The Grammy Award for Best Regional Roots Music Album is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 as the Gramophone Awards, to recording artists for releasing albums in the regionally based traditional American music, including Hawaiian, Native American, polka, zydeco and Cajun music genres. Honors in several categories are presented at the ceremony annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to "honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position".
The category was introduced in 2012 in which the previous Best Hawaiian Music Album, Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album and Best Native American Music Album categories were combined. The change was the result of a major overhaul of Grammy categories, announced in April 2011. The new category also recognizes other American roots forms, such as polka, whose own Grammy category was discontinued in 2009. In 2021, the category added the inclusion of Go-go music, and in 2024 it was announced that conjunto would be recognized under the category starting in 2025. It was moved from the Grammy Award for Best Música Mexicana Album (including Tejano) category, as it is regarded as an American Roots genre rather than a Mexican music genre.
For the 2026 Grammy season, the category description is as follows: "This category recognizes recordings of cultural roots styles of music, including Cajun, Hawaiian, Indigenous/Native American, Second Line brass band, Polka, Zydeco, Go-go, Swamp Pop, Conjunto, and others, with production and sensibilities distinctly different from a pop approach".
Hawaiian musician Kalani Pe'a holds the record for most wins in the category with four.
Recipients
2010s Year Work Artist 2012 Rebirth of New Orleans Rebirth Brass Band Can't Sit Down C.J. Chenier Grand Isle Steve Riley and The Mamou Playboys Not Just Another Polka Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra Wao Akua — The Forest of the Gods George Kahumoku Jr. 2013[List of 2013 nominees ] The Band Courtbouillon Wayne Toups, Steve Riley and Wilson Savoy Malama Ko Aloha (Keep Your Love) Keola Beamer Nothin' But the Best Corey Ledet, Anthony Dopsie, Dwayne Dopsie and Andre Thierry Pilialoha Weldon Kekauoha Shi Kéyah — Songs for the People Radmilla Cody 2014 Dockside Sessions Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience Apache Blessing & Crown Dance Songs Joe Tohonnie Jr. Hula Ku'i Kahulanui Le Fou Zachary Richard The Life & Times of... The Hot 8 Brass Band Hot 8 Brass Band 2015List of Nominees 2015 The Legacy Jo-El Sonnier Ceremony Joe Tohonnie Jr. Hanu 'A'ala Kamaka Kukona Light the Stars Bonsoir Catin Love's Lies Magnolia Sisters 2016 Go Go Juice Jon Cleary Generations Windwalker and The MCW Get Ready The Revelers Kawaiokalena Keali'i Reichel La La La La Natalie Ai Kamauu 2017 E Walea Kalani Pe'a Broken Promised Land Barry Jean Ancelet & Sam Broussard Gulfstream Roddie Romero & The Hub City All-Stars I Wanna Sing Right: Rediscovering Lomax in the Evangeline Country Various Artists, Joshua Caffery and Joel Savoy, (producers) It's a Cree Thing Northern Cree 2018 Kalenda The Lost Bayou Ramblers Hoʻokena 3.0 Hoʻokena Miyo Kekisepa, Make a Stand (Live) Northern Cree Pua Kiele Josh Tatofi Top of the Mountain Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers 2019Grammy.com, 7 December 2018 No 'Ane'i Kalani Pe'a Aloha From Na Hoa Na Hoa Kreole Rock and Soul Sean Ardoin Mewasinsational — Cree Round Dance Songs Young Spirit Spyboy Cha Wa
2020s Year Work Artist 20202020 Grammy Awards nominations list Good Time Ranky Tanky Hawaiian Lullaby Various Artists, Imua Garza and Kimié Miner (producers) Kalawai'anui Amy Hānaiali'i Recorded Live at the 2019 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Rebirth Brass Band When It's Cold — Cree Round Dance Songs Northern Cree 20212021 Nominations List Atmosphere New Orleans Nightcrawlers Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours Cameron Dupuy & the Cajun Troubadours Lovely Sunrise Nā Wai ʽEhā My Relatives "Nikso Kowaiks" Black Lodge Singers A Tribute to Al Berard Sweet Cecilia 2022 Kau Ka Pe'a Kalani Pe'a Bloodstains & Teardrops Big Chief Monk Boudreaux Corey Ledet Zydeco Corey Ledet Zydeco Live in New Orleans! Sean Ardoin & Kreole Rock and Soul My People Cha Wa 2023 Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Ranky Tanky Full Circle Sean Ardoin & Kreole Rock and Soul featuring LSU Golden Band from Tigerland Halau Hula Keali'i O Nalani — Live at the Getty Center Halau Hula Keali'i O Nalani Lucky Man Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas Natalie Noelani Natalie Ai Kamauu 2024 Live: Orpheum Theater Nola The Lost Bayou Ramblers and Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra New Beginnings Buckwheat Zydeco Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band Live at the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers Live at the Maple Leaf The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. Made in New Orleans New Breed Brass Band Too Much to Hold New Orleans Nightcrawlers 2025 Kuini Kalani Pe'a Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Big Chief Monk Boudreaux & The Golden Eagles featuring J'Wan Boudreaux Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival New Breed Brass Band featuring Trombone Shorty Stories from The Battlefield The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. 25 Back to My Roots Sean Ardoin and Kreole Rock And Soul 2026 A Tribute to the King of Zydeco Various Artists Church of New Orleans Kyle Roussel For Fat Man Preservation Brass and Preservation Hall Jazz Band Live at Vaughan's Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet Second Line Sunday Trombone Shorty and the New Breed Brass Band
Each year is linked to the article about the Grammy Awards held that year.
References
External links Official Site of the Grammy Awards