The Grammy season is upon us. In some ways each year is different, and yet in some ways each year is the same. Some nods we see coming from a mile away (“Just Somebody That I Used to Know” for Record of the Year – Called it!), some come as pleasant surprises (Finally some recognition for “Cost of Livin'”!), and of course there are some records that sell well enough to score nominations even though they stink (Take your pick).
This year’s crop of nominees were just announced last night. Here are the nominees for the all-genre, country, and country-adjascent award categories. Please share your thoughts freely in the comments section. The live broadcast will air Sunday, February 10 on CBS. Join us for more Grammy coverage the week of the show, including our staff picks and predictions, and of course don’t forget to join in the live blogging fun on show night!
Record of the Year:
“Lonely Boy”
The Black Keys
The Black Keys & Danger Mouse, producers; Tom Elmhirst & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Brian Lucey, mastering engineer
[Nonesuch]
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
Kelly Clarkson
Greg Kurstin, producer; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Greg Kurstin & Jesse Shatkin, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[RCA Records/19 Recordings Limited]
“We Are Young”
Fun. Featuring Janelle Monáe
Jeff Bhasker, producer; Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dawson & Stuart White, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[Fueled By Ramen]
“Somebody That I Used To Know”
Gotye Featuring Kimbra
Wally De Backer, producer; Wally De Backer & Francois Tetaz, engineers/mixers; William Bowden, mastering engineer
[Universal Republic]
“Thinkin Bout You”
Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean, producer; Jeff Ellis, Pat Thrall & Marcos Tovar, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
[Def Jam]
“We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together”
Taylor Swift
Max Martin, Shellback & Taylor Swift, producers; Serban Ghenea, engineer/mixer; Tom Coyne, mastering engineer
[Big Machine Records]
Album of the Year:
El Camino
The Black Keys
The Black Keys & Danger Mouse, producers; Tchad Blake, Tom Elmhirst & Kennie Takahashi, engineers/mixers; Brian Lucey, mastering engineer
[Nonesuch]
Some Nights
Fun.
Janelle Monáe, featured artist; Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, Jake One & TommyD, producers; Jeff Bhasker, Pete Bischoff, Jeff Chestek, Andrew Dawson, Emile Haynie, Manny Marroquin, Sonny Pinnar & Stuart White, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
[Fueled By Ramen]
Babel
Mumford & Sons
Markus Dravs, producer; Robin Baynton & Ruadhri Cushnan, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
[Glassnote]
Channel Orange
Frank Ocean
André 3000, John Mayer & Earl Sweatshirt, featured artists; Om’Mas Keith, Malay, Frank Ocean & Pharrell, producers; Calvin Bailif, Andrew Coleman, Jeff Ellis, Doug Fenske, Om’Mas Keith, Malay, Frank Ocean, Philip Scott, Mark “Spike” Stent, Pat Thrall, Marcos Tovar & Vic Wainstein, engineers/mixers; Vlado Meller, mastering engineer
[Def Jam]
Blunderbuss
Jack White
Jack White, producer; Vance Powell & Jack White, engineers/mixers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer
[Third Man/Columbia Records]
Song of the Year:
“The A Team”
Ed Sheeran, songwriter (Ed Sheeran)
[Elektra; Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing]
“Adorn”
Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel)
[RCA/Bystorm Entertainment; Publisher: Art Dealer Chic]
“Call Me Maybe”
Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen)
[604 Records/Schoolboy Records/Interscope; Publishers: Jepsen Music Publishing, Regular Monkey Productions, Crowe Music Publishing]
“Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
Jörgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson)
[RCA/19 Recordings; Publishers: Universal Music Publishing MGB Scandinavia, Perfect Storm Music Group/Sony ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia, BMG Gold Songs, Kurstin Music/EMI April Music]
“We Are Young”
Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe)
[Fueled By Ramen; Publishers: WB Music, FBR Music, Bearvon Music/Rough Art/Shira Lee Lawrence Rick Music/Way Above Music/Sony ATV Songs]
Best
New Artist:
Alabama Shakes
Fun.
