Steve Martin ‘Totally Surprised’ by Grammy Nominations

Steve Martin certainly has had a diverse career, and he has the trophies to prove it. The actor -- who has received several awards for his career in front of the camera, including a Golden Globe -- has also won several Grammys, both for his comedy albums and his music.

The 68-year-old most recently won a Grammy in 2009, for Best Bluegrass Album for his 'The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo' record.  He admits his new nominations -- for Best Americana Album and Best American Roots Song, both from his 'Love Has Come for You' collaborative record with Edie Brickell -- came as quite the shock.

"[I was] ecstatic. And totally surprised," he tells CMT of the news he had two more Grammy nods. "Happy for us both, and for Peter Asher as well, our historic and outstanding producer."

The Texas native says he relied on his most-beloved instrument when recording his latest album.

“The banjo can be so evocative when it’s used sparingly, and that was in the back of my mind as we were writing,” he explains. “It’s the way I’ve longed to play and hear the banjo, rather than it being present at every moment. In these songs, the point is to tell the story and get out.”

The two musicians were able to work out 'Love Has Come for You' quickly, proving they have undeniable magic when working together. "Edie wrote these wonderful lyrics, but the banjo melody came to me almost all at once," he recalls. "I sent her the banjo track, and the lyrics came back to me in less than 12 hours."

Martin and Brickell are also shopping a musical together, but he says they never actually discussed how they would accomplish the task. "We rarely talk about our collaboration," Martin admits. "It just happens. It has changed over the long months, and working on the musical has changed it again. But to describe might be to harm it."

The 56th annual Grammy Awards will air live from Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 26. See a complete list of nominees here.