Breaking Down The Grammy Nominations (Or: Hey, Some Love For DFWd!)

The 2009 Grammy nominations were announced last night, which means, yep, we’re being INUNDATED with press releases from ecstatic and eager publicists touting their clients’ successes.

Like we have any say in the matter. Yeah, right.

But, by my count, DFWd’s doing OK here. Here’s a breakdown of area artists who received Grammy nominations last night…

• Erykah Badu

Kinda shocking to see Ms. Badu only get one nomination for her excellent New Amerykah Pt. 1: 4th World War disc–especially since the sole award she’s nominated for (Best Short-Form Music Video) has very little to do with the album itself. Oh well. Good news for Badu here is that precedent says she’s a lock: The video’s already won MTV and BET awards in 2008.

• Kirk Franklin 

Oh, like you’re surprised? The Fort Worth native just might be the
biggest name in contemporary gospel music. This year, he’s earned
nominations for Best Gospel Song (“Help Me Believe”) and Best
Contemporary Gospel/R&B Album (The Fight of My Life). I’m guessing he wins at least one of those two.

• MercyMe

Oh, the joys of living in the bible belt: Greenville’s MercyMe
challenges Franklin in the Best Gospel Song category, thanks to a
nomination for the song “You Reign”.

• Play-N-Skillz

Dallas’ own Play-N-Skillz, which heretoforth should be how this sibling
duo should be forever known, has a chance to walk away from the Grammys
with three production awards, all thanks to their work with Lil Wayne,
whose eight nominations leads all artists. Play-N-Skillz would get some
tangetal love if Wayne walks with wins in Album of the Year or Best Rap
Album categories for Tha Carter III or if Lil Wayne and T-Pain win the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for the PNS-produced “Got Money”.

• T Bone Burnett

Thanks to his production work with Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, T Bone Burnett could walk with two Grammys this year: The duo’s “Please Read The Letter” is up for Record of the Year, and their album, Raising Sand, is up for Album of the Year.

• The Jonas Brothers

Everyone’s favorite tween heartthrobs du jour, who now live in Westlake–embrace it, everyone–are up for Best New Artist.

• Don Henley

Everyone’s favorite UNT alum, Don Henley, is up for a whole slew of awards with the Eagles: Best Pop Performance
By A Duo Or Group With Vocals, Best Pop Instrumental Performance, Best
Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals and Best Pop Vocal Album.

…and I think that’s it. But either way, kinda impressive, no? —Pete Freedman