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Grammys

Page: 4

The Recording Academy recently announced that 66% of its voting members have joined since 2019, when the academy adopted a peer-reviewed membership model. Harvey Mason Jr., the academy’s CEO, says the change in the membership can be seen in this year’s nominations.
Album of the year nominees include three albums from genres that are not in regular rotation in this top category – André 3000’s New Blue Sun, which is also nominated for best alternative jazz album; Charli XCX’s Brat, which is also nominated for best dance/electronic album; and Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, which is also nominated for best country album.

Mason took time on the eve of the nominations reveal to talk to Billboard about the nominations. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Trending on Billboard

In a press release, you were quoted saying “These nominations reflect the work of a voting body that is more representative of the music community than ever before.” Can you point to a specific nomination that illustrates that point?

I would start by looking at the General Field [which includes the Big Four categories – record, album and song of the year plus best new artist]. The reach of genres in those categories – country, rap, alternative jazz – is a direct reflection of the diversity of our membership.

66% of this year’s voters are new [since 2019]. More than 3,000 women voters have joined. People of color are now almost 40%. That is a stark difference from where we were about four or five years ago. Definitely, the tastes, the ears, the outcomes are going to change.

Back in July, I sent a very direct message to our voters. I asked them to please vote with purpose; vote with intention; vote with your ears. And I’m really, really pleased. It seems like they definitely did that.

I was a little surprised by The Beatles being nominated for record of the year for “Now and Then.”

You can never be surprised by The Beatles popping up. When I was nominated many moons ago [for Dreamgirls, nominated for best pop compilation soundtrack album for motion picture, television or other visual media], I thought I had that sucker won, and then The Beatles came along and snatched it [for Love, featuring music remixed for the Cirque du Soleil show of the same name].

To me, the AI is kind of the interesting part [of ‘Now and Then’]. It’s a great example of how AI definitely enhanced some creativity as opposed to creating a fake voice. This was a cool use of AI that I felt made a lot of sense and I’m pleased it’s been nominated.

Beyoncé was shut out in the nominations at the CMA Awards, a very credible show, and leads here with 11 nominations for the same album. How do you reconcile that?

I would reconcile it by saying our voters really resonated with the music. And it wasn’t just one group of voters. Because of our 10-3 rule, voters have to declare [no more than] three fields you’re going to vote in, so you’re not just wandering all over the ballot voting. Country voters voted for Beyoncé in country. Different voters voted for her in rap – she’s nominated for best melodic rap performance. It’s totally different subsets of voters. So, I think it’s really impressive.

Jack Antonoff co-produced two albums that are nominated for album of the year (Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet and Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department). He’s the only producer with two albums in that category, but he’s not nominated for producer of the year, non-classical. How do you explain that?

Yeah, that’s definitely different. I can’t speak for the voters. They each vote in their own way, but it’s something to look at.

This is the second year in a row you’ve had eight nominees in each of the Big Four categories. Before that, it was 10 for two years and before that it was eight for three years. Do you like eight?

I do because I think it gives us the opportunity to celebrate more music than five [nominees, which was the norm before 2018]; more diverse genres and to hear from a lot of different artists. I think maybe to get much higher than that, it starts to get confusing, too many to choose from for voters and maybe diluting the category. We’re trying to find the sweet spot, the right number. We’ll continue to look at it.

André 3000’s album wasn’t a big hit – it spent two weeks on the Billboard 200 last December – but it’s up for album of the year.

That’s hopefully reflective of the fact that they listened to the music and they’re not basing it on chart positions or fan reactions or streaming numbers. It’s really based on the quality of the music. You don’t know what’s going to resonate from year to year. This year, these eight albums resonated with our voters and I think they did a great job.

Cowboy Carter is the only country album up for album of the year and even Beyoncé wrote on Instagram, ‘This ain’t a Country album, it’s a Beyoncé album.’ We don’t have a Chris Stapleton or a Kacey Musgraves or a Lainey Wilson in there. It seems to me you’re perennially a little light on country. When you see the nominations every year, do you think ‘We need to work on this’?

