In the upcoming 2024 Grammy Awards, country musician Morgan Wallen's hit single 'Last Night' is nominated for Best Country Song. However, while this recognition holds significance for Wallen, he won't have the opportunity to collect the prestigious award. In an interesting twist, the Grammys award the songwriters, not the artists who perform the songs. Although the songwriter and the performer often overlap, in this case, they do not.
'Last Night' was written by John Byron, Ashley Gorley, Jacob Kasher Hindin, and Ryan Vojtesak. Among them, only Ashley Gorley has received Grammy nominations in the past. Despite her multiple chances, she has yet to secure a victory. If 'Last Night' triumphs as Best Country Song, all four songwriters would receive a Grammy, excluding Wallen. Despite turning those lyrics and melodies into a massive commercial success and making the song his own, Wallen's absence from the songwriting credits renders him ineligible for this specific accolade.
While Wallen was eligible for several other Grammy categories this year, including Best Country Solo Performance and Record of the Year, he failed to receive nominations in those fields. Additionally, his album 'One Thing at a Time' was not nominated for Best Country Album or Album of the Year. Although 'Last Night' was hailed as one of the biggest hits of 2023 in the United States, Wallen remains a controversial figure in the industry. Several years ago, he was caught using racist language on camera, which negatively impacted his career for a period of time. However, upon his return with his latest album, it was evident that many had moved past the controversy, including a significant portion of the country music industry. Nevertheless, Grammy voters did not appear to share the same sentiment.
While it is uncommon for Best Country Song to be awarded to a hit that wasn't at least partially penned by the performing artist, it does occasionally happen. In 2023, Cody Johnson's song ''Til You Can't' won the award, despite not being written by Johnson himself. The trophy was presented to songwriters Matt Rogers and Ben Stennis.
Ultimately, Wallen's absence from the songwriting credits means he will have to set aside hopes of adding another Grammy to his collection. Nevertheless, his success in the music industry continues to grow, and he remains a prominent figure in the country music scene.
