Worthy Country & Roots Artists Pick Up 2020 Grammy Nominations
The distaste the CMA Awards experience can leave in the mouth of actual country music fans is chased early this year by the announcement of the 2020 Grammy Award nominees in the Country and American Roots categories. Though no set of ears will find the nominees list ideal, those with distinguishing tastes will be much more rewarded for their time and attention.
In the country categories, we see multiple worthy names pick up nominations. Ashley McBryde picks up two nominations for her song “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” Tanya Tucker receives two nominations for “Bring My Flowers Now.” Older acts like Willie Nelson and Brooks & Dunn pick up nominations. And though you would have loved to see Tyler Childers pick up an album nomination and “All Your’n” is a strange track to nominate, at least they did not try to shoe horn him into the Americana categories, and he can now claim he’s a Grammy-nominated artist until kingdom come.
Aside from Thomas Rhett’s Center Point Road, the Best Country Album category is quite strong, with Reba McEntire and The Pistol Annies picking up nominations where the CMA’s dropped the ball. Eric Church picks up his second nomination in the album category, and Tanya Tucker picks up her third nomination here, and her 4th nomination overall since “Bring My Flowers Now” is also nominated for the all genre Song of the Year.
In the American Roots categories (Americana, Folk, Bluegrass, Blues), we definitely see voters striving for diversity, with the Best Americana Album including three black performers in Keb Mo, J.S. Ondara, and Yola. It is Yola that is is the story of the Americana Grammy Awards so far, also picking up song and performance nominations for “Faraway Look.” Don’t be surprised if she wins all of these either. Americana wins tend to be bunched up, and the momentum behind Yola is sizable, and worthy. Yola also picks up a nomination in the vaunted all genre Best New Artist category. These nominations also give country fans something to root for in these categories.
“I’m With Her” also pick up multiple nominations, but aside from that, there is some of the sameness we normally see from Americana where you wonder if they’re nominating the “who” and not the “what.” There’s not a whole lot of digging deeper than the surface, and artists like Ian Noe, Caroline Spence, and others feel a little overlooked with their landmark releases.
Along with Yola being nominated for Best New Artist and “Bring My Flowers Now” for Tanya Tucker being nominated for Song of the Year, the Best Song Written for Visual Media has three songs with country/roots implications. Also Dan Auerbach—who produced Yola’s Walk Through The Fire, as well as albums from Kendell Marvel and Dee White—receives a Producer of the Year nomination. Lil Nas X receives plenty of love in the all genre categories, but does not show up in any of the country categories.
The Grammy Awards will be handed out on January 26, 2020.
Best Country Solo Performance:
“All Your’n” — Tyler Childers
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” — Ashley McBryde
“Ride Me Back Home” — Willie Nelson
“God’s Country” — Blake Shelton
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Tanya Tucker
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Brand New Man” — Brooks & Dunn with Luke Combs
“I Don’t Remember Me (Before You)” — Brothers Osborne
“Speechless” — Dan + Shay
“The Daughters” — Little Big Town
“Common” — Maren Morris ft. Brandi Carlile
Best Country Song:
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, Songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” — Jeremy Bussey & Ashley Mcbryde, Songwriters (Ashley Mcbryde)
“It All Comes Out In The Wash” — Miranda Lambert, Hillary Lindsey, Lori Mckenna & Liz Rose, Songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
“Some Of It” — Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde & Bobby Pinson, Songwriters (Eric Church)
“Speechless” — Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers & Laura Veltz, Songwriters (Dan + Shay)
Best Country Album:
Desperate Man — Eric Church
Stronger Than The Truth — Reba McEntire
Interstate Gospel — Pistol Annies
Center Point Road — Thomas Rhett
While I’m Livin’ — Tanya Tucker
Best American Roots Performance:
“Saint Honesty” — Sara Bareilles
“Father Mountain” — Calexico With Iron & Wine
