2015 Grammy Awards Predictions
Some of country music's hottest young artists are among the nominees at the upcoming 2015 Grammy Awards, but Taste of Country predicts it'll be a night for country veterans to shine.
Miranda Lambert is up for Best Country Album, Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance, but we don't think this is her year at the Grammys, despite a strong showing at the CMA Awards. There were just too many wildcards this year, and despite some very fine efforts all around, we think she'll be going home empty-handed that night, along with names like Dierks Bentley, Hunter Hayes and even Keith Urban.
Find out if our predictions are true when the 57th annual Grammy Awards air live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 8 at 7PM ET on CBS.
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The Biggest Upset Will Be:
The Best Country Album category boasts superb efforts from some of country's top talent, but we predict this year's win will go to a dark horse. It's harder for an older artist to win in country, but despite competition from Lambert, Church, Bentley and Brandy Clark, we predict Lee Ann Womack will do just that with 'The Way I'm Livin'.' One of the year's best-reviewed albums, it marks her return to recording after an absence of six years -- and it was well worth it.
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Best Country Solo Performance Will Go To:
The Best Country Solo Performance category comprises exceptional work from Church, Hayes, Lambert and Urban, but none of them are going to top Carrie Underwood's rendition of 'Something in the Water.' Her powerful vocal performance perfectly conveys the deep convictions of her faith, in a way that has propelled the song to become the longest-running multi-week No. 1 hit of her career. Underwood only released one solo single in 2014 (her other nomination is for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for 'Somethin' Bad,' her duet with Lambert), but that's all she'll need for the win.
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Best Country Song Will Go To:
It's been quite some time since we've seen Glen Campbell's name at the Grammy Awards, but it's his year in 2015. He's nominated for Best Country Song and Best Song Written for Visual Media for 'I'm Not Gonna Miss You,' the final song of his career, and we predict he'll win for Best Country Song, beating Lambert, Church, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw. Campbell's heartbreaking goodbye serves as a fitting capstone to his legendary career, and it wouldn't feel right for any other song to win.
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Best Country Duo/Group Performance Will Go To:
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill will be taking a victory lap at the 2015 Grammy Awards. Despite some very strong offerings from the Band Perry, Lambert and Underwood, Little Big Town and Urban and Church, their simple, heartfelt duet on 'Meanwhile Back at Mama's' captured their vocal chemistry and also offered a straight country antidote to all of the light commercial tracks that have dominated the genre recently.
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The Standout Live Performance Will Be From:
The 2015 Grammy Awards boast a slate of live performers from across all genres, including Lambert. But as far as country goes, Eric Church will be making his Grammy performance debut, and we expect him to make it one to remember. There's a reason why Church has built himself into one of country's hottest live acts -- he's equally at home strumming the acoustic or burning up the stage with a hard rockin' performance. Whatever he chooses to do on Sunday, look for it to be one of the evening's big viral moments.