After Big Nominations, Sturgill Simpson’s Grammy Participation Is Up in the Air at the Moment
Sturgill Simpson shocked the world Tuesday morning when it was announced his third solo record A Sailor’s Guide to Earth was nominated for the Grammy Awards’ Album of the Year right beside records from Adele, Drake, Justin Bieber, and Beyoncé. Sturgill Simpson fans are still trying to digest the nomination while the rest of the world is asking, “Who in the hell is Sturgill Simpson?” But at the moment there’s an even more pressing concern: Will Sturgill Simpson even be there to accept the award if he wins, and will he have the opportunity to perform? Sturgill is also up for Best Country Album, which in recent years has also been part of the prime time telecast.
Sturgill’s distaste and distrust for awards shows is pretty well documented, specifically when he called out the ACM’s by saying, “they should drop all the formulaic cannon fodder bullshit they’ve been pumping down rural America’s throat for the last 30 years along with all the high school pageantry, meat parade award show bullshit and start dedicating their programs to more actual Country Music.”
But the Grammy Awards are a bit of a different story. The Grammy’s actually award real musicians and artists, including in roots categories such as Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk, and American roots. Sturgill Simpson has been nominated for a Grammy before for his album Metamodern Sounds in Country Music, though he didn’t win.
So will Sturgill drop the attitude against the “high school pageantry, meat parade award show bullshit” and attend? Well apparently it all comes down to a family matter.
In an interview with The New York Times Tuesday after the announcement of the Grammy nominations, Sturgill Simpson explained the quandary.
“It’s way too early for all that. I can tell you that my wife and I have our second child on the way, due any time in the first two weeks of February,” Sturgill explains. “So this is all a little hairy. But it’s all so fresh. I would love to be there, but I’m not going to miss a birth for it. [Laughs]”
The Grammy Awards are on February 12th, so we’ll just have to see. As for how Sturgill feels about the nominations in general,
“I certainly didn’t expect to have a Country Album of the Year nomination for this record, much less to be in the Album of the Year category,” he says. “I asked my wife, ‘Why do I feel scared right now?’ I don’t even know what this means. How does it affect our life, or my career? I’m just trying to avoid any completely unnecessary expectations that people might think this puts on my career going forward. I’m not going to change how I approach my art.”
Sturgill also says he was intending to take the year off, but now is reconsidering due to the renewed interest in his music.
“It might be a good idea to go play some shows again, I don’t know, given how many millions of people are saying, ‘Who the [expletive] is Sturgill Simpson?’ as of this morning.”
SP14
December 6, 2016 @ 7:55 pm
If sturgill and his outstanding band do perform on the live broadcast, it will be the nail in mainstream country”s coffin. If people think what happened with Stapleton after his performance at last fall’s CMAs was insane, this will be even bigger. I couldn’t be more happy for him and his band. They work so hard, and their shows are incredible. ?
Fuzzy TwoShirts
December 7, 2016 @ 9:25 am
I said it in another thread but here goes:
As possibly the only regular commenter to see Simpson and Stapleton in the same year:
Sturgill blows Stapleton away as a performer. He is so spontaneous, so energetic, and so intimate with his audience whereas Stapleton seems a little colder and more rehearsed.
These are just my opinions but I think Sturgill will make Stapleton look like small potatoes.
And this is coming from someone who thought Stapleton’s rise would suck away the “Country music Savior” crowd AWAY from Sturgill Simpson.
But I was wrong.
Amazed to see Sturgill going so far in two years.
He’s making good on his promise to being the biggest artist in all of music.
Jack Williams
December 7, 2016 @ 9:32 am
As possibly the only regular commenter to see Simpson and Stapleton in the same year:
Nope.
SP14
December 7, 2016 @ 10:48 pm
I agree Sturgill is a better entertainer.. That’s why I said Sturgill’s performance will have an even bigger impact.
Stringbuzz
December 8, 2016 @ 9:50 am
Seen em both too.
I’m with you.
I’ve said this before. You just saw it on peoples faces at the Sturgill show.
Let’s face it, and I know many here hate it, that horn section took things over the freakin top.
Jack Williams
December 8, 2016 @ 10:14 am
Saw him in October and I agree that the horn section was great, especially on the new songs. I had mixed feelings about their contribution on the older, more traditionally country songs, as I thought it could get a bit busy.
I thought it was cool that the horn section on the tour band looked like they just came from their jobs in IT desktop support. An unassuming bunch, to be sure, but they could cook.
Kross
December 6, 2016 @ 7:58 pm
I think the award would mean more if it was for best country album. When he’s up against idiots like Beyoncé & Bieber it waters down the significance in my opinion.
Jim Bob
December 6, 2016 @ 9:52 pm
He’s also nominated for country album of the year.
