Swift Leads Country Grammy Noms

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift’s stellar year continued when she snagged eight Grammy nominations— including Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year—at last night’s (12/2) announcement.

Swift is joined in several categories by Music City rockers Kings of Leon, who tied with Country superstar Keith Urban for four nominations.

Urban is in the running for Best Male Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, Best Country Album, and Best Long-Form Music Video.

Sugarland, the only Country act who performed during last night’s televised nominations special, received a nod for Best Country Performance By A Duo or Group with Vocals. They’re joined in that category by Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum and Zac Brown Band.

Keith Urban

Swift earned nods in the Pop categories for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (“You Belong With Me”) and Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals for “Breathe” with Colbie Caillat.

Among the other Country highlights were ZBB’s nomination for all-genre Best New Artist, and Jessi Alexander and Jon Mabe’s bid for Best Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media for “The Climb” from Hannah Montana: The Movie.

Country artists receiving two or more nods were Carrie Underwood, Lee Ann Womack, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Jamey Johnson, George Strait, and Brad Paisley.

Tracy Lawrence received the first Grammy nomination of his career for Best Southern, Country, Or Bluegrass Gospel Album for his inspirational CD, The Rock.

When the Grammy Awards take place on Sun., Jan. 31, a new trophy will be presented for the first time—Best Americana Album. Earlier this year the “Folk Field” was changed to the “American Roots Music Field,” and the category for Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album was divided into two categories: Best Contemporary Folk Album and Best Americana Album.

The 52nd annual Grammys will be broadcast on Sun., Jan. 31 live from the LA Staples Center on CBS.

Top all-genre and Country nominations are below, or click to see the Nashville nominees, or the full list.

Record Of The Year —“You Belong With Me,” Taylor Swift (Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift, producers; Chad Carlson & Justin Niebank, engineers/mixers) [Big Machine Records]
—“Use Somebody” Kings Of Leon (Jacquire King & Angelo Petraglia, producers; Jacquire King, engineer/mixer) [RCA Records]
—“Halo,” Beyoncé
—“I Gotta Feeling,” The Black Eyed Peas
— “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga;

Album Of The Year — Fearless, Taylor Swift; Colbie Caillat, featured artist; Nathan Chapman & Taylor Swift, producers; Chad Carlson, Nathan Chapman & Justin Niebank, engineers/mixers; Hank Williams, mastering engineer [Big Machine Records]
—I Am… Sasha Fierce, Beyoncé;
—The E.N.D., The Black Eyed Peas;
—The Fame, Lady Gaga;
—Big Whiskey And The Groogrux King, Dave Matthews Band

Song Of The Year — “You Belong With Me,” Liz Rose & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift) Track from: Fearless [Big Machine Records; Publishers: Sony/ATV Tree Publishing, Taylor Swift Music/Potting Shed Music, Barbara Orbison World Publishing.]
—“Use Somebody,” Caleb Followill, Jared Followill, Matthew Followill & Nathan Followill, songwriters (Kings Of Leon) [RCA Records; Publishers: Martha Street Music/Songs of Combustion Music/Music of Windswept, Followill Music/Songs of Combustion Music/Music of Windswept, McFearless Music/Bug Music, Coffee, Tea or Me Publishing/Bug Music.]
— “Poker Face,” Lady Gaga & RedOne, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
—“Pretty Wings,” Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
—“Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It),” Thaddis Harrell, Beyoncé Knowles, Terius Nash & Christopher Stewart, songwriters (Beyoncé)

Best New Artist — Zac Brown Band, Keri Hilson, MGMT, Silversun Pickups, The Ting Tings

Best Female Country Vocal Performance: “Dead Flowers,” Miranda Lambert; “I Just Call You Mine,” Martina McBride; “White Horse,” Taylor Swift; “Just A Dream,” Carrie Underwood; “Solitary Thinkin'” Lee Ann Womack

Best Male Country Vocal Performance — “All I Ask For Anymore,” Trace Adkins; “People Are Crazy,” Billy Currington; “High Cost of Living,” Jamey Johnson; “Living for the Night,” George Strait; “Sweet Thing,” Keith Urban

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals — “Cowgirls Don’t Cry,” Brooks & Dunn; “Chicken Fried,” Zac Brown Band; “I Run to You,” Lady Antebellum; “Here Comes Goodbye,” Rascal Flatts; “It Happens,” Sugarland

Best Country Collaboration with Vocals — “Beautiful World,” Dierks Bentley and Patty Griffin; “Down the Road,” Kenny Chesney and Mac McAnally; “Start a Band,” Brad Paisley and Keith Urban; “I Told You So,” Carrie Underwood and Randy Travis; “Everything But Quits,” Lee Ann Womack and George Strait

Best Country Instrumental Performance — “Under the (Five) Wire,” Alison Brown; “The Crystal Merchant,” The Greencards; “Mansinneedof,” Sarah Jarosz; “Producer’s Medley,” Steve Warnier

Best Country Song — “All I Ask For Anymore,” Casey Beathard and Tim James (songwriters); “High Cost of Living,” Jamey Johnson and James Slater (songwriters); “I Run to You,” Tom Douglas, Dave Haywood, Charles Kelley and Hillary Scott (songwriters); “People Are Crazy,” Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones (songwriters); “White Horse,” Liz Rose and Taylor Swift (songwriters)

Best Country Album — The Foundation, Zac Brown Band; Twang, George Strait; Fearless, Taylor Swift; Defying Gravity, Keith Urban; Call Me Crazy, Lee Ann Womack

Best Americana Album — Together Through Life, Bob Dylan; Electric Dirt, Levon Helm; Willie And The Wheel, Willie Nelson & Asleep At The Wheel; Wilco (The Album), Wilco; Little Honey, Lucinda Williams