The Grammy Award for Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album was an honor presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards, to artists, producers, and engineers for quality gospel music albums. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
Originally called the Grammy Award for Best Southern Gospel Album, the award was first presented to Bruce Carroll at the 33rd Grammy Awards in 1991 for the album The Great Exchange. Three years later, the category's name was changed to the Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album. The category's name was changed to Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel Album in 1998. After 2011 it was merged with the Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album and the Grammy Award for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album, forming the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. The NARAS made this change in order to "tighten the number of categories" at the Grammy Awards. In 2015, a similar category, Best Roots Gospel Album was introduced.
Bill Gaither has the most wins in the category, with a total of four: two from his work in the Gaither Vocal Band, and another two in combination with his wife, Gloria. Randy Travis has won one less Grammy than Gaither in this category, with three. Gaither has the most nominations in the category, with eleven; the Light Crust Doughboys have eight, trailing Gaither by three nominations. Kyle Lehning holds the record for most wins as a producer or engineer, with a total of three. Nominated bands include Karen Peck and New River, who were selected in three of the final four years of the Grammy, and the Cathedral Quartet.
Recipients
thumbnail|upright|alt=A woman wearing a brown jacket and playing a fiddle|Alison Krauss won the award in 1995 along with The Cox Family
thumbnail|upright|alt=A man with white hair dressed in a black suit, wearing the Presidential Medal of Freedom|Andy Griffith won the 1997 award for I Love to Tell the Story – 25 Timeless Hymns
thumbnail|upright|alt=A man with white hair playing a guitar in front of two microphones|Two-time award winner Ricky Skaggs
thumbnail|upright|alt=A man, sitting, speaking in front of a microphone|Bill Gaither has won the award four times, the most of any performer
thumbnail|upright|alt=A man in a black suit clutching a microphone|Randy Travis was awarded the Grammy three times from 2004–2007
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Winning artist
! scope="col" | Personnel
! scope="col" | Work
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Other nominees
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Ref.
|-
! scope="row" |1991
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- Happy Goodman Family – The Reunion
- The Nelons – Let the Redeemed Say So
- Speer Family – He's Still in the Fire
- J. D. Sumner and the Stamps – Victory Road
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |1992
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- The Chuck Wagon Gang – Still Rollin
- Mid-South Boys – Shoulder to Shoulder
- Speer Family – Hallelujah Time
- J. D. Sumner and the Stamps – Peace in the Valley
- The Talleys – Love Will
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |1993
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- Cathedral Quartet – Camp Meeting Live
- Jeff & Sheri Easter – Pickin' the Best ... Live
- Florida Boys – Live
- Speer Family – 70th Anniversary Celebration
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |1994
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- Bruce Carroll – Walk On
- Cathedral Quartet – Worship His Glory
- Gaither Vocal Band – Southern Classics
- Ralph Stanley – Sunday Morning
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |1995
| and Alison Krauss
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- Cathedral Quartet – High and Lifted Up
- Charlie Daniels – The Door
- Wendy Bagwell and the Sunliters – Tell It Again
- The Torchmen – Just Stopped By
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |1996
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| , producer
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- Bruce Carroll – One Summer Evening Live
- Crystal Gayle – Someday
- Joe Isaacs and Ralph Stanley – A Gospel Gathering
- Jerry & Tammy Sullivan – At the Feet of God
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |1997
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- Charlie Daniels – Steel Witness
- Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver – There's a Light Guiding Me
- Bobbie Nelson and Willie Nelson – How Great Thou Art
- Ricky Van Shelton – Don't Overlook Salvation
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |1998
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| and Peter York, producers
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- James Blackwood and the Light Crust Doughboys – Keep Lookin' Up: The Texas Swing Sessions
- Gaither Vocal Band – Back Home in Indiana
- The Martins – Light of the World
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |1999
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| , John Huie, and Ken Levitan, producers
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- James Blackwood Quartet and the Light Crust Doughboys – They Gave the World a Smile: The Stamps Quartet Tribute Album
- Cathedral Quartet – Faithful
