Ricky and Kentucky Thunder received three nominations: Soldier of the Cross (for Best Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album); Big Mon (for Best Bluegrass Album of the Year and one of the tracks from Big Mon, and (with the Dixie Chicks) "Walk Softly, on This Heart of Mine" was nominated for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals.

Nickel Creek and Alison Brown were represented in the Country sections (see below)

Best Bluegrass Album: (For solos, duos or groups, vocal or instrumental.)

• The Grass Is Blue - Dolly Parton [Sugar Hill Records] (Review)
• Fair Weather - Alison Brown [Compass Records] (Review | Review #2)
• Murder On Music Row - Larry Cordle & Lonesome Standard Time [Shell Point/Echomusic]
• Nickel Creek - Nickel Creek [Sugar Hill Records] (Review)
• Big Mon - The Songs Of Bill Monroe - Ricky Skaggs & Friends [Skaggs Family Records] (Review)

Best Country Instrumental Performance (For instrumental recordings, with or without vocal coloring, by an Orchestra, Group or Soloist. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Leaving Cottondale - Alison Brown With Béla Fleck; Track from: Fair Weather [Compass Records]
• Ode To A Butterfly - Nickel Creek; Track from: Nickel Creek [Sugar Hill Records]
• The Second Mouse - Tim O'Brien & Darrell Scott; Track from: Real Time [Howdy Skies Records]
• Rollercoaster -Keith Urban; Track from: Keith Urban [Capitol Nashville]
• Bloodlines - Steve Wariner & Ryan Wariner; Track from: Faith In You [Capitol Nashville]

Best Country Collaboration With Vocals (For a collaborative performance by artists who do not normally perform together. Singles or Tracks only.)

• Let's Make Love - Faith Hill & Tim McGraw; Track from: Breathe [Warner Bros. Records]
• Strong Enough - Sheryl Crow & The Dixie Chicks; Track from: Live From Central Park [A&M Records]
• When I Look Into Your Heart - Vince Gill & Amy Grant; Track from: Let's Make Sure We Kiss Goodbye [MCA Nashville]
• Walk Softly - Ricky Skaggs & The Dixie Chicks; Track from: Big Mon - The Songs Of Bill Monroe [Skaggs Family Records]
• Murder On Music Row - George Strait & Alan Jackson; Track from: Latest Greatest Straitest Hits [MCA Nashville] (Review)

Winners in other sections:

• Female Country Vocal Performance: Breathe, Faith Hill. Track From Breathe
• Male Country Vocal Performance: Solitary Man, Johnny Cash. Track From American III - Solitary Man
• Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal: Cherokee Maiden, Asleep At The Wheel. Track From Ride With Bob
• Country Song: I Hope You Dance, Mark D. Sanders & Tia Sillers, Track From I Hope You Dance
• Country Album: Breathe, Faith Hill (Warner)
• Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Soldier Of The Cross, Ricky Skaggs And Kentucky Thunder. (Skaggs Family Records)
• Contemporary Folk Album: Red Dirt Girl, Emmylou Harris (Nonesuch)

3rd Jan 2001