With the GRAMMY awards only days away, I figured it was time for me to sit down and make my predictions for who I think will walk away with a coveted golden Grammy. Here are my predictions for the country categories at this year’s awards show…here we go!!
Best Country Album
Zac Brown Band, The Foundation
George Strait, Twang
Taylor Swift, Fearless
Keith Urban, Defying Gravity
Lee Ann Womack, Call Me Crazy
Seeing as it’s nominated in the all genre category, I’m picking pop princess Taylor Swift to take home the award. The album has also been a massive success at retail outlets and I don’t see any of the other 4 nominees taking her down. However, I would prefer to see Urban or Womack take the award, though it’s highly unlikely.
Best Female Country Vocal Performance
Miranda Lambert, “Dead Flowers”
Martina McBride, “I Just Call You Mine”
Taylor Swift, “White Horse”
Carrie Underwood, “Just a Dream”
Lee Ann Womack, “Solitary Thinking”
This category is a two horse race between country divas Carrie Underwood and Taylor Swift. Both songs performed very well at country radio, with Underwood scoring a number 1. Considering the award is supposed to go to the best vocal performance, I would pick Underwood’s “Just a Dream.” However, Taylor has had a phenominal year and has scored 8 nominations at this year’s ceremony so the recording academy could pick her. I’m going with my gut and I’m going to pick Grammy darling, Carrie Underwood to edge out Swift.
Best Male Country Vocal Performance
Trace Adkins, “All I Ask For Anymore”
Billy Currington, “People Are Crazy”
Jamey Johnson, “High Cost of Living”
George Strait, “Living For the Night”
Keith Urban, “Sweet Thing”
This category is filled with 3 songs that had chart success while the other 2 have been critically acclaimed. This is a tough category because there are no standouts or frontrunners. If I can pick two people to choose between, they’d be Urban’s “Sweet Thing” and Strait’s “Living for the Night.” Urban has won in this category before while Strait has had plenty of nominations but hasn’t won in this category. I’m looking towards Urban to get the win based on the fact that his song was probably heard the most out of the 5.
Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals
Brooks And Dunn, “Cowgirls Don’t Cry”
Zac Brown Band, “Chicken Fried”
Lady Antebellum, “I Run to You”
Rascal Flatts, “Here Comes Goodbye”
Sugarland, “It Happens”
This category is filled with songs that have had massive success on the charts, a rarity for the academy to have. But, it comes down to 3 songs and those are Lady A’s “I Run to You,” Zac Brown Band’s “Chicken Fried,” and Sugarland’s “It Happens.” Seeing as it was named the CMA Single of the Year, I think Lady Antebellum has enough momentum to claim their first Grammy award for the smash number 1 hit. But, don’t count out Sugarland since they too have had some momentum coming in and they won this award last year with their smash “Stay.” But I give the edge to Lady A.
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals
Dierks Bentley & Patty Griffin, “Beautiful World”
Kenny Chesney & Mac McAnally, “Down the Road”
Brad Paisley & Keith Urban, “Start a Band”
Carrie Underwood & Randy Travis, “I Told You So”
Lee Ann Womack & George Strait, “Everything But Quits”
This category has 5 nominees but only 2 have a chance of walking away with a statue. Mega-stars Brad Paisley and Keith Urban collaborated on one of the year’s biggest hits and bring big name recognition to the category. On the other hand, Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis bring the best song and vocals to the category. Seeing as the Grammy’s usually lean towards traditional country, I think Underwood and Travis could walk away with it.
Best Country Song
Trace Adkins, “All I Ask For Anymore”
Jamey Johnson, “High Cost of Living”
Lady Antebellum, “I Run to You”
Billy Currington, “People Are Crazy”
Taylor Swift, “White Horse”
This award is yet another two horse race. I think it comes down to Lady Antebellum and Taylor Swift’s songs. Overall, I think Lady A’s “I Run to You” is the better song and had more success in the past year than Swift’s “White Horse.” However, with Taylor having 8 nominations, I think the Grammy’s could just give it to Swift. I’d prefer to see Lady A win but I’m not going to be suprised if Swift wins.
All Things Country 