It isn’t every day that you hear Gov. Nathan Deal utter the names 2 Chainz and Young Jeezy, but indeed he did Tuesday night at the Tabernacle.

Midway through the event – where the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter recognized Georgia Grammy nominees in conjunction with a Georgia Music Foundation benefit dinner – Deal took the stage with Michele Caplinger, senior executive director of the Atlanta Chapter, to celebrate the state’s nearly two dozen nominees.

Some of them, such as the Zac Brown Band – Zac included – Ludacris and Chris Tomlin were in attendance and stood for recognition when addressed.

The governor joked that Zac Brown had finally made the big time after a previous career as a restaurant worker and also praised the efforts of the Georgia Music Foundation.

“We are becoming known as a state that produces great musical talent,” Deal said.

Ludacris, clad in a neat sweater ensemble, also took the stage and told an audience that included veteran vocal coach Jan Smith, Sugarland keyboardist Brandon Bush and Third Day frontman Mac Powell, that he encounters a lot of people in the hip-hop industry who “envy” the collaborative spirit of Georgia music artists.

“Zac Brown, we still gotta make that track together!” Luda said to a smiling Brown. He then added, “I will continue to make you proud over the years to come.”

There were several musical performances throughout the two-hour-plus gathering, starting with a rousing medley of Otis Redding and Ray Charles songs from the inspiring Crawford Ensemble and wrapping with an acoustic set from Leesburg’s Luke Bryan.

Bryan was introduced by Albany, Ga., native Dallas Davidson, an ace country music songwriter based in Nashville who is also the chair of the Georgia Music Foundation.

“This is a momentous occasion,” Bryan said with a grin. “I don’t know that Dallas and I have ever been in a room together without wearing a hat.”

As fans know, Bryan is rarely seen without a baseball cap.

Before launching into “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye,” armed with only his acoustic guitar, Bryan gave a heartfelt mini-speech about how he’ll always be a Georgia boy.

“It means so much to be from a state with so many musical opportunities and culture. Where I grew up, just the characters in my life, from the guy sitting at the curb, is enough to write a lifetime of songs. I’ll always be indebted to the state of Georgia.”

This year’s Grammy Awards will air live from Los Angeles at 8 p.m. Feb. 10.

Among the performers are Elton John with Ed Sheeran, Justin Timberlake, .fun, Taylor Swift, The Black Keys, Carrie Underwood, Jack White and Dierks Bentley. More acts are expected to be announced this week.

Check out our gallery for more photos from Tuesday's event.