Discussion: Pick the Grammy Nominees – Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group with Vocals

The next category on this year’s Country Ballot is a wide open race this year.  Usually, the award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals goes to the Dixie Chicks or Alison Krauss & Union Station.  However, for the second consecutive year, neither act is eligible.

That probably means the award will go to last year’s victor, The Eagles, assuming that enough people heard their “Do Something” to get it past the first round.  In a field with such weak name recognition,  it might get through either way, especially given the tepid submissions by higher-profile acts like Big & Rich and Montgomery Gentry.

My five picks are an eclectic bunch, though I will confess that I haven’t heard a good half of this ballot.  Maybe my choices would change if I knew what to seek out, so I look forward to reading everyone’s picks. I’ve narrowed it down to:

  1. Cadillac Sky, “Baby Don’t Cry”
  2. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, “Rattlin’ Bones”
  3. Eli Young Band, “When it Rains”
  4. Joey & Rory, “Cheater Cheater”
  5. Sugarland, “Stay”

What do you think of the submissions in this category? What five nominees would you choose?

18 Comments

  1. Kevin,

    We’re basically the same although I substituted One Flew South for Cadillac Sky.

    Sugarland – Stay
    Joey + Rory – Cheater Cheater
    Eli Young Band – When It Rains
    One Flew South – It Is Good
    Kasey & Shane – Rattlin’ Bones

    If it actually played out this way, I’d be very happy with the nominees. Though I suspect J+R, EYB and One Flew South aren’t likely to get the nominations.

    So, I’ll guess that Grammy will go for these 3 instead:

    Cadillac Sky – “Baby Don’t Cry”
    Montgomery Gentry – “Roll With Me”
    Rascal Flatts – “Here”

  2. Brooks & Dunn, “God Must Be Busy”
    Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, “Rattlin’ Bones”
    Little Big Town, “Fine Line”
    The Steeldrivers, “Blue Side of the Mountain”
    Sugarland, “Stay”

  3. Moreso than in the Male and Female Vocal Performance categories, it’s here that the Grammy voters most often show a willingness to embrace artists outside of mainstream country, nominating acts like Asleep at the Wheel, The Duhks, and The Time Jumpers instead of obvious radio hits by interchangeable groups.

    I hope that’s a trend that continues this year. Looking over the entry list, there are some terrific under-the-radar performances that have been submitted.

    My picks:
    (1) Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, “Rattlin’ Bones”
    (2) Drive-By Truckers, “Self-Destructive Zones”
    (3) The Duhks, “Mighty Storm”
    (4) Old Crow Medicine Show, “Caroline”
    (5) The Steeldrivers, “Blue Side of the Mountain”

    With Cherryholmes, Donna the Buffalo, Joey & Rory, Little Big Town, and Sugarland (for “Stay”) making for a very strong set of alternates.

  4. I actually can’t see the list due to my terrible computer, but I’ll say this much.

    Sugarland should get a nomination if not win it for “Stay”.
    LBT for “Fine Line”.
    J+R for “Cheater, Cheater”

    As for the other two slots, I really don’t know or don’t like every other group suggested here, but I would maybe pick Kasey C. and Shane N., because what I have heard from their album together is great.

  5. Eli Young Band “When It Rains”
    Little Big Town “Fine Line”
    Reckless Kelly “Ragged as the Road”
    Sugarland “Stay”
    The SteelDrivers “Blue Side of the Mountain”

  6. Chris D., you probably just need to download Adobe reader to open the ballot list.

    And here’s my choices …

    Brooks & Dunn – God Must Be Busy
    Joey + Rory – Cheater, Cheater
    Lady Antebellum – Love Don’t Live Here
    Litte Big Town – Fine Line
    and for the win … Sugarland – Stay

  7. Yeah, I know J.R., my computer doesn’t have enough room to download it. xD

    I can’t believe I forgot “Love Don’t Live Here” by Lady A!

  8. My personal picks would be:
    More Than A Name On A Wall – Dailey & Vincent
    Cheater, Cheater – Joey & Rory
    Fine Line – Little Big Town
    Blue Side of The Mountain – The SteelDrivers
    Stay – Sugarland

    I’m surprised to see Leave The Pieces on the list – surely that’s well outside the eligibility period?

  9. That Dailey and Vincent song…is that the same song the Statler Brothers recorded and had a minor hit with about 20 yrs ago? If it is, i’d love to hear what they did with it.

  10. This category was a tough call for me because there really are a lot of great submissions this year, even if the cream is coming largely from lesser-knowns and bluegrass acts.

    1. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson, “Rattlin’ Bones”
    2. Eli Young Band, “When it Rains”
    3. Little Big Town, “Fine Line” (more for the performance than the song, which has worn on me a bit)
    4. The SteelDrivers, “Blue Side of the Mountain”
    5. Sugarland, “Stay” (though I feel awkward giving it a “duo performance” nod, given that it’s really all JN)

    I also like the submissions by Cadillac Sky (particularly “Baby Don’t Cry”), Cherryholmes, Cross Canadian Ragweed (at least “Cry Lonely”), Dailey & Vincent, the Duhks, Joey & Rory, Lady Antebellum, and Reckless Kelly. So I feel pretty flexible here, as long as NARAS lets most of the commercial stuff be for this year.

  11. “5. Sugarland, “Stay” (though I feel awkward giving it a “duo performance” nod, given that it’s really all JN)”

    If you listen closely you can actually hear Kristian… accompanying her on guitar.

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