Jacob Ware
December 6, 2016 @ 8:06 pm
Weird I just said this earlier. Oh ,it’s totally different, it’s a grammy. “Little hold gold plated paper weight”, that’s all. How musicians get healthcare through their job, unless they were under contract of some sort. If they are doing that good, they can afford real health insurance. I only care about money, but that’s a byproduct of poverty.
Stay the course sturgill!! It will make you the most popular artist in recent history
OMFS88
December 6, 2016 @ 8:30 pm
Eh? You lost me mate.
hoptowntiger94
December 6, 2016 @ 9:10 pm
I have no idea what’s going on with the commenters on this site anymore. Did you see the comment on the Luke Bryan story that wants people to start calling the FBI when fans see premeditated bird-dogging?
Matt Poss
December 6, 2016 @ 8:39 pm
So is Jason Isbell up next year?
Trigger
December 6, 2016 @ 9:36 pm
First he’s got to release an album, but wouldn’t that be something if Stapleton, Simpson, and Isbell rotated through this distinction in consecutive years.
seak05
December 6, 2016 @ 9:55 pm
I’ll be totally stunned if this isn’t Miranda’s next year (also I’d be pretty surprised if Isbell went country not Americana, and for me, that’s more accurate).
Jack Williams
December 7, 2016 @ 9:35 am
I think Isbell’s last album is more country than Surgill’s ASGTE, but I take your point. I too would be surprised for him to ever go straight country for a whole album. Too much rock and roll in him to do that, I think.
seak05
December 7, 2016 @ 9:38 am
Isbell always comes across as jazz-y/easy listening to me (& I know it’s basically just me). But anyways I think several months ago most of the readers of this blog were complaining that Sturgill had abandoned country & now they’re falling all over themselves praising him as the savior again :p
Trigger
December 7, 2016 @ 10:02 am
You can be honest about how “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” is Sturgill’s least country effort, but still root him on when he gets one of the biggest distinctions in all of music. Your favorite team may not make it to the Super Bowl, but if your third favorite does, you’re still going to root just as hard for them.
Jack Williams
December 7, 2016 @ 9:58 am
No, I don’t think it’s just you. Certainly, his last two albums have been all about the song. If you see him live, it’s a little more of a rock and roll experience. Some of his songs are amped up a little more, there’s some of his old Drive-By Truckers songs, and he might through in a rollicking cover (e.g., Rolling Stones “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” where he kicks it off with that signature Stones guitar riff.
seak05
December 7, 2016 @ 10:15 am
Trigger, totally, and I like the album. It’s just a little ironic to me. It’s sort of like Maren’s album is very good, but not very country, I’m still happy she’s nominated for awards. I feel the same way about Sturgill. It’s probably my research/teaching background, but when looking at albums I try to strip the name & apply criteria regardless, and then let the chips fall where they may…but I’m also happy to listen to lots of different genres of music, so something not being country that I like is fine.
@Jack, lol I wish I’d known that this summer, then I might’ve been able to convince people to go to his concert with me, but I just played them his latest album…and that didn’t work. They like rock.
seak05
December 7, 2016 @ 10:29 am
That being said, I’d be really happy if Brandy Clark won CAOTY, because as a country album, I do think it’s better than Sturgill’s
Sarah elliot
December 8, 2016 @ 1:57 pm
And then the women!
Andrew
December 6, 2016 @ 10:39 pm
He needs to play the show, and tour this year. I understand him missing his family, but this is a hugely important time in his career. I doubt he’ll win the Grammy, but the fact that he was nominated is just so huge, It’s going to introduce him to so many new fans.
SP14
December 6, 2016 @ 11:17 pm
Word is Isbell is heading back to the studio soon! Last year, he cleaned house in the Americana category. Would be great if he made it into the major categories, too!
PdxWolf
December 7, 2016 @ 10:15 pm
True, but I don’t think Isbell is even on the same planet as Sturgill when it comes to being able to write and perform at the level that Sturgill did on ASGTE.
SP14
December 7, 2016 @ 10:44 pm
I strongly disagree with that, PdxWolf. Sturgill has even admitted that he looks up to Isbell as a song writer. They have completely different writing styles. Isbell’s writing is more refined and has an amazing literary quality to it, while Sturgill’s writing to be a bit more raw. I’ve seen them both live numerous times, and both artists and their bands put on incredible shows. But, I will say that, while both are amazingly talented artists and I don’t see any real point to comparing the two, Isbell is an absolutely kick ass guitarist, in addition to his other qualities. I love both of them but, if I had to choose between the two, I’d go with Isbell.
Jack Williams
December 8, 2016 @ 7:21 am
I agree with every word of that comment.
