With a “40% chance” in play, Lukas Nelson embraces the rare Grammy scenario where he and father Willie Nelson are competing head-to-head. ML
A historical moment for country music.
This year at the Grammy Awards, Willie Nelson and his son Lukas Nelson are both nominated in the brand country category called Best Traditional Country Album. The previously titled Best Country Album category has been changed to Best Contemporary Country Album, so there will be two opportunities for some of your favorite country artists to win one of music’s most prestigious awards.
Of course, as you might imagine, the Best Traditional Country Album category is stacked.
We have Charley Crockett’s Dollar A Day, Margo Price’s Hard Headed Woman, Zach Top’s Ain’t In It For My Health, Luka’s American Romance and Willie’s, Oh What A Beautiful World all up for the award. Yes, the category is 40% Nelson, and it’s only the second time in history that’s happened at the Grammys, in terms of a father and son both being nominated in the same category for different albums. It’s the first time for a country father/son duo.
The only other time it happened in another genre was in 1998, when Julio Iglesias and his son Enrique Iglesias were both nominated for Best Latin Pop Album, though neither one of them won it, as the award went to Luis Miguel. Funny enough, Julio and Willie have worked together in the past, on their hit song “To All The Girls I’ve Loved Before.”
And while it’s the most competitive category for the country genre this year in my humble opinion, Lukas says he doesn’t view it that way.
In interview with the Los Angeles Times, he says he views it as being nominated “alongside” his dad, rather than being up “against” him:
“‘Against’ is a strong word. Alongside’ is better. I mean, the Nelsons have a 40% chance of winning, which is pretty good.”
Considering they’re both incredible albums, I think that’s a great way of looking at it, and the odds are certainly in their favor when it comes to one for the Nelsons winning this category for the first time.
It has to be an incredibly special and full-circle moment for the entire family, as it also includes Willie’s youngest son Micah, who is nominated with his dad as the producer on Willie’s Last Leaf on the Tree record, which is up for Best Americana Album.
They’re clearly all cheering for each other, and will be happy regardless of who wins (they seem like a very supportive family, obviously), if one of them does win, and it certainly makes country music look good to have them all up for some of the most prestigious awards.
It’s hard to imagine one of them won’t walk away with it, but you never know what could happen. Like I said, that category is stacked, and no mater who wins, it will go to a great artist and fantastic album.
