (Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill and Lori McKenna, songwriters)
Best Country Album
Unapologetically, Kelsea Ballerini
Port Saint Joe, Brothers Osborne
Girl Going Nowhere, Ashley McBryde
Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
From A Room: Volume 2, Chris Stapleton
Best Americana Album
By the Way, I Forgive You, Brandi Carlile
Things Have Changed, Bettye LaVette
The Tree of Forgiveness, John Prine
The Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone, Lee Ann Womack
One Drop of Truth, The Wood Brothers
Best American Roots Performance
“Kick Rocks,” Sean Ardoin
“Saint James Infirmary Blues,” Jon Batiste
“The Joke,” Brandi Carlile
“All on My Mind,” Anderson East
“Last Man Standing,” Willie Nelson
Best American Roots Song (Award to Songwriters)
“All the Trouble,” Lee Ann Womack (Waylon Payne, Lee Ann Womack, and Adam Wright, songwriters)
“Build a Bridge,” Mavis Staples (Jeff Tweedy, songwriter)
“The Joke,” Brandi Carlile (Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth, songwriters)
“Knockin’ on Your Screen Door,” John Prine (Pat McLaughlin and John Prine, songwriters)
“Summer’s End,” John Prine (Pat McLaughlin and John Prine, songwriters)
Best Folk Album
Whistle Down The Wind, Joan Baez
Black Cowboys, Dom Flemons
Rifles and Rosary Beads, Mary Gauthier
Weed Garden, Iron & Wine
All Ashore, Punch Brothers
Best Bluegrass Album
Portraits in Fiddles, Mike Barnett
Sister Sadie II, Sister Sadie
Rivers and Roads, Special Consensus
The Travelin’ McCourys, The Travelin’ McCourys
North of Despair, Wood & Wire
All Genre Awards
Album of the Year
“Invasion of Privacy,” Cardi B
“By the Way, I Forgive You,” Brandi Carlile
“Scorpion,” Drake
“H.E.R.,” H.E.R.
“Beerbongs & Bentleys,” Post Malone
“Dirty Computer,” Janelle Monae
“Golden Hour,” Kacey Musgraves
“Black Panther: The Album,” Featuring Kendrick Lamar
Record of the Year
“I Like It,” Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
“The Joke,” Brandi Carlile
“This is America,” Childish Gambino
“God’s Plan,” Drake
“Shallow,” Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper
“All The Stars,” Kendrick Lamar and SZA
“Rockstar,” Post Malone feat. 21 Savage
“The Middle,” Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey
Song of the Year
“All The Stars,” Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears, Al Shuckburgh, Anthony Tiffith and Solana Rowe
“Boo’d Up,” Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai, and Dijon McFarlane
“God’s Plan,” Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron Latour, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib.
“In My Blood,” Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes and Geoffrey Warburton
“The Joke,” Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth
“The Middle,” Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha and Anton Zaslavski
“Shallow,” Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt
“This Is America,” Donald Glover and Ludwig Göransson
Best New Artist
Chloe X Halle
Luke Combs
Greta Van Fleet
H.E.R.
Dua Lipa
Margo Price
Bebe Rexha
Jorja Smith
December 7, 2018 @ 9:33 am
What is American roots? Is Willie Nelson not even considered country anymore?
December 7, 2018 @ 10:08 am
Be grateful for the American Roots categories, because without them, Willie Nelson doesn’t get nominated at all. I agree that true country shouldn’t be relegated to “Americana,” but these are categories that are giving important recognition that wouldn’t receive it otherwise.
December 7, 2018 @ 12:03 pm
And what does it say about Nashville itself, at least that corporate machinery aspect of the town, that all the music it somewhat sanctimoniously claims to be the music of the heartland and of working people is almost totally marginalized in favor of junk that’s neither country nor even good pop/country, but which just SITS there?
That said, it’s good to see womenfolk like Margo Price and Brandi Carlile represented at the Grammys. They, among many others, represent the idea of bringing traditions forward with honor and being progressive artists at the same time (IMHO).
December 7, 2018 @ 10:52 am
Willie also got nominated in the Best Traditional Pop category for My Way.
December 7, 2018 @ 9:33 am
Glad about Kacey and Margo. I like Brandi but the last time I saw her live, I felt like I was attending a lecture, not a show. Still, she’s talented, one of the good ones.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:09 am
What was she lecturing about?