“I’m On My Way” — Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi
“Call My Name” — I’m With Her
“Faraway Look” — Yola
Best American Roots Song:
“Black Myself” — Amythyst Kiah, songwriter (Our Native Daughters)
“Call My Name” — Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I’m With Her)
“Crossing To Jerusalem” — Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, songwriters (Rosanne Cash)
“Faraway Look” — Dan Auerbach, Yola Carter & Pat Mclaughlin, songwriters (Yola)
“I Don’t Wanna Ride The Rails No More” — Vince Gill, songwriter (Vince Gill)
Best Americana Album:
Years To Burn — Calexico and Iron & Wine
Who Are You Now — Madison Cunningham
Oklahoma — Keb’ Mo’
Tales Of America — J.S. Ondara
Walk Through Fire — Yola
Best Bluegrass Album:
Tall Fiddler — Michael Cleveland
Live In Prague, Czech Republic — Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
Toil, Tears & Trouble — The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
Royal Traveller — Missy Raines
If You Can’t Stand The Heat — Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
Best Folk Album:
My Finest Work Yet — Andrew Bird
Rearrange My Heart — Che Apalache
Patty Griffin — Patty Griffin
Evening Machines — Gregory Alan Isakov
Front Porch — Joy Williams
All Genre Categories:
Album of the Year
Bon Iver – i,i
Lana Del Rey – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
H.E.R. – I Used to Know Her
Ariana Grande – thank u, next
Lil Nas X – 7
Lizzo – Cuz I Love You
Vampire Weekend – Father of the Bride
Record of the Year
Bon Iver – “Hey, Ma”
Billie Eilish – “Bad Guy”
Ariana Grande – “7 rings”
H.E.R. – “Hard Place”
Khalid – “Talk”
Lil Nas X – “Old Town Road”
Lizzo – “Truth Hurts”
Post Malone – “Sunflower”
Song of the Year
Lady Gaga – “Always Remember Us This Way”
Billie Eilish – “Bad Guy”
Tanya Tucker – “Bring My Flowers Now”
H.E.R. – “Hard Place”
Taylor Swift – “Lover”
Lana Del Rey – “Norman Fucking Rockwell”
Lewis Capaldi – “Someone You Loved”
Lizzo – “Truth Hurts”
Best New Artist
Black Pumas
Billie Eilish
Lil Nas X
Lizzo
Maggie Rogers
Rosalía
Tank and the Bangas
Yola
Best Song Written For Visual Media:
“The Ballad Of The Lonesome Cowboy” — Randy Newman, songwriter (Chris Stapleton); Track from: “Toy Story 4”
“Girl In The Movies” — Dolly Parton & Linda Perry, songwriters (Dolly Parton); Track from: “Dumplin’”
“I’ll Never Love Again (Film Version)” — Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Aaron Raitiere, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper); Track from: A Star Is Born
“Spirit” — Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Timothy McKenzie & Ilya Salmanzadeh, songwriters (Beyoncé); Track from: “The Lion King”
“Suspirium” — Thom Yorke, songwriter (Thom Yorke); Track from: “Suspiria”
November 20, 2019 @ 9:57 am
Yola is from England so not really African American
November 20, 2019 @ 10:02 am
Yeah I just changed it to “black” so now I can be attacked on Twitter by blue checkmarks for being a racist.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:19 am
Dude nobody is gonna attack you for calling black peoples black. Like that’s entirely the term black people use.
November 20, 2019 @ 9:58 am
On the whole, these are strong nominations. They hit the target much better than the CMAs or ACMs. I would have loved to see George Straight nominated in the album category though.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:28 pm
I agree. Overall pretty good, but Honky Tonk Time Machine deserved a nod.
November 20, 2019 @ 2:29 pm
Take out Thomas Rhett and insert George Strait’s album
November 20, 2019 @ 9:59 am
Overall I’m really happy with these nominations. I’m really happy for Yola. She’s going to become a big star. Tanya gets a lot of love, though I wish they would have picked a better song than “Bring My Flowers Now.” It’s not a bad song, but it’s been done 100 times, and is not even the best on the album. “All Your’n” is also a strange pick for Tyler Childers. Good he got nominated for anything, but they basically just picked the single to send for nomination, and not the best song. You could find other things to complain about, but it could have been MUCH worse, especially in the country categories. Really excited to see what transpires come late January.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:05 am
Bring My Flowers Now is nominated probably beicause Brandi Carlile wrote that.
