Who Should, Will Win Grammy Country & Americana Awards

by Julian Spivey
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Country Album of the Year
Nominees: Cosmic Hallelujah by Kenny Chesney, Heart Break by Lady Antebellum, The Breaker by Little Big Town, Life Changes by Thomas Rhett and From A Room: Volume 1 by Chris Stapleton

Who Should Win: From A Room: Volume 1 by Chris Stapleton
The Grammy Awards typically do a good job when it comes to nominating country music albums. You have to look no further than last year when Sturgill Simpson’s terrific A Sailor’s Guide to Earth won Country Album of the Year, despite getting no love whatsoever from other country awards. This year, however, the Grammys have seemingly lost their mind. The fact that Miranda Lambert’s excellent double album The Weight of These Wings wasn’t nominated is proof of that. Chris Stapleton’s From A Room: Vol. 1 is clearly the best work of these nominees. His debut Traveller won this award two years ago.

Who Will Win: From A Room: Volume 1 by Chris Stapleton
I would be shocked to see anybody else take home this honor, but if someone were to do so my money would be on Little Big Town’s The Breaker.

Country Song of the Year
Nominees: “Better Man” by Little Big Town (Songwriter: Taylor Swift), “Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt (Songwriters: Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne), “Broken Halos” by Chris Stapleton (Songwriters: Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton), “Drinkin’ Problem” by Midland (Songwriters: Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Mark Wystrach), “Tin Man” by Miranda Lambert (Songwriters: Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall)

Who Should Win: “Broken Halos” by Chris Stapleton
This is a hard category. Miranda Lambert’s “Tin Man” and Midland’s “Drinkin’ Problem” are both fantastic songs. “Tin Man” might be the most emotional song Lambert has ever recorded and I love the throwback sound of “Drinkin’ Problem,” but I believe Chris Stapleton’s “Broken Halos” is the best song in this category and thus should be the winner.

How in the hell was Sam Hunt’s “Body Like a Back Road” nominated for Best Country Song of the Year?

Who Will Win: “Better Man” by Little Big Town
I don’t think the voting body of the Grammy Awards can resist giving an award to Taylor Swift and based on her popularity if she’s in attendance at the ceremony on Sunday they’ll probably televise this award instead of the more deserving Country Album of the Year (which wasn’t televised last year either).

Best Country Solo Performance
Nominees: “Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt, “Losing You” by Alison Krauss, “Tin Man” by Miranda Lambert, “I Could Use a Love Song” by Maren Morris and “Either Way” by Chris Stapleton 

Who Should Win: “Either Way” by Chris Stapleton
This is a no-brainer for me, even though the vocal performances by Alison Krauss and Miranda Lambert are terrific. But, Chris Stapleton the best voice currently in country music and “Either Way” was the best vocal performance I heard in any genre of music last year.

Who Will Win: “Losing You” by Alison Krauss
Some may not realize this, but Alison Krauss has won more Grammy Awards than any other artist in Grammy history with 27. So, don’t be shocked when she wins her 28th award for “Losing You” on Sunday. If she does fall to anyone, though, I suspect it’ll be Chris Stapleton.

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Nominees: “It Ain’t My Fault” by Brothers Osborne, “My Old Man” by Zac Brown Band, “You Look Good” by Lady Antebellum, “Better Man” by Little Big Town and “Drinkin’ Problem” by Midland

Who Should Win: “My Old Man” by Zac Brown Band
I’m a huge fan of Zac Brown Band’s “My Old Man,” Midland’s “Drinkin’ Problem” and Brothers Osborne’s “It Ain’t My Fault” and would be happy with any of these performances winning the Grammy, but I feel “My Old Man” is both the best song and vocal performance of the group. It won’t matter.

Who Will Win: “Better Man” by Little Big Town
Little Big Town feels like a lock to win their third Grammy in this category for the Taylor Swift penned “Better Man.” The group previously won this award in 2013 for “Pontoon” and in 2016 for “Girl Crush.”

Best Americana Album
Nominees: Southern Blood by Gregg Allman, Shine on Rainy Day by Brent Cobb, Beast Epic by Iron & Wine, The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit and Brand New Day by The Mavericks

Who Should Win: The Nashville Sound by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
I believe Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit released the best album during the Grammy released period of any artist. But, I also believe that Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are royally screwed. You’ll see why below.

Also, I’m greatly pleased that Brent Cobb’s debut album Shine on Rainy Day received a nomination in this category.

Who Will Win: Southern Blood by Gregg Allman
Gregg Allman, who died last May, is going to get the sympathy/in memory vote from the Grammy committee. It’s not right. But, it’s probably going to happen.

Best American Roots Song
Nominees: “Cumberland Gap” by David Rawlings (Songwriters: David Rawlings and Gillian Welch), “I Wish You Well” by The Mavericks (Songwriters: Raul Malo and Alan Miller), “If We Were Vampires” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (Songwriter: Jason Isbell), “It Ain’t Over Yet” by Rodney Crowell feat. Rosanne Cash and John Paul White (Songwriter: Rodney Crowell) and “My Only True Friend” by Gregg Allman (Songwriters: Gregg Allman and Scott Sharrard)

Who Should Win: “If We Were Vampires” by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
This might be the best category of the entire Grammy Awards this year, in my opinion. These are all fantastic songs. I believe the best of the bunch is Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s “If We Were Vampires,” but I’m not expecting it to win.

Who Will Win: “My Only True Friend” by Gregg Allman
See previous category for reason.

Best American Roots Performance
Nominees: “Killer Diller Blues” by Alabama Shakes, “Let My Mother Live” by Blind Boys of Alabama, “Arkansas Farmboy” by Glen Campbell, “Steer Your Way” by Leonard Cohen and “I Never Cared for You” by Alison Krauss

Who Should Win: “Arkansas Farmboy” by Glen Campbell
My favorite performance of these great nominees is Glen Campbell’s “Arkansas Farmboy,” which made for a perfect farewell for the music legend who died last August telling of a young Arkansas farmboy who grew up to be a star.

Who Will Win: “Arkansas Farmboy” by Glen Campbell
This is an extremely hard category to predict. The Grammys love Alison Krauss, who could extend her record Grammy wins by an artist to 29 on Sunday. But, the Grammys might also want to honor the late Glen Campbell and Leonard Cohen in the category too. A split of people voting for Campbell and Cohen could ultimately hand this to Krauss or critical darlings Alabama Shakes.

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