~ New Music Monday ~ Grammy 2016 Predictions ~

The 58th Annual Grammy Awards will air February 15th , 2016 at 8 p.m. EST on CBS . Just before Christmas the Grammys made their 2016 nominations announcement and per usual there are some expected and some surprises . I am happy at how much country music is represented across the categories . Sam Hunt is back up for New Artist , along with artists from the pop genre . Keep in mind he won at the AMA's so , there is no telling how this might go . But I can easily see him winning this one . Last week they announced the performers for the upcoming show which include Adele , Little Big Town , Kendrick Lamar , Carrie Underwood w/ Sam Hunt and several others . With the Grammys you really just never know who will be a hit and who will be a miss , award as well as performance wise . So, before toooooo much hype sets in I want to make my predictions in a few categories . You can read the full official list of nominees at www.grammy.com . Not all categories are listed here , just the ones that have artists featured on #NewMusicMonday , are popular and/or has artist I am a fan of in them .

Here are the 2016 nominees:

Album of the Year
Alabama Shakes, Sound and Color
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly
Chris Stapleton, Traveler
Taylor Swift, 1989
The Weekend, Beauty Behind the Madness

My Vote : I think it will be between Chris , Taylor and The Weekend . My hope would be that Chris Stapelton take it as he has had such an amazing year , this would be the cherry on top . But because this is a multi genre category my gut is telling me The Weekend will take it .

Song of the Year
Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"
Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"
Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"
Wiz Kahifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again"
Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

My Vote : Little Big Towns , " Girl Crush " , had so much impact across the genres and was SO very controversial in the first weeks of its release I do not see any of the other songs in this category being solid competition . My second guess though , again because it is a multi genre category , is Wiz and Charlie with , " See You Again " .

Record of the Year
D'Angelo and the Vanguard, "Really Love"
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk"
Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"
Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"
The Weekend, "Can't Feel my Face"

My Vote: While Taylor Swifts , " Blank Space " blew up YouTube and she broke multiple viewing records with it , I am leaning towards The Weekend for this win . " Uptown Funk " was everywhere this year and I am SURE lucratively very successful , but I think folks may have burnt out with it making it a dark horse in my opinion in this category .

Best New Artist
Courtney Barnett
James Bay
Sam Hunt
Tori Kelly
Meghan Trainor

My Vote : I'm going Sam Hunt with this one . He is new , different , and a little bit of everywhere right now . He is performing with Carrie Underwood at the Grammy's on " Heartbeat " , the song he did bgv for on Underwoods album , " Storyteller " . I am expecting this performance to be wonderful . Sam also did a guest appearance on Taylor Swifts 1989 tour , won best new artist at the AMAs , and has continued to find his music at #1 on a variety of charts . I think that while Sam is technically , " Country " in his genre classification , I can see him pulling a Swift and crossing over once he has more road behind him . My number two for this category is going to Tori Kelly . She has risen from YouTube star to pro performer . Her performance of , " It Could've Been Us " on the AMAs was phenomenal . Award show performances are so nerve racking it seems . You are not only standing in front of fans , but people you yourself are a fan of and industry big wigs . My knees would shake for sure .

Sam Hunt - " House Party "

fr " Montevallo "

 

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Florence + The Machine, " Ship to Wreck"
Maroon 5, "Sugar"
Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk"
Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar, "Bad Blood"
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again"

My Vote : I am all sorts of I don't know with this category . Each collaboration is good , but all for different reasons . So , I am just gonna say who I'd like to see win and that is Taylor Swifts , " Bad Blood " . I can't help it . I am an official Swifty .

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern
Bob Dylan, Shadows in the Night
Josh Groban, Stages
Seth MacFarlane, No One Ever Tells You
Barry Manilow (& Various Artists), My Dream Duets

My Vote: Bob Dylan , because he is Bob Dylan . I do not think he can do any wrong . I also can NOT help but laugh at the fact he has been moved into a category titled , " Best TRADITIONAL Pop Vocal Album " . How is that even possible ? Dylan is everything , but traditional . When looking back at this road to here , it just shows how much music , the industry and its listeners have changed in their categorizing of artists/tunes .

Best Pop Vocal Album
Kelly Clarkson, Piece by Piece
Florence + The Machine, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
Mark Ronson, Uptown Special
Taylor Swift, 1989
James Taylor, Before This World

My Vote : I would like to see Florence + The Machine or James Taylor win this category , but due to trends , pop culture , etc. I am thinking Taylor or Mark will walk away with this one .

