Pictured (L-R): Karen Fairchild of Grammy-nominated Little Big Town; Alicia Warwick, Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director; Kimberly Schlapman and Phillip Sweet of Little Big Town; Grammy nominee Ashley Monroe; Jimi Westbrook of Little Big Town; Shannon Sanders, Recording Academy Nashville Chapter President. Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by WireImage.com
This year, members of the Nashville music community boast Grammy nominations in 36 categories, nearly half of the awards show’s 83 total categories, including all four of the Grammys all-genre categories of Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist.
The diversity of the Nashville-based nominations for the 58th annual Grammy Awards are even more staggering. The Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter Executive Director Alicia Warwick offered a sampling of this year’s categories that include Nashville nominees: Best Pop Solo Performance, Best American Roots Performance, Best Alternative Music Album, Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, Best Country Album, Best Contemporary Christian Music Album, Best Bluegrass Album, Best Folk Album, Best Spoken Word Album, Best Musical Theater Album, Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media, Best Americana Album, Producer of the Year, Best Music Video and Best Reggae Album.
The Recording Academy’s Nashville Chapter feted this year’s nominees with its annual elegant soiree at Nashville’s Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Appropriately, a grand-sized Grammy statue greeted guests at the door. Several attendees couldn’t help but take advantage of the photo op.
Pictured (L-R): Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick; GRAMMY® nominee Eric Paslay; The Recording Academy South Regional Director, Susan Stewart; GRAMMY nominee Charles Kelley; Recording Academy Nashville Chapter President, Shannon Sanders; Recording Academy Board of Trustees Chair Emeritus, George J. Flanigen IV; and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Trustee, Daniel Hill. Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by WireImage.com
The stars of Nashville’s music scene were out in full force to celebrate the nominations. Little Big Town, Cam, Lee Ann Womack, Charles Kelley, Eric Paslay, Ashley Monroe, The Mavericks, The SteelDrivers, Gramps Morgan, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, TobyMac, Lauren Diagle, Jason Crabb, and Point of Grace were among those walking the indoor carpet leading into the event.
Nashville artists and industry movers and shakers mingled as they dined on crab dip, meatloaf sliders, mac and cheese, and chocolate desserts. Servers offered an array of hors d’oeuvres to guests throughout the evening. On center stage, a house band further lifted the room’s ambiance with classy jazz notes throughout the evening.
“A Grammy nomination is a reflection of remarkable dedication to one’s craft,” said Grammy Nashville Chapter president Shannon Sanders. “We are so honored to have many of our Grammy nominees with us tonight.” He also thanked The Recording Academy’s Sr. VP Nancy Shapiro, South Regional Director Susan Stewart, and MusiCares’ Senior Executive Director Debbie Carroll.
Nashville Mayor Megan Barry was on hand to congratulate the nominees. Noting that Nashville’s music business is a $10 billion industry, she said, “I’m here to thank the artists, the folks who made this happen, the musicians and songwriters who bring home those Grammys back to Nashville. Go out there, bring home those Grammys, and while you are out there, make sure you talk to The Recording Academy and tell them we’d love to have [The Grammy Awards] back here in Nashville.”
Sanders also took advantage of the spotlight to remind the audience of the advocacy work The Recording Academy does throughout the year, by way of programs such as Grammys In My District. “Everyone knows the Grammys, that one night of the year of awards,” said Sanders. “But everyone may not know the other 364 days per year, what we do. There’s a lot of advocacy that goes on. You have a lot of people that speak on your behalf about our rights as creators. If you are not a part of us, come be a part of our Grammy family.”
Pictured (L-R): Producer Dave Cobb, Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter President, Shannon Sanders. Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by WireImage.com
Pictured (L-R): GRAMMY nominees Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle and Jason Crabb. Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by WireImage.com
Pictured (L-R): Recording Academy Nashville Chapter Executive Director, Alicia Warwick; GRAMMY nominee Mr. Talkbox; GRAMMY nominee TobyMac and Recording Academy Nashville Chapter President, Shannon Sanders. Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by WireImage.com
GRAMMY nominees The Mavericks. Courtesy of The Recording Academy/photo by WireImage.com
About the Author
Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
