2009 Country Grammy Nominees

Impressively enough, this year’s Grammy awards includes nominations for some of the most prodigious names in the country music genre. An award show that for the past few years seems to be based off of a combination of popularity and media attention seems to have finally returned to its roots and will be giving attention where it is deserved.

Among the country music nominees are Alison Krauss (5), George Strait (4), Trisha Yearwood (3), Jamey Johnson, (3), Sugarland (2 plus a writing nom for Nettles), Patty Loveless (2),  Lady Antebellum (2), LeeAnn Womack (2), James Otto (2) , Jerry Douglas (2), Brad Paisley (2), and Cherryholmes (2).  Among those with single nominations are Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Trace Adkins, Martina McBride, LeAnn Rimes, Brooks & Dunn, the SteelDrivers and even the Rascal Flatts boys managed a nom. Notable absences are such acts as Rodney Atkins (having four #1’s the past two years), Dolly (figured her comeback album might get more attention), and even ten sensation Taylor Swift, who co-hosted the nominees revealing, was shut out.

Also, although I have not posted them here, a big congrats to Lady Antebellum for scoring a nom in overall Best New Artist and to Alison Krauss and Robert Plant for their noms in Album of the Year, Contemporary Folk Album of the Year, Best Pop Collaboration and Record of the Year. Kathy Mattea also scored a nom for her album Coal in Best Traditional Folk Album.

So here they are guys, the 2009 Grammmy nominees in country music:

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

• “For These Times” by Martina McBride
• “What I Cannot Change” by LeAnn Rimes
• “Last Name” by Carrie Underwood
• “Last Call” by Lee Ann Womack
• “This Is Me You’re Talking To” by Trisha Yearwood

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

• “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Trace Adkins
• “In Color” by Jamey Johnson
• “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” by James Otto
• “Letter to Me” by Brad Paisley
• “Troubadour” by George Strait

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

• “God Must Be Busy” by Brooks & Dunn
• “Love Don’t Live Here” by Lady Antebellum
• “Every Day” by Rascal Flatts
• “Blue Side of the Mountain” by the SteelDrivers
• “Stay” by Sugarland

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

• “Shiftwork” by Kenny Chesney & George Strait
• “Killing the Blues” by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
• “House of Cash” by George Strait & Patty Loveless
• “Life in a Northern Town” by Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town
• “Let the Wind Chase You” by Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban

Best Country Instrumental Performance

• “Sumatra” by Cherryholmes
• “Two Small Cars in Rome” by Jerry Douglas & Lloyd Green
• “Sleigh Ride” by Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
• “Is This America? (Katrina 2005)” by Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby
• “Cluster Pluck” by Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner

Best Country Song

• “Dig Two Graves” by Ashley Gorley & Bob Regan, songwriters (Randy Travis)
• “I Saw God Today” by Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell & Wade Kirby, songwriters (George Strait)
• “In Color” by Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto, songwriters (Jamey Johnson)
• “Stay” by Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland)
• “You’re Gonna Miss This” by Ashley Gorley & Lee Thomas Miller, songwriters (Trace Adkins)

Best Country Album

• That Lonesome Song by Jamey Johnson
• Sleepless Nights by Patty Loveless
• Troubadour by George Strait
• Around the Bend by Randy Travis
• Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love by Trisha Yearwood

Best Bluegrass Album

• Cherryholmes III: Don’t Believe by Cherryholmes
• Del McCoury Band — Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival by Del McCoury Band
• The Ultimate Collection/Live at the Ryman by Earl Scruggs With Family & Friends
• Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947 by Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder
• Wheels by Dan Tyminski