The Grammy’s are just around the corner. Perhaps we’re a bit biased but we’re particularly excited about the award for Best Spoken Word. To celebrate, we thought we’d dig into the award’s history and review some of our favorite nominated audiobooks from the last ten years.
7 Grammy-Nominated Audiobooks for Your Listening Pleasure
Wishful Drinking
2009, Nominee
Before she won for THE PRINCESS DIARIST, Carrie Fisher was nominated for WISHFUL DRINKING. Honestly, Carrie Fisher was the kind of cocktail you never want to stop drinking: she was a bright star in a vast universe, and her books proved how astonishing her life was. Her narration of this book is the delightful olive in your Carrie Fisher martini, and will make you miss her all over again.
Wishful Drinking
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Born Standing Up
2008, Nominee
It’s almost hard to remember that Steve Martin wrote a memoir, let alone that the audiobook was nominated for a Grammy. But it was a sincere, entertaining, and exposing book, telling all of the painful ins and outs of his career. It’s no wonder that the audiobook was as powerful and beautiful as it was.
Born Standing Up
There is no way you can go through life without encountering comedian Steve Martin’s great works—and this memoir is one of them. In this Grammy-winning audiobook version, Martin recounts his years in stand-up and illuminates the sacrifice, discipline, and originality that made him a comedy and cultural icon.
Read by Steve Martin
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Bossypants
2011, Nominee
Tina Fey is hilarious no matter the medium, but BOSSYPANTS comes with the added bonus of being insightful and ahead of its time. Tina Fey also has the kind of voice that makes you feel like you just sat down to Sunday night dinner with your extended family, so this audiobook is a particular treat.
Bossypants
From her tour of duty on "Saturday Night Live" to her nearly fatal honeymoon to her life as a mother eating things off the floor—Tina Fey reveals all in this hilarious memoir and proves what we’ve all suspected: you’re no one until someone calls you bossy.
Narrated by Tina Fey
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Diary of a Mad Diva
2014, Winner
Listening to Joan Rivers always makes me think of catty comments on the red carpet, and this “Spoken Word Album” doesn’t disappoint. She gives you all of her thoughts—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and she won’t hold back. Not one word.
Read by Joan Rivers
Diary of a Mad Diva
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Born to Run
2017, Nominee
Any recording artist making an audiobook is bound to be pretty good at the medium, but Bruce Springsteen takes the Spoken Word to a whole new level. His story is full of homegrown grit and his performance more than matches.
Born to Run
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Faith
2018, Nominee
Former President Jimmy Carter has already won two Grammys for A FULL LIFE and OUR ENDANGERED VALUES, and has been nominated a stunning nine times before 2019. If he wins for FAITH, he’ll be on track to beat former President Barack Obama (who has won two so far, but of course, has another book—and probably another win—on the way). Pretty cool stats for an ex–peanut farmer who doesn’t swear.
Faith
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The Last Black Unicorn
2018, Nominee
Tiffany Haddish is almost ludicrous in her humor, but her story is also eye-opening about the foster care system and cycles of poverty. You wouldn’t guess that someone like Tiffany Haddish—ultimate fun girl—would have such a powerful memoir, but it goes to show that you should never judge a book by its cover. And the added tidbits she throws into the audiobook are gold, making this a must-listen audiobook.