This year’s Grammy nominees in the country music categories represent a collection of the genre’s favorite new-traditional and contemporary artists, with more of the latter than the former represented, as one might predict.
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, like last year, will once more be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The event will take place Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010, and air live on CBS beginning at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).
Crossover Country's Taylor Swift Nets Most Grammy Nods Among Country Singers
The country artist with the most collective Grammy nods this time around is crossover-sensation Taylor Swift, who has a total of eight nominations, including five in the all-genre and pop categories.
However, in sticking to the decidedly country categories, the Grammy nominees for Best Female Country Vocal Performance include Dead Flowers by Miranda Lambert, I Just Call You Mine by Martina McBride, White Horse by Taylor Swift, Just A Dream by Carrie Underwood, and Solitary Thinkin' by Lee Ann Womack
In the upcoming Best Male Country Vocal Performance race, the contenders include All I Ask For Anymore by Trace Adkins, People Are Crazy by Billy Currington, High Cost Of Living by Jamey Johnson, Living For The Night by Texan George Strait, and Sweet Thing by Keith Urban.
Contemporary & Traditional Country Stars Compete for Best Country Album
Looking to the Grammys' Best Country Album race, this time around the finalists are The Foundation by Zac Brown Band, Twang by George Strait, Fearless by Taylor Swift, Defying Gravity by Keith Urban, and Call Me Crazy by Lee Ann Womack.
Meanwhile, in the Grammys’ Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocals, nods went to Cowgirls Don't Cry by Brooks & Dunn, Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band, I Run To You by Lady Antebellum, Here Comes Goodbye by Rascal Flatts, and It Happens by Sugarland.
Country Singers Collaborate to Secure 52nd Annual Grammy Nominations
As for the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, a category that recognizes a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together, this year’s nominees are Beautiful World by Dierks Bentley and Patty Griffin; Down The Road by Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally; Start A Band by Brad Paisley and Keith Urban; I Told You So by Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis; and Everything But Quits by Lee Ann Womack and George Strait.
The finalists up for Best Country Instrumental Performance, a prize that is presented for solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals, include Under The (Five) Wire by Alison Brown, The Crystal Merchant by The Greencards, Mansinneedof by teen Sarah Jarosz, and Producer's Medley by Steve Wariner.
Stiff Competition Abounds Among Grammy-nominated Country Songwriters
Last but assuredly not least, a number of greats are contending for the Best Country Song prize, a Grammy that is presented to the songwriters of the genre’s favorite songs over the past year.
For this honor, the current finalists include All I Ask For Anymore by songwriters Casey Beathard and Tim James, (recorded by Trace Adkins); High Cost Of Living by songwriters Jamey Johnson and James Slater (recorded by Jamey Johnson); I Run To You by songwriters Tom Douglas, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott (recorded by Lady Antebellum); People Are Crazy by songwriters Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones (recorded by Billy Currington); and White Horse by songwriters Liz Rose and Taylor Swift (recorded by Taylor Swift).
For more information on the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, incuding awards the nominees in other Grammy races, please visit www.grammy.com.
Lisa L. Rollins - Texas native Lisa L. Rollins, Ph.D., is an award-winning feature writer, interviewer and journalism educator.
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