George Strait Leads Country Grammy Nominations

King George rules the pack of country artists in the 2009 Grammy nominations. Strait received four nods, including Best Country Album for 'Troubadour.' The nominations were announced Wednesday night at a star-studded concert in L.A., co-hosted by Taylor Swift and LL Cool J.

Sugarland, Trisha Yearwood and Jamey Johnson follow in country nods with three each. This marks Johnson's first ever Grammy recognition. Brad Paisley, Patty Loveless, James Otto and Lady Antebellum each have two nominations. Lady A is in the coveted Best New Artist category, which spans all genres.

Rapper Lil Wayne leads overall nominations with eight, followed by Coldplay with seven. Alison Krauss and Robert Plant have five nods, though only one of those in the country category. With their 'Raising Sand' album of duets, the bluegrass darling and Led Zeppelin frontman are up for two of Grammy's biggest awards, Record and Album of the Year. Krauss holds the record for the most Grammy wins ever by a female artist.

Grammy Nominations - Country Categories

Best Country Album

'That Lonesome Song' - Jamey Johnson
'Sleepless Nights' - Patty Loveless
'Troubadour' - George Strait
'Around the Bend' - Randy Travis
'Heaven, Heartache And The Power Of Love' - Trisha Yearwood

Best Country Song
(award goes to songwriters)

'Dig Two Graves' - Ashley Gorley & Bob Regan (recorded by Randy Travis)
'I Saw God Today' - Rodney Clawson, Monty Criswell & Wade Kirby (recorded by George Strait)
'In Color' - Jamey Johnson, Lee Thomas Miller & James Otto (recorded by Jamey Johnson)
'Stay' - Jennifer Nettles (recorded by Sugarland)
'You're Gonna Miss This' - Ashley Gorley & Lee Thomas Miller (recorded by Trace Adkins)

Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group

Brooks and Dunn - 'God Must Be Busy'
Lady Antebellum - 'Love Don't Live Here'
Rascal Flatts - 'Every Day'
Steel Drivers - 'Blue Side of the Mountain'
Sugarland - 'Stay'

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals

Kenny Chesney & George Strait - 'Shiftwork'
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - 'Killing the Blues'
George Strait & Patty Loveless - 'House of Cash'
Sugarland, Jake Owen & Little Big Town - 'Life in a Northern Town'
Trisha Yearwood & Keith Urban - 'Let the Wind Chase You'

Best Female Country Vocal Performance

Martina McBride - 'For These Times'
LeAnn Rimes - 'What I Cannot Change'
Carrie Underwood - 'Last Name'
Lee Ann Womack - 'Last Call'
Trisha Yearwood - 'This Is Me You're Talking To'

Best Male Country Vocal Performance

Trace Adkins - 'You're Gonna Miss This'
Jamey Johnson - 'In Color'
James Otto - 'Just Got Started Lovin' You'
Brad Paisley - 'Letter to Me'
George Strait - 'Troubadour'

Best Country Instrumental Performance

Cherryholmes - 'Sumatra'
Jerry Douglas & Lloyd Green - 'Two Small Cars In Rome'
Béla Fleck & The Flecktones - 'Sleigh Ride'
Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Jerry Douglas & Bruce Hornsby - 'Is This America?'
Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert & Steve Wariner - 'Cluster Pluck'