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.
View photos from the 2008 Grammy nominees announcement.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
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
(For a solo vocal performance. Singles or tracks only.)
- “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
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
(For established duos or groups with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)
- “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
Best Bluegrass Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
- 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
Best Traditional Folk Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
- 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
Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)
- The Calling
Mary Chapin Carpenter
- My Name Is Buddy
Ry Cooder
- Washington Square Serenade
Steve Earle
- Children Running Through
Patty Griffin
- Orphans
Tom Waits
Craig Shelburne