A 57th Annual Grammy Awards Complete Preview
Make sure to join Saving Country Music for the Grammy Awards LIVE blog.
THE 57th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS
” When: 7 PM Central, 8 PM Eastern, 5 PM Pacific on CBS.
” Where: The Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA.
” Host: LL Cool J
” Pre-Telecast: Streaming at Grammy.com. Starts at 3 PM Eastern. Schedule of pre-telecast can be seen here.
EARLY WINNERS*
*NOTE: As early winners relevant to the country realm are announced, they will be added here.
”Hank Williams and “The Garden Spot Programs 1950” wins for Best Historical Album. The award went to Colin Escott (Hank’s biographer) & Cheryl Pawelski, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer.
”Carrie Underwood wins Best Country Solo Performance for “Something In The Water.”
”The Band Perry wins Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Gentle On My Mind.”
”Glen Campbell & Songwriters win the Best Country Song Grammy for “I’m Not Gonna Miss You.”
”The Earls of Leichester win the Best Bluegrass Album Grammy for the album “The Earls of Leichester”
”Rosanne Cash wins three Grammy’s. Best American Roots Performance, Best American Roots Song, and Best Americana Album.
”Sturgill Simpson is beat out by Rosanne Cash for Best Americana Album.
”Old Crow Medicine Show wins for Best Folk Album
THINGS TO WATCH FOR
” Not a lot of country this year. Despite the country genre rising to become arguably the biggest genre in popular music right now, there’s just not a whole lot of country to be featured on the show this year. Last year there were six country performances, including Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Kris Kristofferson all performing together with Blake Shelton. This year’s country performance slots are cut in half, with the only collaboration being between Brandy Clark and Dwight Yoakam. The Grammy’s usually tend to be a little more dignified to begin with, but it’s good to see there will be no Bro-Country performers or performances on the night.
”Brandy Clark could be a big story. Though she’s probably an outsider for all of her nominated awards, if she wins Best Country Album and Best New Artist, she could walk away being considered one of the biggest winners of the entire night. This would also anoint her as a new top tier female country performer. Simply being awarded a performance slot shows just how much the Grammy’s think of her, and may be a hint that she will win something.
”Taylor Swift is not performing. In a curious decision, the high flying Taylor Swift who’s positively dominated the charts recently will not perform. She will however hand out an award, and you can be sure the camera will find her for shots of awkward dancing and shock face.
”Sturgill Simpson & others in pre-telecast awards. For independent country, roots, and bluegrass fans, most of the drama will be over before the TV presentation begins. The Americana, bluegrass, and some of the country awards will be given away pre-presentation. We’ll keep folks updated to the winners here.
”No matter what, expect Miranda Lambert to have a big night. Because people love giving awards to Miranda.
THE COUNTRY PERFORMANCES
”Brandy Clark and Dwight Yoakam will be performing Brandy’s song “Hold My Hand.” It’s said the two “bonded” while touring together opening for Eric Church. It should be one of the highlights of the night.
”Eric Church will make his first ever Grammy Awards performance.
”Miranda Lambert will perform “Little Red Wagon.” Miranda says she’s ready to “rock out” after having performed ballads on the Grammys in previous years.
THE PRESENTERS
”Similar to the performances, 2015 is light on country presenters. Dierks Bentley and Keith Urban are the only announced presenters, while former country artist Taylor Swift will also present an award. Hunter Hayes is the host of the pre-telecast presentation.
”Other artist presenters include Dave Grohl, Stevie Wonder, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Hudson, Niki Minaj, Meghan Trainor, Nick Jonas, Pentatonix, Barry Gibb, Enrique Iglesias, Smokey Robinson, and Nile Rodgers.
”Actor and TV Personality presenters include James Corden, Josh Duhamel, Jamie Foxx, Anna Kendrick, Shia LaBeouf, Katharine McPhee, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gina Rodriguez, and Ryan Seacrest.
