The 2018 Grammy Awards Complete Preview
Make sure to join Saving Country Music for the Grammy Awards LIVE blog during the presentation.
THE 60th ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS
• When: 6:30 PM Central, 7:30 PM Eastern, 4:30 PM Pacific on CBS.
• Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Host: James Corden
• Pre-Telecast: Streaming at Grammy.com. Starts at 3 p.m. Eastern.
EARLY WINNERS
• Best Country Song – “Broken Halos,” Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton, songwriters
• Best Country Solo Performance – “Either Way,” Chris Stapleton
• Best Country Duo/Group Performance – “Better Man,” Little Big Town (written by Taylor Swift)
• Best Americana Album – The Nashville Sound – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
• Best American Roots Song – “If We Were Vampires,” Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
• Best Roots Gospel Album – Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope – Reba MecEntire
• Best Bluegrass Album is a TIE: Laws Of Gravity – The Infamous Stringdusters AND All The Rage In Concert Volume One [Live] – Rhonda Vincent And The Rage
• Best Folk Album – Mental Illness – Aimee Mann
• Best American Roots Performance – “Killer Diller Blues,” Alabama Shakes
THINGS TO WATCH FOR
• It could be a big night for Chris Stapleton since he’s up for three awards: Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance, and Best Country Album. The first two will likely be given out in the pre-telecast event. Best Country Album is usually given out during the main telecast, but was moved to the pre-telecast last year when Sturgill Simpson won.
• Chris Stapleton and Emmylou Harris will perform together during the telecast. Emmylou Harris is being presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Country performers will deliver one of the marquee performances of the night—a tribute to victims of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting, the Manchester Arena bombing, and other victims of violence at music events. It will be performed by Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, and Maren Morris, all of whom performed at Route 91. Both Maren Morris and Eric Church released songs specifically after the tragedy, though these may not be performed. It is said to be a timeless classic the tribute will be centered around.
THE COUNTRY(ish) PERFORMANCES
• Chris Stapleton will perform with Country Music Hall of Famer Emmylou Harris, who is being awarded a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Eric Church, Brothers Osborne, and Maren Morris will perform a tribute to Route 91 Harvest Festival victims, and victims of other music-related tragedies like the Manchester Arena bombing. It is said to be a classic, universally-known song they will be performing.
• Little Big Town, who is up for numerous awards, will be performing.
• From the greater roots world, Gary Clark Jr. will perform with John Batiste in a tribute to Chuck Berry and Fats Domino.
OTHER GRAMMY PERFORMERS
- Alessia Cara, Khalid, and Logic
- Childish Gambino
- Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee with Zuleyka Rivera
- Elton John and Miley Cyrus
- Kesha
- Lady Gaga
- Kendrick Lamar
- Bruno Mars and Cardi B
- Rihanna, DJ Khaled and Bryson Tiller
- Pink
- Sam Smith
- Sting
- SZA
- U2
THE PRESENTERS
Announced presenters include Tony Bennett, Dave Chappelle, Kelly Clarkson, Victor Cruz, Eve, Jim Gaffigan, Katie Holmes, Nick Jonas, Anna Kendrick, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Shemar Moore, Trevor Noah, Sarah Silverman, Hailee Steinfeld and Donnie Wahlberg.
