It’s about time the Recording Academy stopped pretending a honky-tonk record and a pop-country crossover are the same thing. For the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, the Academy finally pulled the trigger on a massive change: they split the country album field into two distinct camps. This year, we aren’t just looking at one list of grammy country album of the year nominees—we have the Traditional and the Contemporary categories duking it out.
The Grammys have a rocky history with Nashville. Honestly, most country fans still haven't forgiven them for some of the head-scratching snubs of the early 2000s. But 2026 feels different. It feels like they’re actually listening. With the ceremony set for February 1st at the Crypto.com Arena, the tension is basically a physical thing you can feel in the air.
The Best Contemporary Country Album Nominees
This is where the genre-benders live. If you like your country with a side of R&B, rock, or heavy pop production, this is your category. It’s also where the biggest commercial heavyweights of the year are parked.
Kelsea Ballerini is here with Patterns. It’s a vulnerable, sharp record that continues her streak of being the "cool older sister" of country music. Then you have Jelly Roll with Beautifully Broken. Love him or hate him, the guy is a force of nature. His transition from rap to country has been one of the most successful pivots in music history, and this album is the proof of that work.
The list doesn't stop there. Miranda Lambert is back in the mix with Postcards From Texas. It’s a return to form for her—gritty, honest, and very "Miranda." Joining them are Eric Church with Evangeline Vs. The Machine and Tyler Childers with Snipe Hunter. Childers being in "Contemporary" is actually a point of massive debate among fans.
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Wait.
How is Tyler Childers "contemporary" while someone like Zach Top is "traditional"?
That’s the question everyone is asking at the bars on Broadway. Childers’ Snipe Hunter has some experimental edges, sure, but his soul is rooted in the dirt of Kentucky. The Academy seems to define "Contemporary" by impact and sonic experimentation rather than just "is there a drum machine?"
The Traditional Field: A Father-Son Showdown
This is the category that has the purists actually excited. The grammy country album of the year nominees for Best Traditional Country Album represent the heartbeat of the genre.
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The biggest story here? Willie Nelson and his son, Lukas Nelson, are nominated against each other. It’s a "uniquely sweet moment," as some critics have put it, but also kind of hilarious. Willie is 92 and still putting out records like Oh What A Beautiful World that make people half his age sound lazy. Lukas, on the other hand, delivered American Romance, which is arguably the best work of his career.
The rest of the traditional list is a "who's who" of the neo-traditional movement:
- Charley Crockett – Dollar A Day
- Margo Price – Hard Headed Woman
- Zach Top – Ain't In It For My Health
Zach Top is the name you need to watch. He sounds like 1989-era George Strait in the best way possible. While the Contemporary category is about where country is going, this category is about making sure we don't forget where it started.
Why the Split Actually Matters
For years, the Recording Academy faced backlash for "watering down" the country field. When Beyoncé won Best Country Album in 2025 for Cowboy Carter, it sparked a firestorm of debate about what "country" even means. By splitting the categories in 2026, the Grammys are trying to have their cake and eat it too. They can reward the massive, genre-blurring hits without alienating the folks who just want to hear a steel guitar.
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It’s a smart move. It allows a wider "pipe" for artists to get through. Jelly Roll himself told the Associated Press that he loves the split because it encourages him to maybe try his hand at a traditional record one day.
Who Got Snubbed?
You can’t talk about the grammy country album of the year nominees without mentioning who isn't there. The 2026 list is remarkably safe. Some of the biggest names in the world—Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, and Zach Bryan—are nowhere to be found in the album categories this year.
Is it a political thing? Maybe. The Recording Academy has always had a complicated relationship with Morgan Wallen. Zach Bryan, meanwhile, has been vocal about his distaste for the "awards machine." Their absence makes the field feel a little less like a popularity contest and more like a curated selection, though fans of those artists would probably use the word "boring."
What to Watch For on Awards Night
If you're betting on the winners, keep an eye on Tyler Childers for Contemporary. He’s a critical darling and has the "cool factor" that Grammy voters love. For Traditional, the sentimentality of Willie Nelson is hard to beat, but Zach Top has the momentum of a runaway train right now.
Whatever happens on February 1st, the 2026 Grammys will be remembered as the year country music finally got its own "separate but equal" ecosystem. It’s a gamble for the Academy, but for the artists who have been overlooked for not being "pop enough" or "country enough," it’s a long-overdue win.
Next Steps for Country Fans:
To get the most out of the upcoming ceremony, go back and listen to Zach Top’s Ain’t In It For My Health followed immediately by Kelsea Ballerini’s Patterns. The sonic gap between them is exactly why these two new categories exist. Also, make sure to check out the "Best Country Song" nominees, as that category often tips the Academy's hand on who they really favor for the night.