Best Rock Performance
Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"
Florence + The Machine,"What Kind Of Man"
Foo Fighters, "Something From Nothing"
Elle King, "Ex's & Oh's"
Wolf Alice, "Moaning Lisa Smile"

My Vote : I have loved Elle Kings , " Ex's & Oh's " literally since the first note I heard . It's new , different and so very girl in charge that I just can't help but love it . However , this being her first nomination in a category with so many alumni , I do not know what the reality of her taking the category is . So , I kinda can see Alabama Shakes  or Foo Fighters winning this one .

Best Alternative Music Album
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
Björk, Vulnicura
My Morning Jacket, The Waterfall
Tame Impala, Currents
Wilco, Star Wars

My Vote : Alabama Shakes . The End . I won't like , I hope to see Bjork walk the carpet in another swan tutu .

Best Country Album
Sam Hunt, Montevallo
Little Big Town, Pain Killer
Ashley Monroe, The Blade
Kacey Musgraves, Pageant Material
Chris Stapleton, Traveller

My Vote : O.K. So, for me this is an impossible category . Each of these albums are amazing start to finish . They each represent such good writers , producers, & artists that I just can not begin to predict how this could go . I genuinely can see each of these artists winning . But , if I am gonna make a vote , then , I guess , UUUHHHHHH , my hope is Kacey Musgraves . I know , I know !!!!! Stapleton for President !!! I know !!! I do not think this will be Stapletons last Grammy nom , LBT have been here before , Sam and Ashley still feel too new and this is Musgraves second or third nom I wanna say and so I just would really like to see her walk away with it . Girl Power and what not .

Kacey Musgraves - " Pageant Material "

fr " Pageant Material "

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Jason Crabb, Whatever the Road
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
Matt Maher, Saints and Sinners
Tobymac, This Is Not a Test
Chris Tomlin, Love Ran Red

My Vote : We have a lot of usual suspects in this category . So , I am going with the new girl , Lauren Daigle . I featured one of her tunes on a past #NewMusicMonday and have been a fan since .

Best Americana Album
Brandi Carlile, The Firewatcher's Daughter
Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, The Traveling Kind
Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free
The Mavericks, Mono
Punch Brothers, The Phosphorescent Blues

My Vote : I vote Brandi Carlile for this one . Yes , you have heard her songs before . Any Greys fans out there ? The episode where they all sing.....her song " The Story " is sung by " Cali " just before she wakes from her coma . I can hear you all going " ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh " as I type that . LOL !!!

Best Rock Song
Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"
Elle King, "Ex's & Oh's"
James Bay, "Hold Back the River"
Highly Suspect, "Lydia"
Florence + the Machine, "What Kind of Man"

My Vote : Since I didn't feel strong enough to vote Elle King in the earlier category , I am voting for her here . Again , I think that it is just a great , unique , fun , Girl Power tune . Not for everyone . A little naughty . But all together so creative and cool .

Best Country Duo/Group Performance
Brothers Osborne, "Stay a Little Longer"
Joey + Rory, "If I Needed You"
Charles Kelley, Dierks Bentley & Eric Paslay, "The Driver"
Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"
Blake Shelton feat. Ashley Monroe, "Lonely Tonight"

My Vote : So , because I want to see LBT take best single in the all genre category I am gonna vote that Charles , Dierks , & Eric take this one . Charles Kelleys first solo album is looking like a critical success . It has to be so nerve racking to create a solo project for release after having been and still being apart of such a successful group . I would think that any nerves Kelley had pre - release are all gone now . I also think that due to all the attention and love being sent Joey + Rorys way they could also win . And I would support that win . They have amazing harmonies as well as lead voices and have shared so much of their difficult , painful , and inspiring journey with everyone that it would be a beautiful book end to their career , as I have heard that he will not pursue further albums with out his wife . For those who are unfamiliar , Joey + Rory won third in a CMT reality contest called , " Can You Duet " . Post reality show they have successfully charted with a variety of singles . In June of 2014 , just after Joey gave birth to their daughter , Indida , Joey was diagnosed with cervical Cancer . The duo has shared their battle via their blog and social media . Joey is currently in hospice care in the couples home and all treatments have been stopped . Their  single " When I'm Gone " has been rereleased with a video and is so heart wrenchingly perfect as the duos last body of work together .

Joey + Rory - " When I'm Gone "

Best Country Song
Lee Ann Womack, "Chances Are"
Tim McGraw, "Diamond Rings And Old Barstools"
Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"
Brandy Clark, "Hold My Hand"
Chris Stapleton, "Traveler"

My Vote : " Traveler " or " Girl Crush " will take this one . I think you all know how I feel by now about both of those artists . UHHH-MAY-ZZZING .

