Zach Top’s popularity probably helped play a role in the Grammys deciding to make a new Best Traditional Country Album category for 2026. All the more fitting that Zach would walk away with the trophy.
Zach Top has been the spearhead for helping to reignite the traditional country sound in mainstream country and beyond. His popularity probably helped play a role in the Grammys deciding to make a new Best Traditional Country Album category for 2026. All the more fitting that Zach would walk away with the trophy for his most recent album Ain’t In It For My Health during the award’s inaugural year.Zach Top thanked his lord and savior, along with Carson Chamberlin, everyone on his label, his road band, and others. “Thanks for being here. This is so amazing,” he said during his brief speech. Zach Top bested Charley Crockett’s Dollar A Day, Margo Price’s Hard Headed Woman, Lukas Nelson’s American Romance, and Willie Nelson’s Oh What A Beautiful World to earn the Grammy. The trophy was given out during the Grammy’s “Premier Ceremony” that happens before the televised portion of the awards on Sunday (2/1). Though some might list Zach Top’s last album, 2024’s Cold Beer and Country Music as the superior work, there wasn’t a Best Traditional Country Album category at that time. And no matter what you feel about Zach’s album, there’s no denying its country, and that Zach Top has played a critical role in the neotraditional resurgence. Ain’t In It For My Health was produced and co-written in large part by Carson Chamberlain. Chamberlin is a Kentucky native that played steel guitar and was the bandleader for Keith Whitley all the way up to Whitley’s death in 1989. After that, Chamberlin was the tour manager for Alan Jackson and Clint Black.Other early winners include Tyler Childers for Best Country Song for “Bitin’ List”—Tyler’s first Grammy win. Chris Stapleton also won for “Bad as I Used to Be [From F1® The Movie],” and “Amen” by Shaboozey and Jelly Roll won for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. The Best Contemporary Country Album is slated to be announced during the televised portion of the Grammy Awards Sunday night on CBS. Stay tuned to Saving Country Music for more coverage of the Grammy Awards. – – – – – – – – – – –
Well, I think Margo and Charley’s work was vastly superior. I’m glad the category exists but the award going to the most mainstream and commercial of the nominees isn’t a great sign about the future direction. That said Tyler Childers getting best song is incredibly well deserved (and overdue) and is hopefully a sign he might take Contemporary Album. But if Jelly Roll wins over Childers or Lambert it’ll be criminal.
Sure, Zach Top is “mainstream” and “commercial,” but he’s also very “traditional.” I don’t think we should necessarily penalize him because he’s making traditional country popular. That feels like discouraging success. Without this new award, Zach Top never wins, and the others don’t get nominations. But it was also a very strong field, especially the Margo Price and Charley Crockett albums. Only one can win unfortunately.
Generally speaking I think it’s positive that there’s something more traditional in the mainstream/commercial space so definitely not saying he should be penalised. It’s just what it says for the Grammy category where hopefully indie artists could thrive going forward, is it going to end up dominated by the less poppy end of the mainstream artists?
Bitin’ List’s success had nothing whatsoever to do with the vocal performance or the production. It was all about the catchy melody and some of the cleverest lyrics I’ve heard in years.
Congratulations Zack! This what I envisioned for country in 2026. I hear him & don’t question the genre. This keeps me hopeful!
I played a senior center dance hall gig friday night and a 70 yr old woman requested ‘I Never Lie’. Zach Top resonates with everyone.
Source: savingcountrymusic.com