Hunter Hayes
The Lumineers
Frank Ocean
Best Country Solo Performance:
“Home”
Dierks Bentley
[Capitol Records Nashville]
“Springsteen”
Eric Church
[EMI Records Nashville]
“Cost of Livin'”
Ronnie Dunn
[Arista Nashville]
“Wanted”
Hunter Hayes
[Atlantic]
“Over”
Blake Shelton
[Warner Bros. Records]
“Blown Away”
Carrie Underwood
[19 Recordings Limited/Arista Nashville]
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart”
Eli Young Band
[Republic Nashville]
“Pontoon”
Little Big Town
[Capitol Records Nashville]
“Safe & Sound”
Taylor Swift & The Civil Wars
[Big Machine Records/Universal Republic]
“On the Outskirts of Town”
The Time Jumpers
[Rounder]
“I Just Come Here For The Music”
Don Williams featuring Alison Krauss
[Sugar Hill Records]
Best Country Song:
“Blown Away”
Josh Kear & Chris Tompkins, songwriters (Carrie Underwood)
Track from: Blown Away
[19 Recordings Limited/Arista Nashville; Publishers: Global Dog Music/Lunalight Music, Big Loud Songs/Angel River Songs]
“Cost of Livin'”
Phillip Coleman & Ronnie Dunn, songwriters (Ronnie Dunn)
[Arista Nashville; Publishers: Tractor Radio Songs, Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Showbilly Music]
“Even If It Breaks Your Heart”
Will Hoge & Eric Paslay, songwriters (Eli Young Band)
[Republic Nashville]
“So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore”
Jay Knowles & Adam Wright, songwriters (Alan Jackson)
[EMI Records Nashville/ACR Records; Publishers: Alrighty Den Music, Dean-Parnell Music, Acme Nashville]
“Springsteen”
Eric Church, Jeff Hyde & Ryan Tyndell, songwriters (Eric Church)
[EMI Records Nashville; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing/Sinnerlina Music/Purple Cape Music, Bug Music/Mamma’s Cornbread Music]
Best Country Album:
Uncaged
Zac Brown Band
[Southern Ground/Atlantic]
Hunter Hayes
Hunter Hayes
[Atlantic]
Living for a Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran
Jamey Johnson
[Mercury Records]
Four the Record
Miranda Lambert
[The RCA Records Label Nashville]
The Time Jumpers
The Time Jumpers
[Rounder]
Best Americana Album:
The Carpenter
The Avett Brothers
[Universal Republic]
From the Ground Up
John Fullbright
[Blue Dirt Records]
The Lumineers
The Lumineers
[Dualtone Music Group]
Babel
Mumford & Sons
[Glassnote]
Slipstream
Bonnie Raitt
[Redwing Records]
Best Bluegrass Album:
The Gospel Side Of
Dailey & Vincent
[Rounder]
Life Finds a Way
The Grascals
[Mountain Home Music Company]
Beat the Devil and Carry a Rail
Noam Pikelny
[Compass Records]
Scratch Gravel Road
Special Consensus
[Compass Records]
Nobody Knows You
Steep Canyon Rangers
[Rounder]
Best Folk Album:
Leaving Eden
Carolina Chocolate Drops
[Nonesuch]
Election Special
Ry Cooder
[Perro Verde/Nonesuch]
Hambone’s Meditations
Luther Dickinson
[Songs Of The South]
The Goat Rodeo Sessions
Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer & Chris Thile
[Sony Classical]
This One’s For Him: A Tribute To Guy Clark
(Various Artists)
Shawn Camp & Tamara Saviano, producers
[Icehouse Music]
Still love “Cost of Livin'” and hope it wins a nomination. I saw Philip Coleman perform the song as he originally wrote it at the Bluebird Cafe about a month ago. Ronnie Dunn re-wrote the chorus and hook. I can’t recall Coleman’s original lyrics now but at the time I thought that Dunn’s changes were an improvement.
I also like ZBB wherever nominated and “I Just Come Here for the Music” by Don Willians with Alison Krauss.
I’m pleased to see the nominations for Cost Of Livin’, So You Don’t Have To Love Me Any More, the Time Jumpers, and Jamey Johnson’s Hank Cochran tribute.
I agree. “Cost of Livin'” deserves some serious accolades for its poignant look at life as it is. Dunn’s voice, as always, is brilliant.
But, I’m so happy to see Jack White’s Blunderbuss. White is a musical genius in nearly every area of the field and should be recognized for this incredible work of art.
Happy for the “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore” and “Cost of Livin'” nods, and of course, for “Blown Away”, which should win easily.
I’m surprised and sad Kathy Mattea’s “Calling Me Home” wasn’t nominated for anything.
Good to see the Time Jumpers get nominations. I know they’re talented in their own right, but I’m sure they’ve got Vince Gill to thank for the higher profile/recognition.
Looking at this list, all I’m thinking is why do the Grammys have better recognition of country music talent than actual country award shows? (Lookin’ at you, CMAs and ACMs.) “Cost of Living,” “So You Don’t Have to Love Me Anymore,” AND “I Just Come Here for the Music?” There’s more award-worthy nominations here than in an entire year’s worth of country award shows!
Wow at “Blown Away” not getting an album nod.
And Carrie’s the only female in both Song and Country Solo Vocal. That speaks volumes for the genre’s sake, and not necessarily in a good way. However, it speaks volumes for Carrie, and definitely in an incredible way.
I was shocked too that “Blown Away” didn’t get an album nod and kinda surprised that Hunter Hayes did but then again, I have not heard his album.