The phrase “Grammy darlings” applies to artists that Grammy voters love and seem to get all the nominations and awards. In country music, it is quite evident in the last 15 years or so who are the darlings of country music at the Grammy Awards: Miranda Lambert, Chris Stapleton, and Kacey Musgraves.

Nominees this Year for the Grammy for Best Country Album of the Year are Luke Combs for Growin’ Up, Miranda Lambert for Palomino, Ashley McBryde for Ashley McBryde Presents Lindeville, Maren Morris for Humble Quest, and country icon Willie Nelson for his album A Beautiful Time. As the February 5th Grammy Awards approach we take a look at winners in that coveted category through the years.

• 2022 – Chris Stapleton – “Starting Over”

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  This fantastic album from Chris Stapleton also won Album of the Year honors at both the ACM Awards and the CMA Awards in 2021. "Starting Over," the fourth album from Stapleton, debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, selling 103,000 units in its first week.

• 2021 – Miranda Lambert – “Wildcard”

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  "Wildcard" is Miranda's seventh studio album. It was released on November 1, 2019, via RCA Records Nashville. The album features the singles "It All Comes Out in the Wash," "Bluebird," and "Settling Down." It was nominated for but did not win the CMA's Album of The Year honor in 2020.

• 2019 – Kacey Musgraves – “Golden Hour”

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  This critically acclaimed album also won the all-genre Grammy for Album of the Year (a massive deal for a country record) and won the ACMs album of the Year as well.

• 2018 – Chris Stapleton – “From A Room: Volume 1”

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  Only his second album, this project won Country Album of the Year. It also won the Album of the Year award at the 51st Country Music Association Awards.

• 2016 – Chris Stapleton – “Traveller”

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  This is Stapleton's debut album. The song "Traveller" also won Best Country Solo Performance at the 2016 ACM Awards, and it won ACM Album of the Year, with the song "Nobody to Blame" also winning Song of the Year.

• 2015 – Miranda Lambert – “Platinum”

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  Lambert wrote or co-wrote eight of the album's 16 tracks while working with a host of session musicians, songwriters, and guest performers Little Big Town, The Time Jumpers, and Carrie Underwood. The album also scored Album of the Year at both the CMAs and the ACMs.

• 2014 – Kacey Musgraves – “Same Trailer Different Park”

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  On her solo debut album, Musgraves co-wrote all 12 tracks and co-produced the album.

• 2012 – Lady Antebellum – “Own the Night”

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  The trio's third studio album. This became their second number-one album in the US and one of the most successful country albums of 2011.

• 2011 – Lady Antebellum – “Need You Now”

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  This is the follow-up album to their 2008 self-titled debut album. The single "Need You Now" won four awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year at the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards.

• 2010 – Taylor Swift – “Fearless”

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  This is Taylor's second album, and she also won Album of the Year at the Grammys. The album is featured on Rolling Stone's 2022 list of the 100 Greatest Country Albums of All Time.

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