I say that about a lot of things when I see the nominations – more so when I see our voting membership numbers. We’re always working on this. The membership team is working really hard, making adjustments to the membership so that we’re reflective of the music community. Yes, we’re working on balancing out different genres, and we’ll continue to do that work. But you’re not wrong.

The Recording Academy has let its members know, via email, of some changes, one of which will likely be unwelcome news to many: It will no longer provide complimentary tickets to its official Grammy afterparty to all current year nominees. This year’s Grammy Celebration, the afterparty’s official name, will be hosted by the Grammy Museum […]

At the 2024 Grammy ceremony on Feb. 4, host Trevor Noah was nominated for best comedy album for the second time for I Wish You Would, but lost to Dave Chappelle’s What’s in a Name?. The Recording Academy hasn’t announced who will be hosting the 2025 Grammys on Feb. 2, but these two comedians are likely to both be nominated again for best comedy album – Chappelle for The Dreamer and Noah for Where Was I.
Chappelle has been nominated five times in this category – and has never lost in this category. (He did lose in 2022 when one of his albums, 8:46, in which he discussed the 2020 police murder of George Floyd, was judged to be not primarily comedic and was moved to best spoken word album.)

Trending on Billboard

If Chappelle wins again, he’ll stand just behind Bill Cosby for the most wins in this category. Cosby won seven times from 1965 and 1987. Chappelle is currently tied with George Carlin and Richard Pryor as runner-up in the category.

Jim Gaffigan has been nominated seven times in this category, but has yet to win. He will likely be nominated again this year for The Prisoner. Gaffigan is the only comedian (and the only non-Grammy winner) who was announced last week as one of the presenters of the Grammy nominations on the livestream on Friday (Nov. 8). Does that mean the academy knows for a fact that he’s going to be nominated and booked him for the livestream so they’d have a happy reaction shot? I don’t think the academy knows that far in advance who is going to be nominated, but his booking on the livestream certainly isn’t a bad sign about his chances for another nod this year.

Adam Sandler, a three-time nominee in this category, is entered for Love You. Sandler and Chappelle are both past recipients of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Tig Notaro, a two-time nominee in this category, is entered with Hello Again. David Cross, also a two-time nominee, is entered for Worst Daddy in the World.

Joe Rogan is a contender with Burn the Boats. The Joe Rogan Experience is considered one of the most influential podcasts, though his politics do not align with that of most Grammy voters (as evidenced by the fact that only Democratic presidents and first ladies tend to be nominated for best audio book recording.)  Burn the Boats is Rogan’s latest Netflix special.

Conan O’Brien, who won his fifth Primetime Emmy in September for Conan O’Brien Must Go, is entered with Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend: Quinquennial Celebration, a collaboration with Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley.

Taylor Tomlinson, the host of After Midnight, which follows The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on CBS, is entered with Have It All.

Nikki Glaser, who is set to host the 2025 Golden Globes telecast on Jan. 5, is entered with Someday You’ll Die. Jo Koy, who hosted that show earlier this year, is entered with Live From Brooklyn. Ricky Gervais, who hosted the Globes five times between 2010 and 2020, is entered with Armageddon.

Several other potential nominees have also hosted awards shows. Marlon Wayans, who co-hosted the MTV VMAs in 2000 with his brother, Shawn Wayans, is entered with Good Grief. Kevin James, who hosted the People’s Choice Awards in 2001-02, is entered with Irregardless. Jack Whitehall, who hosted the Brit Awards four years running, from 2018-21, is entered with Settle Down.

Other notable contenders on the entry list of 94 albums include Shane Gillis’ Beautiful Dogs, Demetri Martin’s Demetri Deconstructed and Matt Rife’s Lucid – A Crowd Work Special.

