This could be a history-making year for country artists in the high-profile category.
Stella Lefty performs at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago on Aug. 2, 2026.
Photo by Jack Balaban
On Sunday (Aug. 2), during her Lollapalooza set, Stella Lefty announced that her debut album, Long Way Home, will be released Aug. 21 via Atlantic Outpost. That release date is exactly one week before the end of the eligibility period for the 69th annual Grammy Awards.
The Chicago-born singer/songwriter, who turns 24 on Aug. 13, has a good chance of landing a best new artist nomination and could contribute to a historic showing for country artists. Ella Langley and Megan Moroney are both very likely to be nominated. If all three make it, this will be the first time that three country artists have been nominated in the same year. Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris were both nominated in 2017, back when there were just five nominees in the category. (There are currently eight nominees in each of the so-called Big Four categories – album, record and song of the year plus best new artist.)
