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Alabama artists rock nomination list for 2018 Grammy Awards
The nominees for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards have been officially announced. Among the lengthy list of artists include nine acts from Alabama. Who are they?
Alabama Shakes
2018 Grammy nomination: Best American Roots Performance for “Killer Diller Blues” (track from “The American Epic Sessions”, deluxe edition)
The Alabama Shakes, a soul-rock band from Athens, Alabama, rose to fame after the release of their debut album, “Boys and Girls”.
In 2012, they earned their first Grammy nod with a nomination for Best New Artist. At the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016, they received three wins for:
- Best Alternative Music for “Sound and Color”
- Best Rock Performance for “Don’t Wanna Fight”
- Best Rock Song for “Don’t Wanna Fight”
Blind Boys of Alabama
2018 Grammy nomination: Best American Roots Performance, “Let My Mother Live” (track from “Almost Home”)
Blind Boys of Alabama is a harmonizing gospel troupe with a long and distinguished history. Led by Birmingham native, Jimmy Carter, the group was formed in 1939 at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
The band received Grammy Awards from 2002-2005 and in 2009; they also won the Grammy’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Casting Crowns
2018 Grammy nomination: Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, “Oh My Soul” (track from “The Very Next Thing”)
The Casting Crowns, a contemporary Christian rock band, began its journey in 1999 with band leader and Alabama native, Mark Hall. The group won their first Grammy in 2006 for their album, “Lifesong”.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
2018 Grammy nominations:
- Best Americana Album, “The Nashville Sound”
- Best American Roots Song (songwriter’s award), Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “If We Were Vampires” (track from “The Nashville Sound”)
Jason Isbell, a native of Green Hill, Alabama, is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and bandleader. He is best known for his solo career, his work with the band, The 400 Unit, and as a former member of Drive-By Truckers, which performed for six years from 2001 to 2007.
Isbell has been nominated for 11 Grammy Awards; he has won six. His most recent Grammy win was in 2016 for Best American Album, “Something More Than Free” and Best American Roots song, “24 Frames”.
Joyce Yang
2018 Grammy nomination: Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance, Joyce Yang and Augustin Hadelich, “Frank, Kurtag, Previn & Schumann”
Joyce Yang is a classical pianist who lives in Birmingham, Alabama. She shares her nomination with her duet partner, violinist Augustin Hadelich.
Little Big Town
2018 Grammy nominations:
- Best Country Duo/Group Performance, “Better Man” (track from “The Breaker”)
- Best Country Album, “The Breaker”
Little Big Town is an American country music group from Homewood, AL. Their musical style relies heavily on four-part vocal harmonies, with all four members of the band alternating as lead vocalists.
The group has won Grammy Awards in:
- 2013 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, “Pontoon”
- 2016 for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, “Girl Crush”
The Secret Sisters
2018 Grammy nomination: Best Folk Album, “You Don’t Own Me Anymore”
The Secret Sisters, from Shoals, Alabama, are an Americana singing/songwriting duo. They have released three albums, “Put Your Needle Down”, “The Secret Sisters” and “You Don’t Own Me Anymore”. This is their first Grammy nomination.
Sam Hunt
2018 Grammy nominations:
- Best Country Solo Performance, “Body Like a Back Road”
- Best Country Song (songwriter’s award), “Body Like a Back Road”, songwriters Sam Hunt, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally and Josh Osbourne.
Sam Hunt is an American country-pop singer-songwriter and a former quarterback at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a boundary-breaking artist due to his incorporation of both R&B and pop. Hunt was also nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2016 for Best New Artist and Best Country Album.
Zac Brown Band
2018 Grammy nomination: Best Country Duo/Group Performance, “My Old Man” (track from “Welcome Home”)
Zac Brown Band, an American country music band, has released six studio albums with two live albums, one greatest-hits album and two extended plays.
In 2008, when the band was in need of a new drummer, Alabama native, Chris Fry, auditioned and became the Zac Brown Band’s newest member. Fry had already made a name for himself in the music scene in Birmingham.
The band has won three Grammy’s – in 2010 for Best New Artist, in 2011 for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals for “As She Walks Aways” featuring Alan Jackson, and in 2013 for Best Country Album.
The Grammys air live on CBS from Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday, January 28th, 2018.
For the complete list of nominees, click here.
And the Grammy goes to … Tell us who you think will win!