Our Fearless Forecast

Dave Chappelle, The Dreamer

Jim Gaffigan, The Prisoner

Trevor Noah, Where Was I

Tig Notaro, Hello Again

Adam Sander, Love You

Grammy winners Brandy Clark, Kirk Franklin, David Frost, Robert Gordon, Kylie Minogue, Victoria Monét, Gaby Moreno, Deanie Parker, Ben Platt, Mark Ronson and Hayley Williams; Grammy-nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan; Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.; and CBS Mornings host Gayle King are set to announce the 67th annual Grammy Awards nominees on Friday Nov. 8, […]

Just a few weeks after finally being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cher could receive a Grammy nomination for best traditional pop vocal album for her first holiday album, Christmas. The nominations will be announced on Friday Nov. 8.
The worlds of rock and roll and traditional pop were once far apart, but those worlds been coming together in recent years as genre lines blur across the board. Six artists who are in the Rock Hall have won Grammys in this category – Joni Mitchell (for Both Sides Now), Rod Stewart (Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III), Paul McCartney (Kisses on the Bottom), Willie Nelson (Summertime: Willie Nelson Sings Gershwin and My Way, a tribute to Frank Sinatra), Elvis Costello (Look Now, with the Imposters) and James Taylor (American Standard).

Should Cher’s album win when the Grammy Awards are announced on Feb. 2, it would be the first holiday album ever to win in this category, though many have been nominated.

Trending on Billboard

Cher has won just one Grammy over the course of her six-decade career – best dance recording for her 1999 megahit, “Believe.” Her nominations stretch back to 1965, when Sonny & Cher were nominated for best new artist.

Cher is vying for a nomination in the traditional pop category with Stephanie J. Block, who portrayed the icon in The Cher Show on Broadway in 2019, winning a Tony Award for best actress in a musical. Block is represented with her own Christmas album, Merry Christmas, Darling. (The title track is a cover version of the ballad made famous by the Carpenters in 1970.)

Several other Christmas albums are vying for nominations, including Brandy’s Christmas With Brandy, Johnny Mathis’ Christmas Time Is Here, Seth MacFarlane & Liz Gillies’ We Wish You the Merriest, Gregory Porter’s Christmas Wish and Jim Brickman’s Brickman Sings Christmas. Brandy has received 12 Grammy nominations over the years, winning for “The Boy Is Mine,” her Billboard Hot 100-topping collab with Monica. This would be her first nomination in this category.

Mathis is a four-time nominee in this category. He was nominated in 1991, the year the category was introduced. But Mathis’ history with the Grammys goes back much further than that. He received his first nomination in 1960, the third year of the Grammys, for his exquisite recording of “Misty.” Shockingly, Mathis, 89, has yet to win a Grammy in competition. He received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2003.

MacFarlane is a three-time nominee in this category. This is his second collab with Gillies.

Stewart is vying for a nomination with Swing Fever, a collab with Jools Holland. Stewart is a five-time nominee in this category, winning once.

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends: A Celebration (Live at the Sondheim Theatre) is a strong contender. Last year, two of the nominees in this category were salutes to the legendary Broadway composer, who died in 2021 at age 91. Liz Callaway was nominated for To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim. A Various Artists collection, Sondheim Unplugged (The New York City Sessions), Vol. 3, was also nominated last year. “Old Friends,” which is part of the title of the new collection, is a highlight of Sondheim’s 1981 show Merrily We Roll Along, which won a Tony for best revival of a musical in June.

Another celebration of legendary Broadway composers is on the entry list — My Favorite Things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80th Anniversary Concert (Live from Theatre Royal Drury Lane/ 2023.

Broadway legend Patti LuPone is entered with A Life in Notes. LuPone has won Tonys for her performances in Evita, Gypsy and Company. Ben Platt, who won a Tony, Daytime Emmy and Grammy for Dear Evan Hansen and related projects, is entered with Honeymind. Nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb was one of the album’s producers.

Raye & the Heritage Orchestra are entered with My 21st Century Symphony (Live at Royal Albert Hall). Raye has a good chance to receive a best new artist nomination next week. She took home six Brit Awards in March.

Two albums by past Grammy winners for best new artist are vying for nominations — Norah Jones’ Visions and Paula Cole’s Lo. Jones has received two nods in this category.

