American Roots Music
About American Roots Music
Music Facts: American Roots Music
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American roots music is inspired by a variety of genres like folk, traditional country, Tejano, blues, and gospel.
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American roots music has a powerful history, including 1960s youth singing protest anthems, labor organizers belting "union songs," and enslaved African Americans singing spirituals.
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Recent GRAMMY winners for Best American Roots Performance include John Prine, Sara Bareilles and Alabama Shakes.
Grammy Awards for American Roots Music
| Year | Category | Winner | Work | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Best American Roots Performance | Mavis Staples | Beautiful Strangers | All Nominees |
| 2026 | Best American Roots Song | Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O'Donovan, Sara Watkins | Ancient Light | All Nominees |
| 2026 | Best Americana Album | Jon Batiste | BIG MONEY | All Nominees |
| 2026 | Best Bluegrass Album | Billy Strings | Highway Prayers | All Nominees |
| 2026 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Buddy Guy | Ain’t Done With The Blues | All Nominees |
| 2026 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Robert Randolph | Preacher Kids | All Nominees |
| 2026 | Best Folk Album | I'm With Her | Wild And Clear And Blue | All Nominees |
| 2026 | Best Regional Roots Album | Various Artists | A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco | All Nominees |
| 2026 | Best Americana Performance | Mavis Staples | Godspeed | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best American Roots Performance | Sierra Ferrell | Lighthouse | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best American Roots Song | Sierra Ferrell, Melody Walker | American Dreaming | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best Americana Album | Sierra Ferrell | Trail Of Flowers | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best Bluegrass Album | Billy Strings | Live Vol. 1 | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Taj Mahal | Swingin' Live At The Church In Tulsa | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Ruthie Foster | Mileage | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best Folk Album | Gillian Welch, David Rawlings | Woodland | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best Regional Roots Album | Kalani Pe'a | Kuini | All Nominees |
| 2025 | Best Americana Performance | Sierra Ferrell | American Dreaming | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best American Roots Performance | Allison Russell | Eve Was Black | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best American Roots Song | Jason Isbell | Cast Iron Skillet | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Americana Album | Jason Isbell | Weathervanes | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Bluegrass Album | Molly Tuttle | City Of Gold | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Bobby Rush | All My Love For You | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Larkin Poe | Blood Harmony | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Folk Album | Joni Mitchell | Joni Mitchell At Newport [Live] | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Regional Roots Album | Buckwheat Zydeco | New Beginnings... | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Regional Roots Album | Lost Bayou Ramblers, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra | Live: Orpheum Theater NOLA | All Nominees |
| 2024 | Best Americana Performance | Brandy Clark, Brandi Carlile | Dear Insecurity | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best American Roots Performance | Aaron Neville, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band | Stompin' Ground | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best American Roots Song | Bonnie Raitt | Just Like That | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best Americana Album | Brandi Carlile | In These Silent Days | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best Bluegrass Album | Molly Tuttle, Golden Highway | Crooked Tree | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder | Get On Board | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Edgar Winter | Brother Johnny | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best Folk Album | Madison Cunningham | Revealer | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best Regional Roots Album | Ranky Tanky | Live At The 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | All Nominees |
| 2023 | Best Americana Performance | Bonnie Raitt | Made Up Mind | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best American Roots Performance | Jon Batiste | Cry | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best American Roots Song | Jon Batiste, Steve McEwan | Cry | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best Americana Album | Los Lobos | Native Sons | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best Bluegrass Album | Béla Fleck | My Bluegrass Heart | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Cedric Burnside | I Be Trying | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Christone "Kingfish" Ingram | 662 | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best Folk Album | Rhiannon Giddens, Francesco Turrisi | They're Calling Me Home | All Nominees |
