I’m
usually one to shake my head and roll my eyes when awards nominations are
announced. As the Grammy nominees were released today, I was actually raising
my eyebrows, with a bit of a smile.
Tanya
Tucker, Willie Nelson, Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Rosanne Cash, Vince Gill…
all on the list for Grammy nods. Did we turn the clock back 30 years? Nope. It’s
a testament to the resilience and relevance of country artists of previous
decades who focus more on good music and less on what’s going to be ‘a hit.’
Tanya
was nominated for overall Song of the Year, Best Country Solo Performance and
Best Country Song with “Bring My Flowers Now” as well as Best Country Album for
“While I’m Livin’.”
Tanya
will be going head-to-head with Willie for Best Country Solo Performance, which
includes Willie’s “Ride Me Back Home.”
Reba
McEntire got a nod for Best Country Album with “Stronger Than The Truth.”
There’s
no sign of slowing down for Dolly Parton, who has a nomination for Best
Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for her collaboration with for
King & Country on “God Only Knows.” She also has a second nomination, which
is for Best Song Written For Visual Media, “Girl In The Movies” that Dolly
wrote with Linda Perry for the movie, “Dumplin’.”
Rosanne
and Vince will be going head-to-head for Best American Roots Song. Rosanne’s “Crossing
To Jerusalem” co-written with her husband, John Leventhal, goes against Vince’s
“I Don’t Wanna Ride The Rails No More.”
Looking
at the list of nominations also reminded me of how the last two years have been
huge for Brandi Carlile, not just as a singer, but also as a songwriter,
producer, collaborator and an overall do-er. Brandi was a producer for Tanya
Tucker’s album, “While I’m Living’” as well as co-songwriter for Song of the
Year & Best Country Song nominee, Tanya’s “Bring My Flowers Now.” Brandi
was also nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance with Maren Morris on
Maren’s “Common.”
I also
need to give a nod to recognition for Ashley McBryde, who was nominated for
Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.”
A few
other ladies to be recognized for Grammy nominations include the Pistol Annies
with Best Country Album for “Interstate Gospel” and Natalie Hemby and Lori
McKenna for some songwriting credits.