Also doesn’t the artist choose to submit the music to which category? All Your’n was submitted to Best Country Solo Performance so it ended up there.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:18 am
Yes, it is the artist (or their label/management), not the Grammys that select what gets considered for the categories. Nonetheless, I think they could have made a better selection to represent Tyler Childers and “Country Squire.” Just my opinion.
November 20, 2019 @ 11:39 am
You don’t like All Your’n? I think it’s close to the song of the year.
Also, what’s the difference between a song, record, and performance?
November 20, 2019 @ 12:12 pm
I like the song “All Your’n.” I don’t like the production. It’s my least favorite track on the record, and I don’t think it represents what Tyler Childers does. But perhaps that’s just my dumb opinion. I’m glad it got Tyler Childers a nomination.
Song nominations are for the composition itself, and go to the songwriters. Performance nominations are for the vocal and or instrumental performances, and go to the performers. Record of the Year is also a performance-based award, where Song of the Year is a songwriter award.
I know it’s a little confusing, but it is a great way to delineate and recognize great songwriters, and great performers.
In the American Roots categories, the song and performance nominees are drawn from ALL the different genres, meaning Americana, Folk, Bluegrass, and Blues. in other words, instead of having a separate song category for each of these genres, they encapsulate them all.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:53 pm
“song” is for the songwriter
“record” is for the recording — artist and producer
“performance” is for the artist
November 20, 2019 @ 2:34 pm
I feel like they chose ‘All Your’n’ because it has more mass appeal rather than just appealing to the traditionalists. If he wins people are going to look up that song or just look it up based on the nomination.
November 21, 2019 @ 7:08 pm
Trigger on that TC bootlegs record I sent you there’s an amazing version of All Your’n that eats pieces of shit like the album version for breakfast. I’m sure you’ve seen it on YouTube.
November 20, 2019 @ 9:39 pm
Trig, I’ve been meaning to ask about the Tammy Chiggers thing. Who’s he making fun of? I don’t like it at all, but maybe I just don’t understand it.
November 20, 2019 @ 9:47 pm
I don’t think he’s trying to make fun of anybody except himself. I think he was just trying to be funny for the “All Your’n” video. Wouldn’t read too much into it. It would be funny if he made it into a recurring alter ego.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:01 am
They are really giving Tanya a lot of love at the Grammy’s.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:05 am
*Brandi Carlile, tbh
November 20, 2019 @ 10:16 am
I am very happy that Tanya Tucker is getting this much love, but there’s a lot of political and behind-the-scenes stuff going on with her nominations. First off, there is a strong push to celebrate women in country, and this works in Tanya’s favor. These nominations also feel almost just as much about Brandi Carlile as they are about Tanya. Brandi co-wrote “Bring My Flowers Now,” and co-produced “While I’m Livin'” so she also gets nominations. The Grammy Awards love Brandi as we saw last year, and I’m sure Brandi has been lobbying hard for these nominations. I have been a huge supporter of Brandi Carlile over the years, but it’s driving me a little crazy that you can’t see Tanya without Brandi right over her shoulder. You don’t see that from Shooter Jennings, who also co-produced the album. You don’t see that from Dan Auerbach or Dave Cobb on their projects. But in this case, it probably worked in Tanya Tucker’s favor.
December 3, 2019 @ 1:44 am
Whatever it is I’m happy that Tanya’s finally getting recognised. Love her music and the album is great. I love Reba’s new album as well. Good on the Grammys for acknowledging true talent.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:02 am
Am I the only one that thinks “All Your’n” was the obvious choice for nomination? It’s not my favorite Childers song by far, but I definitely see the appeal and also the fact that it was a “single”. I think it’s moreso that they wanted to nominate Childers and just picked a song
November 20, 2019 @ 10:08 am
Desperate Man is Eric’s third nom in Best Country Album category, not second.
I am pleasantly surprised Maren Morris only has one nom this year and it seems to be due to who she collaborated with.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:16 pm
What I meant to say there is it’s Eric Church’s second nomination this year along with “Best Country Song.” You’re right, it’s the third time he’s been nominated for Best Country Album overall.