- Bill and Gloria Gaither and Their Homecoming Friends – Down by the Tabernacle
- Andy Griffith – Just as I Am
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2000
| and and Their Homecoming Friends
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- Glen Campbell – A Glen Campbell Christmas
- Roy Clark – Roy Clark Sings & Plays Gospel Greats
- Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver – Winding Through Life
- J. D. Sumner and the Stamp Quartet – The Final Sessions
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2001
| Ricky Skaggs, and Kentucky Thunder
| and Alan Shulman, engineers
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- The Jordanaires, the Light Crust Doughboys with James Blackwood – The Great Gospel Hit Parade: From Memphis to Nashville to Texas
- Cathedral Quartet – The Cathedrals: A Farewell Celebration
- Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver – Just Over in Heaven
- Paul Williams & The Victory Trio – Old Ways & Old Paths
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2002
| and Gloria Gaither and Their Homecoming Friends
| , engineer
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- Merle Haggard and Albert E. Brumley, Jr. – Two Old Friends
- Ann-Margret and The Jordanaires, the Light Crust Doughboys with James Blackwood – God Is Love: The Gospel Sessions
- The Oak Ridge Boys – From the Heart
- Randy Travis – Inspirational Journey
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2003
| , , the Light Crust Doughboys
|, Chuck Ebert, Adrian Payne, Robb Tripp, and Philip York, engineers
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- Charlie Daniels Band – How Sweet the Sound: 25 Favorite Hymns and Gospel Greats
- Gaither Vocal Band – Everything Good
- The Oak Ridge Boys – An Inconvenient Christmas
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2004
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|, producer. Jason Lehning and Steve Tillisch, engineers
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- Blue Highway – Wondrous Love
- The Crabb Family – The Walk
- Gaither Vocal Band – A Cappella
- Engelbert Humperdinck, The Blackwood Brothers Quartet, The Jordanaires and the Light Crust Doughboys – Always Hear the Harmony: The Gospel Sessions
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2005
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| , producer. Jason Lehning and Casey Wood, engineers
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- The Crabb Family – Driven
- Art Greenhaw, The Jordanaires, Nokie Edwards, and the Light Crust Doughboys – 20th Century Gospel: From Hymns to Blackwood Brothers Tribute to Christian Country
- Buddy Miller– Universal United House of Prayer
- Various artists – Amazing Grace 3: A Country Salute to Gospel
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2006
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| and Brown Bannister, producers. Steve Bishir, engineer
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- The Crabb Family – Live At Brooklyn Tabernacle
- Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers – Sing Their Family Gospel Favorites
- The Jordanaires, Nokie Edwards, the Light Crust Doughboys, and Larry "T-Byrd" Gordon – Southern Meets Soul: An American Gospel Jubilee
- The Oak Ridge Boys – Common Thread
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2007
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| , producer. Casey Wood, engineer
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- Kenny Bishop – Kenny Bishop
- Del McCoury Band – The Promised Land
- Gaither Vocal Band – Give It Away
- Alan Jackson – Precious Memories
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2008
| , The Whites
| , engineer
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- Bill and Gloria Gaither and The Homecoming Friends – Amazing Grace
- Karen Peck and New River – Journey of Joy
- Billy Joe Shaver – Everybody's Brother
- Kenny & Amanda Smith Band – Tell Someone
- Various artists (Ed Cash producer) – I'll Fly Away: Country Hymns & Songs of Faith
| align="center"|
|-
! scope="row" |2009
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| and Pete Greene, engineers
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- The Booth Brothers – Room for More
- Charlie Louvin – Steps to Heaven
- Bart Millard – Hymned Again
- Karen Peck and New River – Ephesians One
| align="center"|
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! scope="row" |2010
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| and Ben Fowler, engineers
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- Ernie Haase & Signature Sound – Dream On
- Tracy Lawrence – The Rock
- Barry Scott & Second Wind – In God's Time
- Triumphant Quartet – Everyday
| align="center"|
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! scope="row" |2011
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| , engineer
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- Austins Bridge – Times Like These
- Jeff & Sheri Easter – Expecting Good Things
- Ty Herndon – Journey On
- Karen Peck & New River – Live at Oak Tree: Karen Peck & New River
| align="center"|
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|}
<sup></sup> Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
References
General
- Note: User must select the "Gospel" category as the genre under the search feature.