Grammy Award category
The Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance was awarded from 1970 to 2011. Between 1986 and 1989 the award was presented as the Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance (Orchestra, Group or Soloist) .
In 2012 the award was discontinued in a major overhaul of Grammy categories. From 2012, the best instrumental performances in the country category were shifted to either the Best Country Solo Performance or Best Country Duo/Group Performance categories, both newly formed.
Years reflect the year in which the Grammy Awards were presented, for works released in the previous year.
Winners & Nominees [ ]
1970s [ ]
Year
Winner(s)
Title
Nominees
Ref.
1970
Danny Davis , Nashville Brass
The Nashville Brass Featuring Danny Davis Play More Nashville Sounds
Floyd Cramer for Lovin' Season
Bob Dylan for Nashville Skyline Rag
Chet Atkins for Solid Gold '69
Tommy Allsup & The Nashville Survey for The Hits of Charley Pride
[1]
1971
Chet Atkins , Jerry Reed
Me & Jerry
[2]
1972
Chet Atkins
"Snowbird"
Floyd Cramer for For the Good Times
Jerry Kennedy for Jerry Kennedy Plays: With All Due Respect to Kris Kristofferson
Bakersfield Brass for Rose Garden
Danny Davis & Nashville Brass for Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
[3]
1973
Charlie McCoy
The Real McCoy
Chet Atkins for Chet Atkins Picks on the Hits
Danny Davis & Nashville Brass for Flowers on the Wall
Lester Flatt for Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Chet Atkins , Jerry Reed for Me and Chet
[4]
1974
Eric Weissberg , Steve Mandell
"Dueling Banjos "
Chet Atkins for Fiddlin' Around
Charlie McCoy for Good Time Charlie
Danny Davis , Nashville Brass for I'll Fly Away
Chet Atkins for Superpickers
[5]
1975
Chet Atkins , Merle Travis
The Atkins-Travis Traveling Show
Charlie McCoy , Barefoot Jerry for Boogie Woogie
Danny Davis , Nashville Brass for Nashville Brass in Blue Grass Country
Charlie McCoy for The Nashville Hit Many
Floyd Cramer for The Young and the Restless
[6]
1976
Chet Atkins
"The Entertainer "
Charlie McCoy for Charlie My Boy
Chet Atkins , Jerry Reed for Colonel Bogey
Asleep at the Wheel for Fat Boy Rag
Vassar Clements for Vassar Cements
[7]
1977
Chet Atkins , Les Paul
Chester and Lester
Ace Cannon for Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain
Floyd Cramer for I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
The Marshall Tucker Band for Long Hard Ride
Danny David , Nashville Brass for Texas
[8]
1978
Hargus "Pig" Robbins
Country Instrumentalist of the Year
Chet Atkins , Floyd Cramer , Danny David for Chet, Floyd and Danny
Chet Atkins for Me and My Guitar
Asleep at the Wheel for Ragtime Annie
Jerry Reed for West Bound and Down
[9]
1979
Asleep at the Wheel
"One O'Clock Jump"
Roy Clark , Buck Trent for Banjo Bandits
Danny David , Nashville Brass for Cookin' Country
Roy Clark for Steel Guitar Rag
Doc Watson , Merle Watson for Under the Double Eagle
[10]
1980s [ ]
Year
Winner(s)
Title
Nominees
Ref.
