Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell, Brandy Clark Early 2024 Grammy Winners
See a full list of winners below.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit are once again Grammy winners. So are Grammy favorites Brandi Carlile and Brandy Clark. Chris Stapleton is the king of the country categories so far. And Allison Russel is finally a Grammy Award winner after years of being overlooked. So is Zach Bryan, and Lainey Wilson.
These are the results of the Grammy Premier Ceremony, held Sunday afternoon (2-4) ahead of the televised Grammy presentation later Sunday night.
Chris Stapleton won for both Best Country Song, and Best Country Solo Performance for his propulsive song “White Horse.” Saving Country Music concluded about the track, “It might be the greatest specimen of Chris Stapleton music ever released. An open heart will feel this track raise the pulse and lift the spirit, with an elevated amount of composition and layering making it stand out from the rest of Stapleton’s catalog, driven home by a Southern rock attitude.”
Though Stapleton tends to be a favorite of awards, it’s hard to argue with the pick. However, these wins lock out Tyler Childers who was competing in both categories with “In Your Love.” The Childers video for “In Your Love” also lost to a Beatles video for Best Music Video early in the ceremony. Stapleton’s wins also mean “Fast Car” performed by Luke Combs will not win a Grammy, despite Tracy Chapman agreeing to perform the song with Combs on the Grammy primetime telecast.
Stapleton was not in attendance to receive the awards, but co-writer did accept for Best Country Song.
In the Americana categories, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit won both for Best Americana Album via Weathervanes, as well as Best American Roots Song for “Cast Iron Skillet.” Isbell was in attendance, as was The 400 Unit to accept the award. “I want to thank these guys for getting in the band with me, and never getting out,” Isbell said before The Grammys promptly shut down his acceptance speech.
Bassist Jimbo Hart who performed on both the album and the song, but recently left the band was there, and Isbell gave him a special shoutout.
Producing the album himself, Weathervanes not only saw a return to top form for Jason Isbell’s songwriting, it also saw a well-needed freshening of the approach to how those songs are rendered in recorded form after working with Dave Cobb for many years. Many considered “Cast Iron Skillet” the premier example of Isbell’s songwriting from the album. Saving Country Music Song of the Year “King of Oklahoma” was also up for Best Americana Performance, but lost out to Brandy Clark.
Allison Russell walking away with Best American Roots Performance for “Eve Was Black” feels like some validation after she was locked out last year from the Grammys, despite going in as a favorite. “It’s for everybody, and I thank y’all,” Russell said in acceptance.
Brandy Clark’s song “Dear Insecurity” featuring Brandi Carlile won for Best Americana Performance. Both women ended up taking the podium. Clark had previously performed the song during the premier ceremony with Sistastrings. Clark was also up for Best Musical Theater Album for her stage production Shucked, but it lost out to Some Like It Hot.
Later in the Premier Ceremony, Zach Bryan walked away with the Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Performance with Kacey Musgraves for “I Remember Everything.” The song rocketed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 after Zach released the song as part of his self-titled 2023 album. The song currently sits at #26 on country radio. It also gave Musgraves her only country and Hot 100 Top 10 and #1 hit.
Neither Zach Bryan nor Kacey Musgraves were there to accept the award. Bryan is also up for Best Country Album with Tyler Childers, Lainey Wilson, Brothers Osborne, and Kelsea Ballerini later in the evening.
Best Folk Album ended up going to Joni Mitchell for Joni Mitchell Live at Newport. Brandi Carlile helped Mitchell out on stage to accept the award with the audience all coming to their feet and applauding the music legend.
The 79th of the 80 awards handed out during the Premier Ceremony went to Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway for their album City of Gold. Tuttle was joined by Golden Highway member and solo performer Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. As Tuttle said during her acceptance speech, pretty much everyone in the category are friends, so it’s like they were all winners. Tuttle was one of the presenters during the Premier Ceremony as well.
Last but not least, Best Country Album was announced during the primetime broadcast, with Lainey Wilson walking away with the award for Bell Bottom Country. It’s Lainey Wilson’s first Grammy win. With her Grammy win for Best Country Album, Lainey and Bell Bottom Country make it into an exclusive class of trifecta winners that took home The CMA, ACM, and Grammy Award for Country Album of the Year.
