Billy Strings & Bluegrass Poised for a Big 2022 Grammy Awards

No, the Grammy Awards aren’t just all big pop stars parading out choreographed dance routines like you see during most of the televised presentation. Unlike country music’s big award shows like the CMAs and ACMs, The Grammys actually take the time to recognize artists in the bluegrass, Americana, folk, and blues realms, along with pulling from a more expanded list of nominees in the country categories, and recognizing actual artists in a host of genres that are deserving.

There are 86 total Grammy Awards categories, including the “American Roots” categories where you see names you’d otherwise never expect to see up for big awards with nominations and wins. Of course this all happens before the big broadcast on television during the Grammy’s “premier ceremony” streamed online. But hey, the recognition is still appreciated.

Billy Strings is already a Grammy award-winning artist, taking home Best Bluegrass Album in 2021 for Home. But the 2022 Grammy Awards may be where Billy Strings cements his place as the preeminent bluegrass performer of our era, and one that the rest of the world knows about. Along with being up for Best Bluegrass Album again for his latest album Renewal, he’s also up for Best American Roots Performance for “Love and Regret.”

But that’s not all. It’s very rare performers from the bluegrass realm get a performance slot on the main televised Grammy broadcast itself, but that’s exactly what Billy Strings is being bestowed in 2022, thanks to his swelling popularity and influence getting the attention of the Grammy organization, and the Grammy Awards going out of their way to feature genres that historically don’t make it onto the main broadcast this year.

And since Strings is performing, maybe there is a slightly better than normal chance he’ll be winning something? But he will face stiff competition, include from Sturgill Simpson for his bluegrass album Cuttin’ Grass Vol. 1, and Béla Fleck’s – My Bluegrass Heart, bolstered by great guest performances, including by Billy Strings. The Infamous Stringdusters and the “Queen of Bluegrass” Rhonda Vincent nominated in the Best Bluegrass Album category are no slouches either. Bluegrass is on the way up once again with Molly Tuttle also releasing her new album Crooked Tree this week, and the Grammy Awards are taking notice.

Sturgill Simpson also is in the unique position of being up for two Best Album categories at this year’s Grammys. Along with his bluegrass nomination, he’s also nominated for Best Country Album for The Ballad of Dood and Juanita. Sturgill Simpson knows a little something about the Grammy Awards too, winning the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Country Album for A Sailor’s Guide to Earth, which was also nominated right beside albums from Adele, Drake, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce for the all-genre Album of the Year.

Sturgill Simpson performed on the Grammy Awards in 2017 as well. Whether a performance slot was tenured to Sturg this year or not, due to vocal issues, he may not be able to take advantage of it even if it was.

Along with Billy Strings, also performing from the country/roots world will be Chris Stapleton, who is up for Best Country Album, Best Country Song, and Best Country Vocal Performance, Brothers Osborne who are up for Best Country Album, and Carrie Underwood, who is up for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, and Best Roots Gospel Album for My Savior.

To see all the country/roots nominees for the 2022 Grammy Awards to be held on Sunday, April 3rd, CLICK HERE, and check back with Saving Country Music on Sunday and follow on Twitter for full coverage of the 2022 Grammy Awards.

© 2023 Saving Country Music