Sen. Barack Obama was nominated Thursday for a Grammy Award, but the Illinois Democrat was cited not for his singing, but for his speaking.
In the somewhat obscure field known as Grammy Category 77, he was nominated for best spoken word album for his recording of his autobiography, “Dreams From My Father.” He spent more than 15 hours in the sound booth recording his book.
When asked for Obama’s reaction, his spokesman, Robert Gibbs, quipped: “He does want to be known as the artist formerly known as Barack Obama.”
Other nominees in the category are: Garrison Keillor for “The Adventures of Guy Noir,” Al Franken for “The Al Franken Show Party Album,” Sean Penn for “Chronicles–Volume One (Bob Dylan),” and George Carlin for “When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?”
If Obama wins, he would not be the first Illinois senator to capture a Grammy in that category. GOP Sen. Everett Dirksen won in 1967 for “Gallant Men.”
Obama’s autobiography, originally published in 1995, was rereleased last year after he delivered the keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention.
Obama is working on his second book. He has conceded that he is behind schedule. When pressed this week on how it is going, he said, “Don’t ask.”
