2026 GRAMMYs – Who Will, Who Should
“Music’s Biggest Night” is upon us. Well, if you’re reading Americana Highways, it’s more like “Music’s Biggest Early Afternoon.” The “GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony” will stream this Sunday (February 1) at 3:30pm EST (links below). It’s where the bulk of the awards are given out, including the ones we’re most interested in. Unlike most years, though, there are some compelling reasons to pay attention to the mainstream country awards (thanks primarily to Tyler Childers and Margo Price), so we’ll include all of the country-leaning categories in our preview. Below, we’ll look at who WILL (W) win (given voters’ historic tendency to go with older, more easily recognizable acts), and who SHOULD (S) win, from the opinion of one (non-voting) writer who actually puts in the work.
Best Country Solo Performance
“Nose On The Grindstone” – Tyler Childers – S
“Good News” – Shaboozey
“Bad As I Used To Be” – Chris Stapleton
“I Never Lie” – Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson – W
Will: Lainey Wilson – This song is indisputably, aggressively bad. Attribute to this pick to name recognition and voters who thought she kicked ass on Yellowstone.
Should: Tyler Childers – This never-before officially released fan favorite was the best thing about Snipe Hunter.
Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“A Song To Sing” – Miranda Lambert And Chris Stapleton
“Trailblazer” – Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
“Love Me Like You Used To Do” – Margo Price & Tyler Childers – S
“Amen” – Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
“Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame” – George Strait, Chris Stapleton – W
Will: George Strait and Chris Stapleton – A longtime favorite and a credible contemporary star equal GRAMMY catnip.
Should: Margo Price and Tyler Childers – This throwback to old-school country duets from Price’s also-nominated Hard Headed Woman, featuring two of Americana’s biggest stars, was one of the highlights of last year.
Best Country Song
“Bitin’ List” – Tyler Childers, songwriter (Tyler Childers)
“Good News” – Sean Cook, Collins Obinna Chibueze, Michael Ross Pollack, Sam Elliot Roman, Nevin Sastry & Jacob Torrey, songwriters (Shaboozey)
“I Never Lie” – Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols & Zach Top, songwriters (Zach Top) – S
“Somewhere Over Laredo” – Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson & Lainey Wilson, songwriters (Lainey Wilson)
“A Song To Sing” – Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Miranda Lambert And Chris Stapleton) – W
Will: “A Song to Sing” – Two respected stars make for a comfortable pick, although going with “Good News” and its six(!) songwriters would, unfortunately, not be a shock.
Should: “I Never Lie” – Zach Top put out a damn good, old-school country record last year. It deserves some recognition.
Best Traditional Country Album
Dollar A Day – Charley Crockett – W
American Romance – Lukas Nelson
Oh What A Beautiful World – Willie Nelson
Hard Headed Woman – Margo Price – S
Ain’t In It For My Health – Zach Top
Will: Charley Crockett – We’ve known about Crockett for nearly a decade, but 2025 seemed to be the year that the prolific star seemed to gain the most (well-deserved) mainstream traction.
Should: Margo Price – Like Crockett, Price seemed to hit another level of recognition this year. Both are worthy of winning – I just happen to like this record a little better.
Best Contemporary Country Album
Patterns – Kelsea Ballerini
Snipe Hunter – Tyler Childers – W/S
Evangeline Vs. The Machine – Eric Church
Beautifully Broken – Jelly Roll
Postcards From Texas – Miranda Lambert
Will/Should: Tyler Childers – I didn’t find this album nearly as revolutionary as others did, but out of a rather…odd collection of artists, his was the best. Besides, who doesn’t want to see Mr. Childers take the stage on Sunday only to say, “Contemporary ain’t no part of nothin’.”
Best American Roots Performance
“LONELY AVENUE” – Jon Batiste Featuring Randy Newman
“Ancient Light” – I’m With Her
“Crimson And Clay” – Jason Isbell
“Richmond On The James” – Alison Krauss & Union Station – W
“Beautiful Strangers” -Mavis Staples – S
Will: Alison Krauss & Union Station – Krauss’s voice and her group of consummate musicians certainly are worthy of awards every time they release an album. The only reason I didn’t pick it as a “Should…”
Should: Mavis Staples – One of America’s all-time best singers lending her pipes to a Kevin Morby song in an attempt to uplift a battered-down nation? C’mon, now.
Best Americana Performance
“Boom” – Sierra Hull
“Poison In My Well” – Maggie Rose & Grace Potter
“Godspeed” – Mavis Staples – S
“That’s Gonna Leave A Mark” – Molly Tuttle – W
“Horses” – Jesse Welles
Will: Molly Tuttle – This would be classic GRAMMYs; after winning consecutive awards for Best Bluegrass album, voters won’t recognize that the ace guitar player swung decidedly pop on her latest record (nothing wrong with that – it just doesn’t fit this particular category).
Should: Mavis Staples – Mavis singing Frank Ocean. Again – c’mon, now.
Best American Roots Song
“Ancient Light” – Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I’m With Her) – W/S
“BIG MONEY” – Jon Batiste, Mike Elizondo & Steve McEwan, songwriters (Jon Batiste)
“Foxes In The Snow” – Jason Isbell, songwriter (Jason Isbell)
“Middle” – Jesse Welles, songwriter (Jesse Welles)
“Spitfire” – Sierra Hull, songwriter (Sierra Hull)
Will/Should: I’m With Her – Three amazing (and well-liked) songwriters and performers. Easy call.
Best Americana Album
BIG MONEY – Jon Batiste – W
Bloom – Larkin Poe
Last Leaf On The Tree – Willie Nelson
So Long Little Miss Sunshine – Molly Tuttle – S
Middle – Jesse Welles
Will: Jon Batiste – Remember a few years back, when Batiste won all those awards for an album absolutely nobody you know actually listened to? Seriously, try to name the album. Yeah – that’s gonna happen again.
Should: Molly Tuttle – Yes, I know what I said two categories ago. It’s still the best record among these less than inspired choices. GRAMMY people – please consult me on this category next year.
Best Bluegrass Album
Carter & Cleveland – Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter
A Tip Toe High Wire – Sierra Hull
Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station
Outrun – The Steel-drivers
Highway Prayers – Billy String – W/S
Will/Should: Billy Strings – The GRAMMY folks surprised me last year by awarding Strings for Live Vol. 1. I won’t be caught off-guard this time, but can we please create a jam band/jamgrass type of category?
Best Folk Album
What Did The Blackbird Say To The Crow – Rhiannon Giddens & Justin Robinson
Crown Of Roses – Patty Griffin
Wild And Clear And Blue – I’m With Her
Foxes In The Snow – Jason Isbell – W/S
Under The Powerlines April 24 – September 24 – Jesse Welles
Will/Should: Jason Isbell – He’s had proven success at the GRAMMYs (six awards), and among these artists, this is the record that had people talking. Also – it’s pretty damn good.
One final note – I skipped over the Blues categories (I don’t feel qualified enough to write about them), but I’d love to see Samantha Fish nab her first win for Paper Doll. Amazing guitar player, and, when I interviewed her a few years back, a damn fine person.
Go here to stream the GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony:
https://www.youtube.com/@RecordingAcademy
https://live.grammy.com/
The GRAMMY Awards Ceremony airs on CBS and streams on Paramount+ at 8pm EST.