1980
Doc Watson & Merle Watson
"Big Sandy/Leather Britches"
Osborne Brothers for Bluegrass Concerto
Lester Flatt's Nashville Grass for Fantastic Pickin'
Floyd Cramer for In Concert
Vassar Clements , Doug Jernigan , Jesse McReynolds , Buddy Spicher for Nashville Jam
[11]
1981
Gilley's Urban Cowboy Band
"Orange Blossom Special/Hoedown"
Danny David , Nashville Brass for Cotton Eyed Joe
Floyd Cramer for Dallas
Chet Atkins for Dance With Me
Ry Cooder for The Long Riders
[12]
1982
Chet Atkins
Country, After All These Years
Barbara Mandrell for Instrumental Medley: Mountain Dew, Fireball Mail, Old Joe Clark, Night Train, Uncle Joe's Boogie
Chet Atkins , Doc Watson for Reflections
Johnny Gimble for The Texas Fiddle Collection
Merle Travis for Travis Pickin'
[13]
1983
Roy Clark
"Alabama Jubilee"
Doc Watson , Merle Watson for Below Freezing
Poco for Feudin'
Albert Coleman's Atlanta Pops Orchestra for Just Hooked on Country
Joe Maphis for The Joe Maphis Flat-Pick-ing Spectacular
[14]
1984
New South
"Fireball"
Albert Coleman's Atlanta Pops for Classic Country I
Doc Watson , Merle Watson for Doc and Merle Watson's Guitar Album
Earl Scruggs for Roller Coaster
Chet Atkins for Tara Theme
Roy Clark for Wildwood Flower
[15]
1985
Ricky Skaggs
"Wheel Hoss"
Carlton Moody & the Moody Brothers for Cotton-Eyed Joe
Chet Atkins for East Tennessee Christmas
The Whites for Move It on Over
Doc Watson , Merle Watson for Twin Sisters
[16]
1986
Chet Atkins , Mark Knopfler
"Cosmic Square Dance"
Earl Scruggs for Folsom Prison Blues
Charlie McCoy for Lasso the Moon
Vassar Clements , John Hartford , Dave Holland for Vassar Clements, John Hartford, Dave Holland
Doc Watson , Merle Watson for Windy and Warm
[17]
1987
Ricky Skaggs
"Raisin' the Dickens"
Mark O'Connor for Meanings Of
New Grass Revival for Seven by Seven
Albert Lee for Speechless
Jerry Douglas for Under the Wire
[18]
1988
Asleep at the Wheel
"String of Pars"
Jerry Douglas for Changing Channels
Albert Lee for Gagged But Not Bound
Bill Monroe for The Old Brown Country Barn
Stephane Grappelli, Vassar Clements for Together at Last
[19]
1989
Asleep at the Wheel
"Sugarfoot Rag"
Leo Kottke for Busy Signal
Mason Williams , Mannheim Steamroller for Country Idyll
Johnny Gimble for Still Fiddlin' Around
Carlton Moody & the Moody Brothers for The Great Train Song Medley
[20]
1990s [ ]
Year
Winner(s)
Title
Nominees
Ref.
1990
Randy Scruggs
"Amazing Grace "
John Hartford for All I Got Is Gone Away
New Grass Revival for Big Foot
Asleep at the Wheel for Black and White Rag
Jerry Douglas for If You've Got the Money (Honey I've Got the Time)
[21]
1991
Chet Atkins , Mark Knopfler
"So Soft, Your Goodbye"
David Grisman for 'Dawg '90
Asleep at the Wheel for Pedernales Stroll
Foster and Lloyd for Whoa
Wild Rose for Wild Rose
[22]
1992
Mark O'Connor
The New Nashville Cats
Chet Atkins , Mark Knopfler for Neck and Neck
The Osborne Brothers for Orange Blossom Special
Diamond Rio for Poultry Promenade
Roy Rogers , Norton Buffalo for Song for Jessica
[23]
1993
Chet Atkins , Jerry Reed
Sneakin' Around
Live and Kickin' for Black and White Rag
The Chieftains , Ricky Skaggs for Cotton-Eyed Joe
Jerry Douglas for Ride the Wild Turkey
Emmylou Harris , The Nash Ramblers for Scotland
[24]
1994
Asleep at the Wheel , Various Artists
