Former MTSU student Sam Hunt, left, sings a duet with Carrie Underwood at the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards, which aired on CBS-TV Feb. 15. (Photo courtesy of CBS-TV)
MTSU’s GRAMMY contenders didn’t bring home the statues this year, but they — and the university — continue to make a big impact on the entertainment industry.
Capped by an MTSU advertising spot in its final half-hour Monday night, Feb. 15, the 58th annual ceremony on CBS-TV featured former MTSU student Sam Hunt, nominated for his debut album “Montevallo” and as Best New Artist, in a performance with country diva Carrie Underwood.
Luke Laird
Alumni Luke Laird, a past winner, and past nominee Eric Paslay returned to the GRAMMYs Monday night but were shut out by new favorites Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town in their categories.
Laird, like Hunt a dual nominee this year, earned a Best Country Album nomination for co-producing Kacey Musgraves’ sophomore CD, “Pageant Material,” and Best Country Song nod as co-writer of Tim McGraw’s “Diamond Rings and Old Barstools.”
Alumnus Paslay, also a multi-GRAMMY nominee, collaborated with Charles Kelley and Dierks Bentley on “The Driver” in the Best Country Duo/Group Performance category.
Hunt, who attended MTSU 2003-04 and played football for the Blue Raiders, got media attention on the red carpet before the event at the Staples Center and in a New York Daily News list item, “Who is Sam Hunt, who turned heads during GRAMMY duet with Carrie Underwood?” after the show.
Laird earned his MTSU music business degree in 2001 and has seen more than 20 No. 1 singles and countless awards since he signed his first publishing deal in 2002. He was a 2015 Country Music Association Award nominee for Musgraves’ “Pageant Material” as well as a CMA Song of the Year nominee for co-writing Kenny Chesney’s “American Kids.” “American Kids” also was a 2014 GRAMMY nominee.
Laird and his co-producer Shane McAnally won the 2013 GRAMMY for Best Country Album for Musgraves’ debut release, “Same Trailer Different Park.”
Eric Paslay
Paslay, a 2005 recording industry grad, was also co-writer of the 2013 GRAMMY Song of the Year nominee “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” for the Eli Young Band.
More than 20 MTSU alumni or former students and faculty from around the university have been nominated for GRAMMY Awards in the last eight years. Eight have won GRAMMYs so far, including some repeat recipients, in categories from classical to gospel to bluegrass.
The Leading Edge 
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