Country Music Said “That Ain’t Real Country”—Grammys Agreed

Country music fans, get ready for some overdue respect at the Grammys. Starting in 2026, the Recording Academy is introducing a new category: Best Traditional Country Album.

Until now, country artists with a more classic sound—think acoustic guitars, steel strings, and storytelling lyrics—were often lumped into broader categories like Americana or roots. But with country music becoming more diverse, the Academy decided it was time to separate the old school from the new.

The existing Best Country Album category will now be called Best Contemporary Country Album, creating room for this new category that celebrates country in its purest form. From Western swing to outlaw country, this new slot is for the fiddles, banjos, and boots crowd—not the pop-country chart-toppers.

This move brings country music in line with other genres like R&B, blues, and pop, which already split their categories into contemporary and traditional sections. It also means artists like Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell, and Colter Wall—who were often stuck competing in Americana or folk categories—might finally get their rightful place in the country section.

The change didn’t happen overnight. Industry leaders had been pushing for more specific recognition for years, and now the Recording Academy is finally listening. With more artists experimenting and reviving the roots of country, the timing couldn’t be better.