In the Best Country Album category, we have Faith Hill's Fireflies, Alison Krauss + Union Station's Lonely Runs Both Ways, Brad Paisley's Time Well Wasted, Gretchen Wilson's All Jacked Up, and Trisha Yearwood's Jasper County. Faith Hill has won this category twice before, and just might pull it off again. As stated above, Alison Krauss is always a Grammy favorite, but of the 17 wins they've had, none have been for Country Album. Brad Paisley's album was popular, as was Trisha's and Gretchen's.
Who do I want to win? They're all great albums, but Trisha is my sentimental favorite.
Who will win? I think the Grammy voters will go with Faith Hill.
In the Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, we have Brooks & Dunn with Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill, Rodney Crowell with Emmylou Harris, Faith Hill & Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson and Norah Jones and Gretchen Wilson with Merle Haggard. Vince Gill has long been a Grammy favorite, having racked up 16 Grammy wins in his career so far. Faith has also won for "Let's Make Love" with Tim back in 2000. Willie Nelson also has six Grammys under his belt, and has won in this category before, in 2002 for "Mendocino County Line" with Lee Ann Womack.
Who do I want to win? I'd like to see Gretchen and Merle take this one. Who will win?I think a slight edge has to go to Gretchen Wilson, who performs with the legendary Merle Haggard, who will also be honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award this year, so I think voters may want to add another Grammy to Merle's shelf.
In the Best Country Song, we have Brad Paisley's "Alcohol," Gretchen Wilson's "All Jacked Up," Rascal Flatts' "Bless The Broken Road," The Dixie Chicks' "I Hope," and Lee Ann Womack's "I May Hate Myself in the Morning." Note that the Song award is given to the songwriters, not the singer. Brad, Gretchen and the Chicks all had a hand in writing their songs, so they will receive the award, if they win. So... who do I think will win? Another tough call, but I'm going to go with Lee Ann Womack's "I May Hate Myself in the Morning," thinking that maybe some of the Grammy voters saw this song win at the CMA Awards for Single of the Year.
Who do I want to win? I love all these tunes, and would like to see Lee Ann's "I May Hate Myself in the Morning" take the award here.
Who will win? I think Lee Ann's song may pull out a win here.
In the Best Country Instrumental category, we have Charlie Daniels with "I'll Fly Away," Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush & Béla Feck with "Who's Your Uncle," Alison Krauss And Union Station with "Unionhouse Branch," Nickel Creek with "Scotch & Chocolate," and Brad Paisley with "Time Warp."
Who do I want to win? Brad Paisley is such a great instrumentalist, and "Time Warp" is cool. I'd like to see him win his first Grammy.
Who will win? I think the Grammy voters will vote Alison Krauss + Union Station.
In the Best BlueGrass Album category, we have Marbletown from Blue Highway, Cherryholmes, from Cherryholmes, The Grascals, from The Grascals, The Company We Keep, from The Del McCoury Band, and Ragin' Live from Rhonda Vincent And The Rage.
Who do I want to win? I don't have any of these albums, but I've seen The Grascals live at the CMA Music Festival last year, and enjoyed their show, so I'll pick their self-titled album.
Who will win? I'll go with Cherryholmes, who just won at the IBMA Awards (International Bluegrass Music Association) for Entertainer of the Year.
In the Multiple Genre categories, I don't see "Bless the Broken Road" winning over Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, U2, or Mariah Carey. I also don't think Sugarland will take the New Artist Award over Ciara, Fall Out Boy, Keane and John Legend. I think that Mariah Carey will win for Song, and John Legend will win for New Artist.
Watch the Grammy Awards Show on CBS on February 8, 2006 at 8:00 pm PT/ET, and see if I'm on the mark.