Swift, Musgraves Among Leading Country Grammy Nominees

Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift was a front runner in the 56th Annual Grammy nominations concert held earlier Friday evening (Dec. 6). As a performer during the event, Swift offered a live version of “I Knew You Were Trouble” from Sydney, Australia. Swift earned nominations in categories for Album of the Year (Red), Best Country Album (Red), Best Country Song (“Begin Again”), and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (“Highway Don’t Care”).

Keith Urban was also a performer during the evening with R&B artist Miguel. The pair performed ”Ain’t No Sunshine,” which won Bill Withers a Grammy in 1971 for Best R&B Song.

Swift’s Red was nominated for Album of the Year, alongside Sara Bareilles‘ The Blessed Unrest, Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, m A. A. d City, and The Heist by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.

Newcomer Kacey Musgraves earned nominations in the Best Country Album and Best New Artist categories. She also earned two nominations in the Best Country Song category as a songwriter, for her own hit “Merry Go Round,” as well as for “Mama’s Broken Heart,” recorded by Miranda Lambert.

Blake Shelton was nominated in three categories, including Best Country Album (Based On A True Story), Best Country Solo Performance, and Best Country Song (“Mine Would Be You”).

Best Country Album nominees highlighted during the concert include Night Train (Jason Aldean), Two Lanes of Freedom (Tim McGraw), Same Trailer, Different Park (Musgraves), Based On A True Story (Shelton) and Red (Swift).

Best New Artist nominations include Musgraves,  James Blake, Kendrick Lamar, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, and Ed Sheeran.

Additional nominations include:

Best Country Solo Performance
“I Drive Your Truck,” Lee Brice
“I Want Crazy,” Hunter Hayes
“Mama’s Broken Heart,”  Miranda Lambert
“Wagon Wheel,” Darius Rucker
“Mine Would Be You,” Blake Shelton

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
“From This Valley,”  The Civil Wars
“Don’t Rush,” Kelly Clarkson ft. Vince Gill
“Your Side of the Bed,” Little Big Town
“Highway Don’t Care,” Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift and Keith Urban
“You Can’t Make Old Friends,” Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton

Best Country Song
“Begin Again” (Taylor Swift); Songwriter: Taylor Swift
“I Drive Your Truck” (Lee Brice): Songwriters: Connie Harrington, Jessi Alexander and Jimmy Yeary
“Mama’s Broken Heart” (Miranda Lambert); Songwriters: Brandy Clark, Shane McAnally and Kacey Musgraves
“Merry Go Round” (Kacey Musgraves); Songwriters: Shane McAnally, Kacey Musgraves and Josh Osborne
“Mine Would Be You” (Blake Shelton); Songwriters: Connie Harrington, Jessi Alexander and Deric Ruttan

Best Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Performance
“Break Every Chain [Live]” by Tasha Cobb
“Hurricane” by Natalie Grant
“Lord. I Need You” by Matt Maher
“Overcomer” by Mandisa
“If He Did It Before…Same God” by Tye Tribbett

Best Contemporary Christian Music Song
“Hurricane” (Natalie Grant); Songwriters: Matt Bronleewe, Natalie Grant and Cindy Morgan
“Love Take Me Over” (Steven Curtis Chapman); Songwriters: Steven Curtis Chapman
“Overcomer” (Mandisa); Songwriters: David Garcia, Ben Glover and Christopher Stevens
“Speak Life” (TobyMac); Toby McKeehan, Jamie Moore and Ryan Stevenson
“Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)” (Chris Tomlin); Songwriters: Ed Cash, Scott Cash and Chris Tomlin

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
We Won’t Be Shaken, Building 429
All The People Said Amen, Matt Maher
Overcomer, Mandisa
Your Grace Finds Me, Matt Redman
Burning Lights, Chris Tomlin

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards will be held Sunday, Jan. 26 at Los Angeles’ Staples Center. For a full list of Grammy nominees, visit grammy.com.