Stringbuzz
December 8, 2016 @ 9:17 am
I agree with comment.. Just on personal taste, I go with Sturgill live. Lil Joe is a world class guitar player. I honestly will never forget the first time I seem him live. My freaking jaw dropped. That does not happen all that often
SP14
December 6, 2016 @ 11:18 pm
^This was meant to reply to a different comment.
Arlene
December 7, 2016 @ 5:21 am
“The Grammy’s actually award real musicians and artists.”
Umm. Does anyone remember Milli Vanilli?
ElectricOutcast
December 7, 2016 @ 7:16 am
Yeah and they had that Grammy revoked, the only one in history.
Better question: anybody remember Johnny Cash and how the CMA and ACM’s ignored his resurgence but the Grammy’s didn’t?
J_Light
December 7, 2016 @ 5:42 am
I gotta tell you guys. I was listening to my local talk radio station this morning, and one of the people on it also DJs on the local “country” station. They were talking about the Grammy nominations and the person from the country station says, “…and uhh Stur..gill Simpson? Never even heard of him.” Just figured you’d get a laugh out of that.
Colt
December 7, 2016 @ 6:56 am
Wonder how the CMAs feel. They invited Beyonce and not Sturgill to their show. They must feel kinda behind the curve and out of touch.
MH
December 7, 2016 @ 7:46 am
I don’t think the CMAs care, or even aware of themselves.
Trigger
December 7, 2016 @ 10:09 am
“They invited Beyonce and not Sturgill to their show.”
Good observation.
John Taylor
December 7, 2016 @ 10:19 am
When was the last time a country artist was nominated for album of the year?
Trigger
December 7, 2016 @ 10:22 am
Last year. Chris Stapleton’s “Traveller.” But it is fairly rare.
seak05
December 7, 2016 @ 11:27 am
“Red” was nominated in 2014 for both CAOTY and AOTY as well (and didn’t win either award, and is also not really country, but anyways). That’s 3/4 cycles you’ve had an album that was nominated for both CAOTY and AOTY, but not for several years before that.
scottinnj
December 7, 2016 @ 1:31 pm
The last three Dixie Chick Albums were all nominated (Fly 2000/Home2003 /Taking The Long Way 2007- won AOTY for the Long Way and CAOTY for all 3 – Wide Open Spaces was COATY in 1999 – it wasn’t nominated for AOTY though Shania Twain was nominated for AOTY) and Vince Gill in 2008 (lost AOTY but won CAOTY). The last 3 Taylor Swift records were also nominated.(she won AOTY and CAOTY for Fearless)
TheKillerRocksOn
December 7, 2016 @ 1:03 pm
Ol Killer’s two cents… I think Sturgill should show up and take a lighter to the envelope, Charlie Rich style..his legend would be cemented.
Whiskey_Pete
December 7, 2016 @ 1:26 pm
I was in my truck yesterday listening to AM radio on my lunch break when I heard of his nomination. I nearly choke of my carne asada burrito.
He should play.
The exposure is too great of an opportunity for him to miss. By performing in the Grammy’s he will further open the door for future and current country artists to stay true to the roots of country music and not deviate and fall into the Nashville pop trap. It will also reenergize the traditional country music movement by attracting new flocks of fans. This will further put pressure on large record companies to shift their tune from the soulless pop sound that has dominated the air waves back to heartfelt traditional country. It would be a big win for everyone here on this website and for country music in general. Talented artists like Sturgill have everything it takes to be a star, they just need that one golden opportunity to sky rocket them to stardom. They have the amazing talent but need the grand exposure since their not part of the Nashville machine. Sort of what happen to Chris Stapleton. Once he got his moment of fame in front of millions of viewers…well the rest is just history. His career just took off. Now he gets radio play, TV exposure, and is on the cover of popular magazines. I can definitely see the same thing happening to Sturgill Simpson.
The nomination is obviously a big shock to everyone. Lot of people now are asking who the hell is Sturgill Simpson? These nominations are going to lose their thunder if he doesn’t go up there and show the world why he is worthy of such recognition. Failure to deliver a strong performance is going to result of him fading back into the darkness of the underground scene.
Martha
December 7, 2016 @ 3:13 pm
Agree with you completely.
Stringbuzz
December 8, 2016 @ 9:22 am
Here’s the question. If he does play, what song does he play? It would I imagine have to be a cut off ASGTE.. Which one?
Keep in mind, he prolly will have a time limit. So Call to Arms ain’t gonna happen…
I also think, he would want to showcase his band a bit.. Get Lil Joe on guitar, not slide..
I’m thinking Between the Lines be a good choice.
Jack Williams
December 8, 2016 @ 9:25 am
Maybe Sea Stories? Great song and I think it’s the most country song on the album.
Deemo Outdoors
December 9, 2016 @ 9:20 am
This is definitely the choice to make in my opinion.
Stringbuzz
December 8, 2016 @ 9:51 am
lap steel I meant.