OTHER GRAMMY PERFORMERS
- AC/DC
- Beck and Chris Martin
- Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga
- Beyoncé
- Common and John Legend
- Ariana Grande
- Herbie Hancock, John Mayer, Questlove with Ed Sheeran
- Hozier and Annie Lennox
- Jessie J and Tom Jones
- Juanes
- Lang Lang
- Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani
- Jeff Lynne’s ELO
- Madonna
- Katy Perry
- Rihanna, Paul McCartney and Kanye West
- Sia
- Sam Smith and Mary J. Blige
- Usher
- Pharrell Williams
COUNTRY AWARD NOMINEES, PREDICTIONS, OBSERVATIONS
Best Country Album
It’s good to see Brandy Clark and Lee Ann Womack recognized here, but this feels very much like a race between Eric Church and Miranda. Lambert has been winning these Best Album awards left and right, but with the value Eric puts on them, you can be assured his label is lobbying hard for him to win.
- Dierks Bentley Riser
- Eric Church The Outsiders – Potential Winner
- Brandy Clark 12 Stories
- Miranda Lambert Platinum- Potential Winner
- Lee Ann Womack The Way I’m Livin’
Best Americana Album
Progressive bluegrass band Nickel Creek was put in this category because they’re more commercially-viable than most bluegrass, and Sturgill Simpson was put in this category because he’s less commercially-viable than most country. Great to see Sturgill nominated, but would have been better if he wasn’t relegated to Americana, which is how this feels. At least they didn’t screw up like last year when they didn’t nominate Jason Isbell at all. Rosanne Cash and Nickel Creek were the strong contenders when the nominations were announced. But now with Sturgill continuing to rise and with a major label behind him, it might be his to lose.
- Sturgill Simpson Metamodern Sounds of Country Music – Winner
- Rosanne Cash The River & The Thread – Other Potential Winner
- John Hiatt Terms of My Surrender
- Keb’ Mo’ Bluesamericana
- Nickel Creek A Dotted Line – Other Potential Winner
Best Country Song
Can you say “sympathy vote”? Miranda and Eric Church will also be strong contenders.
- Kenny Chesney “American Kids” (Rodney Clawson, Luke Laird, Shane McAnally)
- Miranda Lambert “Automatic” (Nicolle Galyon, Natalie Hemby, Miranda Lambert)
- Eric Church “Give Me Back My Hometown” (Eric Church, Luke Laird)
- Glen Campbell “I’m Not Gonna Miss You” (Glen Campbell, Julian Raymond) – Winner
- Tim McGraw featuring Faith Hill “Meanwhile, Back at Mama’s” (Tom Douglas, Jaren Johnston, Jeffrey Steele)
Best Country Solo Performance
If Keith Urban walks away with this, Sam Hunt gets a Grammy as the songwriter. Carrie Underwood deserves this, but who knows.
- Eric Church “Give Me Back My Hometown”
- Hunter Hayes “Invisible”
- Miranda Lambert “Automatic”
- Carrie Underwood “Something In The Water”
- Keith Urban “Cop Car”
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Dreck on parade. Even The Band Perry’s cover of Glen Campbell barely raises a pulse.
- The Band Perry “Gentle On My Mind
- Miranda Lambert with Carrie Underwood “Somethin’ Bad”
- Little Big Town “Day Drinking”
- Tim McGraw with Faith Hill “Meanwhile Back At Mama’s”
- Keith Urban with Eric Church “Raise ‘Em Up”
Best Bluegrass Album
- The Earls of Leichester The Earls of Leichester
- Noam Pikelny Noam Pikelny Plays Kenny Baker Plays Bill Monroe
- Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen Cold Spell
- Bryan Sutton Into My Own
- Rhonda Vincent Only Me
Best American Roots Performance
- Gregg Allman & Taj Mahal “Statesboro Blues”
- Rosanne Cash “A Feathers Not a Bird”
- Billy Childs with Alison Krauss & Jerry Douglas “And When I Die”
- Keb’ Mo’ “The Old Me Better”
- Nickel Creek “Destination”
Best American Roots Song
- Rosanne Cash “A Feathers Not a Bird”
- Jesse Winchester “Just So Much”
- Woody Guthrie & Del McCoury “The New York Trains”
- Edie Brickell & Steve Martin “Pretty Little One”
- John Hiatt “Terms of My Surrender”
Best Folk Album
- Mike Auldridge, Jerry Douglas, & Rob Ickes Three Bells
- Alice Gerrard Follow The Music
- Eliza Gilkyson The Nocturne Diaries
- Old Crow Medicine Show Remedy
- Jesse Winchester A Reasonable Amount of Trouble
Clint
February 8, 2015 @ 10:08 am
What a horrible title this article has.
