Nominations for the 51st Annual GRAMMY® Awards were announced December 3 by The Recording Academy® and both Randy Travis and James Otto came away with four nominations.

Randy Travis received a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Country Album category for his first Country music album in eight years, Around The Bend. In addition, songwriters Ashley Gorley and Bob Regan were nominated in the Best Country Song category for Travis’ “Dig Two Graves” from the same album.

“It has been almost 25 years since I released my first album and this is the first time I have been nominated for Best Country Album," said Travis. "I spent years going through songs with my longtime producer Kyle Lehning for this album and my career has really come full circle with this release. To be able to go and record this album was amazing, and now to be nominated for it is more than I could ask for. I am very blessed and thankful to all who have supported me throughout this journey."

Travis has garnered six Grammy Awards. The Best Country Album nomination marks his 15th overall nomination.

James Otto received his first two Grammy Award nominations in the Best Male Country Vocal Performance Category for “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” from his debut album Sunset Man and as songwriter in the Best Country Song Category for his contribution on Jamey Johnson’s “In Color.”

"Who would have guessed that the boy who found his first guitar in a trash can would be nominated for two Grammy Awards? I didn’t even realize I was in the running, so I’m totally shocked, honored and humbled by the nominations,” said James. “By the time I was writing and recording Sunset Man, I had been through 10 years of ups and downs in the music business. I was finally signed to Warner Bros. Records and had met and married my wife, Amy. I had really grown as an artist and knew what I wanted to say – I wrote straight from the heart.”

Otto continued, “To be acknowledged for my vocal performance on ‘Just Got Started Lovin' You,’ and for co-writing ‘In Color’ with Jamey Johnson is probably the best Christmas gift anyone could ever give me. I want to thank everyone who ever helped me get there, especially country radio and my fans. You guys have always believed in me and supported me, and I hope to always do you proud.”

The Grammy Awards will be handed out at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on February 8th, 2009. Tune in to the 51st Annual Grammy Awards telecast, which airs that night on CBS at 8 p.m. ET/PT.