Best Country Solo Performance
Cam, "Burning House"
Chris Stapleton, "Traveller"
Carrie Underwood, "Little Toy Guns"
Keith Urban, "John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16"
Lee Ann Womack, "Chances Are"

My Vote : I would love to see Cam win this gold xylophone . " Burning House " is the first single off of her first album , " Untamed " . Cam is such a ray of sunshine . I swear you can hear her smile when she sings . Cam released her second track off of " Untamed " this week titled , " May Day " . I expect it to do as well if not better than " Burning House " . She is currently on tour with Brad Paisley , but will join Dierks Bentley and Randy Howser this summer on Dierks , " Somewhere On A Beach " tour .

Cam - " Burning House "

fr " Untamed "

Best Pop Solo Performance
Kelly Clarkson, "Heartbeat Song"
Ellie Goulding, "Love Me Like You Do"
Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"
Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"
The Weekend, "Can't Feel My Face"

My Vote : This is a solid list for this specific category . I can see it easily going to any of these artists , however , #NewMusicMonday votes that Taylor or The Weekend will win .

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Empire: Season 1
Fifty Shades of Grey
Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me
Pitch Perfect 2
Selma

My Vote : My guess , because I haven't heard all of these albums , is Empire: Season 1 .

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Weeknd, "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)"
Common & John Legend, "Glory"
Ellie Goulding, "Love Me Like You Do"
Wiz Khalifa feat. Charlie Puth, "See You Again"
Lady Gaga, "Til It Happens to You"

My Vote : Lady Gaga is on an awards show roll . She won her first Golden Globe for her roll in Horror Stories : Hotel . She is nominated for a Oscar for her track " Til It Happens to You " . So , all signs point to her doing nothing but win win win this awards season . However , Common & John Legend are real competition and " Glory " already has several awards under its belt . So , we will see .

Best Music Video
A$AP Rocky, "LSD"
The Dead Weather, "I Feel Love"
Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"
Taylor Swift feat. Kendrick Lamar, "Bad Blood"
Pharrell Williams, "Freedom"

My Vote : Taylor Swift feat . Kendrick Lamar , " Bad Blood " . Released just 8 months ago it has 737,213,835 views on YouTube . Until Adele released the vid for " Hello " Tay was the current record holder for most online video views . Also , the release date for Adele's 25 , kept her out of this years Grammy ceremony as a nominee , but I am POSITIVE we will see her next year in most all categories . Yes , even best rap . JK!! JK!!!

Best Music Film
Foo Fighters, Sonic Highways
James Brown, Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown
Nina Simone, What Happened, Miss Simone
Roger Waters, The Wall
Amy Winehouse, Amy

My Vote : In this category I have sadly only seen one of these films . But , it made a huge impact . Watching " Amy " , the documentary about Amy Winehouse life , career and death was almost overwhelming . It was haunting to see Winehouse recording , talking to the camera , etc . It was also deeply saddening to basically be watching someone slowly kill them selves . For those who like music history this is one to watch despite the sadness .

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
Francesca Battistelli, "Holy Spirit"
Crowder, "Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)"
Matt Maher, "Because He Lives (Amen)"
Third Day feat. All Sons & Daughters, "Soul on Fire"
Tobymac feat. Mr. Talkbox, "Feel It"

My Vote : Crowder . Dave Crowders most recent video release has made its way to country music video channels . I think it is different , but familiar and as always on point message wise . But again , this is a category with nothing but amazingly successful and talented people in it . It could really go anyway .

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Jason Crabb, Whatever the Road
Lauren Daigle, How Can It Be
Matt Maher, Saints and Sinners
Tobymac, This Is Not a Test
Chris Tomlin, Love Ran Red

My Vote : Pointing back to Lauren Daigle once again .

Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
Patti Smith, Blood on Snow (Jo Nesbø)
Dick Cavett, Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks
Jimmy Carter, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety
Janis Ian & Jean Smart, Patience and Sarah (Isabel Miller)
Amy Poehler (& Various Artists), Yes Please

My Vote : Jimmy Carter , because I think a President winning a Grammy would just be too cool for words . LOL !!!!

SideNote : Just want to keep you all reminded that you can change an artists career by making radio requests as well as voting online for video countdowns . Tweet , text , call , e-mail , facebook , insta and snail mail those requests ASAP !!!!! I finally decided to follow Taylor Swift on #Insta and I swear immediately after I did , she posted a " Thank You " #insta for hitting 60 million followers . I mean , I feel so powerful .

 

 

You're welcome Taylor Swift !!!!

You . Are . Welcome .