Grammy Nominees Have Kentucky Ties

By Jean Metcalfe

A quick scan of Billboard's listing of nominees for Grammy awards revealed several with ties to Kentucky. The Glasgow-based Kentucky HeadHunters received two nominations (Best New Artist and Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group with Vocal, the latter for their debut album Pickin' On Nashville, which was certified platinum within a year of its release.) Former Kentuckians The Judds were also nominated in the latter category for their Love Can Build A Bridge.

The Dillards received a nomination for Best Bluegrass Recording for Darlin' Boys (track from "Let It Fly"). Louisville's Steve Cooley plays banjo with The Dillards.

Steven Curtis Chapman, a resident of the Commonwealth, was nominated for Best Pop Gospel Album for More to this Life.

Banjo player Bela Fleck, who was a resident of Lexington for a couple of years back in 1979-80, received a nomination for Best Instrumental Composition for "The Sinister Minister." Now with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, he is probably best remembered as the banjo player for New Grass Revival.

Dwight Yoakam, who was born in Pikeville and has family living in Louisville, is in the running for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for his single "Turn It On, Turn It Up, Turn Me Loose."

Lorrie Morgan and her late husband Keith Whitley, from Sandy Hook, Ky., received a nomination for Best Country Vocal Collaboration for "Til A Tear Becomes A Rose."

Hope we haven't overlooked anyone; there are a lot of nominees.

The Grammy Awards ceremony will be telecast live at 8:00 p.m. on February 20 from New York's Radio City Music Hall on CBS-TV.