Janis Siegel and Yaron Gershovsky are entered with The Colors of My Life. Siegel is a nine-time Grammy winner for her work with Manhattan Transfer. Straight No Chaser has two albums on the entry list – 90s Proof and Stocking Stuffer.

Other notable albums on the entry list of 78 albums include Crowded House’s Gravity Stairs, Toby Gad’s Piano Diaries – The Hits, Gaither Vocal Band’s Let Me Be There, Il Divo’s XX: 20th Anniversary Album, Joe Jackson’s Mr. Joe Jackson Presents Max Champion in ‘What a Racket!,’ Ingrid Michaelson’s For the Dreamers, Steven Pasquale with John Pizzarelli’s Some Other Time and The Sound of Rusic by the cast of Rupaul’s Drag Race.

Our Fearless Forecast

Brandy, Christmas With Brandy

Cher, Christmas

Ben Platt, Honeymind

Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends: A Celebration (Live at the Sondheim Theatre)

Rod Stewart & Jools Holland, Swing Fever

Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden and The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. announced today a new 10-year global deal for The Grammys to be exclusively simulcast on ABC, Hulu and Disney+ beginning in 2027 — making The Walt Disney Company the first new home for Music’s Biggest Night in 50 years. The Grammys aired […]

We’re likely to see several milestone achievements when the 67th annual Grammy Awards nominations are unveiled on Friday Nov. 8.
If Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department is nominated for album of the year, she’ll break out of a tie with Barbra Streisand and stand alone as the woman with the most nods in this category.

If Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter is nominated in that same category, she’ll become the Black artist with the most album of the year nods as a lead artist. She’s currently tied for that distinction with Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar.

If Lamar’s “Not Like Us” is nominated for record and/or song of the year, he’ll tie Jay-Z for the most nods in those categories by a rapper.

Trending on Billboard

If both Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter are nominated in each of the Big Four categories – album, record and song of the year plus best new artist – this will be only the third time in Grammy history that two artists have achieved that feat in the same year. Billie Eilish and Lizzo both did it five years ago. Olivia Rodrigo and FINNEAS both did it three years ago.

Let’s took a closer look at the likely nominees in each of the Big Four categories. We’ll discuss top candidates in each of the races and then reveal our eight picks. (For the second year in a row, there will be eight nominees in each of these categories.)

While Beyoncé’s album hasn’t sustained its popularity as well as some of its rivals – it ranked No. 190 on the Billboard 200 on Oct. 15 as nominations-round voting closed – it’s hard to see how it can miss out on a nomination, especially after husband Jay-Z called out Grammy voters for never giving Beyoncé their top award right on the Grammy stage in February. Cowboy Carter led to a heightened appreciation for Black artists’ long-underrecognized role in the development of country music, and likely paved the way for the success of Shaboozey’s megahit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” This would be Bey’s fifth album to be nominated in this category and her fourth in a row.

Swift’s album topped the Billboard 200 for 15 weeks, longer than any other album this year – and longer than any of her previous albums. Her cultural dominance over the past two years likely stems more from the unprecedented success of The Eras Tour than it does from any particular album. Still, it’s hard to see Tortured Poets not being nominated. This would be Swift’s seventh album of the year nod, and Poets would be her fourth consecutive studio album of new material to be nominated.

Eilish’s first two studio albums were both nominated for this award – her debut won it five years ago, follow-up Happier Than Ever was nominated two years later. Hit Me Hard and Soft is likely to make her 3 for 3. It was her first album to spawn two top five hits on the Billboard Hot 100, while Eilish demonstrated her star power by winning a second Oscar for best original song in March, and performing on a globally-televised program which wrapped the 2024 Summer Olympics in August.

Chappell Roan’s first full-length album, The Rise & Fall of a Midwest Princess, also seems like a sure thing. The album was released one week after the start of the eligibility year (Sept. 16, 2023 – Aug. 30, 2024) and has slowly built into blockbuster status. The industry loves a good artist development story, and this one is hard to beat.

