Sturgill Simpson is Surprised by His Grammy Nomination

It was announced on Tuesday that Sturgill Simpson’s 'A Sailor’s Guide to Earth' has earned a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. His nomination came as a shock to many, including Simpson himself!

Simpson moved to Nashville in 2005 to pursue music. Dismayed at the politics of Nashville’s music industry, he left a few years later and traveled to Utah to work on the railroad. With the encouragement of his wife he returned to Nashville in 2010.

In 2013, he released his debut solo album, 'High Top Mountain'. The following year he released his sophomore album, 'Metamodern Sounds in Country Music'. By the end of 2015, Simpson had amassed a sizeable fanbase around the U.S and Europe.

In 2016, he released a 'Sailor’s Guide To Earth', an ambitious concept album that blends country, soul, funk, psych rock and folk. It climbed to the top of the country charts without any airplay on mainstream country radio. The supporting tour for the album has been a massive success too. Simpson sold-out concert halls and theaters from the farthest reaches of the West Coast all the way to the Scandinavian nations across the Atlantic and everywhere in between.

As his popularity has increased, he has become more outspoken about his distaste for the establishment of modern country music. Over the summer, he went on a Facebook rant about the Academy of Country Music for giving an award named after his late friend and mentor Merle Haggard to someone he didn't think was deserving. Sturgill has made a number of bold statements against the Nashville Establishment for various reasons.

Simpson’s music comes straight out of his soul, and is striking a chord with a lot of people around the world. His style is rooted in country and his sound is very unique.

Whether or not he wins the Grammy in February, his nomination has already secured his place as one of the most significant country artists of this era. Simpson is up against pop superstars Beyonce, Adele, Drake, Justin Bieber and Rhianna.

Sturgill told The New York Times...'I’m not sure what I represent, I just want to make art.'