Bringing in featured talent for a country tune has increased in popularity over the past few years. This year's nominees in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category are split between solid solo acts calling in their buddies and groups that conquered the charts with no assistance. Keith Urban and Eric Church collaborated on "Raise 'Em Up" while Tim McGraw brought in his wife, Faith Hill, for "Meanwhile Back at Mama's." Then there's the power duo of Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood on "Somethin' Bad." But the two big contenders here are Little Big Town and The Band Perry.
Little Big Town released "Day Drinking" in June, immediately making it one of the most popular country summertime anthems. Their Pain Killer LP followed in October. Meanwhile, The Band Perry is sporting a cover tune, "Gentle on My Mind," which was included on the soundtrack for the Glen Campbell (who originally performed the song) documentary Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me. Little Big Town is making a run at its second Grammy award with a contemporary anthem while The Band Perry is searching for its first win with a tune performed by a legend.
Underwood and Lambert could be dangerous going into Sunday's show because "Somethin' Bad" is a crossover hit, having reached 19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Hot Country Songs charts. The song is the pair's answer to all the bro-country tracks with two undeniably smooth voices leading the charge.
You can't sleep on Church and Urban's effort either. Sorry, Tim. Maybe next time. Besides, he and Hill combine for a total of six Grammy wins, including two together (2000's "Let's Make Love" and 2005's "Like We Never Loved at All").
NOMINEES:
Keith Urban and Eric Church - "Raise 'Em Up"
The Band Perry - "Gentle on My Mind"
Tim McGraw and Faith Hill - "Meanwhile Back at Mama's"
Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood - "Somethin' Bad"
Little Big Town - "Day Drinking"
WHO SHOULD WIN: The Band Perry
Campbell, along with Julian Raymond, wrote a hauntingly beautiful track that's up for Best Country Song titled "I'm Not Gonna Miss You." The Rhinestone Cowboy is currently in a treatment facility battling Alzheimer's, but his talent and spirit live on through his catalog of influential music.
Campbell shouldn't win Best Country Song for the sympathy vote, and neither should The Band Perry. The trio took an already gorgeous song and polished it off, bringing their own contemporary flavor to it. Give it a listen below - Kimberly Perry's voice glides right over brother Neil's driving banjo work. They give some more breathing room to the lyrics, adding harmonies and some light pop effects.
"It's just knowing that the world will not be cursing / Or forgiving when I walk along some railroad track and find / That you're moving on the backroads / By the rivers of my memory / And for hours you're just gentle on my mind," Kimberly sings during the goosebump moment of the song. Yes, they deserve the win for sure.
WHO WILL WIN: The Band Perry
Again, this will not be a sympathy vote thing. This is just the best tune out of the bunch, and that has as much to do with the fact that it's a Glen Campbell song as the fact that The Band Perry killed the performance. "Day Drinking" could play spoiler, but don't count on any other surprises here.
It will be a great moment for The Band Perry to bring in their first Grammy with a tribute to one of the genre's forefathers. And it will be an even better moment when Campbell is gentle on everyone's minds at the ceremony.
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