December 7, 2018 @ 10:18 am
About half of her set was a political rant. I didn’t disagree with what she said.
I’m just tired of going to shows and this being the norm rather than the exception.
December 7, 2018 @ 1:06 pm
I saw the same thing with Brandi as you did Gina. It was a rather forceful rant and detracted from an otherwise brilliant performance. I realize music historically can be political, but my own listening tastes lean to the “remember when music was fun and enjoyable” type of thing. Music is an escape for me, a happy place. I’m not afraid of some social commentary mind you, but their are subtler ways of doing it.
Artists are free to sing about their passions but fans are also free to decide what they want to pay for.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:50 am
I’ve never been irritated by Brandi’s political rants (if you can even call it that). It’s usually about gay marriage and other subjects that are pertinent to her songs. I don’t think I’ve heard her randomly get political.
December 7, 2018 @ 9:42 am
So Carrie was snubbed???
December 7, 2018 @ 9:53 am
Yes.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:15 am
A clear pattern is emerging in the Grammy country categories where labels who want to push their B-level stars can get nominations if they play their cards right. The bloc voting of the CMAs and ACMs have made it to the Grammy Awards, no doubt. That’s why you’re getting weird nominations for Cole Swindell, Blake Shelton, and an Elton John cover song over what would be a pretty sensible nomination for Carrie Underwood.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:31 am
It’s almost like people think Carrie deserves a nomination for being Carrie. I say this as a Carrie defender I don’t think she put out her best work and it has nothing to do with bloc voting.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:24 am
I wasn’t surprised by the album noms because I don’t think she’s ever gotten one, although if they were going to pick another mainstream country album, Cry Pretty, and some others, are better albums than Unapologize. However, I was a bit surprised by her lack of inclusion in the performance category, and easily could’ve taken Keith’s spot. Country Song is a weird grouping of songs, but again I’m not shocked because her music hasn’t been awarded in that category much either. I don’t think she should be nominated just for being Carrie and I think she has better material on the album than “Cry Pretty,” but I was surprised just based off her being an actual Grammy darling when it comes to performance awards, and it is a powerhouse vocal on top of a more interesting song/production than some of her old work. I definitely don’t think it’s worth throwing a fit about, but I do think it’s part of an interesting observation/insight like Trigger’s into some things changing at the grammy’s (like the prominence of voting blocs).
December 7, 2018 @ 11:42 am
Cry Pretty is just not the great song people hoped it was going to be. It underperformed in every category, sales, streaming, radio and now Grammys. She’ll win some country awards for it though since it’s her turn.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:54 am
I also don’t understand how she didn’t get nominated for country album while unapologetically did and also how maren was able to get nominated for performance for a song no one heard. Grammys isn’t Carrie’s middle name but a nomination would have been a nice validation for her getting involved in producing her album. At least she can relax, have her baby and put up an amazing performance next year on tour
December 7, 2018 @ 9:59 am
So an album nominated in the Americana category was also nominated in the general category. I don’t think that’s happened before.
I’m very happy for Brandi Carlile. She made a fine album.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:20 am
Alison Krauss did it a few times in the late 90’s, early 00’s when she was one her way to racking up her 27 total trophies. But yes, it’s rare, especially lately. I think this is just as big as Sturgill getting nominated for Album of the Year, except Brandi pulls off the trifecta of the top awards.
December 7, 2018 @ 8:48 pm
I think you’ll find, if you look closely at previous years, all Album of the year nominees are nominated in a specific category, too. They are limited to one specific category and the “open to all” general category.
This year having a roots single (record of the year) and song is very unusual. I don’t know if that has ever happened before.
The whole general category thing is to show that not just “pop” music can be the best music put out.
December 8, 2018 @ 5:48 pm
They’re talking about specifically the “Americana” category – it doesn’t usually crack the Album of the Year.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:27 am
Can someone explain this “bloc voting” to me? I don’t fully understand the difference between how the grammys vote versus the CMAs or ACMs.
