Lone Star Grammy Noms

Texas artists score big in 2015 Grammy Award nominations

Texas was well-represented in the latest round of nominations for the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences 57th annual Grammy Awards. Beyonce, Miranda Lambert and Lecrae topped the list of 24 Texas-born or -based musical acts who earned 35 nominations for music released during the eligible period between October 1, 2013, and September 30, 2014.

Beyoncé's self-titled album Beyoncé earned nods for Album of the Year and Best Urban Contemporary album. The Houston pop star's single "Drunk In Love" (featuring husband Jay Z) was nominated for Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance. She was also nominated for Best Music Film for Beyoncé & Jay Z: On The Run Tour.

Longview-born Miranda Lambert received four nominations, including Best Country Album for Platinum, and two nominations for the single "Automatic": Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song. She was also nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Somethin' Bad" (with Carrie Underwood).

Houston's Lecrae earned three nominations, including Best Rap Performance for "All I Need Is You"; Best Gospel Performance/Song for "Help" (with Erica Campbell); and Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Messengers" (featuring For King & Country).

Dallas-Fort Worth nominees
Dallas native Edie Brickell was nominated for Best American Roots Song for "Pretty Little One" (with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers); Brickell and Martin performed in Dallas in October at the Winspear Opera House.

Dallas native and rising star St. Vincent was nominated for Best Alternative Music Album for her self-titled album St. Vincent. Her climb to fame got a major boost when she performed with Nirvana in April 2014 during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Dallas-residing producer Tim O'Heir received a nomination for Best Musical Theater Album for Hedwig and the Angry Inch (with Justin Craig and Stephen Trask). O'Heir also was nominated for a Tony.

Arlington a capella group Pentatonix was nominated for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, for "Daft Punk."

Austin nominees
Austin artists include a team who worked on The Rise & Fall of Paramount Records, Volume One (1917-27): Dean Blackwood, nominated for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (with Susan Archie and Jack White), and Scott Blackwood, for Best Album Notes.

Ruthie Foster was nominated for Best Blues Album for Promise of a Brand New Day, and Eliza Gilkyson was nominated for Best Folk Album for The Nocturne Diaries. Craig Hella Johnson, conductor of Conspirare, was nominaed for Best Choral Performance for "The Sacred Spirit Of Russia."

Houston nominees
Robert Glasper Experiment received two nominations: Best Traditional R&B Performance for "Jesus Children" (featuring Lalah Hathaway and Malcolm Jamal Warner), and Best R&B Album for Black Radio 2.

Houston gospel acts included Aaron W. Lindsey, nominated for Best Gospel Performance/Song for "No Greater Love" (with Smokie Norful), and the Walls Group, for Best Gospel Performance/Song for "Love On the Radio."

Houston jazz musicians included Everette Harp (with Jeff Lorber and Chuck Loeb), nominated for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for Jazz Funk Soul, and Jason Moran, nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller.

Texas-born legends up for Grammy Awards include Johnny Mathis, a native of Gilmer, nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Sending You A Little Christmas; Johnny Winter, originally from Beaumont, nominated for Best Blues Album for Step Back; and Jacksonville-born Lee Ann Womack, nominated for Best Country Album for The Way I'm Livin'.

Mariachi Los Arrieros Del Valle of McAllen were nominated for Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano) for Alegría Del Mariachi. And Pepe Aguilar of San Antonio was nominated Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano) for Lastima Que Sean Ajenas.

Two Christian acts received nominations as well. MercyMe of Greenville was nominated twice: for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Shake," and for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album for Welcome To The New. And Waco act Crowder was nominated for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for "Come As You Are."

The Grammy Awards air February 8, 2015, on CBS.

Grammy Award nominees Edie Brickell toured with Steve Martin during the summer of 2014.

Paul Simon, Edie Brickell, Steve Martin at Houston Symphony concert July 2014

Photo courtesy of Houston Symphony

Grammy Award nominees Edie Brickell toured with Steve Martin during the summer of 2014.

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Hits for a Good Cause

CultureMap writer and Cowboys crush it for charity in home run derby

CultureMap's Alex Bentley competing in the Media League part of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby

Photo courtesy of Reliant

CultureMap's Alex Bentley competed in the Media League part of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby.

There was some friendly rivalry on and off the field at the 13th annual Reliant Home Run Derby at Riders Field in Frisco on May 14, where members of the Dallas Cowboys and a dozen local media members stepped up to the plate to raise money for North Texas charities.

Before Cowboys fans showed up for the main event, the day kicked off with the 10th annual Reliant Media League, featuring 12 reporters from around Dallas-Fort Worth - including CultureMap's Alex Bentley - taking their hacks for a charity of their choice.

On what was said to be one of the hottest days in the event's history, each media participant got 10 swings in the first of three rounds, earning $100 for every hit and $300 for every home run.

Bentley, a first-time competitor, advanced to the second round with four others, and with a strong second-round performance - including a home run on his final swing - made the three-swing final round against WFAA reporter Sean Giggy.

CultureMap's Alex Bentley celebrating a home run in the Media League part of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby. Photo by Brandon Wade/AP Content Services for Reliant

With Kristi Scales, sideline reporter for the Dallas Cowboys Radio Network, calling the action, Giggy narrowly edged Bentley by hitting two home runs compared to Bentley's two hits and one home run.

Collectively, the media members raised $36,220 for local North Texas charities, including $4,335 by Giggy for his charity, Keeper of the Game, and $4,135 by Bentley for his charity, The Street Dog Project.

The Street Dog Project is comprised of a small group of volunteers who, since 2016, have rescued hundreds of dogs from the streets and found them loving homes.

WFAA reporter Sean Giggy celebrating his win the Media League portion of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby WFAA reporter Sean Giggy and his son celebrating his win in the Media League portion of the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby. Photo by Brandon Wade/AP Content Services for Reliant

Reached for comment, Bentley said: "For a 50-year-old man who hadn't touched a baseball bat in 16 years to even compete was amazing, but to be one of the finalists was beyond all my expectations. I'm very happy with my performance, but even happier that I was able to raise a lot of money for a good cause."

Ten Cowboys players then took the field in front of hundreds of fans, trading in their pads for a bat for a chance at baseball glory.

Participants included Bryan Anger, Brandon Aubrey, Jake Ferguson, DeMarvion Overshown, Dak Prescott, Luke Schoonmaker, Trent Sieg, Tyler Smith, Terence Steele, and Sam Williams.

With each hit and home run earning a donation from Reliant, the teammates raised a total of $80,000 to benefit The Salvation Army of North Texas.

Ferguson, the Cowboys tight end, was named the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby Champion with $20,600 raised and 22 home runs.

As the winner, Ferguson also received a $10,000 bonus from Reliant for his chosen charity, the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation.

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson celebrating his win at the 2026 Reliant Home Run Derby.Photo by Brandon Wade/AP Content Services for Reliant

charity event culturemap dallas cowboys fundraisers home run derby sports sports-fitness