Stay tuned with Saving Country Music as the 2024 Grammy Awards continue.
Winners
Best Country Album
Rolling Up the Welcome Mat — Kelsea Ballerini
Brothers Osborne — Brothers Osborne
Zach Bryan — Zach Bryan
Rustin’ In The Rain — Tyler Childers
Bell Bottom Country — Lainey Wilson – WINNER
Best Country Song
“Buried” – Brandy Clark & Jessie Jo Dillon, songwriters (Brandy Clark)
“I Remember Everything” – Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters (Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves)
“In Your Love” – Tyler Childers & Geno Seale, songwriters (Tyler Childers)
“Last Night” – John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindlin & Ryan Vojtesak, songwriters (Morgan Wallen)
“White Horse” – Chris Stapleton & Dan Wilson, songwriters (Chris Stapleton) – WINNER
Best Country Solo Performance
“In Your Love” – Tyler Childers
“Buried” – Brandy Clark
“Fast Car” – Luke Combs
“The Last Thing On My Mind” – Dolly Parton
“White Horse” – Chris Stapleton – WINNER
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“High Note” – Dierks Bentley Featuring Billy Strings
“Nobody’s Nobody” – Brothers Osborne
“I Remember Everything” – Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves – WINNER
“Kissing Your Picture (Is So Cold)” – Vince Gill & Paul Franklin
“Save Me” – Jelly Roll With Lainey Wilson
“We Don’t Fight Anymore” – Carly Pearce Featuring Chris Stapleton
Best Americana Album
Brandy Clark — Brandy Clark
The Chicago Sessions — Rodney Crowell
You’re the One — Rhiannon Giddens
Weathervanes — Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – WINNER
The Returner — Allison Russell
Best Americana Performance
“Friendship” – The Blind Boys Of Alabama
“Help Me Make It Through The Night” – Tyler Childers
“Dear Insecurity” – Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile – WINNER
“King Of Oklahoma” – Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
“The Returner” – Allison Russell
Best American Roots Song
“Blank Page” – Michael Trotter Jr. & Tanya Trotter, songwriters (The War And Treaty)
“California Sober” – Aaron Allen, William Apostol & Jon Weisberger, songwriters (Billy Strings Featuring Willie Nelson)
“Cast Iron Skillet” – Jason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit) – WINNER
“Dear Insecurity” – Brandy Clark & Michael Pollack, songwriters (Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile)
“The Returner” – Drew Lindsay, JT Nero & Allison Russell, songwriters (Allison Russell)
Best American Roots Performance
“Butterfly” – Jon Batiste
“Heaven Help Us All” – The Blind Boys Of Alabama
“Inventing The Wheel” – Madison Cunningham
“You Louisiana Man” – Rhiannon Giddens
“Eve Was Black” – Allison Russell – WINNER
Best Bluegrass Album
Radio John: Songs of John Hartford – Sam Bush
Lovin’ Of The Game – Michael Cleveland
Mighty Poplar – Mighty Poplar
Bluegrass – Willie Nelson
Me/And/Dad – Billy Strings
City Of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway – WINNER
Best Folk Album
Traveling Wildfire – Dom Flemons
I Only See The Moon – The Milk Carton Kids
Joni Mitchell At Newport [Live] – Joni Mitchell – WINNER
Celebrants – Nickel Creek
Jubilee – Old Crow Medicine Show
Seven Psalms – Paul Simon
Folkocracy – Rufus Wainwright
Best Traditional Blues Album
Ridin’ – Eric Bibb
The Soul Side Of Sipp – Mr. Sipp
Life Don’t Miss Nobody – Tracy Nelson
Teardrops For Magic Slim Live At Rosa’s Lounge – John Primer
All My Love For You – Bobby Rush – WINNER
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Death Wish Blues – Samantha Fish And Jesse Dayton
Healing Time – Ruthie Foster
Live In London – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Blood Harmony – Larkin Poe – WINNER
LaVette! – Bettye LaVette
Best Roots Gospel Album
Tribute To The King – The Blackwood Brothers Quartet
Echoes Of The South – Blind Boys Of Alabama – WINNER
Songs That Pulled Me Through The Tough Times – Becky Isaacs Bowman
Meet Me At The Cross – Brian Free & Assurance
Shine: The Darker The Night The Brighter The Light – Gaither Vocal Band
Best Music Video
“I’m Only Sleeping” – The Beatles – WINNER
“In Your Love” – Tyler Childers