December 7, 2018 @ 1:58 pm
Especially prevalent for the ACM awards, bloc voting is where one label will vote for another label’s artist, song or album, in exchange for that label voting for on of their artists, songs, or albums. That way each label can push their priorities through the awards system by both clearing the decks for competition, and aggregating a majority of votes for a preferred winner. So multiple label may get together and say, “Look. Cole Swindell probably doesn’t deserve a CMA or ACM award. But this is what we’ll do, we’ll all get together and given him a Grammy nomination.” This creates a “bloc” of votes to override and other consideration by the voting population. This is harder for the CMAs because the voting population is so large, but it still happens. The Grammys are even more insular because there are these secret committees who make many of the decisions on nominees.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:29 am
I think that politics are slathered all over these nominations from top to bottom. A Grammy voting population completely afraid of being trolled on Twitter and called out in the media for not being inclusive is making decisions based on how to keep their ass out of the fire just as much as who is deserving of recognition.
That said, I do think they got these nominations generally right. Brandi Carlile deserves all the recognition she receives. She’s one of the greatest singers and composers of our generation. Her new album and the song “The Joke” are really great. I think there is better stuff out there, but there is much much worse that could have been selected.
Margo Price probably deserves some Grammy consideration, but I don’t think she deserved it for her album “All-American Made.” Giving her a New Artist nomination was a good way to do that. She’s got the talent and is great live. She just needs to translate that into the studio.
These are not sympathy nominations for John Prine, or Loretta Lynn or Willie Nelson for that matter. All three released very strong efforts. And even though the media is doing their best to turn Kacey Musgraves into a political animal, “Golden Hour” has some great songs and deserves its nominations.
But the lesson here is that if you want Grammy nominations, make sure you let your political and social beliefs known on Twitter, and make sure they lean left. Otherwise you might be like Carrie Underwood, Caitlyn Smith, and Cody Jinks and asking, WTF?
December 7, 2018 @ 10:39 am
You’re trying to create controversy by alluding that Kacey, Margo, Brandi are there because of their political beliefs.
The Grammys are being slammed not trolled, you use that word incorrectly, because they didn’t nominate Taylor Swift who made the biggest political impact out of any one of those nominees you list this year with her political endorsements.
You complain that people accuse you of being sexist then you make these types of comments.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:59 am
“You’re trying to create controversy by alluding that Kacey, Margo, Brandi are there because of their political beliefs.”
No, what I said is politics played a role in the nominations, but ultimately they got them right. If you don’t think politics played at least a little bit into these nominations, you’re a fool.
As for Taylor Swift, as you rightly point out, she made some strong political statements right near a Grammy voting round hoping to turn her luck come Grammy time. It failed. But that says less about the efficacy of using politics too your advantage when it comes to the Grammy Awards, and more about the fact that Taylor Swift released a mediocre record that even politics couldn’t rehabilitate.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:32 am
If politics didn’t work for Taylor why did it work for Kacey and Brandi? As you say Taylor didn’t release her best work but just maybe Kacey and Brandi did.
The constant need to bring up politics where Kacey is concerned when it comes to her nominations, her album reviews, her press is suspicious. You did the same yesterday in your top songs where the Annies get a clean write up but Kacey has all these caveats.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:50 am
“The constant need to bring up politics where Kacey is concerned when it comes to her nominations, her album reviews, her press is suspicious.”
I 100% agree, and have written two dedicated articles making that point. Kacey Musgraves didn’t want this to be a political album, but the press did their level best to make sure it was one, and to many, it probably is a political album, because they’ve been told to think that, and because in their shallow minds, Kacey is still the “Follow Your Arrow” chick.
I’m happy Kacey received these nominations.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:54 am
I’m a big Kacey fan and follow her on SM as well as in the press. The constant harping on politics comes from you.
December 7, 2018 @ 12:10 pm
lol, check out this subheading and article from The Independent just a couple of days ago:
“The Nashville country star, who sings of sex, weed and queer acceptance, talks to Alexandra Pollard”
https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/kacey-musgraves-interview-country-music-golden-hour-gender-latest-a8657646.html
Kacey Musgraves will always be the “Follow Your Arrow” girl to these non-country entertainment writers and their shallow perspectives, which is a reduction of Kacey Musgraves and the expansive themes she has sung about, and her desire to not enter into politics with “Golden Hour.”
December 7, 2018 @ 12:04 pm
A last note since this is just more of the same, when you complain that industry people don’t respect you or writers accuse you of everything under the sun and female journalists block you, its these types of comments that they’re referring to.
You do you though.