"Red Wing"
Roy Clark for Jingle Bells
John McEuen for The Ballad of Jed Clampett
Mark O'Connor , Byron Berline for Gold Rush
Mark O'Connor , Johnny Gimble for Fiddlin' Around
[25]
1995
Chet Atkins
"Young Thing"
Roy Clark , Joe Pass for Kaw-Liga
Diamond Rio for Appalachian Dream
Randy Scruggs , Earl Scruggs , Doc Watson for Keep on the Sunny Side
Marty Stuart for Marty Stuart Visits the Moon
[26]
1996
Asleep at the Wheel , Bela Fleck , Johnny Gimble
"Hightower"
Byron Berline , Earl Scruggs , Bill Monroe for Sally Goodin
Bela Fleck for Cheeseballs in Cowtown
Flaco Jiménez , Lee Roy Parnell for Cat Walk
Doc Watson for Thunder Road/Sugarfoot Rag
[27]
1997
Chet Atkins
"Jam Man"
[28]
1998
Alison Krauss & Union Station
"Little Liza Jane "
Asleep at the Wheel for Fat Boy Rag
Chet Atkins , Tommy Emmanuel for Smokey Mountain Lullaby
Scotty Moore , D.J. Fontana , Bill Black Combo for Rawhide
Lee Roy Parnell for Mama, Screw Your Wig On Tight
[29]
1999
Randy Scruggs , Vince Gill
"A Soldier's Joy"
Doc Watson , Merle Watson , Various Artists for Rueben's Train
Jerry Douglas , Bela Fleck for The Ride
Randy Scruggs , Earl Scruggs , Jerry Douglas for Lonesome Ruben
Ricky Skaggs , Kentucky Thunder for Get Up John
[30]
2000s [ ]
Year
Winner(s)
Title
Nominees
Ref.
2000
Randy Scruggs
"Amazing Grace "
John Hartford for All I Got Is Gone Away
New Grass Revival for Big Foot
Asleep at the Wheel for Black and White Rag
Jerry Douglas for If You've Got the Money (Honey I've Got the Time)
[31]
2001
Alison Brown , Bela Fleck
"Leaving Cottondale"
Nickel Creek for Ode to a Butterfly
Tim O'Brien , Darrell Scott for The Second Mouse
Keith Urban for Rollercoaster
Steve Wariner , Ryan Wariner for Bloodlines
[32]
2002
Various Artists
"Foggy Mountain Breakdown "
Asleep at the Wheel , Brad Paisley for Sugarfoot Rag
Bill Kirchen for Poultry in Motion
Alison Krauss & Union Station for Choctaw Hayride
Brad Paisley for Munster Rag
[33]
2003
Dixie Chicks
"Lil' Jack Slade"
Bering Strait for Bearing Straight
The Chieftains , Earl Scruggs for Sally Goodin
Bela Fleck for Bear Mountain Hop
Nickel Creek for Smoothie Song
[34]
2004
Alison Krauss & Union Station
"Cluck Old Hen"
Ray Benson for Ain't Chet Yet
Brad Paisley ft. Redd Volkaert for Spaghetti Western Swing
Earl Scruggs , Doc Watson , Ricky Skaggs for Pick Along
Ricky Skaggs , Kentucky Thunder for Get Up John
[35]
2005
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band ft. Earl Scruggs , Randy Scruggs , Vassar Clements , Jerry Douglas
"Earl's Breakdown"
Asleep at the Wheel for Billy in the Low Ground
Sam Bush for Puppies 'n Knapsacks
Albert Lee , Vince Gill , Brad Paisley for Luxury Liner
Mark O'Connor , Chris Thile , Bryan Sutton , Byron House for Bowtie
[36]
2006
Alison Krauss and Union Station
"Unionhouse Branch "
Charlie Daniels for I'll Fly Away
Jerry Douglas , Sam Bush , Bela Fleck for Who's Your Uncle?
Nickel Creek for Scotch & Chocolate
Brad Paisley for Time Warp
[37]
2007
Bryan Sutton , Doc Watson
"Whiskey Before Breakfast"
Casey Driessen for Jerusalem Ridge
Tommy Emmanuel for Gameshow Rag/Cannonball Rag
Chris Thile for The Eleventh Reel
Jim Van Cleve for Nature of the Beast
[38]
2008
Brad Paisley
"Throttleneck "
Russ Barenberg for Little Monk
The Greencards for Mucky the Duck
Andy Statman for Rawhide!