“What Was I Made For” – Billie Eilish
“Count On Me” – Kendrick Lamar
“Rush” – Troy Sivan
Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical
Edgar Barrera
Jessie Jo Dillon
Shane McAnally
Theron Thomas – WINNER
Justin Tranter
Best Musical Theater Album
––Kimberly Akimbo – John Clancy, David Stone & Jeanine Tesori, producers; Jeanine Tesori, composer; David Lindsay-Abaire, lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)
—Parade – Micaela Diamond, Alex Joseph Grayson, Jake Pedersen & Ben Platt, principal vocalists; Jason Robert Brown & Jeffrey Lesser, producers; Jason Robert Brown, composer & lyricist (2023 Broadway Cast)
—Shucked – Brandy Clark, Jason Howland, Shane McAnally & Billy Jay Stein, producers; Brandy Clark & Shane McAnally, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)
—Some Like It Hot – Christian Borle, J. Harrison Ghee, Adrianna Hicks & NaTasha Yvette Williams, principal vocalists; Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Bryan Carter, Scott M. Riesett, Charlie Rosen & Marc Shaiman, producers; Scott Wittman, lyricist; Marc Shaiman, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast) – WINNER
—Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street – Annaleigh Ashford & Josh Groban, principal vocalists; Thomas Kail & Alex Lacamoire, producers (Stephen Sondheim, composer & lyricist) (2023 Broadway Cast)
February 4, 2024 @ 3:34 pm
It was great to see Tyler Childers among the list of nominees, but unfortunately, he’s not part of the winners, till the moment, despite the quality of “In Your Love” (song and video) and his impressive cover of “Help Me Make It Through The Night”. Let’s see if “Rustin’ In The Rain” is awarded as best country album. Jason Isbell won very deserved awards, but I think that there’s no surprise about that. Good for him.
February 4, 2024 @ 3:58 pm
Usually there is only one award from the country categories that gets handed out during the Primetime broadcast, and usually it’s the one with a big-named winner or someone who is performing. Looking at the nominees, I’m a little curious who that could be. None of the nominees have been announced as performers.
Pretty big to see bluegrass moved to the broadcast, unless I’m missing something here in the schedule for the Premier Ceremony.
February 4, 2024 @ 4:11 pm
Check that. Best Bluegrass Album is being announced during the Premier Ceremony, not on the main broadcast. It’s going to be one of the very last awards given out before they cut to TV.
February 4, 2024 @ 4:15 pm
In an podcast after the nominations were announced, I believe Billy Strings hinted that he’d be performing “California Sober” with Willie Nelson at the award show.
I haven’t seen it reported anywhere and why would they keep that a secret?
But that would take care of two nominees performing before the Bluegrass award would be announced on TV.
February 4, 2024 @ 4:35 pm
Yeah, I was wrong about Bluegrass being on the broadcast. It’s at the very, very bottom of the run of show for the premier show, and not with any other country/roots categories. It’s the next to last award being given out for some reason that may reveal itself once it’s announced.
I do remember word about them performing on the Grammys, but I haven’t seen anything confirmed.
February 4, 2024 @ 4:48 pm
Billy and Chris Thile did three songs together on CBS yesterday morning. Not sure if it was live or prerecorded. The two were definitely in New York Friday night playing a show. Of course, he could still easily make it to L.A. for the awards.
As a side note, that seemed like a hell of a show from the clips I’ve found on YouTube. I always respect Thile’s talent and his passion for branching out, but I’m not always a huge fan of the end result. But Billy seemed to bring out the best in him. Hopefully it’s not the last we see of that pairing.
February 4, 2024 @ 5:30 pm
Billy Strings is at the Grammy’s with his parents. He posted pictures on social media.
February 4, 2024 @ 3:47 pm
I’m really glad for Brandy Clark. Her album was one of my favorites last year. “Dear Insecurity” is a beautiful song, “She Smoked in the House” is even better.