December 8, 2018 @ 8:40 am
With respect to your last comment, TxMusic, if that true, then I think that’s a sad commentary. But I guess it’s not surprising. The recent New York Times podcast episode that seemed to make reference to SCM as a country music purist space shows how intellectually lazy or perhaps dishonest some of these music writers can be. That’s my perspective as a music fan. I’m loathe to pile on the mainstream media like some of the righties around here, but I’m often disappointed and maddened by the music writing I find on such outlets. Chris Richards of the Washington Post (I’m a subscriber) is one example of someone that often gets on my nerves, especially when he writes about roots and country music.
December 7, 2018 @ 12:57 pm
Everything is just black and white anymore, there’s no room for nuance or grey. It’s either you’re with me or against me. People seek affirmation, not information. It’s not an either or argument. Did left leaning views help determine the nominations? If the music was good, it sure didn’t hurt.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:23 pm
Sounds more like politics played a role in the past and less so this year.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:40 am
Completely agree. And I’m a Grammy member. I’ve had a real problem in the past few years with awards shows honoring people for their political beliefs rather than their talent sometimes. Hence my earlier comment about Brandi. I think there are good nominees in here, but the politics concern me. And I’m more left leaning or I used to be anyway.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:46 am
Let’s celebrate the people we like getting nominations and say the ones we don’t like only got them because of politics . Amazing.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:53 am
Not at all what I’m saying. As I said, I am a Grammy member, and Neil Portnow even said last year that they were striving to make the Grammys more inclusive. I do actually have an informed opinion about this, so please refrain from the snide attitude.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:58 am
I appreciate what you’re saying, Gina, FWIW.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:20 am
If they wanted to be more politically inclusive they wouldn’t be nominating Brandi because her politics align with most artists who generally skew left.
They’re not deviating from the norm here. How many outspoken conservative artists are nominated?
December 7, 2018 @ 11:32 am
Consider me a little confused when you say Kacey’s album deserves its nominations. I agree that it does, but in the review of the album, you said: “But six months from now, the only people talking about this album might be the ones who love to champion artists’ public personas over the music…”
What changed?
December 7, 2018 @ 11:46 am
Good question, and the answer is I was completely wrong when I said that. I still think that “Golden Hour” is a mild album, but with some great songs. I made sure to give it credit for those great songs in that original review. I myself just nominated “Space Cowboy” for my little Song of the Year distinction yesterday. I don’t have a problem with “Golden Hour” receiving any awards, because it’s much better than many of the alternatives. But I still think as an album, it’s a bit sleepy. Clearly others disagree, and I respect their opinions. When you make predictions, sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss. When I said the record would be forgotten, clearly I missed.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:34 am
I’m glad to see Brothers Osborne get some nominations. I hope this helps a little with their new single “I Don’t Remember Me.” I’m really surprised radio isn’t playing it. It seems like a radio-friendly song.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:36 am
I’m still digesting the nominations. I vaguely remember reading about the expanded nominations in the general categories, but it still came as a surprise. I’m thrilled not to see Taylor Swift in the general, Reputation didn’t deserve the recognition. I am, however, surprised “Delecate” wasn’t a pop solo nominee. I thought it would’ve been a lock. No love for “Babe” is kind of surprising.
In my mind the biggest snub is I’m With Her. They had an incredible year and deserved to be recognized, even if they wouldn’t have won. Lori McKenna was snubbed, too, for The Tree, which is also a shame. Keith Urban did not earn that nomination. I know the Grammys love him, but no, just no. I wish Loretta Lynn had also been recognized in the Country Album category, too, but can’t remember off hand if she was eligible or not. Surprised KB got a country album nomination, too.
Brandi Carlisle is the well-deserved headline, for sure. The Maren Morris nominations are all over the place, especially the Elton John song, which I didn’t see coming at all. I expected the love for “The Middle” and was thrilled to see FGL continue to be snubbed, especially for “Meant To Be.” Glad the record breaking weeks at #1 didn’t sway the Academy.
Wonder why “Cry Pretty” was snubbed. The Grammys love Carrie. Who or what is to blame? Capitol?
December 7, 2018 @ 10:39 am
Published this before I saw Trigger’s comment above. It had been published while I was still writing.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:49 am
Ok, so FGL was nominated. My bad. I seriously did overlook that.
