CMA/Image Group LAWhen the contenders for the 58th annual Grammy awards are announced this morning, Sam Hunt and Chris Stapleton have a good shot at being among the nominees, if previous acclaim is any indication. Last month, Chris made a surprise sweep at the CMA Awards, walking away with the New Artist, Male Vocalist and Album trophies. Then Sam took home the all-genre New Artist honor at the American Music Awards.
“It’s a huge honor to be considered for any of the awards shows,” Sam says. “Being acknowledged as a part of the music community at this level is what I really appreciate. It makes me feel a part of the family in the country music genre– and then if the opportunity is there to be a part of some of these larger music communities, I’m for that too.”
While Sam has racked up three number ones in the past year, Chris was largely unknown aside from a very devoted group of fans and music industry supporters. The Traveller creator, who counts Justin Timberlake and Bill Murray among his die-hards, says some Grammy love would not only impact him, but his believers as well.
“It would mean a lot. It would mean a lot to me and it would mean I know a lot to the fans who are very, very passionate about what we do,” Chris reflects. “We go play songs off the record and they know all the words to every song on the record. That kind of takes you back one way and then you’re like, ‘Well, that’s cool! I don’t have to sing this verse. Thanks!’ And you step back and just listen to that. It’s a remarkable thing that music can do that you don’t get to experience as a musician or as a songwriter or as a singer that often. So I’m sure it would mean the world to them as it would to me.”
The new artist, album, record and song nods will be revealed at 8 a.m. ET today on CBS This Morning, with the remaining categories going live at 8:30 on the Grammy website. You can watch the 2016 show February 15 on CBS.
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