The nominations for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards have been announced, and while we’re happy for all the nominees this year, we’re chuffed for our Austin City Limits alumni who made the list. The Grammy Awards telecast, co-produced by ACL’s own Terry Lickona, will broadcast on January 31, 2021, hosted for the first time by The Daily Show host, Emmy-winner and Grammy-nominated Trevor Noah.
We’re especially excited for our hometown heroes Black Pumas, who’ve scored nominations for Record of the Year and Best American Roots Performance for their hit “Colors,” as well as a nom for Album of the Year for the deluxe edition of their self-titled debut. We’re also thrilled that our own Ruthie Foster, whose episode airs on January 17, gained a Best Contemporary Blues Album nom, and Rufus Wainwright, whose sensational ACL debut aired back in October, earned a Best Traditional Pop Album nod. Mavis Staples, whose classic Season 38 performance encored two weeks ago, earned a Best American Roots Song nod for her duet with Norah Jones, while John Legend, whose magnificent Season 36 episode with the Roots encored in November, was nominated for Best R&B Album and Best R&B Performance. The late John Prine, whose memorable hour kicked off our 46th season, got two nods for Best American Roots Performance and Best American Roots Song.
Brittany Howard, ACL two-timer with her band Alabama Shakes, cleaned up with half a dozen nominations. Pop princess Billie Eilish received four, while country queen Miranda Lambert took three. Beck, Sarah Jarosz, Lucinda Williams and Brandi Carlile each got two nods. Dolly Parton, the late Leonard Cohen, Coldplay, Sturgill Simpson, H.E.R., Eric Church, David Byrne, Wilco, James Taylor, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Vince Gill, Natalia Lafourcade, Bettye LaVette, the Robert Cray Band, Bela Fleck, Michael Kiwanuka and the Steep Canyon Rangers scored one apiece.
We’d also like to give special shout-outs in the coveted Producer of the Year category: to nominee and ACL three-timer Dan Auerbach and Dave Cobb, who hasn’t performed on ACL but has produced a ridiculous number of artists who have. It’s also a wonderful day in the PBS neighborhood as public television legend Fred Rogers is celebrated for Best Historical Album for It’s Such a Good Feeling: The Best of Mr. Rogers. Congratulations to all.