| 2022 | Best Regional Roots Album | Kalani Pe'a | Kau Ka Pe'a | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best American Roots Performance | John Prine | I Remember Everything | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best American Roots Song | Pat McLaughlin, John Prine | I Remember Everything | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best Americana Album | Sarah Jarosz | World On The Ground | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best Bluegrass Album | Billy Strings | Home | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Bobby Rush | Rawer Than Raw | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Fantastic Negrito | Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best Folk Album | Gillian Welch, David Rawlings | All The Good Times | All Nominees |
| 2021 | Best Regional Roots Album | New Orleans Nightcrawlers | Atmosphere | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best American Roots Performance | Sara Bareilles | Saint Honesty | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best American Roots Song | Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O'Donovan, Sara Watkins | Call My Name | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best Americana Album | Keb'Mo' | Oklahoma | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best Bluegrass Album | Michael Cleveland | Tall Fiddler | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Delbert McClinton | Tall, Dark, & Handsome | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Gary Clark, Jr. | This Land | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best Folk Album | Patty Griffin | Patty Griffin | All Nominees |
| 2020 | Best Regional Roots Album | Ranky Tanky | Good Time | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best American Roots Performance | Brandi Carlile | The Joke | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best American Roots Song | Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth | The Joke | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best Americana Album | Brandi Carlile | By The Way, I Forgive You | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best Bluegrass Album | The Travelin' McCourys | The Travelin' McCourys | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Buddy Guy | The Blues Is Alive And Well | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Fantastic Negrito | Please Don't Be Dead | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best Folk Album | Punch Brothers | All Ashore | All Nominees |
| 2019 | Best Regional Roots Album | Kalani Pe'a | No 'Ane'i | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best American Roots Performance | Alabama Shakes | Killer Diller Blues | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best American Roots Song | Jason Isbell | If We Were Vampires | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best Americana Album | Jason Isbell | The Nashville Sound | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best Bluegrass Album | The Infamous Stringdusters | Laws Of Gravity | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best Bluegrass Album | Rhonda Vincent | All The Rage - In Concert Volume One [Live] | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Rolling Stones | Blue & Lonesome | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Taj Mahal, Keb'Mo' | TajMo | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best Folk Album | Aimee Mann | Mental Illness | All Nominees |
| 2018 | Best Regional Roots Album | Lost Bayou Ramblers | Kalenda | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best American Roots Performance | Sarah Jarosz | House Of Mercy | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best American Roots Song | Vince Gill | Kid Sister | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best Americana Album | William Bell | This Is Where I Live | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best Bluegrass Album | Mark O'Connor | Coming Home | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Bobby Rush | Porcupine Meat | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Fantastic Negrito | The Last Days Of Oakland | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best Folk Album | Sarah Jarosz | Undercurrent | All Nominees |
| 2017 | Best Regional Roots Album | Kalani Pe'a | E Walea | All Nominees |
| 2016 | Best American Roots Performance | Mavis Staples | See That My Grave Is Kept Clean | All Nominees |
| 2016 | Best American Roots Song | Jason Isbell | 24 Frames | All Nominees |
| 2016 | Best Americana Album | Jason Isbell | Something More Than Free | All Nominees |
| 2016 | Best Bluegrass Album | SteelDrivers | The Muscle Shoals Recordings | All Nominees |
| 2016 | Best Blues Album | Buddy Guy | Born To Play Guitar | All Nominees |
| 2016 | Best Folk Album | Béla Fleck, Abigail Washburn | Béla Fleck And Abigail Washburn | All Nominees |
| 2016 | Best Regional Roots Album | Jon Cleary | Go Go Juice | All Nominees |
| 2015 | Best American Roots Performance | Rosanne Cash | A Feather's Not A Bird | All Nominees |
| 2015 | Best American Roots Song | Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal | A Feather's Not A Bird | All Nominees |
| 2015 | Best Americana Album | Rosanne Cash | The River & The Thread | All Nominees |
| 2015 | Best Bluegrass Album | The Earls Of Leicester | The Earls Of Leicester | All Nominees |
| 2015 | Best Blues Album | Johnny Winter | Step Back | All Nominees |