Maren Morris wins the CMA Album of the Year for “GIRL,” and doesn’t even get nominated here, in a year that there was probably a lot of push for her as a young female “country” artist. I think that speaks to the lack of substance in that record that should be obvious to everyone. A deserved snub.
November 20, 2019 @ 1:17 pm
Completely agree. Girl was just so pop, sorry it is.
November 20, 2019 @ 2:03 pm
I suspect the CMA win for “GIRL” had more to do with busbee than Maren herself.
And I’m thrilled for Tanya Tucker. Long overdue.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:10 am
How about that Vince Gill nomination? I’m very happy with the country nominations, Reba finally got some well deserved recognition.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:12 am
With a few exceptions, the Grammys nailed it. So happy the good guys are getting recognition today. Interstate Gospel FINALLY getting the recognition it deserves
November 20, 2019 @ 7:41 pm
Yes!…Pistol Annies for Interstate Gospel. Radio ignored them and the CMA’s ignored them. But they have the (in my opinion) most distinguished of nominations…the Grammy!
November 20, 2019 @ 10:13 am
Best Country Solo Performance:
“All Your’n” — Tyler Childers
“Girl Goin’ Nowhere” — Ashley McBryde
“Ride Me Back Home” — Willie Nelson
“God’s Country” — Blake Shelton
“Bring My Flowers Now” — Tanya Tucker
Stacked. Why can’t the CMA’s look more like these nominees? I’m going with Willie. I’ve cried drunk listening to “Ride Me Back Home” at his shows (he’s been using the video as his walk-on, intro) a few times this year. That emotional response is what country music is supposed to be about (not the cookie-cutter, manufactured songs on the radio).
I felt all along Tanya might rule the American or Roots category. Surprised to see the love in the country fields. I finally get why I can’t warm up to that album. It’s because we were teased with the “You Better Hope You Die Young” duet with Leroy Virgil first and thought an album produced with Shooter would sound more like that song. Then along came Brandie Carlile and the twins and sucked the country life right out of the project and painted it cloud nine.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:25 am
Tanya Tucker could have broken either way—either Country or Americana. Remember, Brandi Carlile said that she produced the album more in an Americana style on purpose because she thought that is where Tanya could find support in the latter portions of her career, which historically, is something that Americana has been used for, for better or worse.
But I am glad Tanya went country. That is what will get her the greater attention, she likely knocked someone like Kane Brown out of the nominee categories as opposed to some Americana artist, and the Americana nominees won’t be overshadowed by a big name like Tanya, who could be a shoo-in for any awards she would be nominated for there.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:29 am
That duet with Leroy was so awesome, that was right in Tanya’s wheelhouse and I would love to see an entire album like that. Tanya is hard core country, not Americana and that was much more how the album sounded to me.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:19 am
Yay more prizes for the less “distinguished.”
Surprised they got the J.S. Ondara Album, it is truly excellent.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:28 am
I always find it strange that the Grammy nominating body seems to be more on point than the CMAs and ACMs.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:48 am
One thing that happens during these awards as far as country music goes is that they tend to go much more independent and they are able to do this, because the rest of the music World is represented by their primary stars at the Grammy’s such as Beyonce, Taylor Swift and others. They are not relying on country stars to really push their viewership and ratings numbers. The CMA’s and ACM’s in reality cannot nominate a bunch of independent or not well known artists, because they need their stars there and on stage for ratings purpose. Also, don’t think for a second that this isn’t the Hollywood establishment trying to push their own slight agenda at country.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:30 pm
“Also, don’t think for a second that this isn’t the Hollywood establishment trying to push their own slight agenda at country.”
I actually think this year’s country nominees feel slightly less agenda driven than last year. If it was about an agenda, Maren Morris’s “GIRL” would have received a nomination, and The Highwomen would have dominated. I’m a little surprised The Highwomen didn’t get anything, but their album came out right at the very tail end of the eligibility period, so perhaps they just didn’t have the buzz they needed to get a nomination.
November 20, 2019 @ 2:54 pm
The Highwomen album was released a week after the eligibility period ended. I’m guessing they’ll get a ton of attention at next year’s Grammys.