COUNTRY / AMERICANA / ROOTS / ALL GENRE NOMINEES
Best Country Song (A songwriter’s award):
“Better Man,” Taylor Swift, songwriter (Little Big Town)
“Body Like A Back Road,” Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Sam Hunt)
“Broken Halos,” Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton)
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne & Mark Wystrach, songwriters (Midland)
“Tin Man,” Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & Jon Randall, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
Best Country Solo Performance:
“Body Like A Back Road,” Sam Hunt
“Losing You,” Alison Krauss
“Tin Man,” Miranda Lambert
“I Could Use A Love Song,” Maren Morris
“Either Way,” Chris Stapleton
Best Country Album:
Cosmic Hallelujah — Kenny Chesney
Heart Break — Lady Antebellum
The Breaker — Little Big Town
Life Changes — Thomas Rhett
From A Room: Volume 1 — Chris Stapleton
Best Country Duo/Group Performance:
“It Ain’t My Fault,” Brothers Osborne
“My Old Man,” Zac Brown Band
“You Look good,” Lady Antebellum
“Better Man,” Little Big Town
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Midland
Best Americana Album:
Southern Blood — Gregg Allman
Shine On Rainy Day — Brent Cobb
Beast Epic — Iron & Wine
The Nashville Sound — Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
Brand New Day — The Mavericks
Best American Roots Performance:
“Killer Diller Blues,” Alabama Shakes
“Let My Mother Live,” Blind Boys Of Alabama
“Arkansas Farmboy,” Glen Campbell
“Steer Your Way,” Leonard Cohen
“I Never Cared For You,” Alison Krauss
Best American Roots Song:
“Cumberland Gap,” David Rawlings
“I Wish You Well,” The Mavericks
“If We Were Vampires,” Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
“It Ain’t Over Yet,” Rodney Crowell Featuring Rosanne Cash & John Paul White
“My Only True Friend,” Gregg Allman
Best Bluegrass Album
Fiddler’s Dream – Michael Cleveland
Laws Of Gravity – The Infamous Stringdusters
Original – Bobby Osborne
Universal Favorite – Noam Pikelny
All The Rage In Concert Volume One [Live] – Rhonda Vincent And The Rage
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm – Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm
Recorded Live In Lafayette – Sonny Landreth
TajMo – Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’
Got Soul – Robert Randolph & The Family Band
Live From The Fox Oakland – Tedeschi Trucks Band
Best Folk Album
Mental Illness – Aimee Mann
Semper Femina – Laura Marling
The Queen Of Hearts – Offa Rex
You Don’t Own Me Anymore – The Secret Sisters
The Laughing Apple – Yusuf / Cat Stevens
All Genre Awards:
Record Of The Year:
“Redbone” — Childish Gambino
“Despacito” — Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
“The Story Of O.J.” — JAY-Z
“HUMBLE.” — Kendrick Lamar
“24K Magic” — Bruno Mars
Album Of The Year:
“Awaken, My Love!” — Childish Gambino
4:44 — JAY-Z
DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar
Melodrama — Lorde
24K Magic — Bruno Mars
Song Of The Year:
“Despacito” — Ramón Ayala, Justin Bieber, Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi & Marty James Garton, songwriters (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber)
“4:44” — Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson, songwriters (JAY-Z)
“Issues” — Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Julia Michaels & Justin Drew Tranter, songwriters (Julia Michaels)
“1-800-273-8255” — Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury, Khalid Robinson, songwriters (Logic Featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid)
“That’s What I Like” — Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters (Bruno Mars)
Best New Artist:
Alessia Cara
Khalid
Lil Uzi Vert
Julia Michaels
SZA
Mark
January 28, 2018 @ 1:03 pm
“That’s What I Like” — Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters”
eight people to write one song?
Need some Trigger style snark for this.
OlaR
January 28, 2018 @ 1:28 pm
“Vacation” the not-so-big Thomas Rhett hit was written by 14 people.
Bob Loblaw
January 28, 2018 @ 1:29 pm
I may be wrong, but some of those songwriters may be factoring in samples?
In any event, I love that song and Bruno Mars. Please do not slander him 😉
OlaR
January 28, 2018 @ 2:04 pm
The sample was “Low Rider” (War).
Bob Loblaw
January 28, 2018 @ 2:08 pm
I was referring to “ That’s What I Like”, which according to Wikipedia, doesn’t have any samples. So it really did take 8 people to write it.
OlaR
January 28, 2018 @ 2:24 pm
Oops. Lol.
Marc
January 28, 2018 @ 2:34 pm
“Say Something” took 6 writers just to repeat “Say Something.”