The Time Jumpers for Fidoodlin'
[39]
2009
Brad Paisley , James Burton , Vince Gill , John Jorgenson , Albert Lee , Brent Mason , Redd Volkaert , Steve Wariner
"Cluster Pluck "
Cherryholmes for Sumatra
Jerry Douglas , Lloyd Green for Two Small Cars in Rome
Bela Fleck & The Flecktones for Sleigh Ride
Charlie Haden , Pat Metheny , Jerry Douglas , Bruce Hornsby for Is This America? (Katrina 2005)
[40]
2010
Steve Wariner
"Producer's Medley"
Alison Brown for Under the (Five) Wire
The Greencards for The Crystal Merchant
Sarah Jarosz for Mansinneedof
[41]
2011
Marty Stuart
"Hummingbyrd"
Cherryholmes for Tattoo of a Smudge
The Infamous Stringdusters for Magic #9
Punch Brothers for New Chance Blues
Darrell Scott for Willow Creek
[42]
References [ ]
^ "Grammy Awards 1970" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 19, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1971" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 19, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1972" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 19, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1973" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 19, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1974" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 20, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1975" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 20, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1976" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 20, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1977" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1978" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1979" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1980" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1981" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1982" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1983" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1984" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 21, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1985" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1986" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1987" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1988" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "Grammy Awards 1989" . AwardsandShows. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "A List of 32nd Annual Grammy Nominees" . APNews. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "Annual Grammy Nominations" . UPI. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "And the Nominees Are..." UPI. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "List of 35th Annual Grammy Nominations With PM-Grammys" . APNews. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "Nominees for 36th annual Grammy Awards" . UPI. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "The 37th Grammy Nominations" . Los Angeles Times . Tribune Company. January 6, 1995. p. 3. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved January 22, 2020 .
^ "Nominees for 38th annual Grammy Awards" . UPI. Retrieved January 22, 2021 .
^ "Nominees for 39th annual Grammy Awards" . UPI. Retrieved January 23, 2021 .
^ "40th Annual Grammy Award Nominations" . DigitalHub. Retrieved January 23, 2021 .
^ "41st Annual Grammy® Award Nominations" . DigitalHub. Retrieved January 23, 2021 .
^ "A List of 32nd Annual Grammy Nominees" . APNews. Retrieved January 24, 2021 .
^ "43rd Annual Grammy Awards Nominations" . DigitalHub. Retrieved January 26, 2021 .
^ "Complete List of Grammy Nominees" . CBS. Retrieved January 26, 2021 .
^ "45th Annual Grammy Awards Nominations" . DigitalHub. Retrieved January 31, 2021 .
^ "46th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees Coverage" . DigitalHub. Retrieved January 31, 2021 .
^ "47th Annual Grammy® Awards Nominees Coverage" . DigitalHub. Retrieved February 1, 2021 .
^ "48th Annual Grammy® Awards Nominees Coverage" . DigitalHub. Retrieved February 1, 2021 .
^ "49th Annual Grammy® Awards Nominees Coverage" . DigitalHub. Retrieved February 1, 2021 .
^ "50th Annual Grammy® Awards Nominees Coverage" . DigitalHub. Retrieved February 1, 2021 .
^ "51st Annual Grammy® Awards Nominees Coverage" . DigitalHub. Retrieved February 1, 2021 .
^ "52nd Annual Grammy® Awards Nominees Coverage" . DigitalHub. Retrieved February 2, 2021 .
^ "53rd Annual Grammy® Awards Nominees Coverage" . DigitalHub. Retrieved February 2, 2021 .
Grammy Award
Special awards Ceremony year Related By country
Grammy Award
The Recording Academy
Grammy Award categories
General Pop Dance/Electronic Rock Alternative R&B Rap/Hip-Hop Country Jazz Gospel/ Contemporary Christian Latin American Roots Music for Visual Media Composing/Arranging Crafts Production/Engineering Classical Music Video Others Special Awards