The Recording Academy has announced a significant change to its country music categories, effective for the 2026 Grammy Awards. The single Best Country Album award will now split into two distinct categories: Best Contemporary Country Album and Best Traditional Country Album. This move aims to better reflect the diverse sounds within the genre.
This decision follows a period of evolving definitions within country music. It also comes after Beyoncé's historic win for Best Country Album in February, a moment that sparked broader conversations about genre boundaries and representation.
Key Takeaways
- Grammys will feature two country album categories starting in 2026: Contemporary and Traditional.
- The change aims to recognize the genre's expanding sound and historical roots.
- Definitions for each category focus on instrumentation, rhythm, lyrical content, and stylistic intention.
- The move has generated discussion regarding its timing and potential impact on diversity.
New Categories Reflect Evolving Genre
The Recording Academy's update means the 68th Grammy Awards, scheduled for February 1, 2026, will be the first to feature these new awards. The existing Best Country Album category has been redefined as Best Contemporary Country Album. A brand new award, Best Traditional Country Album, has been established.
This expansion mirrors similar adjustments seen in other genres, such as R&B. In 1999, the Academy introduced a traditional R&B category to highlight artists preserving classic sounds. Later, in 2021, the Best Urban Contemporary Album category evolved into Best Progressive R&B Album to acknowledge genre fusion.
According to Rhodes College professor Charles L. Hughes, author of “Country Soul,” the change is a "more complicated story" than a direct reaction to any single event. However, he acknowledges the timing might lead some to view it as such.
Grammy Category Evolution
- 1999: Traditional R&B category introduced.
- 2021: Best Urban Contemporary Album became Best Progressive R&B Album.
- 2026: Country Album splits into Contemporary and Traditional.
Defining 'Traditional' and 'Contemporary'
The Recording Academy has provided specific guidelines for each new category. The Best Traditional Country Album category is for "country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre." This includes specific rhythm and singing styles, lyrical content, and traditional country instrumentation.
Traditional instruments listed in the rule book include acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums. Subgenres like outlaw country, Western, and Western swing are expected to fit within this definition.
In contrast, the Best Contemporary Country Album category focuses on "stylistic intention, song structure, lyrical content, and/or musical presentation to create a sensibility that reflects the broad spectrum of contemporary country style and culture." These albums should be "relevant to the legacy of country music’s culture, while also engaging in more contemporary music forms."
"It makes sense that the Grammy categories for country would become a little bit more expansive," says DePaul University professor Francesca T. Royster, author of “Black Country Music: Listening for Revolutions.” "Because I think the music is more expansive and the audience is also more expansive than it’s ever been."
Challenges in Classification
Despite the defined parameters, some experts anticipate challenges in categorizing albums. Hughes questions the definition of "country music's culture" and whose tradition is being referenced. He notes the description for traditional country can sound tautological, implying that contemporary country might simply encompass everything else.
Royster suggests both categories reflect aesthetic and political agendas. The traditional category might appeal to artists who want to ensure older forms are recognized, while the contemporary category supports expansion.
Impact of Beyoncé's Win
Beyoncé's win for "Cowboy Carter" at the 2025 Grammys was a landmark moment. She became the first Black woman to win Best Country Album. This victory ignited discussions about reclamation and access for Black artists in a genre with significant Black influences from its inception.
Hughes views her win as a "welcomed surprise" and a catalyst for important conversations. While he doesn't see the category split as a direct response, he hopes it will lead to greater diversity and opportunity for Black artists, especially Black women, in country music.
Initial Nominees and Future Outlook
The nominees for the inaugural Best Contemporary Country Album include Kelsea Ballerini's “Patterns,” Tyler Childers' “Snipe Hunter,” Eric Church's “Evangeline vs. the Machine,” Jelly Roll's “Beautifully Broken,” and Miranda Lambert's “Postcards from Texas.”
For Best Traditional Country Album, the nominees are Charley Crockett's “Dollar a Day,” Lukas Nelson's “American Romance,” Willie Nelson's “Oh What a Beautiful World,” Margo Price's “Hard Headed Woman,” and Zach Top's “Ain’t In It For My Health.”
Royster sees this initial lineup as a cautious start, with artists whose "country creds would still be recognized even if they’re also bringing in other elements." She hopes future nominations will show even more room for diverse sounds.
Hughes points out potential ambiguities. Zach Top's album, for example, draws heavily from George Strait's 1970s sound, which itself blended honky-tonk and contemporary country elements. This raises questions about how far back "traditional" extends and what influences are acceptable.
"Anytime the pipe widens, more water gets through. And this was the pipe widening, baby," said Jelly Roll, nominated in the Best Contemporary Country Album category.
Three-time Grammy winner Brad Paisley also supports the expansion. He views awards as tools to generate awareness for music. "If this means they got to make more little gold gramophone statues to give out, and two people get them versus one, great," Paisley stated.
However, Paisley also wonders if the division could inadvertently influence artists' creative choices, causing them to consider which category their music might fit into. He hopes decisions will remain with a panel based purely on artistic merit.
The 68th Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. It will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.