Graphic courtesy of The Recording Academy
Just because most of the roots music categories of Grammy awards are given out during the afternoon doesn’t mean they’re any less important. The Premiere Ceremony, which started at 3:30 p.m. ET and is available to stream at live.grammy.com and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel, moves at a quicker pace than the prime-time show. But so many stars in this corner of the music industry have also won some much deserved recognition during this time.
In fact, some unexpected news for roots music fans came in the rock categories, when Brandi Carlile beat out artists including Beck, Ozzy Osbourne, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance. Additionally, Wilco won the Grammy for Best Historical Album (even though Yankee Hotel Foxtrot doesn’t feel like that long ago!).
The nominees from all the categories we’re watching are listed below. And as the show goes on, we’ll update the winners in bold type and include links to our feature stories and album reviews. Tune in to the 65th annual Grammy awards, which take place at 8 p.m., on CBS and streamed live on CBS.com.
Song Of The Year
“abcdefu,” Sara Davis, GAYLE & Dave Pittenger, songwriters (GAYLE)
“About Damn Time,” Melissa “Lizzo” Jefferson, Eric Frederic, Blake Slatkin & Theron Makiel Thomas, songwriters (Lizzo)
“All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (The Short Film),” Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
“As It Was,” Tyler Johnson, Kid Harpoon & Harry Styles, songwriters (Harry Styles)
“Bad Habit,” Matthew Castellanos, Brittany Fousheé, Diana Gordon, John Carroll Kirby & Steve Lacy, songwriters (Steve Lacy)
“BREAK MY SOUL,” Beyoncé, S. Carter, Terius “The-Dream” Gesteelde-Diamant & Christopher A. Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“Easy On Me,” Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Adele)
“GOD DID,” Tarik Azzouz, E. Blackmon, Khaled Khaled, F. LeBlanc, Shawn Carter, John Stephens, Dwayne Carter, William Roberts & Nicholas Warwar, songwriters (DJ Khaled Featuring Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, John Legend & Fridayy)
“The Heart Part 5,” Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Lamar & Matt Schaeffer, songwriters (Kendrick Lamar)
“Just Like That,” Bonnie Raitt, songwriter (Bonnie Raitt) (ND review and story)
Best Rock Performance
“So Happy It Hurts,” Bryan Adams
“Old Man,” Beck
“Wild Child,” The Black Keys
“Broken Horses,” Brandi Carlile
“Crawl!,” Idles
“Patient Number 9,” Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Jeff Beck
“Holiday,” Turnstile
Best Rock Song
“Black Summer,” Flea, John Frusciante, Anthony Kiedis & Chad Smith, songwriters (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
“Blackout,” Brady Ebert, Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory & Brendan Yates, songwriters (Turnstile)
“Broken Horses,” Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
“Harmonia’s Dream,” Robbie Bennett & Adam Granduciel, songwriters (The War On Drugs)
“Patient Number 9,” John Osbourne, Chad Smith, Ali Tamposi, Robert Trujillo & Andrew Wotman, songwriters (Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Jeff Beck)
Best Album Notes
The American Clavé Recordings, Fernando González, album notes writer (Astor Piazzolla)
Andy Irvine & Paul Brady, Gareth Murphy, album notes writer (Andy Irvine & Paul Brady)
Harry Partch, 1942, John Schneider, album notes writer (Harry Partch)
Life’s Work: A Retrospective, Ted Olson, album notes writer (Doc Watson)
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition), Bob Mehr, album notes writer (Wilco) (ND story)
Best Historical Album
Against The Odds: 1974-1982, Tommy Manzi, Steve Rosenthal & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer; Tom Camuso, restoration engineer (Blondie)
The Goldberg Variations – The Complete Unreleased 1981 Studio Sessions, Robert Russ, compilation producer; Martin Kistner, mastering engineer (Glenn Gould)
Life’s Work: A Retrospective, Scott Billington, Ted Olson & Mason Williams, compilation producers; Paul Blakemore, mastering engineer (Doc Watson)