| 2015 | Best Folk Album | Old Crow Medicine Show | Remedy | All Nominees |
| 2015 | Best Regional Roots Album | Jo-El Sonnier | The Legacy | All Nominees |
| 2014 | Best American Roots Song | Edie Brickell, Steve Martin | Love Has Come For You | All Nominees |
| 2014 | Best Americana Album | Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell | Old Yellow Moon | All Nominees |
| 2014 | Best Bluegrass Album | Del McCoury | The Streets Of Baltimore | All Nominees |
| 2014 | Best Blues Album | Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite | Get Up! | All Nominees |
| 2014 | Best Folk Album | Guy Clark | My Favorite Picture Of You | All Nominees |
| 2014 | Best Regional Roots Album | Terrance Simien | Dockside Sessions | All Nominees |
| 2013 | Best Americana Album | Bonnie Raitt | Slipstream | All Nominees |
| 2013 | Best Bluegrass Album | Mike Guggino, Charles Humphrey, Woody Platt, Nicky Sanders, Graham Sharp | Nobody Knows You | All Nominees |
| 2013 | Best Blues Album | Dr. John | Locked Down | All Nominees |
| 2013 | Best Folk Album | Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, Chris Thile | The Goat Rodeo Sessions | All Nominees |
| 2013 | Best Regional Roots Album | Wayne Toups, Steve Riley, Wilson Savoy | The Band Courtbouillon | All Nominees |
| 2012 | Best Americana Album | Levon Helm | Ramble At The Ryman | All Nominees |
| 2012 | Best Bluegrass Album | Alison Krauss | Paper Airplane | All Nominees |
| 2012 | Best Blues Album | Tedeschi Trucks Band | Revelator | All Nominees |
| 2012 | Best Folk Album | The Civil Wars | Barton Hollow | All Nominees |
| 2012 | Best Regional Roots Album | Rebirth Brass Band | Rebirth Of New Orleans | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Americana Album | Mavis Staples | You Are Not Alone | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Bluegrass Album | Patty Loveless | Mountain Soul II | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Pinetop Perkins & Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith | Joined At The Hip | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Buddy Guy | Living Proof | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Carolina Chocolate Drops | Genuine Negro Jig | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Ray LaMontagne | God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Native American Music Album | Derek Mathews, Lita Mathews, Melonie Mathews | 2010 Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow: A Spirit's Dance | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Hawaiian Music Album | Tia Carrere | Huana Ke Aloha | All Nominees |
| 2011 | Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album | Chubby Carrier | Zydeco Junkie | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Americana Album | Levon Helm | Electric Dirt | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Bluegrass Album | Steve Martin | The Crow: New Songs For The Five-String Banjo | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Ramblin' Jack Elliott | A Stranger Here | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Derek Trucks | Already Free | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Loudon Wainwright | High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Steve Earle | Townes | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Native American Music Album | Bill Miller | Spirit Wind North | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Hawaiian Music Album | Daniel Ho | Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2 | All Nominees |
| 2010 | Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album | Buckwheat Zydeco | Lay Your Burden Down | All Nominees |
| 2009 | Best Bluegrass Album | Ricky Skaggs | Honoring The Fathers Of Bluegrass: Tribute To 1946 And 1947 | All Nominees |
| 2009 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | One Kind Favor | All Nominees |
| 2009 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Dr. John | City That Care Forgot | All Nominees |
| 2009 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Pete Seeger | At 89 | All Nominees |
| 2009 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Robert Plant, Alison Krauss | Raising Sand | All Nominees |
| 2009 | Best Native American Music Album | Thomas A. Wasinger | Come To Me Great Mystery - Native American Healing Songs | All Nominees |
| 2009 | Best Hawaiian Music Album | Tia Carrere, Daniel Ho | 'Ikena | All Nominees |
| 2009 | Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album | Beausoleil, Michael Doucet | Live At The 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | All Nominees |
| 2008 | Best Bluegrass Album | Jim Lauderdale | The Bluegrass Diaries | All Nominees |
| 2008 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Henry James Townsend, David "Honeyboy" Edwards | Last Of The Great Mississippi Delta Bluesmen: Live In Dallas | All Nominees |
| 2008 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | JJ Cale, Eric Clapton | The Road To Escondido | All Nominees |
| 2008 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Levon Helm | Dirt Farmer | All Nominees |
| 2008 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Steve Earle | Washington Square Serenade | All Nominees |
| 2008 | Best Native American Music Album | Johnny Whitehorse | Totemic Flute Chants | All Nominees |
| 2008 | Best Hawaiian Music Album | Daniel Ho | Treasures Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar | All Nominees |
