There are six country albums nominated for the coveted 2012 Grammy award for “Best Country Album.” The nominees include Jason Aldean’s My Kinda Party, Eric Church’s Chief, Lady Antebellum’s Own the Night, Blake Shelton’s Red River Blue, George Strait’s Here for a Good Time, and Taylor Swift’s Speak Now.
"My Kinda Party"
Jason Aldean's My Kinda Party ranked as the second best-selling country album of the year according to Billboard's 2011 Year-End Charts. His record was also named "Album of the Year" by the Country Music Association (CMA), making him a strong contender for the trophy. His biggest competition will be Taylor Swift for the Grammy win.
"Chief"
Eric Church had a big year in country! Chief debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Album Charts, and stayed in that position for two weeks; however, for Church, the nomination is the reward, and his chances for a win are slim, especially with competition derived from Swift, Strait, and Aldean.
"Red River Blue"
Blake Shelton is the reigning CMA "Male Vocalist of the Year." In May of 2011, he married Miranda Lambert, who is the queen of modern country; however, he was yet to win a Grammy, and it'll be a challenge for him to win this category this year. He'll have to settle with the nomination.
"Own the Night"
Lady Antebellum won this category last year with their sophomore CD Need You Now. Their newest release was also a commercial success, but this year, Swift is back in the race, and she will give them a run for their money.
"Here for a Good Time"
George Strait is one of country's most beloved vocalists. In his illustrious career, spanning over three decades, he has only won one Grammy, and it was in this category for Troubadour, back in 2009. One should never underestimate "King" George. If he garners enough votes from his peers, he may pull a win.
"Speak Now"
Taylor Swift's Speak Now was the most successful album in the country genre. It has sold over three million units in the United States alone and was embraced by audiences worldwide; moreover, Swift was the sole songwriter on all fourteen tracks of the album. Swift is undeniably the frontrunner. The greatest shock was that she failed to garner a nod for "Album of the Year," making it one of the year's biggest Grammy snubs; however, a win for Swift in this category will be a huge consolation.
The Verdict
Look for Taylor Swift to be at the Grammy podium accepting this award. The only two possible spoilers would be George Strait or Jason Aldean.
Markos Papadatos - Markos Papadatos holds over six years journalism experience, authoring over 700 articles, many of which are feature profile interviews.
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