VOA常速英语:Country Music's Grammy Nominees Face Tough Competition

The 53rd annual Grammy Awards will be presented on February 13 in Los Angeles. There are many top contenders in the Country categories.

“Free” by the Zac Brown Band is nominated for two Grammy Awards: Best Country Song and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.  Last year, the band won its first Grammy Award in the all-genre Best New Artist category.  Only two other Country artists have been named Best New Artist: LeAnn Rimes in 1997 and Carrie Underwood in 2007.  The Zac Brown Band picked up a total of four nominations this year, including Best Country Album for “You Get What You Give.”  They face tough competition in that category from Lady Antebellum, Jamey Johnson, Dierks Bentley, and Miranda Lambert.

Miranda Lambert is a Best Female Country Vocal Performance nominee for her first Number One hit, “The House That Built Me.” The category also includes Jewel, LeAnn Rimes, Carrie Underwood, and Gretchen Wilson.  Miranda also is up for the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals Grammy for “Bad Angel.”  The track features Dierks Bentley and Jamey Johnson.  

The composers of “The House That Built Me,” Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin, are mentioned in two songwriter award categories: Best Country Song and Song of the Year.  

“Macon” by Jamey Johnson is a nominee for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. Also vying for that award are Toby Keith, David Nail, Keith Urban, and Chris Young.

This year’s most-nominated Country act is Lady Antebellum. The trio received six mentions, including Album of the Year and Best Country Album for “Need You Now.” The title track added nominations for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Country Song, and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert are the only Country artists performing at this year’s Grammy Awards.