Country music legend Willie Nelson and his 32-year-old son, Lukas Nelson, just made history. The father and son were each nominated for Best Traditional Country Album at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Willie Nelson and Son Receive Grammy Nominations
Willie, 92, and Lukas will compete for the first-ever Best Traditional Country Album at February’s awards show.
The “Always on My Mind” singer was nominated for his album “Oh What a Beautiful World,” while his son’s debut album “American Romance” was also nominated.
The Nelsons will be competing against Charley Crockett’s “Dollar a Day,” Margo Price’s “Hard Headed Woman,” and Zach Top’s “Ain’t in It for My Health.”
Best Traditional Country Album was added to the 2026 show, as the longstanding Best Country Album was renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, the Recording Academy announced in June.
“This Category recognizes excellence in albums of traditional country music, both vocal and instrumental,” the announcement explained. “Traditional country includes country recordings that adhere to the more traditional sound structures of the country genre, including rhythm and singing style, lyrical content, as well as traditional country instrumentation such as acoustic guitar, steel guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin, piano, electric guitar, and live drums. It also includes sub-genres such as Western, Western Swing, and Outlaw country.”
Willie has earned 57 Grammy nominations throughout his career, taking home 12 statuettes. In addition to Best Traditional Country Album, Willie is also nominated for Best Americana Album for “Last Leaf on the Tree.”
Lukas, who previously performed with his band Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, has won one Grammy Award. He won for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for his work on the 2018 film “A Star Is Born.”
Lukas Nelson Opens Up About His Relationship With Dad Willie
Lukas — whom Willie shares with wife Annie D’Angelo — previously opened up about his relationship with the “On the Road Again” artist.
“Every second of every day, I am trying to be with my father if I can. But he, of all people, understands the importance of striking while the iron’s hot,” Lukas told Rolling Stone in August. And I’ve always wanted to make him proud by being a hard worker, being self-sufficient, and never needing to ask him for anything. And it takes me away from my dad sometimes, but I know that he knows why because he had to do the same thing when he was young.”
The 2026 Grammy Awards are scheduled for February 1, when fans will find out if one of the Nelsons will take home the prize.