As fake and overrated as Simpson is, it still annoys me that they call his tribute music “Americana”.
As horrible as he is, I can’t say he’s not Country.
jimmy row
February 8, 2015 @ 10:21 am
Harsh to say the least! Im done sucking Sturgill’s dick, but how is he fake?
Brad
February 8, 2015 @ 11:22 am
You are one silly dude Clint.
Clint
February 8, 2015 @ 12:24 pm
I agree with you, but how does that pertain to this article?
Brad
February 8, 2015 @ 6:34 pm
It just applies to you and all of your inane posts. Fork over the 20 bucks and go see Sturgill live and then come back and tell everyone just how wrong you have been. Until then just keep quiet,you are embarrassing yourself.
Clint
February 8, 2015 @ 6:59 pm
No, I’m not embarassed. Bitter, maybe, and frustrated, but I don’t have enough shame to get embarassed much. Actually, the only time I get embarassed is when I have to speak in front of a large group of people.
Why in the world, would trying to educate the young zombies on a website, embarass me? That doesn’t even make sense.
And for the record, Simpson’d have to pay me, to stand in a crowd full beer-guzzling, obnoxious A-holes, and endure his singing.
Rileyben81
February 8, 2015 @ 5:38 pm
Hey Sturgill…. Oh sorry “CLINT” send us a picture from the grammys……… BRO!!
Rileyben81
February 8, 2015 @ 5:44 pm
STURGILL WINS EAT A DICK CLINT!!
Clint
February 8, 2015 @ 5:51 pm
Way to go Ben. You’ll probably get at least 20 likes for that one, if enough people read it that is.
Rileyben81
February 8, 2015 @ 5:54 pm
Correction “IF”
Rileyben81
February 8, 2015 @ 6:01 pm
Oh Big Roseanne Cash Fan are ya… Or is she impersonating her Father’s success??
Sam Jimenez
February 8, 2015 @ 10:59 am
Great headline. 😀
Angela
February 8, 2015 @ 11:12 am
Sturgill deserves this award he has worked his ass off this last year to make a living in music. Seriously how many people can create a following as rapidly as he did? The first show I saw him play just over a year and a bit supporting Devil makes three and I had looked him up on YouTube and made sure we were early to catch him. After seeing him play we left two songs into DMT as we just couldn’t stop talking about Sturgill being the best thing to happen to country. Sturgill Simpson all the way to the top I say !
Rileyben81
February 8, 2015 @ 5:30 pm
The show in Bloomington Indiana?
Angela
February 8, 2015 @ 6:43 pm
Yep that’s the one 😠then he supported Dawes
Bob Chasseur
February 8, 2015 @ 11:36 am
Sturgill Simpson is the best thing to happen to Country, or any other category of music in a long, long time! Who cares about genre or sub-genre titles, all of the great artists (and that very much includes Sturgill and band!) paved their own path with little regard to conforming to anybody’s standards, or structure. We very much need somebody to lead the way away from the disgusting pop-puke pretty boy pose that “Country” music has somehow come to embody – and from where I’m sitting Sturgill Simpson is definitely the chosen one! I had the great pleasure of seeing Sturgill Simpson and his amazing band perform two days ago in Grand Rapids, Michigan in an epic concert that had a sold out crowd roaring from start to finish – It definitely ranks among the very best “Live” shows I have ever seen – and I went to my first concert in 1971!! I am as excited as I have ever been to watch the certain rise of this genuine and talented individual!! We love You Sturgill!!! Thanks for the treasures of your talents!!