| 2008 | Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album | Terrance Simien | Live! Worldwide | All Nominees |
| 2007 | Best Bluegrass Album | Ricky Skaggs | Instrumentals | All Nominees |
| 2007 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Ike Turner | Risin' With The Blues | All Nominees |
| 2007 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Irma Thomas | After The Rain | All Nominees |
| 2007 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Bruce Springsteen | We Shall Overcome - The Seeger Sessions | All Nominees |
| 2007 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Bob Dylan | Modern Times | All Nominees |
| 2007 | Best Native American Music Album | Mary Youngblood | Dance With The Wind | All Nominees |
| 2007 | Best Hawaiian Music Album | Various Artists | Legends Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Live From Maui | All Nominees |
| 2006 | Best Bluegrass Album | Del McCoury | The Company We Keep | All Nominees |
| 2006 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | 80 | All Nominees |
| 2006 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Delbert McClinton | Cost Of Living | All Nominees |
| 2006 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Tim O'Brien | Fiddler's Green | All Nominees |
| 2006 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | John Prine | Fair & Square | All Nominees |
| 2006 | Best Native American Music Album | Jim Wilson | Sacred Ground - A Tribute To Mother Earth | All Nominees |
| 2006 | Best Hawaiian Music Album | Various Artists | Masters Of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Vol. 1 | All Nominees |
| 2005 | Best Bluegrass Album | Ricky Skaggs | Brand New Strings | All Nominees |
| 2005 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Etta James | Blues To The Bone | All Nominees |
| 2005 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Keb'Mo' | Keep It Simple | All Nominees |
| 2005 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Various Artists | Beautiful Dreamer - The Songs Of Stephen Foster | All Nominees |
| 2005 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Steve Earle | The Revolution Starts...Now | All Nominees |
| 2005 | Best Native American Music Album | Bill Miller | Cedar Dream Songs | All Nominees |
| 2005 | Best Hawaiian Music Album | Various Artists | Slack Key Guitar Volume 2 | All Nominees |
| 2004 | Best Bluegrass Album | Alison Krauss | Live | All Nominees |
| 2004 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Buddy Guy | Blues Singer | All Nominees |
| 2004 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Etta James | Let's Roll | All Nominees |
| 2004 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | June Carter Cash | Wildwood Flower | All Nominees |
| 2004 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Warren Zevon | The Wind | All Nominees |
| 2004 | Best Native American Music Album | Black Eagle | Flying Free | All Nominees |
| 2003 | Best Bluegrass Album | Jim Lauderdale, Ralph Stanley, Clinch Mountain Boys | Lost In The Lonesome Pines | All Nominees |
| 2003 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | A Christmas Celebration Of Hope | All Nominees |
| 2003 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Solomon Burke | Don't Give Up On Me | All Nominees |
| 2003 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Doc Watson, David Holt | Legacy | All Nominees |
| 2003 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Nickel Creek | This Side | All Nominees |
| 2003 | Best Native American Music Album | Mary Youngblood | Beneath The Raven Moon | All Nominees |
| 2002 | Best Bluegrass Album | Alison Krauss | New Favorite | All Nominees |
| 2002 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Jimmie Vaughan | Do You Get The Blues? | All Nominees |
| 2002 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Delbert McClinton | Nothing Personal | All Nominees |
| 2002 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | (Various Artists) | Down From The Mountain | All Nominees |
| 2002 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Bob Dylan | Love And Theft | All Nominees |
| 2002 | Best Native American Music Album | Verdell Primeaux, Johnny Mike | Bless The People - Harmonized Peyote Songs | All Nominees |
| 2001 | Best Bluegrass Album | Dolly Parton | The Grass Is Blue | All Nominees |
| 2001 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King, Eric Clapton | Riding With The King | All Nominees |
| 2001 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Taj Mahal | Shoutin’ In Key | All Nominees |
| 2001 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Dave Alvin | Public Domain - Songs From The Wild Land | All Nominees |
| 2001 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Emmylou Harris | Red Dirt Girl | All Nominees |
| 2001 | Best Native American Music Album | Tom Bee, Douglas Spotted Eagle | Gathering Of Nations Pow Wow | All Nominees |
| 2000 | Best Bluegrass Album | Ricky Skaggs | Ancient Tones | All Nominees |
| 2000 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | Blues On The Bayou | All Nominees |
| 2000 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Robert Cray | Take Your Shoes Off | All Nominees |
| 2000 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | June Carter Cash | Press On | All Nominees |
| 2000 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Tom Waits | Mule Variations | All Nominees |
| 1999 | Best Bluegrass Album | Ricky Skaggs | Bluegrass Rules! | All Nominees |