Bob Loblaw
January 28, 2018 @ 1:28 pm
I know it’s a sensitive subject, but does it seem strange to anyone else how distant Jason Aldean has been from the tributes to the shooting victims? (Aside from his SNL appearance, which I very much liked)
I loved Carrie Underwood’s CMA performance and I’m sure this Grammy performance will be excellent and touching as well, but I’m just a little surprised that he has not taken a more prominent role in addressing the tragedy.
at
January 28, 2018 @ 2:58 pm
I’m thinking that he’ll probably take a more prominent role at the ACMs this April, since it’s in Vegas and he’s the reigning Entertainer of the Year. Who knows though. That’s a lot to go through emotionally.
albert
January 28, 2018 @ 2:02 pm
how terrible is brett young’s ‘ star spangled banner’ performance at the NHL all star game in tampa ?
someone forgot to bring mr autotune .
OlaR
January 28, 2018 @ 2:21 pm
Saw the Golden Guitar Award show yesterday. Always a highlight of the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
The McClymonts (3 awards), Travis Collins & Amber Lawrence (3 awards) went home with the most Guitars. Lee Kernaghan won his 37th Golden Guitar, Kasey Chambers her 26th + she is the winner of the “Roll of Renown”. The highest honour of australian country music.
Clint
January 28, 2018 @ 2:31 pm
Will see the highlights, not enough there to watch live.
Nate
January 28, 2018 @ 2:51 pm
Reba just won the Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album with ‘Sing It now: Songs Of Faith & Hope’
Gabe
January 28, 2018 @ 3:11 pm
Jason Isbell just won the two awards he’s nominated for
Gabe
January 28, 2018 @ 3:12 pm
Rhonda Vincent also won best bluegrass (after 6 noms) in a tie with The Infamous Springdusters
Big Red
January 28, 2018 @ 6:52 pm
The Stringdusters album is quite good.
Someguy
January 28, 2018 @ 3:19 pm
Hey! Brent Cobb got nominated for a fucking Grammy!! When I told him I loved his album at a show last year he seemed almost surprised that I’d heard it. Would love to see him get the win.
Gina
January 28, 2018 @ 3:47 pm
I was excited to see Brent nominated. I was pulling for Gregg to win best Americana but it’s all good.
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 4:21 pm
I thought if anyone was going to take Isbell down, it would be a sympathy vote for Gregg.
Jack Williams
January 28, 2018 @ 4:27 pm
Exactly. I listened to it today and I think it’s a real nice album, but Isbell deserved to win.
Gina
January 28, 2018 @ 3:49 pm
And Chris just won for solo performance! Yay.
Gabe
January 28, 2018 @ 3:53 pm
Hopefully Chris Stapleton goes 3/3… muisc row remain pressed!
Gabe
January 28, 2018 @ 3:53 pm
oops! music
GrantH
January 28, 2018 @ 4:05 pm
What’s the difference between the “record of the year” and “song of the year” awards?
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 4:19 pm
I believe it is supposed to be that Record is more for commercial performance and appeal, where Song of the Year is for something of deeper impact or critical acclaim. It’s similar in country with the difference between Single of the Year and Song of the Year. Unfortunately though, these two distinctions just get run together.
Josh Killian
January 28, 2018 @ 4:32 pm
Song of the Year awards the best written song, given to the writer of the song, while Record of the Year awards the best performance and production of a song, given to the artist and producers of the record.
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 4:24 pm
This has been updated with all the roots winners from the pre-telecast. LIVE blog starts at 7:00 pm Central.
Trigger
January 28, 2018 @ 5:26 pm
Also, apparently the Grammys are starting at 6:30 Central, NOT 7:00 pm.
Erik North
January 28, 2018 @ 8:52 pm
Not that it matters, but among the recordings being put into the Grammy Hall of Fame:
“That’s Alright”–Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (1949): Highly influential blues song that Elvis would bring to people’s attention at the dawn of the rock and roll era in 1954.
AT FOLSOM PRISON–Johnny Cash (1968): The Man In Black’s landmark live album, done in front of a “captive audience”, pardon the predictable pun.
HEART LIKE A WHEEL–Linda Ronstadt 1974): Linda’s landmark 1974 country-rock album, which established her as without question one of the most influential female singers in any musical genre ever (country music included).