Country musician Sturgill Simpson found himself in unexpected company on Tuesday: One of the nominees for the Grammy's Album of the Year Award.
Sturgill and his album "A Sailor's Guide To Earth" share the category with some of modern music's biggest names, including Beyonce, Drake, Justin Bieber, and Adele.
“In terms of what happened today, this never even crossed my mind,” Sturgill told The Los Angeles Times. "This has all been slightly surreal to say the least."
Sturgill was the only country music star nominated in the coveted category during Tuesday's announcement, which comes just a few months after he caused controversy in the country music world over late Kern County-born country star Merle Haggard.
Following the announcement of an ACM Merle Haggard Spirit Award just a few months after Haggard's death, Sturgill took to Facebook upset that the Nashville music scene may have been taking advantage of the moment.
"I find it utterly disgusting the way everybody on Music Row is coming up with any reason they can to hitch their wagon to his name while knowing full and damn well what he thought about them, "Sturgill said on Facebook.
RELATED: Country music star Sturgill Simpson lashes out on a music award in Merle Haggard's name
Simpson was most recently in Bakersfield on November 18, when he played at The Fox Theatre.
The winner of the Album of the Year Grammy will be announced on February 12.
