2019 Grammy Predictions: Country and American Roots

Best Country Album
Will Win - Kacey Musgraves "Golden Hour"
Could Win - Chris Stapleton "Millionaire"
Should Win - Kacey Musgraves "Golden Hour"
Commentary - Musgraves is the only nominee here that crosses over to Album of the Year. She has won this category before, and easily has the best album of the bunch. The only contender who could upset is Chris Stapleton, who has won this category at lot recently.

Best Country Solo Performance
Will Win - Kacey Musgraves "Butterflies"
Could Win - Chris Stapleton "Millionaire"
Should Win - Kacey Musgraves "Butterflies"
Commentary - Musgraves is going to win a lot of Grammys, and I expect that she will dominate the country awards in the process, including this one.

Best Country Duo/Group
Will Win - Dan + Shay "Tequila"
Could Win - Bebe Rexha feat. Florida Georgia Line "Meant to Be" or Maren Morris feat. Vince Gill "Dear Hate"
Should Win - Maren Morris feat. Vince Gill "Dear Hate"
Commentary - Morris' duet with Vince Gill is easily the best of the bunch, but I think that the two more popular songs, Tequila and Meant to Be will battle it out for the win. Rexha also has a Best New Artist award, so may have more support across the board. But I have a feeling that the smash hit Tequila wins.

Best Country Song
Will Win - Kacey Musgraves "Space Cowboy"
Could Win - Dan + Shay "Tequila"
Should Win - Kacey Musgraves "Space Cowboy"
Commentary - Tequila is the bigger hit, but I think Musgraves is just too popular this year, and will sweep her country categories.

Best Americana Album
Will Win - Brandi Carlile "By the Way, I Forgive You"
Could Win - Lee Ann Womack "The Lonely, The Lonesome, & The Gone"
Should Win - Carlile, Womack, or Bettye LaVette "Things Have Changed"
Commentary - Voters really cannot go wrong here, and I am particularly delighted to see LaVette's Things Have Changed get some Grammys love. But I think Carlile, with her Album of the Year nomination will be hard to beat.

Best American Roots Performance
Will Win - Brandi Carlile "The Joke"
Could Win - Jon Batiste "Saint James Infirmary Blues" or Willie Nelson "Last Man Standing"
Should Win - Brandi Carlile "The Joke"
Commentary - Jon Batiste and Willie Nelson are standout names on a ballot, but only Carlile has a Record of the Year nomination. I think she wins pretty easily.

Best American Roots Song
Will Win - The Joke
Could Win - Build a Bridge
Should Win - The Joke
Commentary - The Jeff Tweedy/Mavis Staples song Build a Bridge will definitely have its supporters, but once again, Carlile's The Joke is nominated for Song of the Year.