December 7, 2018 @ 10:48 am
The country categories can become a pretty big disaster with Keith Urban, Dan & his Shay or Bebe Rexha & the two dummies winning a Grammy.
Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley, Ben Hayslip, Luke Laird & Shane McAnally…all the wrong names (…well…no Dallas Davidson…) walking away with a Grammy & Kelsea Ballerini with Unapolowhatever winning Best Country Album.
On the other side…Loretta Lynn & Ashley McBryde. A nice surprise.
Are the country categories part of the live-telecast? The 2018 Grammy lost six million viewers (down to 19.8 – Source: Forbes.com). Still a good number.
December 7, 2018 @ 12:52 pm
”……the two dummies winning a Grammy.”
you flatter them Ola
December 7, 2018 @ 10:55 am
Hey, at least there is SOME overlap with the nominations and your best of year lists. And I say that meaning I’m giving them a little bit of credit. It’s not often the mainstream gets it even partially right (at least from my lazy memory).
December 7, 2018 @ 11:33 am
If Purgatory had been released two months later, the nominations would look a lot more country…and interesting. This is a boring and safe list of nominees imo.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:38 am
Thanks to God my favorite lady singer : Loretta Lynn got nominated. YES!!!
Even if Loretta doesn’t win,the fact that she got nominated means a lot! It shows the majority of us fans love Loretta,love her singing and her music. So,while I’m hoping Loretta wins,even if she does not,at least she got nominated,and this proud Loretta Lynn fan is happy about that!
December 7, 2018 @ 12:56 pm
Amen …..thank God there is still SOME sense of fairness and recognition for honest work that isn’t trying to cash in on trend or cater to the lowest common demographic .
an aside ….wouldn’t it be hilarious to hear Loretta sing some Kane Brown , Blake or FGL syncopated one-note- melody bro-shit ?
December 7, 2018 @ 11:55 am
Just reference the article when the ratings dip to a new record low…
December 7, 2018 @ 12:01 pm
Exactly.
December 7, 2018 @ 12:07 pm
Congrats for the nom… Long over due. Have loved your music for years. Saw you in concert in ponte vedra fl. Best night ever. My young niece fell in love
December 7, 2018 @ 1:01 pm
Yay Loretta!! And bro country is arguably absent from the nominations-two reasons to be happy with the Grammys. . Still, I agree there were other notables that should have been nominated.And wow Brandi, Kacey, and Margo, way to go!
December 7, 2018 @ 1:26 pm
I think it is a shame not talking about Kacey Musgraves.
She’s done differently than Taylor Swift, by still making a country album, whilst knowing how the industry works.
Amazing for Brandi Carlile, but Kacey Musgraves deserves the biggest shout-out. She’s been working her ass off.
December 7, 2018 @ 1:47 pm
I think a lot of people are talking about Kacey Musgraves. But I think a lot of people had already baked in that Musgraves was going to do well in Grammy nominations, while Brandi Carlile came out of left field to score three in the top all-genre categories. That’s not to take anything away from Musgraves, but she’s done well over the years via the Grammy Awards and other awards shows, and is signed to a major label. Carlilie is a relative unknown outside of the roots world. Most country fans don’t even know who Brandi Carlile is.
December 7, 2018 @ 3:39 pm
I also like Kacey Musgraves very much and appreciate the craftsmanship she put into Golden Hour. But Brandi Carlile is a once in a generation songwriter, and this is possibly her best effort yet. Other artists (Dave Hause is the first one who comes to mind) were already covering songs from this record a mere six months after release. Carlile doesn’t make pop music. She’s Dylan-level.
In the end, I think neither will walk away with the Best Album award.
December 7, 2018 @ 4:13 pm
I’ve been seeing a little bit of Kacey vs. Brandi chatter surrounding these nominations (not just here), and I think that goes against the spirit of these nominations. Here the Grammy Awards are going out of their way to highlight women, and then the public wants to pit them against each other, while it’s still not enough for some because where’s the nominations for Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift? That’s why you should never try to make everyone happy because you never will. It was a good day for Kacey Musgraves and Brandi Carlie, and I’m not sure why we can’t be happy for both.
December 7, 2018 @ 4:30 pm
I am happy for both. It’s the first time in recent memory more than one album I purchased got an Album of the Year nod.