November 20, 2019 @ 3:20 pm
Okay I thought it came out right before, but I’ll have to look into that. But even then, a song or some songs from The Highwomen could have been submitted, especially “Redesigning Women.” Similar to Miranda Lambert’s “All Comes Out in the Wash,” the songs was permissible, but not her album yet.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:55 am
Yes, Trigger do you have any insights as to why this is?
November 20, 2019 @ 12:24 pm
The point of the CMAs and ACMs is to promote the mainstream country music industry and be an economic driver behind the nominees and winners, and the industry at large. The Recording Academy is a not-for-profit advocacy organization that works for the advancement of music at large, advocating for music education in schools, lobbying Congress on behalf of musicians and creators, offering healthcare and assistance to people in the industry, and taking no position on music due to genre or economic viability.
The Grammy Awards are also a peer-driven organization, meaning it’s mostly artists and producers voting on each other, as opposed to labels, booking agencies, publicists, and managers driving the nomination process like in the country specific awards.
The Grammy Awards don’t always get it right, but they usually get much closer. This year I think they did especially well in the country categories, including by making sure some of the bigger names didn’t get left out solely for critical favorites.
November 20, 2019 @ 3:31 pm
Thanks for that background, Trigger. That’s interesting to know, and it highlights where many of the industry’s problems lie — with the industry itself.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:39 am
Disappointed about Tom Russell
November 20, 2019 @ 12:35 pm
“Highway 46” put a tear or two in my eye. March really seems like forever ago.
November 20, 2019 @ 10:56 am
Side note. Hell yeah to Larkin Poe for contemporary blues album
November 20, 2019 @ 10:59 am
I’m so happy about “Interstate Gospel.” Great piece of work from beginning to end, perfect category and nomination.
November 20, 2019 @ 11:00 am
Good list! I’m particularly happy for the Annies. Kind of amazed that’s their first-ever what I’d call “major” nomination for anything. Would have liked a few more all-genre nominees to root for, but can’t really complain.
November 20, 2019 @ 11:28 am
amazing how the grammys are absolutely terrible at everything except country
November 20, 2019 @ 12:24 pm
It’s not always that way, but they did very well in country this year.
November 20, 2019 @ 1:33 pm
Im happy Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend were nominated, however, in my opinion their records were the weakest either band has released. I feel like the grammys are always an album too late.
H.E.R. Put on one of the better performances at the grammys 2 years ago but i havent listened to their recorded output. Along with Lizzo should be some interesting live performances.
November 20, 2019 @ 11:40 am
Interstate Gospel should absolutely win for best album.
November 20, 2019 @ 11:49 am
Ok. I know this is the Miranda Lambert fan club site. I get Interstate Gospel. But explain to me how the Wash song got nominated over Beautiful Crazy. It’s a bad song. That talk sing is not her best. Did anyone else notice in Album and Song only 2 men were nominated. Is it because “look we support women?” Is this her label promoting her work over label mates, Maren and Luke, because she needs it more? Trig the first article I read of yours was from 2014 about Miranda being promoted over Carrie (her label) at awards because she needed more help and awards did that for her. As I said I understand IG. Not Wash. Bad sales. Bad call out numbers. But hey a Grammy nomination. It’s just confusing.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:27 pm
I wish the nominations would have gone to the best songs from artists as opposed to the singles by default. “All Comes Out In the Wash” feels pretty mild to me. Same goes for Tyler Childers. But specifically when it comes to Miranda Lambert, this was her only song that was eligible this year. “Wildcard” came out after the eligibility period, so it’s all they had to send to the Grammy committee.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:36 pm
So what you’re saying is they wanted Miranda to have a nomination, rather than another artist.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:39 pm
I don’t know that. All I’m saying is that if they wanted to nominate something from Miranda, “All Comes Out in the Wash” was their only option due to eligibility.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:37 pm
I am mystified as well. All Comes Out in the Wash is cheesy. Corny. Dumb. (I won’t go on.) There are more deserving songs out there.
