Introduction:
Lukas Nelson Follows His Own Path, Faces Father Willie Nelson for Grammy Nod
Lukas Nelson doesn’t want to simply become his hero—his father, Willie Nelson. At 36, the Ain’t Done singer has carved his own path in the music world, from sharing the stage with Neil Young to producing the Grammy-winning A Star Is Born soundtrack with Lady Gaga. Now, he’s up for his second Grammy, earning a nomination in the Best Traditional Country category for his solo debut American Romance. But this time, he may have to go head-to-head with his father.
The Recording Academy recently announced the nominations for the 68th Grammy Awards, set for Sunday, Feb. 1, in Los Angeles. Kendrick Lamar leads the pack with nine nods, while the ceremony introduces a new category: Best Traditional Country Album. The previous Best Country Album category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album. Among the nominees for Best Traditional Country Album are Willie Nelson’s Oh What a Beautiful World and Lukas Nelson’s American Romance.
Oh What a Beautiful World marks Willie Nelson’s 77th studio album, featuring songs written or co-written entirely by chart-topping singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell. Surprisingly, this would be only the second time Willie has won in a Best Country Album-type category during his nearly seven-decade career. Despite his legendary status, he wasn’t nominated until 2002 for Rainbow Connection, later earning five more nominations and finally taking home the trophy in 2023 for A Beautiful Time.
For Lukas, American Romance represents his first solo project following eight studio albums with his band Promise of the Real, which announced an indefinite hiatus in 2024. Lukas previously won a Grammy for his work on the 2018 film A Star Is Born, taking home the award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
The father-son duo will also face strong competition from Charley Crockett, Margo Price, and Zach Top. Crockett earns his second Grammy nod for A Dollar A Day, while Zach Top is nominated for the first time with his sophomore album Ain’t In It For My Health. Price is recognized for her fifth studio album, Hard Headed Woman, after previously earning a Best New Artist nomination in 2019.
As Lukas strikes out on his own after years with Promise of the Real, his Grammy nomination in the same category as his father underscores both the legacy he inherits and the path he’s forging independently—proving that while bloodlines may connect them, their music remains uniquely their own.