| 1999 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Otis Rush | Any Place I'm Going | All Nominees |
| 1999 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Keb'Mo' | Slow Down | All Nominees |
| 1999 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | The Chieftains | Long Journey Home | All Nominees |
| 1999 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Lucinda Williams | Car Wheels On A Gravel Road | All Nominees |
| 1998 | Best Bluegrass Album | Alison Krauss | So Long So Wrong | All Nominees |
| 1998 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | John Lee Hooker | Don't Look Back | All Nominees |
| 1998 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Taj Mahal | Señor Blues | All Nominees |
| 1998 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Beausoleil | L'amour Ou La Folie | All Nominees |
| 1998 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Bob Dylan | Time Out Of Mind | All Nominees |
| 1997 | Best Bluegrass Album | (Various Artists) | True Life Blues - The Songs Of Bill Monroe | All Nominees |
| 1997 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | James Cotton | Deep In The Blues | All Nominees |
| 1997 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Keb'Mo' | Just Like You | All Nominees |
| 1997 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Pete Seeger | Pete | All Nominees |
| 1997 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Bruce Springsteen | The Ghost Of Tom Joad | All Nominees |
| 1996 | Best Bluegrass Album | Nashville Bluegrass Band | Unleashed | All Nominees |
| 1996 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | John Lee Hooker | Chill Out | All Nominees |
| 1996 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Buddy Guy | Slippin' In | All Nominees |
| 1996 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Ramblin' Jack Elliott | South Coast | All Nominees |
| 1996 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Emmylou Harris | Wrecking Ball | All Nominees |
| 1995 | Best Bluegrass Album | (Various Artists) | The Great Dobro Sessions | All Nominees |
| 1995 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Eric Clapton | From The Cradle | All Nominees |
| 1995 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Pops Staples | Father Father | All Nominees |
| 1995 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Bob Dylan | World Gone Wrong | All Nominees |
| 1995 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Johnny Cash | American Recordings | All Nominees |
| 1994 | Best Bluegrass Album | Nashville Bluegrass Band | Waitin' For The Hard Times To Go | All Nominees |
| 1994 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | Blues Summit | All Nominees |
| 1994 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Buddy Guy | Feels Like Rain | All Nominees |
| 1994 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | The Chieftains | The Celtic Harp | All Nominees |
| 1994 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Nanci Griffith | Other Voices/Other Rooms | All Nominees |
| 1993 | Best Bluegrass Album | Alison Krauss | Every Time You Say Goodbye | All Nominees |
| 1993 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Dr. John | Goin' Back To New Orleans | All Nominees |
| 1993 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Stevie Ray Vaughan | The Sky Is Crying | All Nominees |
| 1993 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | The Chieftains | An Irish Evening - Live At The Grand Opera House, Belfast | All Nominees |
| 1993 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | The Chieftains | Another Country | All Nominees |
| 1992 | Best Bluegrass Album | Carl Jackson, John Starling | Spring Training | All Nominees |
| 1992 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | Live At The Apollo | All Nominees |
| 1992 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Buddy Guy | Damn Right, I've Got The Blues | All Nominees |
| 1992 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | (Various Artists) | The Civil War - Original Soundtrack | All Nominees |
| 1992 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | John Prine | The Missing Years | All Nominees |
| 1991 | Best Bluegrass Album | Alison Krauss | I've Got That Old Feeling | All Nominees |
| 1991 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | Live At San Quentin | All Nominees |
| 1991 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Vaughan Brothers | Family Style | All Nominees |
| 1991 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Doc Watson | On Praying Ground | All Nominees |
| 1991 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Shawn Colvin | Steady On | All Nominees |
| 1990 | Best Bluegrass Album | Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Bruce Hornsby | The Valley Road | All Nominees |
| 1990 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker | I'm In The Mood | All Nominees |
| 1990 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Stevie Ray Vaughan | In Step | All Nominees |
| 1990 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | (Bulgarian State Female Vocal Choir) | Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares, Vol. II | All Nominees |
| 1990 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Indigo Girls | Indigo Girls | All Nominees |
| 1989 | Best Bluegrass Album | Bill Monroe | Southern Flavor | All Nominees |
| 1989 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Willie Dixon | Hidden Charms | All Nominees |
