Grammy Awards Add New Country Category - Male & Female Categories Combined

It's been more challenging for Country Artists to get Grammy nominations since the Recording Academy combined the Male and Female Vocal Performance of the Year Categories. Prior to 2011, 10 acts could get nominated in separate Male and Female Vocalist categories, but now only 5 artists can make the combined list for 'Best Country Solo Performance' of the Year- with only one winner representing both Male and Female Performances.

Although the Grammy Awards are not going back to individual categories for Male and Female Vocal Performance, they are adding a new category to give more artists a shot at the top prize.  Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. tells Billboard “The community of people that are making country music in all different subgenres came to us with a proposal and said we would like to have more variety in how our music is honored." The result is the award for BEST TRADITIONAL COUNTRY ALBUM!

According to the Academy : “This category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional country music, both vocal and instrumental. Traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums. It also includes sub-genres such as Western, Western Swing, and Outlaw country.”