November 20, 2019 @ 2:27 pm
I get why people don’t like the song & think it has cheesy/ corny lyrics but I personally love the message of the song and think the corny lyrics work @ keeping it’s point with the lighthearted lyrics. I like the point of view that the women have who wrote it – shit happens, we all make mistakes, let’s just move on and the sky isn’t falling. I appreciate that it’s a fun song and not a very serious/ dark song.
November 20, 2019 @ 1:52 pm
Sorry but Wash is a great song and I for one am happy it and Miranda was nominated… you don’t have to be a miranda fan site to recognize good music, just maybe not your kind of music but definitely mine…
November 20, 2019 @ 3:02 pm
It’s cheesy in my opinion. She can do much, much better and has done better.
November 20, 2019 @ 3:37 pm
Oh she definitely has much better songs and I get your point because Wilcard has a slew of great songs on it but this is a great song too and I agree with Melissa. The words are meaningful and they resinate with people.
November 20, 2019 @ 3:54 pm
“You spill the beans to your mama, sister got knocked up
In a truck at the 7-Eleven, don’t sweat it“
Very meaningful. Truly resonates.
But seriously, I realize not every song can be a masterpiece. I just hope “Some Of It” or “Girl Goin Nowhere” don’t lose out to this.
November 20, 2019 @ 4:14 pm
Tracy, cmon it’s the meaning of it. No matter what happens in your life, it all comes out in the wash. I think it’s clever lyrics and I like it but I don’t dislike someone’s else’s opinion. You are entitled and I understand that. I just think the songwriting was brilliant to life’s mistakes and things we wish didn’t happen that’s all. Nice song in my opinion and I’m happy these songwriters got a nomination over sone of this crap radio plays.. and the Annie’s Interstate Gospels album was long overdue for the deserving nomination. Such a masterpiece
November 20, 2019 @ 4:58 pm
Hey, like I said, not every song can be a masterpiece.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:08 pm
Interesting that Lil Nas X gets an Album of the Year nomination for what I believe is an EP. I’ve come across a couple of reviews on it where the reviewers seem underwhelmed and pretty much say that nothing else on it is nearly as noteworthy as “Old Town Road.” Record of the Year makes some sense given the song’s runaway success.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:38 pm
Yes, “7” received curiously mixed reviews, even with all the momentum behind Lil Nas X. But I think in this case, The Grammy voters just wanted to put Lil Nas X in any and all categories they possibly could to stave off any criticism of excluding him, especially since he didn’t receive and country nominations which I’m sure many think pieces will be written about.
November 20, 2019 @ 12:53 pm
Like a lot of you here, I am fairly pleased with the Country & Americana nominations. I am just glad no triple crown for Maren. *Until she makes better music, like I feel like she totally could.
November 20, 2019 @ 2:14 pm
Black Myself is an absolute killer song and I’m thrilled to see it nominated. Actually, I think all of Amythyst Kiah’s contributions to the Our Native Daughters album are excellent. Jonesing for a full project from her.
November 20, 2019 @ 2:27 pm
Doesn’t all genre Song of the Year go to the songwriters? I believe that in addition to Lady Gaga, Lori McKenna, Hillary Lindsey, and Natalie Hemby were co-writers on “Always Remember Us This Way”.
Definitely a well deserved nomination in my opinion, but the timing is a bit odd since “Shallow” was up for nomination last year.
November 20, 2019 @ 3:23 pm
“Shallow” was released before the soundtrack, so was eligible. But the rest of the soundtrack was right on that eligibility bubble and was release right afterwards. Those projects always have a difficult time, because a year later, folks have moved on from the moment.
November 20, 2019 @ 3:21 pm
Aaron Watson was robbed.
November 20, 2019 @ 3:58 pm
Look at the country album category (the only category that would have made sense) and ask yourself: “was he?”
November 20, 2019 @ 4:09 pm
Yup, he was still robbed.. Red Bandana was a masterpiece.
Get rid of Center Point Road and Desperate Man and replace them with Red Bandana and Magnolia.
November 20, 2019 @ 4:18 pm
Nah he definitely didn’t get robbed.. Aaron talks he doesn’t sing
November 20, 2019 @ 3:33 pm
C’mon Grammys do the right thing and allow Ashley to perform “Girl Going Nowhere” on the show!
Am I naive to believe McBryde (opening for Combs) is going to have a huge year next year??
