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Earlier today, The Grammys announced the nominees for their many, many awards for recorded music. But here, we really only care about the bluegrass and bluegrass adjacent nominations. And so, to the all-important Best Bluegrass Album category. The nominees are: Carter & Cleveland – Michael Cleveland & Jason Carter A Tip Toe High Wire – Sierra Hull Arcadia – Alison Krauss & Union Station Outrun – The Steeldrivers Highway Prayers – Billy Strings Alison Krauss also received a nominations for Best Roots Performance for Richmond on the James, from the Arcadia album. Sierra Hull received one for Best American Roots Song for Spitfire, and Arcadia got a nod for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical. The Isaacs were nominated in Best Roots Gospel Album for Praise & Worship: More Than A Hollow Hallelujah. Winners will be announced on February 1, 2026. The main show, which will be televised on CBS and streamed live on Paramount+, occurs that evening. The award winners listed above will be announced Sunday afternoon during a special awards broadcast, typically streamed live from The Grammys web site. Congratulations and best of luck all! The post 2026 bluegrass Grammy nominations appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

These days, when we write about Jerry Salley, it’s usually in connection with his work as Creative Director and A&R Director with Billy Blue Records. Or about his efforts producing many of the projects on the label, or writing songs recorded by their artists. But we mustn’t forget that Jerry came up as a singer, which is how we first noticed his contributions to bluegrass music. His busy career with Billy Blue doesn’t give him a lot of time for his own music, though he did release a new album of him singing his own songs, called The Songwriter, last year. Today, a new single from that record is released, Hit The Wall, which tells of a lady who has suffered romantic disappointment so many times that she has constructed an emotional wall around herself to prevent further letdowns. The great sadness of her life becomes the fact that even a true heart is unable to break through. Jerry sings the lead, supported by Jason Roller on guitar and fiddle, Justin Moses on mandolin and reso-guitar, Aaron McDaris on banjo, and Jeff Partin on bass. Jerry and Magnolia Williams add vocal harmonies. Have a listen in this lyric video. Hit The Wall, and the full The Songwriter album, are available from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct. The post Hit The Wall from Jerry Salley appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Virginia fiddler, singer, and songwriter Mike Mitchell has a new single with Mountain Fever Records, another he has written called Hinge on the Gate, with Beth Lee. Like most of his songs, this one conveys a simple life, down-home, small-town charm with a story about a little boy growing up in an idyllic farm setting, white picket fence and all. The title refers to the sound made by the rusty old fence gate that let his mom know he was safely back home again. Things take a tragic turn in the final verse, but let’s not spoil the story. Mike plays fiddle and sings the lead on this track, supported by Darin Aldridge on guitar, Wayne Benson on mandolin, Kristin Scott Benson on banjo, and Tim Surrett on bass. Darin also added the harmony vocals. Have a listen. Hinge on the Gate is available now from popular download and streaming services online, and to radio programmers via AirPlay Direct. It will also appear on Mike’s debut Mountain Fever project, Love Songs, Torch & Bluegrass, expected in 2026. The post Hinge on the Gate from Mike Mitchell appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Randall Franks with Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame Directors LaDonna Ray and Shirley Maule On October 25, Randall Franks was inducted into the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the Seaplane Opry House in Moultrie, GA. Franks, a Georgia native, is best known to the world at large for playing the role of Officer Randy Goode in the TV series In the Heat of the Night during the late 1980s and early ’90s. But in our world, Randall is known as a fiddler and as a songwriter. He typically serves as the announcer at the Grand Master Fiddle Championship, and has recorded more than two dozen albums of his music and comedy. He had gotten an early start in bluegrass music through the intervention of the great Bill Monoe. In 1984, Monroe arranged for Randall’s young band, The Peachtree Pickers, to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. Monroe was sufficiently impressed with the young fiddler that he offered him the fiddle spot in the Blue Grass Boys during one of Kenny Baker’s interregnums. Upon being honored for his induction, Franks said… “This recognition comes thanks to God, the artists who’ve given me a hand up, my fellow musicians who supported me, behind-the-scenes professionals, my parents, and especially the fans who’ve bought tickets, merchandise, and tuned in. Your support means everything!” He then delighted the audience with a fiery rendition of Orange Blossom Special, supported by fellow inductee, bluegrass guitarist and vocalist Dan Daniel. The Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame was founded in 2019 by Shirley Maule to recognize important contributions in the south Georgia and north Florida region. A total of 41 inductees were honored in 2025. You can see a list of their names below. Congratulations to Randall Franks, and his fellow 2025 inductees. The post Randall Franks inducted into Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame appeared first on Bluegrass Today.

Trump's AI Action Plan is among many proposed solutions and court decisions addressing the legality of using unlicensed copyrighted materials to train AI systems.