To Whom It May Concern…, Jonathan Sklute, compilation producer; Kevin Marques Moo, mastering engineer (Freestyle Fellowship)
Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (20th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition), Cheryl Pawelski & Jeff Tweedy, compilation producers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Wilco)
Best American Roots Performance
“Someday It’ll All Make Sense (Bluegrass Version),” Bill Anderson featuring Dolly Parton
“Life According to Raechel,” Madison Cunningham
“Oh Betty,” Fantastic Negrito
“Stompin’ Ground,” Aaron Neville with the Dirty Dozen Brass Band
“Prodigal Daughter,” Aoife O’Donovan and Allison Russell
Best Americana Performance
“Silver Moon (A Tribute to Michael Nesmith),” Eric Alexandrakis
“There You Go Again,” Asleep at the Wheel featuring Lyle Lovett
“The Message,” Blind Boys of Alabama featuring Black Violin
“You and Me on the Rock,” Brandi Carlile featuring Lucius
“Made Up Mind,” Bonnie Raitt (ND review and story)
Best American Roots Song
“Bright Star,” Anaïs Mitchell, songwriter (Anaïs Mitchell)
“Forever,” Sheryl Crow and Jeff Trott, songwriters (Sheryl Crow)
“High and Lonesome,” T Bone Burnett and Robert Plant, songwriters (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss)
“Just Like That,” Bonnie Raitt, songwriter (Bonnie Raitt) (ND review and story)
“Prodigal Daughter,” Tim O’Brien and Aoife O’Donovan, songwriters (Aoife O’Donovan and Allison Russell)
“You and Me on the Rock,” Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile featuring Lucius)
Best Americana Album
In These Silent Days, Brandi Carlile (ND review)
Things Happen That Way, Dr. John
Good to Be … , Keb’ Mo’
Raise the Roof, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss
Just Like That … , Bonnie Raitt
Best Bluegrass Album
Toward the Fray, The Infamous Stringdusters
Almost Proud, The Del McCoury Band
Calling You From My Mountain, Peter Rowan
Crooked Tree, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway (ND review)
Get Yourself Outside, Yonder Mountain String Band
Best Traditional Blues Album
Heavy Load Blues, Gov’t Mule
The Blues Don’t Lie, Buddy Guy
Get On Board, Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder (ND review)
The Sun Is Shining Down, John Mayall
Mississippi Son, Charlie Musselwhite
Best Contemporary Blues Album
Done Come Too Far, Shemekia Copeland
Crown, Eric Gales
Bloodline Maintenance, Ben Harper
Set Sail, North Mississippi Allstars
Brother Johnny, Edgar Winter (ND review)
Best Regional Roots Music Album
Full Circle, Sean Ardoin and Kreole Rock and Soul featuring LSU Golden Band from Tigerland
Natalie Noelani, Natalie Ai Kamauu
Halau Hula Keali’i O Nalani — Live at the Getty Center, Halau Hula Keali’i O Nalani
Lucky Man, Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Ranky Tanky (ND story)
Best Folk Album
Spellbound, Judy Collins
Revealer, Madison Cunningham (ND story)
The Light at the End of the Line, Janis Ian
Age of Apathy, Aoife O’Donovan
Hell on Church Street, Punch Brothers
Best Country Solo Performance
“Heartfirst,” Kelsea Ballerini
“Something In The Orange,” Zach Bryan
“In His Arms,” Miranda Lambert
“Circles Around This Town,” Maren Morris
“Live Forever,” Willie Nelson (ND story)
Best Country Album
Growin’ Up, Luke Combs
Palomino, Miranda Lambert
Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville, Ashley McBryde
Humble Quest, Maren Morris
A Beautiful Time, Willie Nelson (ND review)
Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Between Dreaming And Joy, Jeff Coffin
Not Tight, DOMi & JD Beck
Blooz, Grant Geissman
Jacob’s Ladder, Brad Mehldau
Empire Central, Snarky Puppy (ND review and story)
Other highlights:
- Journalist and musician Peter Cooper was honored during the In Memoriam segment
- Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow sang a duet of Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird,” alongside Mick Fleetwood on percussion, to honor Christine McVie
- Beyoncé won her 32nd Grammy award — the most of any artist of all time — for Best Dance/Electronic Music Album for Renaissance
