Country music just reminded the Recording Academy exactly who still runs the show, even if they did not make it into the all-genre categories.
The 2026 GRAMMY nominees are officially out. While country artists did not land a spot in Album of the Year or Song of the Year, the genre came through swinging in its own territory. Heavy hitters like Lainey Wilson, Miranda Lambert, and Chris Stapleton are right where they belong, sitting beside fast-rising names like Zach Top and Shaboozey, who both earned multiple nods. And if anyone thought the country categories would be predictable this year, these nominations quickly shut that down.
Best Country Solo Performance
This lineup is packed with songs that prove storytelling still drives country music. From gritty outlaw poetry to smooth heartbreakers, these five tracks hit from every angle.
- Tyler Childers – “Nose on the Grindstone”
- Shaboozey – “Good News”
- Chris Stapleton – “Bad As I Used To Be” (From F1 The Movie)
- Zach Top – “I Never Lie”
- Lainey Wilson – “Somewhere Over Laredo”
Tyler Childers leads with his raw truth, while Shaboozey’s “Good News” shows how far country has stretched its sound. Zach Top keeps things grounded in tradition, and Lainey Wilson delivers a song that feels both timeless and fresh.
Best Country Duo or Group Performance
This category brings the heavy firepower. Some of country’s biggest names teamed up this year, and the results range from bold to soulful.
- Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton – “A Song to Sing”
- Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, and Lainey Wilson – “Trailblazer”
- Margo Price and Tyler Childers – “Love Me Like You Used to Do”
- Shaboozey and Jelly Roll – “Amen”
- George Strait and Chris Stapleton – “Honky Tonk Hall of Fame”
Miranda and Stapleton are a dream pairing on “A Song to Sing.” Reba, Miranda, and Lainey’s “Trailblazer” is a multi-generational moment. Jelly Roll and Shaboozey’s “Amen” brings gospel grit into the mix. George Strait and Stapleton, on the other hand, are pure royalty on one track.
Best Country Song
This category honors the songwriters who give country music its soul. These tracks prove once again that lyrics still matter.
- “Bitin’ List” – Tyler Childers
- “Good News” – Shaboozey
- “I Never Lie” – Zach Top
- “Somewhere Over Laredo” – Lainey Wilson
- “A Song to Sing” – Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton
These are the kinds of songs you carry with you. “Bitin’ List” cuts deep. “I Never Lie” confirms Zach Top’s rising power. Lainey’s “Somewhere Over Laredo” captures heartbreak with grace. And Miranda and Stapleton deliver something that already feels like a classic.
Best Traditional Country Album
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For You
Here, the roots run deep. These albums keep fiddle and steel front and center and prove that traditional country still hits hard.
- Charley Crockett – Dollar a Day
- Lukas Nelson – American Romance
- Willie Nelson – Oh What a Beautiful World
- Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
- Zach Top – Ain’t In It For My Health
With two Nelsons on the list, plus Margo Price and Charley Crockett carrying the outlaw torch, and Zach Top keeping the neotraditional sound alive, this category might be the toughest to call.
Best Contemporary Country Album
This is where the edges blur and the modern country sound takes over. These artists are pushing boundaries without losing the core.
- Kelsea Ballerini – Patterns
- Tyler Childers – Snipe Hunter
- Eric Church – Evangeline vs. The Machine
- Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken
- Miranda Lambert – Postcards From Texas
Jelly Roll and Miranda Lambert each deliver deeply personal projects. Tyler Childers continues to bend the rules his own way. Kelsea Ballerini and Eric Church round out a group that defines what contemporary country looks and sounds like right now.
The familiar names may lead the headlines, but it is the new blood that makes this year electric. Zach Top is reminding country fans that steel and story still matter. Shaboozey is dragging new audiences into the genre, whether they planned on it or not.
Shop Lainey Wilson
- Bell Bottom CountryVinylWith “Watermelon Moonshine” and “Hold My Halo”See it on Amazon
- Whirlwind (Deluxe)VinylWith “Keep Up with Jones” and “Whirlwind”See it on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Country Thang Daily earns from qualifying purchases.
Country may not be competing in the top categories this year, but that does not mean it is falling behind. Between the legends holding it down and the new names kicking in the doors, this is the kind of year that reminds everyone just how strong the country backbone is.
February 1, 2026, is going to be one to watch.
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