December 7, 2018 @ 4:50 pm
The Grammy’s always confuse me. I’m probably alone in this,but I think the “The Firewatcher’s Daughter” “Bear Creek” and “The Story” are all better albums than “By the Way, I Forgive You” and as far as I know, none were ever nominated for squat. It’s almost like they felt they HAD to give her a bunch of nods this year..or else.
December 7, 2018 @ 5:09 pm
@Lello “Kacey has been working her ass off” what exactly has Brandi done for the past 15,16 years or so? Wife,Mother of 2 kids, writing, making music, touring like crazy, getting top artists to participate in her “Cover Stories’ campaign ((including a former President) to help children and refugees of war –
You’re right. What a lazy asshole. Give it to Kacey. She deserves it more. She’s really been working hard on her dance skills *rolls eyes*
December 7, 2018 @ 1:29 pm
Still talking Kacey, I guess she actually did what her record label wanted her to do, whilst still making good country music.
I’m so sorry, but Golden Hour is miles ahead Brandi Carlile’s work. But, of course, Kacey is LGBT pro, smokes weed and her brand is liberty.
It’s way better from, you know, drinking beer.
December 7, 2018 @ 2:47 pm
I’m so sorry, but Golden Hour is miles ahead Brandi Carlile’s work.
Uh, OK. If you say so. It strikes me as mostly easy listening music, but I do really dig Slow Burn and like a couple of other songs. And none of it is bad, but I struggle to find much country on it. But that was also the case with Sturgill Simpson’s last album, which I was still happy to see get the country Grammy a couple of years go. This time, I’m rooting for Ashley McBryde. Personal taste and all that.
I have no idea about whether she smokes weed, but I’m pretty sure that Brandi Carlile is pro-LBGT.
December 8, 2018 @ 5:59 pm
I love me some Kacey Musgraves…but it’s always funny (as well as, of course, sad and irritating) to see people engage in the erasure of gay voices while trying to be performatively woke.
December 7, 2018 @ 3:44 pm
Kacey Musgraves may be pro-LBGT, but Brandi Carlile actually IS LGBT. And I’m a married, straight, middle-aged dad who sings along to “Hold Out Your Hand” at the top of my lungs, because who gives a shit.
December 7, 2018 @ 4:23 pm
It has really frustrated me this year to see multiple major periodicals proclaim Kacey Musgraves as a “gay icon” or “Country Music’s Queer Queen” simply due to a song she released five years ago, when you have artists like Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, and others who are going completely overlooked. The people making these proclamations over Musgraves have no idea Brandi Carlile even exists because they’re pop fans, and only know country music on the surface. Hopefully these nominations for Brandi Carlile help change that. It’s not my place to name whose a “gay icon” because I’m not part of the gay community, but I do think it’s down-looking to the actual LBGTQ members of the country community to give that distinction to Musgraves.
December 8, 2018 @ 1:27 pm
Well, Trigger, exactly, you’re not part of the gay community. I am. And Kacey deserves that distinction.
At the end of the day, Kacey Musgraves has been working has off concerning Grammys “agenda”, better than Brandi Carlile, who’s the underdog nominee. I can’t see people like Beyoncé, Britney Spears or Taylor Swift voting for her.
Speaking of Swift, she’s an example of working her ass off. Probably thought of trying to conceive a man and call him “First Name” Neil “Last Name” just because of Neil Portow to win her second album of the year grammy. Sara Bareilles was the Brandi Carlile of that night.
December 7, 2018 @ 4:09 pm
LG, Kasey Musgraves will NEVER put out anything as good as Brandi Carlile has ever done. It’s almost absurd you would think otherwise.
December 7, 2018 @ 4:33 pm
Agreed.
December 7, 2018 @ 2:32 pm
I’ll watch just to hear Brandi howl “The Joke” in a roomful of trendchasetters and cloutgrabbers and put them all to shame.
December 7, 2018 @ 3:06 pm
These professional lists are so uninformed and unimaginative. They are inside the Beltway GMO hot house flower AI fake news bullcrap.
Viva Trigger, OlaR, and the grassroots reality.
December 7, 2018 @ 3:31 pm
Was Colter Wall’s album not eligible for anything? Just don’t know when it was released … Seems like a shoo in for Americana …
December 7, 2018 @ 3:37 pm
The cutoff date is October 1st, meaning it will be eligible next year (released October 12th).
