In the nominations for the 51st Grammy Awards, Louisiana is well-represented. Acadiana musicians dominate in the Cajun and Zydeco category, and New Orleans' Lil' Wayne leads the entire Grammy pack with eight nominations.
In the Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album category, the nominees are BeauSoleil & Michael Doucet (Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival), Michael Doucet (From Now On), the Pine Leaf Boys (Homage Au Passé), Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys (Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival), and Cedric Watson's self-titled release.
Lil' Wayne stands the greatest chance of walking away with most of the night's top honors. With eight nominations for his album, Tha Carter III, he's up for Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album. His "A Milli" is up for the Best Rap Solo Performance, "Mr. Carter" (featuring Jay-Z) is up for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group, "Got Money" (featuring T-Pain) is up for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, and "Lollipop" is up for Best Rap Song.
In the Best Contemporary Blues Album, three of the nominees are Louisiana natives - Marcia Ball for Peace, Love & BBQ; Dr. John And The Lower 911 for City That Care Forgot; and Irma Thomas for Simply Grand. Lettsworth native Buddy Guy is nominated for Skin Deep in Best Traditional Blues Album, and Shreveport native Kix Brooks (one-half of Brooks & Dunn) is up for the Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals for the tune "God Must Be Busy," from their album Cowboy Town.
Other notables include Best Rock Album by The Raconteurs for Consolers Of The Lonely which features the string work of local musician and producer Dirk Powell. New Orleans' Terence Blanchard is also in line for the honor for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo, as the soloist in "Be-Bop" from the album Live At The 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival. And part-time New Orleans resident Harry Shearer (aka Derek Smalls and/or C. Montgomery Burns and other Simpsons characters) is nominated in the Best Comedy Album for his Songs Of The Bushmen.
The Grammy Awards will be held on Feb. 8, 2009, in Los Angeles and will broadcast live on CBS.