February 4, 2024 @ 3:55 pm
That list of nominations for best country album says it all.
February 4, 2024 @ 7:12 pm
The real winner here is OPRAH and TRAVIS KELCE.
and THE HOLLYWOOD ELITES
and PRESIDENT BIDEN
February 4, 2024 @ 7:21 pm
L A I N E Y !!!
February 4, 2024 @ 9:38 pm
COUNTRY IS COOL AGAIN. CONGRATULATIONS, MISS WILSON!!!
February 5, 2024 @ 12:56 am
The guy who won for Best Rap peformance was hauled out in handcuffs. I’m shocked. His name is Killer Mike. Not that that’s any reason to cast asparagus on him (as Louie Gohmert might say).
February 5, 2024 @ 2:53 am
I agree that it is quite unusual to see this kind of thing at an awards show. Unless of course you’re being sarcastic and actually making a stupid and offensive comment about rappers and/or African American men.
February 5, 2024 @ 4:41 am
He got lots of bling last night.
February 5, 2024 @ 8:33 am
We have no clue what happened with Killer Mike at this point, but Killer Mike is probably one of the most thoughtful and community-oriented people within the rap space. As we saw with Chris Young and Darius Rucker, we should probably reserve judgement until more is known.
February 5, 2024 @ 11:47 am
Thank you for saying this. Killer Mike is awesome.
I look forward to hearing what happened.
February 5, 2024 @ 12:00 pm
Is there a back story as to why this thoughtful community-oriented person self-identifies as “Killer”? Was the name bestowed by others with irony or a joke involved–(Like the biggest, strongest guy being called “Little John”)? Or is it descriptive of his persona–Did he choose the name to intimidate people?
February 5, 2024 @ 1:50 pm
Are you this literal with Jerry Lee Lewis, too?
February 5, 2024 @ 2:28 pm
You think you’re vouching for Michael Render by likening him to Jerry Lee Lewis? Interesting.
February 5, 2024 @ 5:47 am
Nice to see Larkin Poe take one home. Real talent, real music on real instruments, and singing actual harmony without autotune. And they appreciate and build on the foundation and the history of American roots music.
I saw them 20 ears ago at the Signal Mtn Opry with their sister Jessica–it was their first show as The Lovell Sisters. They were playing Bluegrass/Old Time stuff. That night I told my friends we’d hear from them again–glad to say I called that one right.
February 5, 2024 @ 9:29 am
That album is great, my second most listened to of the year.
Maybe a post Grammy review is in order!
February 5, 2024 @ 9:27 am
The Grammys are a joke, a relic of the past, as are all award shows.
February 5, 2024 @ 4:36 pm
Is that you, Mr. Vedder?
February 5, 2024 @ 3:24 pm
Trigger, I wish you would’ve named Dan Wilson as co-writer and not just co-writer for accepting the award for Best Country Song. It was his night too as co-writer. A small oversight I am sure, but please give credit where is due.
February 5, 2024 @ 3:37 pm
I didn’t know there was a difference between being the co-writer, and being the co-writer who accepted the award, but i guess I could have worded that better. What I meant to communicate was that Chris Stapleton was not there in person.
On a similar note, I thought it was kind of lame that Zach Bryan and Kacey Musgraves were both there, but neither chose to be at the premier ceremony to accept Best Country Duo/Group. It’s a small thing, but a good gesture.
February 5, 2024 @ 6:46 pm
Trigger, I understand that, but I thought you sort of dismissed Dan Wilson as co-writer of the Best Country Song. I know Chris Stapleton is a very recognizable name and was absent from the ceremony, but Dan Wilson was not absent. Maybe I’m over reacting to this, but in my past posts (which are very few) I’ve always said I love songwriters. Their written words make the stars who they are, although Chris Stapleton is a great songwriter, I believe Dan Wilson needs more respect than he was given. Best Country Song is a huge Grammy deal!
Let’s send some love out to
DAN WILSON!!!!
February 5, 2024 @ 10:03 pm
Dan has written some MASSIVE hit songs…starting with “Closing Time” by his band Semisonic. Great writer, great singer, with songs cut by artist from a variety of genres