I'll come right out and admit that I don't usually watch the Grammy Awards. I'm just not that big on all the hype, and frankly, I think that most mainstream pop music is bland and interchangeable. At the same time, I can't help but root on a country act when they're up for a Grammy — after all, it's been the de facto music award for quite some time, so to recycle yet another cliché, it's an honor just to be nominated. It's also fun to pick the winners in the country categories.
Outside the country categories, Lady Antebellum's "Need You Now" is up for Record and Song of the Year, and its corresponding album is nominated for Album of the Year. The only other country act in this year's all-genre awards is Miranda Lambert, whose "House That Built Me" has a Song of the Year nomination. Even after all this time, I still haven't grown tired of "Need You Now" after all this time and would easily rank it as one of my favorite country-pop crossovers, so I'd be happy if Lady A could scoop up even one of those awards.
Interesting picks abound in the country category. Carrie Underwood's "Temporary Home" may be the go-to song in Best Female Country Vocal Performance simply because it's Carrie Underwood, but the fact that it's a strong song doesn't hurt either. If it doesn't go to her, then I would love to see Miranda Lambert get her first Grammy for "The House That Built Me," easily the most deserving song of her career. (But it'd be even better if Miranda ended up the dark-horse winner in Song of the Year, where that same cut is also nominated.) I'm completely baffled as to how the cuts from Jewel ("Satisfied"), LeAnn Rimes ("Swingin'") and Gretchen Wilson ("I'd Love to Be Your Last") even got into that category — all three songs, particularly Gretchen's, seem to be quite the off-the-board picks.
Best Male Country Vocal Performance is a pretty tough pick among Jamey Johnson's "Macon", Toby Keith's "Cryin' for Me (Wayman's Song)", David Nail's "Turning Home", Keith Urban's "'Til Summer Comes Around" and Chris Young's "Gettin' You Home (The Black Dress Song)." Personally, I think that all five songs are pretty evenly matched in quality, although I would probably give the slight edge to Keith Urban.
If Lady Antebellum is the top country band right now, then Zac Brown Band is a pretty close second. Both are vying for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals ("Need You Now" and "Free", respectively), where their competition includes Little Big Town's "Little White Church", Dailey & Vincent's cover of The Statler Brothers' "Elizabeth" and The SteelDrivers' "Where Rainbows Never Die." Once again, I could see this one going to "Need You Now" since it was such a monster hit.
The Collaboration with Vocals category doesn't usually include much in the way of singles; the only two nominated this year are "As She's Walking Away" and "Hillbilly Bone." Again, ZBB certainly has the momentum to take this one (not to mention that it would be a nice boost for Alan Jackson), but Dierks Bentley has some pretty potent stuff between his two nominations: "Bad Angel" (with Miranda Lambert and Jamey Johnson) and "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (with Del McCoury and the Punch Brothers).
Best Country Song has six nominees this year: "The Breath You Take", "Free", "The House That Built Me", "I'd Love to Be Your Last" (there's that song again!), "If I Die Young" and "Need You Now." Once again, Lady A and Miranda are both up for other awards with their respective songs, so I can't possibly see either one getting shunned. If neither one gets the Best Country Song award, then The Band Perry would be a wonderful dark-horse candidate with their fine song. I'm surprised that "The Breath You Take" was even nominated, as it was so much a "love it or hate it" song (granted, so was "If I Die Young" to a lesser extent) and frankly, I'm just a little burned out on it now.
Finally, there's the Best Country Album, and what an array it is! Up on the Ridge, You Get What You Give, The Guitar Song, Need You Now and Revolution. All five are top-tier albums by critical darlings, so I'm just going to say The Guitar Song because… um, gut feeling? Whatever works.
In closing, it looks like this year's go-to artists are Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert. And for good reason: both artists are finding the right balance of commercial success and artistic merit that I feel makes for prime Grammy material. Jamey Johnson has also managed to become that odd duck who gets critical acclaim and strong sales despite minimal radio airplay, so it's not the least bit surprising to see his name here so many times. Overall, the nominees aren't too surprising (except Gretchen), but pretty much all of them are deserving.
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