Zach Top Wins Grammy’s New Best Traditional Country Album
Zach Top has been the spearhead for helping to reignite the traditional country sound in mainstream country and beyond. His popularity probably helped play a role in the Grammys deciding to make a new Best Traditional Country Album category for 2026. All the more fitting that Zach would walk away with the trophy for his most recent album Ain’t In It For My Health during the award’s inaugural year.
“I feel like I watched the Grammys as a little kid and it looked like superheroes on TV so to be up here and be a part of the whole thing is insane,” Zach Top said before thanking his lord and savior, along with Carson Chamberlin, everyone on his label, his road band, and others. “Thanks for being here. This is so amazing.” he continued in his brief speech.
Zach Top bested Charley Crockett’s Dollar A Day, Margo Price’s Hard Headed Woman, Lukas Nelson’s American Romance, and Willie Nelson’s Oh What A Beautiful World to earn the Grammy. The trophy was given out during the Grammy’s “Premier Ceremony” that happens before the televised portion of the awards on Sunday (2/1).
Though some might list Zach Top’s last album, 2024’s Cold Beer and Country Music as the superior work, there wasn’t a Best Traditional Country Album category at that time. And no matter what you feel about Zach’s album, there’s no denying its country, and that Zach Top has played a critical role in the neotraditional resurgence.
Ain’t In It For My Health was produced and co-written in large part by Carson Chamberlain. Chamberlin is a Kentucky native that played steel guitar and was the bandleader for Keith Whitley all the way up to Whitley’s death in 1989. After that, Chamberlin was the tour manager for Alan Jackson and Clint Black.
Other early winners include Tyler Childers for Best Country Song for “Bitin’ List”—Tyler’s first Grammy win. Chris Stapleton also won for “Bad as I Used to Be [From F1® The Movie],” and “Amen” by Shaboozey and Jelly Roll won for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
The Best Contemporary Country Album is slated to be announced during the televised portion of the Grammy Awards Sunday night on CBS.
Stay tuned to Saving Country Music for more coverage of the Grammy Awards.
– – – – – – – – – – –
If you found this article valuable, consider leaving Saving Country Music A TIP.
February 1, 2026 @ 3:28 pm
Absolutely thrilled for this. Good to see someone new win. And also that Tyler won Song.
February 1, 2026 @ 3:45 pm
Well, I think Margo and Charley’s work was vastly superior. I’m glad the category exists but the award going to the most mainstream and commercial of the nominees isn’t a great sign about the future direction. That said Tyler Childers getting best song is incredibly well deserved (and overdue) and is hopefully a sign he might take Contemporary Album. But if Jelly Roll wins over Childers or Lambert it’ll be criminal.
February 1, 2026 @ 3:51 pm
Sure, Zach Top is “mainstream” and “commercial,” but he’s also very “traditional.” I don’t think we should necessarily penalize him because he’s making traditional country popular. That feels like discouraging success. Without this new award, Zach Top never wins, and the others don’t get nominations. But it was also a very strong field, especially the Margo Price and Charley Crockett albums. Only one can win unfortunately.
February 1, 2026 @ 4:17 pm
Generally speaking I think it’s positive that there’s something more traditional in the mainstream/commercial space so definitely not saying he should be penalised. It’s just what it says for the Grammy category where hopefully indie artists could thrive going forward, is it going to end up dominated by the less poppy end of the mainstream artists?
February 1, 2026 @ 4:46 pm
Margo and Charley are more “poppy” than Zach Top. By musical standards…..and DEFINITELY by several other standards.
February 1, 2026 @ 6:58 pm
Zach Top is on an independent label, Leo33. It didn’t even exist until he came along. The only reason it seems like mainstream country has embraced him is because they had no choice. He BECAME the mainstream. Same goes for the Red Clay Strays. I agree that hopefully this category gives more opportunities to independent artists. But it kind of did by nominating Charley Crockett and Margo Price. And by the way, Charley might be in that mainstream lane sooner than later.
The artist who really has beef here is the Turnpike Troubadours. They absolutely deserved a nomination at the least.
February 1, 2026 @ 9:32 pm
Crazy that they don’t even get a nomination
February 2, 2026 @ 1:46 pm
Not really.
Their latest album is their most disappointing work unless you consider “Bossier City.”
February 2, 2026 @ 2:24 pm
That’s just like, your opinion man. The vast vast majority of independent country fans felt is was the best, or one of the best albums last year.
February 1, 2026 @ 3:52 pm
Bitin’ List’s success had nothing whatsoever to do with the vocal performance or the production. It was all about the catchy melody and some of the cleverest lyrics I’ve heard in years.
It’s a fun song rather than a deep one, but I’m happy to see it recognized for its songwriting.
February 1, 2026 @ 3:57 pm
Congratulations Zack! This what I envisioned for country in 2026. I hear him & don’t question the genre. This keeps me hopeful!
February 1, 2026 @ 4:22 pm
Good for Zach, glad they didn’t go legacy there – kinda figured they would.
February 1, 2026 @ 4:25 pm
I played a senior center dance hall gig friday night and a 70 yr old woman requested ‘I Never Lie’. Zach Top resonates with everyone.
February 1, 2026 @ 8:14 pm
That’s wonderful, thankful real Country has more of chance of being acknowledged again. Zach’s great! The other category could have had a worse winner too I guess so not a bad night for the good fight
February 2, 2026 @ 12:11 am
I’m a big fan of the Grammys’ new Best Traditional Country Album. It means I don’t have to despair as much about what’s going on in the Best Contemporary Country Album category.
February 2, 2026 @ 1:41 am
A very good choice.
February 2, 2026 @ 2:35 am
…zach top winning the newly created “best traditional country album” category could be taken as a sign how country music ought to sound still/again these days. the question remains: will nashville and country radio take notice and allow more investments and slots for it (the talents currently exist in numbers)? or will it still be “too country” for them? zach top, tyler childers, cody johnson, lainey wilson, ella langley and margo price are surely asking some serious questions now – not to mention the many of a similar ilk.
February 5, 2026 @ 8:09 am
Grammys are a clown show but I’m glad Zach won