Sabrina Carpenter’s sixth studio album, Short n’ Sweet, is also a solid bet. The album has logged four weeks atop the Billboard 200 and includes three singles that have made the top three on the Billboard 200. This represents a different kind of artist development story – someone who was on the cusp of stardom for nearly a decade before really exploding in the past year.

Charli XCX’s Brat is one of the year’s most critically lauded albums and one of the most well-known, especially since Charli tweeted “kamala IS brat” and became part of the year’s top overall story – the presidential election.

Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine also has a good shot. The album topped the Billboard 200 for two weeks and spawned two No. 1 singles on the Hot 100. Thank U, Next, her only previous album to spawn two No. 1 singles, was nominated in this category five years ago. The only possible hitch: The many hit albums by women artists which have exploded since Grande’s album was released back in March may overshadow it.

If Beyoncé is nominated, it would be odd if Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion was not. Many have praised Post’s willing immersion into the country music scene, something Bey did not do in the same way, as the ideal way for a genre outsider to approach a genre. Post has been nominated twice before in this category, with Beerbongs & Bentleys and Hollywood’s Bleeding.

If Bey and Post both make the finals, there will be two nominees by pop artists performing country music. Nashville insiders will want to see at least one nominee by a core country artist. Top contenders there include Chris Stapleton’s Higher, Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind and Kacey Musgraves’ Deeper Well. Stapleton and Musgraves have each been nominated in this category once in the past; Musgraves has won (for Golden Hour in 2019). If Stapleton is nominated again, he’ll become the first male country solo artist to land two nominations in this category.

Usher could be nominated for his ninth studio album, Coming Home. The R&B star headlined the Super Bowl halftime show in February and scored his biggest crossover hit in nearly a decade with “Good Good,” a collab with Summer Walker and 21 Savage. Two of the artists who performed at the 2022 halftime show, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar, wound up with album of the year nods that year. This would be Usher’s second nod in this category. He was nominated for his 2004 blockbuster Confessions.

The Recording Academy added 2,000 new voting members this year (bringing the total number of voting members to 13,000). As has been the case for the past several years, the focus was on adding more women, people of color and people under 40. This could boost the chances of not only Usher’s album, but also Future & Metro Boomin’s We Don’t Trust You, their first of two Billboard 200-topping collaborations; 21 Savage’s Billboard 200-topping American Dream; and Tyla’s Tyla, among others. Tyla’s “Water” won the inaugural Grammy presented for best African music performance in February. The South African singer won two BET Awards on June 30 — best new artist and best international act.

The Rolling Stones were nominated in this category for 1978’s Some Girls. They’re in the conversation this year with Hackney Diamonds, which was produced by Andrew Watt, who won producer of the year (non-classical) four years ago.

Zach Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene would have a good chance at a nomination here, but Bryan didn’t enter his music in the Grammy process this year. That’s also why his “Pink Skies” is missing from the record and song of the year forecasts.

Our Fearless Forecast

Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter

Sabrina Carpenter, Short n’ Sweet

Charli XCX, Brat

Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft

Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine

Post Malone, F-1 Trillion

Chappell Roan, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess

Taylor Swift, The Tortured Poets Department

Beyoncé could be headed for her ninth nomination in this category with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which would extend her record for the most nods in the history of the category. (She surpassed the former record-holder, traditional pop GOAT Frank Sinatra, two years ago.) Don’t tell Jay-Z, but Bey has never won in this category either — the fact that that 0-fer isn’t nearly as much of a point of contention as her album of the year shutout is a sign of how the latter award has become the most coveted Grammy. (Fun Fact: “Texas Hold ’Em” wouldn’t be the first poker-themed hit to land a record of the year nod; Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” was nominated at the awards in 1980.)

Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga could be headed for their seventh and fourth nominations in this category, respectively, with the plush “Die With a Smile.” A nod here would put Mars in a tie with Sinatra for second place on the list of artists with the most nominations in the category. (And Gaga could use a little good news after the drubbing her latest film, Joker: Folie à Deux, took.)

