Lovely news overnight from the Grammys with some so well deserved wins for Jason Isbell and Aimee Mann amongst others. RS reports: “Jason Isbell, Alabama Shakes and Reba McEntire were early winners at the 60th annual Grammy Awards when the Americana and roots music categories were announced during the pre-telecast Premiere Ceremony, streamed live online. Isbell triumphed in both the Best Americana Roots Song and Best Americana Album categories, for “If We Were Vampires” and The Nashville Sound, respectively. Emerging from the back of the Theater at Madison Square Garden, Isbell ambled to the podium.
“I wasn’t gonna run – I’m not running for the Internet,” quipped Isbell, who recalled how his wife Amanda Shires challenged him to write the heartbreaking “If We Were Vampires.” “On this particular day, I was sitting on the bed watching reality television and I was going into the studio in three days and my wife said … ‘You should be writing a song right now,’ and I wrote this particular song.”
Afterward, Isbell welcomed his band the 400 Unit to the stage, including Shires and guitarist Sadler Vaden, and his producer Dave Cobb to accept the Best Americana Album trophy for The Nashville Sound.
Earlier in the afternoon, Reba McEntire – who generated buzz last week with her gender-bending role as “the Colonel” in a series of KFC ads – was an early winner in the Best Roots Gospel Album category for her LP Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope.
“I’ve been singing these songs that are on this album all my life,” McEntire said in her acceptance speech. “Our job in the entertainment business is to heal hearts; that’s what God put me on this earth for.” Both Isbell and McEntire sported white roses in support of the Time’s Upmovement.
Here’s the list of country and Americana winners. Best Country Album will be announced during tonight’s show.
Best Country Song
“Better Man,” Taylor Swift, songwriter (Little Big Town)
“Body Like A Back Road,” Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, songwriters (Sam Hunt)
“Broken Halos,” Mike Henderson and Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Chris Stapleton) – WINNER
“Drinkin’ Problem,” Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Mark Wystrach, songwriters (Midland)
“Tin Man,” Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert and 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 – WINNER
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 – WINNER
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 – WINNER
“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 – WINNER
Brand New Day, The Mavericks
Best American Roots Performance
“Killer Diller Blues,” Alabama Shakes – WINNER
“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 (Award to songwriters)
“Cumberland Gap,” David Rawlings (David Rawlings and Gillian Welch, songwriters)
“I Wish You Well,” The Mavericks (Raul Malo and Alan Miller, songwriters)
“If We Were Vampires,” Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit (Jason Isbell, songwriter) – WINNER
“It Ain’t Over Yet,” Rodney Crowell featuring Rosanne Cash and John Paul White (Rodney Crowell, songwriter)
“My Only True Friend,” Gregg Allman (Gregg Allman and Scott Sharrard)
Best Bluegrass Album
Fiddler’s Dream, Michael Cleveland
Laws of Gravity, The Infamous Stringdusters – WINNER (TIE)
Original, Bobby Osborne
Universal Favorite, Noam Pikelny
All the Rage – In Concert Volume One [Live], Rhonda Vincent and the Rage – WINNER (TIE)
Best Folk Album
Mental Illness, Aimee Mann – WINNER
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
And oh my God, this song..
