Leading up to the Grammy nominations on Nov. 7, Rolling Stone is breaking down 10 different categories. For each, we’re predicting the nominees, as well as who will (and who should) win on Grammy night.
For the first time in Grammy history, country albums will be separated into two categories: Contemporary and Traditional. The change comes just a year after Beyoncé’s country music foray with Cowboy Carter earned her a nod (and win!) last year — and at a time when Nashville seems to be opening its doors to new crossovers.
“The table just keeps getting bigger, and it’s really exciting for the genre for there to be more space,” says Claire Heinichen, a Senior Editor for Country at Spotify. “I feel stars of the magnitude of Beyoncé and Post Malone coming in really was that moment for a lot of people to realize how big this genre has gotten.”
Contemporary Country Album – Our Predictions
BigXThaPlug, I Hope You’re Happy
Kelsea Ballerini, Patterns
Tyler Childers, Snipe Hunter
Riley Green, Don’t Mind If I Do (Deluxe)
Jelly Roll, Beautifully Broken
Who Will Win?
Jelly Roll, Beautifully Broken
In the last few years, Jelly Roll has connected with audiences far beyond country, thanks to his preacher-meets-artist persona — and Beautifully Broken feels like a pep-talk extension of that brand. “His superpower is how he connects with people,” says Heinichen. “He’s managed to make a mark across generations, which makes him an obvious winner to me. The Grammy voting body already knows his name and has been exposed to his music in a meaningful way.”
Who Should Win?
BigXThaPlug, I Hope You’re Happy
BigXThaPlug found a way to bring all of country music onto his excellent album — a quintessential example of what the new contemporary designation represents. “It truly shows the genre moving forward,” says Heinichen. “Country music loves to talk about being open to collaboration, but that usually just means with pop. BigX came in to show that it can be pop, but it can also be rap. Now that we have proof of concept, it can be anything.”
Forecasting the Field
The Grammys’ decision to split “contemporary” and “traditional” country into two categories may not have been a direct reaction to Beyoncé and Post Malone stepping into the genre’s insulated world, but Heinichen sees Bey’s win as a “wake-up call that the genre deserved more than just one spot.”
Kelsea Ballerini carried on her legacy of blending pop and country while staying true to the storytelling roots of Nashville on Patterns. “It’s fun, shiny, and emotional,” says Heinichen. “She embodies what it means to blend genres while staying authentic as a country storyteller but still resonating with a pop fan.”
Tyler Childers’ Snipe Hunter brought fans back to his Purgatory-era grit, pairing biting songwriting with a more expansive sound. Records like Parker McCollum’s self-titled LP, Tucker Wetmore’s What Not To, and Riley Green’s Don’t Mind If I Do could end up as wildcards in the category, despite being overlooked by the Recording Academy in the past. “Riley’s been on a rocket ship of great songs, and the album was full of sleeper hits. He’s one who would totally make sense,” Heinichen adds. “And Tucker showed a lot of emotional depth. He’s the next generation of arena-filling artists.”