Albert
February 8, 2015 @ 12:05 pm
” Not a lot of country this year. Despite the country genre rising to become arguably the biggest genre in popular music right now, there”™s just not a whole lot of country to be featured on the show this year. ”
Maybe THAT’S the strongest message the Grammys could send to the ” country music” industry , There’s not a lot of actual COUNTRY music “rising to become arguably the biggest genre ”
Hold My Hand is a songwriter’s song . A gem lyrically and emotionally …understated and beautifully under- produced, by contemporary radio standards . Go Brandy ( and Dwight ) Go .
Eric
February 8, 2015 @ 3:19 pm
Totally agree about “Hold My Hand”. Definitely one of my favorite songs of the last several years.
hoptowntiger94
February 8, 2015 @ 1:17 pm
I’m glad to see in the SCM news feed that Brandy Clark and Dwight Yoakam bonded during the Eric Church tour. Back in the day, I always heard Yoakam was a but of a dick especially to the female acts on the road. Remember Mary Chapin Carpenter’s performance of a song “Opening Act” at the CMA Awards in 1990? Supposedly that was about Dwight. She did turn around a few years later and portray Dwight in a much better light in “I Feel Lucky.”
Maybe age and marriage has humbled him a bit. Good to see.
Hawkeye
February 8, 2015 @ 2:19 pm
Sorry I know this is a country website but I gotta say holy crap AC/DCs performing? Seriously?
Eric
February 8, 2015 @ 3:21 pm
Somebody has to get the Baby Boomers stay tuned in, right? 😉
Hawkeye
February 8, 2015 @ 5:24 pm
Yeah I guess but I’m the only 13 year old I know who listens to them so”¦ðŸ˜‚ lol I love beenin 13
Truth No. 2
February 8, 2015 @ 3:21 pm
The Academy has a curious way of labeling music . How are Old Crow Medicine Show not country? Could it be that OCMS are too country for the country category?
Applejack
February 8, 2015 @ 6:47 pm
I’m glad to see Old Crow recognized for something, but the fact that they were nominated for”Best Folk Album” seems disingenuous to me. It was their most twangy work yet – perfectly suited to the Americana category, even though it’s arguably even a country album. I figure their label submitted the album under “Folk” because doing so gave them the best chance to win.
bamstrait
February 8, 2015 @ 5:25 pm
Miranda has already lost most of her awards and if there is any justice Lee Ann will will for country album.
Carrie
February 8, 2015 @ 5:29 pm
Carrie underwood won her 7th grammy.
WOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
So much talent from carrie, I am glad she won.
I feel bad for miranda, I hope she gets the award for best ALBUM.
Melissa
February 8, 2015 @ 6:00 pm
I don’t really care about the awards, but I’m pretty excited for all 3 of those country performances. Hope they’ll be up youtube later.
Applejack
February 8, 2015 @ 6:41 pm
I’m disappointed that Sturgill didn’t win, but not surprised – I figured Rosanne would take the trophy. The mass of Grammy voters often choose whatever is the the biggest, most recognizable name in a given category, especially when it comes to specialized genre categories that many of the voters aren’t familiar with. Rosanne Cash is a well-known, recognizable name, and she made a very “respectable” album, so it’s not surprising that she won this one. However, if the Grammys truly represented the zeitgeist of American music, Sturgill would not only be nominated for multiple country Grammy awards, he’d be performing on TV.
Congratulations to Earls of Leicester, Rosanne Cash, Old Crow, and all the other winners.
Truth no. 2
February 8, 2015 @ 7:38 pm
Who’s bright fucking idea was it to have Nick Jonas presenting a country award? Also, Brandy Clark and Lee Ann Womack could wipe the floor with Miranda Lambert, whose entire career seems to be built on an insatiable desire to kill Earl. The first version of that song was good enough. Come to think of it, she might be on to something. Wouldn’t we all be better off without Blake?