Swift and Malone could be headed for their sixth and fourth nominations in the category, respectively, with “Fortnight,” which won video of the year at the MTV VMAs on Sept. 11. But it doesn’t have to be nominated in this category. Three previous Swift album of the year nominees – Red, Folklore and Evermore – weren’t represented in the record of the year nominations.

Eilish could be headed for her fifth nomination in the category with “Birds of a Feather,” which was released in July and quickly eclipsed her previous release “Lunch,” which had seemed likely to be nominated. Eilish would become the first artist in Grammy history to amass five record of the year nods before turning 23. She will reach that birthday on Dec. 18.

Lamar and SZA could each be headed for their fourth nods in the category with “Not Like Us” and “Saturn,” respectively. “Not Like Us” has transcended its origins in the year’s most bitter pop feud. Even if someone didn’t know the backstory, it’s simply an undeniable smash, with a sick beat. And “Saturn” is a gorgeous single.

Lamar could have a second record of the year nomination this year with Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” on which he was featured. The last artist to receive two record the year nods in the same year was Beyoncé four years ago, for her own “Black Parade” and as a featured artist on Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage.”

Post Malone could also have two record of the year nods – or he could wind up with none. The Post/Morgan Wallen collab “I Had Some Help” was Billboard’s Song of the Summer. It’s a catchy record, but Grammy voters sometimes steer clear of super-commercial works like this. Post has amassed 10 Grammy nominations over the years (though oddly no wins), but Wallen has yet to receive a Grammy nomination.

Ariana Grande could be headed for her second nod in the category with “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).” She was previously nominated for the Rodgers & Hammerstein-interpolating “7 Rings.”

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” headed the Hot 100 for 15 weeks, longer than any other single this year. Like the Lil Nas X/Billy Ray Cyrus collab “Old Town Road,” which was nominated in this category five years ago, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” blends country and R&B/hip-hop elements.

Hozier’s impeccably-produced “Too Sweet” became his first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. Now it may become his first record of the year nominee. Hozier is vying to become the fourth Irish artist to be nominated in this category, following Gilbert O’Sullivan, U2 and Sinéad O’Connor. Hozier’s 2014 hit “Take Me to Church” was nominated for song of the year.

This would be the first nomination in this category for Shaboozey and Hozier, as it would be for such other strong contenders as Benson Boone (whose “Beautiful Things” resembles Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” in its build from a soft opening to a rock-edged finish), Carpenter (“Espresso), Roan (“Good Luck, Babe!), Tommy Richman (“Million Dollar Baby”) and Charli XCX (“360”).

The original studio version of Teddy Swims’ “Lose Control” was released in the previous eligibility year and is thus not eligible, but a live version, subtitled “The Village Sessions,” is eligible. Unfortunately for Swims, live and alternative versions are rarely nominated in this category. That could also work to the detriment of Muni Long’s “Made for Me (Live on BET).”

Our Fearless Forecast

Beyoncé, “Texas Hold ’Em” 

Sabrina Carpenter, “Espresso”

Billie Eilish, “Birds of a Feather”

Hozier, “Too Sweet”

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars, “Die With a Smile”

Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”

Chappell Roan, “Good Luck, Babe!”

Shaboozey, “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Swift has received seven nominations in this category, more than anyone else in Grammy history, though she has yet to win. (As with Beyoncé in record of the year, it’s odd that the person with the most nominations in the category has never won.) Swift could land her eighth nod in this category this year with “Fortnight,” which she cowrote with Jack Antonoff (it would be his fifth nod in the category) and Post Malone (it would be his second).

Beyoncé and Mars could each be headed for their sixth nominations in this category – Bey with “Texas Hold ’Em” and Mars with “Die With a Smile.” For those keeping score, that would put them in a tie with Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie for second place on the Grammy song of the year nominations leaderboard. All five co-writers of “Die With a Smile” are past song of the year nominees – perhaps it was a requirement for landing the gig – Lady Gaga and Dernst Emile II (D’Mile) have each been nominated three times in the category. James Fauntleroy and Andrew Watt have each been nominated once.