November 20, 2019 @ 4:06 pm
That would be a powerful performance. That alone could take her to the next level.
November 20, 2019 @ 4:22 pm
I really like Yola, but what sort of music would you guys say she makes? She doesn’t sound particularly Country to me, and what does Roots even mean? Where I come from Roots is a type of Reggae (sorry, confused foreigner).
November 20, 2019 @ 5:28 pm
I consider Yola country soul, which hypothetically means she fits perfectly in Americana, which is supposed to be mixture of American roots influences, including country and soul. I wouldn’t have objected putting her in country though. A while back she gave an interview and basically said she hates genre, but genre just got her three Grammy nominations.
If Yola performs “Faraway Look” on the Grammy Awards, which she might since it’s nominated twice, has a good chance of winning, and she’s also a New Artist of the Year nominee, it will bring the house down. It will be similar to Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke” from last year. It will be the pinnacle performance of the night. Fingers crossed.
November 20, 2019 @ 9:45 pm
She’s really pretty amazing.
November 20, 2019 @ 4:58 pm
No Billy Strings for bluegrass?
November 20, 2019 @ 5:24 pm
Billy Strings did not make the eligibility period. He’s one of those many September 27th releases that won’t be considered until next year, just like Sturgill Simpson and Jon Pardi.
November 20, 2019 @ 5:35 pm
I hope Jon Pardi gets nominated next year. I think he could win the ACMs in April for album of the year… Only competition would be Miranda and the HighWomen
November 20, 2019 @ 6:08 pm
I’m rooting for “Father Mountain” in the Roots Performance category, love that song. The album is pretty good too and I’d be happy if it won Best Americana Album, though for someone as stellar as Iron & Wine it’s only a so-so effort. In any case, another worthy nomination there.
November 21, 2019 @ 2:08 am
i’m mostly impressed ….and not really surprised at the nominees .
seems to me the grammys usually get it WAY righter in these genres than CMA ACM or CCMA . seems to me its more about the music than the ‘likes’ and tastes of the spoonfed .
yola , reba , ashely , i’m with her ,willie , tanya , brooks and dunn ……..yup …grammy’s are gettin it right .
November 21, 2019 @ 7:48 am
It’s heartening to see I’m With Her (to wit, Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O’Donovan) get nominations in the American Roots category, for Performance and Song, for the track “Call My Name”. Not to make any specious comparisons, but musically and spiritually they are about as close as you could get to The Trio in this era.
I would admit, however, that I was kind of disappointed that the Best Music Film category (yes, there IS such a category at the Grmamys) did not include among its nominees the Linda Ronstadt documentary THE SOUND OF MY VOICE. Perhaps it was because of the timing of its release (falling outside of the 2019 parameters, perhaps?). All the same, it is an extremely worthwhile cinematic valedictory of one of the great female singer in American music history.
November 27, 2019 @ 7:59 am
Just realized that I bought more of the nominated country albums (Eric Church, Pistol Annies) than nominated Americana (zero) and Folk (Patty Griffin) albums combined. I wonder if that’s ever happened before. Not unusual that I would have bought more country albums in general.
I hadn’t even heard of Madison Cunningham. I gave a listen to a couple of her songs and I like them. Not sure they scratched my roots music itch, but that’s OK, guess. At least she’s no Linda Chorney. And she plays her own lead guitar, which is cool.
Not sure about the Keb’ Mo’ nomination. I’m an old Keb’ Mo’ fan and love his first three albums. His BluesAmericana album, while maybe a marketing ploy with respect to the name, was somewhat of a return to form with a good amount of actual blues on it. I gave a listen to some of Oklahoma and it struck me as a return to milquetoast. NPR friendly. I think albums by Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla or Our Native Daughters were much stronger AND rootsier. Or better yet, Hayes Carll’s What It Is. Top five album for me.
I know it was released too late for consideration, but Allison Moorer’s Blood is an excellent album. Best from her since 2004’s The Duel, in my opinion.
December 4, 2019 @ 4:23 pm
Tanya deserves the real headline here – four Grammy nominations this year at age 61 (tied for the most of anyone). This should be her night.