| 1989 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Robert Cray | Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark | All Nominees |
| 1989 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | (Various Artists) | Folkways -- A Vision Shared: A Tribute To Woody Guthrie & Leadbelly | All Nominees |
| 1989 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Tracy Chapman | Tracy Chapman | All Nominees |
| 1988 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Professor Longhair | Houseparty New Orleans Style | All Nominees |
| 1988 | Best Contemporary Blues Album - or Contemporary Blues Recording | Robert Cray | Strong Persuader | All Nominees |
| 1988 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Ladysmith Black Mambazo | Shaka Zulu | All Nominees |
| 1988 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Steve Goodman | Unfinished Business | All Nominees |
| 1987 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Robert Cray, Albert Collins, Johnny Copeland | Showdown! | All Nominees |
| 1987 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Doc Watson | Riding The Midnight Train | All Nominees |
| 1987 | Best Contemporary Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Contemporary Folk Recording | Al Bunetta, Dan Einstein, Hank Neuberger | Tribute To Steve Goodman | All Nominees |
| 1986 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | My Guitar Sings The Blues | All Nominees |
| 1986 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Rockin' Sidney | My Toot Toot | All Nominees |
| 1985 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Stevie Ray Vaughan, Koko Taylor | Blues Explosion | All Nominees |
| 1985 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Elizabeth Cotten | Elizabeth Cotten Live! | All Nominees |
| 1984 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | B.B. King | Blues 'N' Jazz | All Nominees |
| 1984 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Clifton Chenier | I'm Here | All Nominees |
| 1983 | Best Traditional Blues Album - or - Best Traditional Blues Recording | Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown | Alright Again | All Nominees |
| 1983 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Queen Ida | Queen Ida & The Bon Temps Zydeco Band On Tour | All Nominees |
| 1982 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | B.B. King | There Must Be A Better World Somewhere | All Nominees |
| 1981 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | (Various Artists) | Rare Blues | All Nominees |
| 1980 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Muddy Waters | Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live | All Nominees |
| 1979 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Muddy Waters | I'm Ready | All Nominees |
| 1978 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Muddy Waters | Hard Again | All Nominees |
| 1977 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | John Hartford | Mark Twang | All Nominees |
| 1976 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Muddy Waters | The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album | All Nominees |
| 1975 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Merle Watson, Doc Watson | Two Days In November | All Nominees |
| 1974 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Doc Watson | Then And Now | All Nominees |
| 1973 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Muddy Waters | The London Muddy Waters Session | All Nominees |
| 1972 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | Muddy Waters | They Call Me Muddy Waters | All Nominees |
| 1971 | Best Traditional Folk Album incl. Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording/Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording | T-Bone Walker | Good Feelin' | All Nominees |
| 1970 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Joni Mitchell | Clouds | All Nominees |
| 1969 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Judy Collins | Both Sides Now | All Nominees |
| 1968 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | John Hartford | Gentle On My Mind | All Nominees |
| 1967 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Cortelia Clark | Blues In The Street | All Nominees |
| 1966 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Harry Belafonte, Miriam Makeba | An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba | All Nominees |
| 1965 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Gale Garnett | We'll Sing In The Sunshine | All Nominees |
| 1964 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Peter, Paul And Mary | Blowin' In The Wind | All Nominees |
| 1963 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Peter, Paul And Mary | If I Had A Hammer | All Nominees |
| 1962 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Belafonte Folk Singers | Belafonte Folk Singers At Home And Abroad | All Nominees |
| 1961 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Harry Belafonte | Swing Dat Hammer | All Nominees |
| 1960 | Best Folk Performance or Best Folk Recording | Kingston Trio | The Kingston Trio At Large | All Nominees |
Previous Winners
Beautiful Strangers
Ancient Light
BIG MONEY
Highway Prayers
Ain’t Done With The Blues
Preacher Kids
Wild And Clear And Blue
A Tribute To The King Of Zydeco
Various Artists
Godspeed
Lighthouse
American Dreaming
Trail Of Flowers
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