Eilish and Finneas could be headed for their fifth nominations in the category for “Birds of a Feather.” They have won twice, for “Bad Guy” and their Barbie ballad “What Was I Made For?”

Max Martin could be headed for his fifth nomination in the category for co-writing Ariana Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love).” Martin was previously nominated in the category for co-writing Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” Katy Perry’s “Roar” and Swift’s “Shake It Off” and “Blank Space.” If this song is nominated, the Swedish hitmaker would become the first songwriter who hails from somewhere other than America or England to amass five nods in this category.

Carpenter’s camp entered “Please Please Please” in this category rather than “Espresso.” This would be the fifth nomination in this category for co-writer Antonoff, who could have two nominations in the category. As noted, he’s also a co-writer of “Fortnight.” If both songs are nominated, this would be the second year in a row that Antonoff has doubled up in this category. Last year, he was nominated for co-writing both Swift’s “Anti-Hero” and Lana Del Rey’s “A&W.” (Unlike his top client, Swift, Antonoff has won in the category. He shared the award in 2013 for cowriting “We Are Young” by his trio fun., featuring Janelle Monáe.)

As in record of the year, Lamar and SZA could each be headed for their fourth nominations in the category with “Not Like Us” and “Saturn,” respectively.

Daniel Nigro has two strong songs in contention – Roan’s can’t-miss “Good Luck, Babe!” (which he co-wrote with Roan and Justin Tranter) and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Obsessed” (which he co-wrote with Rodrigo and Annie Clark – a.k.a. St. Vincent). Nigro and Rodrigo have been nominated twice in this category, for “drivers license” and “vampire.” Tranter was nominated once, for co-writing Julia Michaels’ “Issues.”

Louis Bell could be headed for his third nomination in the category for co-writing “I Had Some Help.” Hozier could be headed for his second for co-writing “Too Sweet.” Boone could be headed for his first for co-writing “Beautiful Things.”

Jelly Roll’s “I Am Not Okay” has a positive message about the importance of greater openness about mental health and self-care issues. It could appeal to some of the same voters who delivered a song of the year nomination to “1-800-273-8255,” about suicide prevention, seven years ago. Jelly Roll sang “I Am Not Okay” over the In Memoriam spot on the Primetime Emmys.

Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is eligible here, though some voters may nick it in this category for leaning heavily on an earlier hit. The song interpolates J-Kwon’s 2004 single “Tipsy.”

Musgraves is a contender for “Deeper Well,” which she co-wrote with Ian Fitzchuk and Daniel Tashian. Their “camera roll” was nominated for best country song three years ago.

Our Fearless Forecast

“Beautiful Things,” Evan Blair, Benson Boone, Jackson Lafrantz Larsen

“Birds of a Feather,” Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell

“Die With a Smile,” James Fauntleroy, Lady Gaga, Dernst Emile II, Bruno Mars, Andrew Watt

“Fortnight,” Jack Antonoff, Post Malone, Taylor Swift

“Good Luck, Babe!,” Chappell Roan, Daniel Nigro, Justin Tranter

“Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar

“Please Please Please,” Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff, Sabrina Carpenter

“Texas Hold ’Em,” Brian Bates, Beyoncé, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Bülow, Nate Ferraro, Raphael Saadiq

The last seven winners in this category – Alessia Cara, Dua Lipa, Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, Rodrigo, Samara Joy and Victoria Monét – have been women solo artists. This tied the record established in 1997-2003, when the winners were LeAnn Rimes, Paula Cole, Lauryn Hill, Christina Aguilera, Shelby Lynne, Alicia Keys and Norah Jones. Since Roan and Carpenter are widely seen as this year’s front-runners in this category, a new record will likely be set in February.

Several key contenders won new artist prizes at other top award shows. RAYE won best new artist at the Brit Awards on March 2, while The Last Dinner Party won their rising star award. Megan Moroney won new female artist of the year at the ACM Awards on May 16. Roan won best new artist at the MTV VMAs on Sept. 11. The Red Clay Strays won best emerging act of the year at the Americana Honors & Awards on Sept. 18. Sexxy Red won best breakthrough artist at the BET Hip Hop Awards on Oct. 15.

