Tyler Childers Leads All Nominees in Country Grammys

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See all country and roots nominees below.

We wondered what the Grammy Awards would look like with the new Best Traditional Country Album category added this year. It turns out, it looks pretty country, and is being dominated by artists outside of the radio country fold.

With nominations in all of the categories he was eligible in, Tyler Childers leads all nominees in country music with four. Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert tie Childers, though three of their nominations come via songs collaborations, including one with each other. Zach Top and Lainey Wilson are right behind them with three nominations, and Margo Price received two nominations along with Jelly Roll and Shaboozey.

Willie Nelson received two nominations as well, one in Best Traditional Country Album, and one in Best Americana Album. To read a deeper analysis on the Best Contemporary/Traditional Album nominees, CLICK HERE.

As far as songs go, Zach Top’s breakout single “I Never Lie” is up for both Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song. The Miranda Lambert/Chris Stapleton single “A Song To Sing” felt pretty lackluster, but still somehow pulls two nominations, probably off of name recognition. Conversely, “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” pairing up Stapleton with George Strait is a certified twanger, and deservedly gets a nomination in Best Country Duo/Group Performance.

Along with a Best Contemporary Album nomination, Tyler’s song nominations come from “Nose To The Grindstone” in Country Solo Performance, and “Bitin’ List” for Best Country Song. It seems like these nominations should have been reversed, but clearly Grammy voters are favoring Childers, so either could win. Lainey Wilson’s nominations come via “Somewhere Over Laredo,” while Shaboozey’s come from “Good News.”

The song nominees make up a strong field in 2026, and it’s hard to pick a front runner in any category. Who got snubbed? Similar to their album The Price of Admission, Turnpike Troubadours songs “On The Red River” and “Heaven Passing Through” feel like big snubs. It’s also interesting to see Jamey Johnson and his first album in a dozen years not weigh in the nominations.

In the Americana and American Roots realm, Molly Tuttle, Jesse Welles, Jason Isbell, and I’m With Her all weigh heavy in the nominations, but so does Jon Batiste, who ruffled some feathers in 2022 when he won two Americana awards, and was seen later on the telecast dancing to choreography with a troupe of backup dancers. There’s a chance again he dominates Americana again as one of the few names known outside of the roots genres.

Best Bluegrass Album will be an interesting tilt, with Highway Prayers by Billy Strings being a strong front runner, but Alison Krauss’s return with Union Station also also making for a heavyweight in the field.

Though most consider Jason Isbell the King of Americana, his acoustic album Foxes in the Snow landed in Best Folk Album this year, meaning he will be competing in a strong field that also includes Jesse Welles, Patty Griffin, I’m With Her, and Rhiannon Giddens with Justin Robinson. Best Folk Album might have the stiffest competition of them all.

Were there any American Roots snubs? Joy Oladokun’s Nashville kiss off “I’d Miss The Birds” felt like it should have been a strong contender.

Final voting takes place from December 12th through January 5th. The 2026 Grammy Awards are on February 1st.

2026 Grammy Nominees (Country & Roots)

Best Traditional Country Album Nominees:

• Dollar A Day – Charley Crockett

• American Romance – Lukas Nelson

• Oh What A Beautiful World – Willie Nelson

• Hard Headed Woman – Margo Price

• Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top

Best Contemporary Country Album Nominees:

• Patterns – Kelsea Ballerini

• Snipe Hunter – Tyler Childers

• Evangeline Vs. The Machine – Eric Church

• Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll

• Postcards From Texas – Miranda Lambert

Best Country Solo Performance

•“Nose on the Grindstone,” Tyler Childers

•“Good News,” Shaboozey

•“Bad as I Used to Be [From F1® The Movie],” Chris Stapleton

•“I Never Lie,” Zach Top

•“Somewhere Over Laredo,” Lainey Wilson

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

•“A Song to Sing,” Miranda Lambert And Chris Stapleton

•“Trailblazer,” Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson

•“Love Me Like You Used to Do,” Margo Price & Tyler Childers

•“Amen,” Shaboozey & Jelly Roll

•“Honky Tonk Hall of Fame,” George Strait, Chris Stapleton

Best Country Song

•“Bitin’ List,” Tyler Childers, songwriter (Tyler Childers)

•“Good News,” Michael Ross Pollack, Sam Elliot Roman & Jacob Torrey, songwriters (Shaboozey)

•“I Never Lie,” Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols & Zach Top, songwriters (Zach Top)

•“Somewhere Over Laredo,” Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson & Lainey Wilson, songwriters (Lainey Wilson)

•“A Song to Sing,” Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton)

Best Americana Album

•BIG MONEY, Jon Batiste

•Bloom, Larkin Poe

•Last Leaf on the Tree, Willie Nelson

•So Long Little Miss Sunshine, Molly Tuttle

•Middle, Jesse Welles

Best American Roots Performance

•“LONELY AVENUE,” Jon Batiste Featuring Randy Newman

•“Ancient Light,” I’m With Her

•“Crimson and Clay,” Jason Isbell

•“Richmond on the James,” Alison Krauss & Union Station

•“Beautiful Strangers,” Mavis Staples

Best Americana Performance

•“Boom,” Sierra Hull

•“Poison in My Well,” Maggie Rose & Grace Potter

•“Godspeed,” Mavis Staples

•“That’s Gonna Leave a Mark,” Molly Tuttle

•“Horses,” Jesse Welles

Best American Roots Song

•“Ancient Light,” Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I’m With Her)

•“BIG MONEY,” Jon Batiste, Mike Elizondo & Steve McEwan, songwriters (Jon Batiste)

•“Foxes in the Snow,” Jason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell)

•“Middle,” Jesse Welles, songwriter (Jesse Welles)

•“Spitfire,” Sierra Hull, songwriter (Sierra Hull)

Best Bluegrass Album

•Carter & Cleveland, Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter

•A Tip Toe High Wire, Sierra Hull

•Arcadia, Alison Krauss & Union Station

•Outrun, The Steeldrivers

•Highway Prayers, Billy Strings

Best Folk Album

•What Did the Blackbird Say to the Crow, Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson

•Crown of Roses, Patty Griffin

•Wild and Clear and Blue, I’m With Her

•Foxes in the Snow, Jason Isbell

•Under the Powerlines (April 24 – September 24), Jesse Welles

© 2025 Saving Country Music

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