December 7, 2018 @ 3:35 pm
Why is Lee Ann Womack not in the country category?
December 7, 2018 @ 3:38 pm
Because actual country is being relegated to Americana. See: Tyler Childers comments from the podium of the Ryman at the 2018 Americana Music Awards.
December 7, 2018 @ 6:50 pm
It seems like Americana is becoming a catchall for country artists who try to extend the boundaries a little, like banishing the eccentric old uncle to the kids’s table at Thanksgiving. The boring in-laws who don’t challenge anyone get to eat with the big folks. Seems to be happening with blues, ethnic (e.g. Cajun), and what used to be called folk as well.
People aren’t good at holding two contradictory ideas (categories) in their head at the same time (“How can something be country and not country?”), so they create a new, safe category. Happened with Gene Clark–he used to be shuffled off as country-rock, and now he’s one of the predecessors of Americana.
December 10, 2018 @ 8:55 am
Except that Tyler Childers’ music is nothing if not country.
Same goes for Womack’s latest.
Their stuff is way more country than any of the crap that ends up in the “country” category.
December 7, 2018 @ 7:19 pm
why the fuck is Kelsea Ballerini anywhere near these nominations?
December 7, 2018 @ 10:11 pm
I was very surprised to see Wood & Wire get a bluegrass album nod. They’re not a household name in bluegrass, but North of Despair is a great album. And not that it matters for the Grammys, but they put on tight, entertaining live show.
December 7, 2018 @ 11:41 pm
Video : A radio station for nostalgic cowboys.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3qsmsmidTlQ&index=45&list=LLOQwi746MUWH9qLDHjJfHug&t=0s
December 8, 2018 @ 5:54 am
Jinks got absolutely robbed. I expected it, but am also appalled by it.
December 8, 2018 @ 6:58 am
Women are well-represented because of the “social and political climate”? How about because they have talent and deserve to be there? Come on, man, you can do better.
December 8, 2018 @ 11:02 am
This is a Twitter-style reduction of my opinion.
Everybody knows what’s going on here. The Grammy Awards and Neil Portnow are trying to save face after getting hammered over the last couple of years for being too male, and too white. And if you don’t think that played into the nominations, you’re lying to yourself. The Grammy Awards have acknowledged this was a focus of these nominations. They also bumped up the number of nominations from five to eight in major categories specifically to facilitate more nominees to assure there was more diverse representation.
Now that doesn’t mean the nominees didn’t deserve this distinction. Like I said, politics motivated a lot of these nominations, but they still mostly got them right. Brandi Carlile deserved every single one of her six nominations, and now we have a badass woman from the roots world representing in the top three Grammy categories. Add Margo Price into the mix for Best New Artist, and we have all four top all-genre Grammy categories covered. Add Kacey Musgraves in there, and we have even more representation. If you ask me, that’s the way it should be every year. Whether they tipped the scales or not, I’m not looking this gift horse in the mouth.
That said, I don’t think we should look at the Grammy nominees and lie to ourselves that everything’s alright when it comes to women in the music world. We have to be honest to ourselves about what led to all of this. Brandi Carlile has been criminally underrated for going on 15 years. Even though there is great representation of roots women, where is Caitlyn Smith, or I’m With Her? Carrie Underwood got completely snubbed. Taylor Swift got locked out, because to many she represents “white America,” which presents a whole new set of problems. Nothing got solved when it comes to the Grammy Awards, they just got changed. For the better perhaps, but each year is going to present its own new set of problems. Vigilance, honesty, and a cool-minded perspective at what’s at play is necessary when it comes to all musical institutions to continue to try and refine them to the point where the best is always represented, as opposed to what is the most popular, or what is the most politically-expedient at a given time.
December 8, 2018 @ 5:46 pm
Thrilled with Kacey’s ATOY nom! I’ll be rooting for her because Golden Hour made me so happy this year. It’s a gorgeously crafted album.
If they were going to nom someone from the Elton John tribute, I wish that it had been Miranda whose cover of My Father’s Gun is one of her best vocals.
December 9, 2018 @ 5:02 am
BLACBERRY SMOKE? best rock’n’roll band category
December 9, 2018 @ 1:50 pm
Cool to see Ashley Mcbryde get a Grammy Nom! Great girl, great record 🙂