Taylor Swift, Vince Gill Land Major Grammy Nods

Taylor Swift and Vince Gill are each nominated in major Grammy categories for the 2008 ceremony, and both artists were on hand to reveal the nominees in Hollywood on Thursday morning (Dec. 6). Gill’s These Days is up for all-genre album of the year, along with projects by Foo Fighters, Herbie Hancock, Kanye West and Amy Winehouse. These Days is also in the best country album category. In addition, Swift nabbed a best new artist nomination, beside Feist, Ledisi, Paramore and Winehouse.

“Before He Cheats,” written by Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins and recorded by Carrie Underwood, is up for song of the year among all genres. It will compete against “Hey There Delilah” by the Plain White T’s, “Like a Star” by Corinne Bailey Rae, “Rehab” by Winehouse and Rihanna featuring Jay-Z’s “Umbrella.” In addition, “Before He Cheats” is nominated for best country song. Underwood is also nominated for best female country vocal performance and best country collaboration with vocals (for the Brad Paisley duet, “Oh Love”).

Tim McGraw received four Grammy nominations, including best country album (for Let It Go) and best country collaboration with vocals (for his work with Faith Hill on “I Need You”). “If You’re Reading This” netted McGraw nominations for best country male vocal and best country song. He shares the latter nomination with co-writers Brad and Brett Warren.

Dierks Bentley also secured four Grammy nominations, including best male country vocal performance and best country song for “Long Trip Alone,” best country album for Long Trip Alone, as well as best long form music video for his concert DVD, Live & Loud at the Fillmore. Four years after his death, Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” received a nomination for best music video.

In addition to his nomination with Underwood, Paisley is up for best country album for 5th Gear and best country instrumental performance. George Strait rounds out the country album category with It Just Comes Natural. He is also up for best country male vocal performance for “Give It Away.”

Other Grammy nominees in country categories include Brooks & Dunn, the Eagles, Steve Earle and Allison Moorer, Emerson Drive, Alan Jackson, Alison Krauss, Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson, Miranda Lambert, Montgomery Gentry, Willie Nelson & Ray Price, LeAnn Rimes, George Strait, Keith Urban and Trisha Yearwood.

Country instrumental nominees include Russ Barenberg, the Greencards, Andy Statman and the Time Jumpers. Bluegrass album nominees are Cherryholmes, J.D. Crowe & the New South, Jim Lauderdale, Seldom Scene and Tony Trischka.

Best traditional folk album nominees are David Bromberg, Peter Case, Cathy Fink, Levon Helm and Charlie Louvin. Best contemporary folk/Americana album nominees are Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ry Cooder, Earle, Patty Griffin and Tom Waits. Nominees in the Southern, country or bluegrass gospel album category are Bill & Gloria Gaither and the Homecoming Friends, Karen Peck and New River, Billy Joe Shaver, Ricky Skaggs & the Whites, Kenny & Amanda Smith Band and the multi-artist project, I’ll Fly Away: Country Hymns and Songs of Faith.

The 50th annual Grammy Awards will be presented February 10 in Los Angeles.

Grammy Nominations in Country Categories

Best Female Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or tracks only.)

• “Simple Love”
  Alison Krauss
  Track from: A Hundred Miles or More: A Collection
  
• “Famous in a Small Town”
  Miranda Lambert
  Track from: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
  
• “Nothin’ Better to Do”
  LeAnn Rimes
  
• “Before He Cheats”
  Carrie Underwood
  Track from: Some Hearts
  
• “Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love”
  Trisha Yearwood
  

• “Long Trip Alone”
  Dierks Bentley
  Track from: Long Trip Alone
  
• “A Woman’s Love”
  Alan Jackson
  Track from: Like Red on a Rose
  
• “If You’re Reading This”
  Tim McGraw
  Track from: Let It Go
  
• “Give It Away”
  George Strait
  Track from: It Just Comes Natural
  
• “Stupid Boy”
  Keith Urban
  Track from: Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing
  

• “Proud of the House We Built”
  Brooks & Dunn
  
• “How Long”
  The Eagles
  
• “Moments”
  Emerson Drive
  Track from: Countrified
  
• “Lucky Man”
  Montgomery Gentry
  Track from: Some People Change
  
• “Sweet Memories”
  The Time Jumpers
  Track from: Jumpin’ Time
  

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
(For a collaborative performance, with vocals, by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

• “Days Aren’t Long Enough”
  Steve Earle and Allison Moorer
  Track from: Washington Square Serenade
  
• “Because of You”
  Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson
  
• “I Need You”
  Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
  Track from: Let It Go
  
• “Lost Highway”
  Willie Nelson and Ray Price
  Track from: Last of the Breed
  
• “Oh Love”
  Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood
  Track from: 5th Gear
  

Best Country Instrumental Performance
(For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances, without vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

• “Little Monk”
  Russ Barenberg
  Track from: When at Last
  
• “Mucky the Duck”
  The Greencards
  Track from: Viridian
  
• “Throttleneck”
  Brad Paisley
  Track from: 5th Gear
  
• “Rawhide!”
  Andy Statman
  Track from: East Flatbush Blues
  
• “Fidoodlin'”
  The Time Jumpers
  Track from: Jumpin’ Time
  

Best Country Song
(Awarded to songwriters.)

• “Before He Cheats”
  Songwriters: Josh Kear and Chris Tompkins
  Recorded by: Carrie Underwood
  Track from: Some Hearts
  
• “Give It Away”
  Songwriters: Bill Anderson, Buddy Cannon and Jamey Johnson
  Recorded by: George Strait
  Track from: It Just Comes Natural
  
• “I Need You”
  Songwriters: Tony Lane and David Lee
  Recorded by: Tim McGraw and Faith Hill
  Track from: Let It Go
  
• “If You’re Reading This”
  Songwriters: Tim McGraw, Brad Warren and Brett Warren
  Recorded by: Tim McGraw
  Track from: Let It Go
  
• “Long Trip Alone”
  Songwriters: Brett Beavers, Dierks Bentley and Steve Bogard
  Recorded by: Dierks Bentley
  Track from: Long Trip Alone
  

Best Country Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

• Long Trip Alone
  Dierks Bentley
  
• These Days
  Vince Gill
  
• Let It Go
  Tim McGraw
  
• 5th Gear
  Brad Paisley
  
• It Just Comes Natural
  George Strait
  

• Cherryholmes II Black and White
  Cherryholmes
  
• Lefty’s Old Guitar
  J. D. Crowe & the New South
  
• The Bluegrass Diaries
  Jim Lauderdale
  
• Scenechronized
  Seldom Scene
  
• Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
  Tony Trischka
  

• Try Me One More Time
  David Bromberg
  
• Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John
  Peter Case
  
• Banjo Talkin’
  Cathy Fink
  
• Dirt Farmer
  Levon Helm
  
• Charlie Louvin
  Charlie Louvin
  

• The Calling
  Mary Chapin Carpenter
  
• My Name Is Buddy
  Ry Cooder
  
• Washington Square Serenade
  Steve Earle
  
• Children Running Through
  Patty Griffin
  
• Orphans
  Tom Waits