The 2026 Grammy nominations dropped, and fans are getting their first look at how the Recording Academy plans to handle its new country categories.
They split the Best Country Album into two separate categories this year. Which are “Best Contemporary Country Album” and “Best Traditional Country Album”.
The new setup is meant to widen the field and separate pop-country from the more traditional sound…but the nominations feel cautious.
Fans are already questioning why artists like Miranda Lambert were placed under “Contemporary” instead of “Traditional”. Her “Postcards From Texas” is anything but contemporary. Also, how were megastars like Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, Riley Green and Megan Moroney totally shut out?
Here are the country nominees:
Best Contemporary Country Album…
“Patterns” by Kelsea Ballerini
“Snipe Hunter” by Tyler Childers
“Evangeline Vs. The Machine” by Eric Church
“Beautifully Broken” by Jelly Roll
“Postcards From Texas” by Miranda Lambert
Best Traditional Country Album…
“Dollar a Day” by Charley Crockett
“American Romance” by Lukas Nelson
“Oh What a Beautiful World” by Willie Nelson
“Hard Headed Woman” by Margo Price
“Ain’t in It for My Health” by Zach Top
Best Country Solo Performance…
“Nose on the Grindstone” by Tyler Childers
“Good News” by Shaboozey
“Bad As I Used to Be” by Chris Stapleton
“I Will Never Lie” by Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo” by Lainey Wilson
Best Country Duo/Group Performance…
“A Song to Sing” by Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
“Trailblazer” by Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson
“Love Me Like You Used to Do” by Margo Price and Tyler Childers
“Amen” by Shaboozey and Jelly Roll
“Honky Tonk Hall of Fame” by George Strait and Chris Stapleton
It’s actually pretty cool to see Willie and Lukas go head-to-head in the same category. Chris Stapleton and Miranda Lambert is also both up against themselves in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category. As they’re each up for two awards in that category alone.
The 2026 Grammys take place on February 1st in Los Angeles.