RAYE hasn’t fully broken through in the U.S. yet, but she may have made enough of an impact to be nominated here. Eleven past winners of the Brits’ new artist prize have at least been nominated for best new artist at the Grammys – The Human League (1982), Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1985), Lisa Stansfield (1990), Keane (2005), Duffy (2009), Ed Sheeran (2012), Bastille (2014), Sam Smith (2015), Dua Lipa (2018), Arlo Parks (2021) and Wet Leg (2023).

Though the original version of Swims’ “Lose Control” isn’t eligible for record of the year, he is eligible here. (The rules in this category are more elastic.) He is a strong candidate thanks both to that Hot 100-topping hit and its hit follow-up, “The Door.”

Richman’s first studio album, Coyote, was released after the close of the eligibility year. He made the eligibility list anyway because he had met the minimum requirement of five singles or tracks. One of them was the No. 2 Hot 100 smash “Million Dollar Baby.”

The Hanseroth Twins – Phil and Tim – have a good shot at a nomination. They have amassed 10 Grammy nominations, including three wins – best American roots song for co-writing Brandi Carlile’s “The Joke,” best country song for co-writing Tanya Tucker’s “Bring My Flowers Now” and best rock song for co-writing Carlile’s “Broken Horses.” They are eligible here because this was determined to be the year they achieved prominence as artists. They wouldn’t be the first best new artist nominees who had previous nominations for behind-the-scenes work. Monét, who won best new artist in February, had three previous nominations. FINNEAS, who was nominated in this category three years ago, had nine previous nominations (including eight wins).

Blackpink has yet to receive a Grammy nomination, but that group’s LISA could be headed for a best new artist nomination. She would be the first K-pop artist to be nominated in this category.

Shaboozey is almost certain to be nominated here. Four other country-leaning artists also have a shot – Dasha, whose “Austin” reached No. 3 on Hot Country Songs and No. 18 on the Hot 100; HARDY and Cody Johnson, each of whom have received two new artist of the year nods at the CMA Awards; and Brittney Spencer, who (like Shaboozey) is featured on Cowboy Carter.

One fun note: Two of the leading candidates, Boone and Carpenter, share a surname with past winners in this category. Debby Boone won in 1978. Karen and Richard Carpenter won in 1971. Alas, there is no previous winner named Roan.

Our Fearless Forecast

Benson Boone

Sabrina Carpenter

Megan Moroney

RAYE

Chappell Roan

Sexxy Red

Shaboozey

Teddy Swims

There are five categories devoted to R&B nestled in the R&B, rap and spoken poetry field at the 67th annual Grammy Awards. Yesterday, we previewed three of them — best R&B performance, best R&B song and best traditional R&B performance. Today, we preview the other two — best R&B album and best progressive R&B album.
Best R&B Album

The upcoming Grammy cycle marks the 30-year anniversary of the best R&B album category, and this year’s contenders range from seasoned veterans to new-gen stars.

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Two previous winners — Chris Brown (2012) and Lalah Hathaway (2017) — are in contention this year. Brown is seeking his third nomination in this category with 11:11 (Deluxe), which reached No. 9 on the Billboard 200 and spawned hits such as “Residuals,” “Sensational” (with Lojay and Davido) and “Summer Too Hot,” which earned a best R&B performance nod at the 2024 Grammys. Hathaway is also looking for her third nod in this category with Vantablack, her first solo studio album in seven years.

Between the Super Bowl and his blockbuster tour, Usher has had a very successful year, so a nod for Coming Home could be in play. Although he’s never competed in this category, he has won best contemporary R&B album (before it was discontinued in 2012) twice (2005 and 2011). Muni Long, who collaborated with Usher on the remix for her Grammy-winning “Hrs & Hrs,” is also a leading contender with her Revenge LP.

Though he won best progressive R&B album for Table for Two in 2022, Lucky Daye lost his previous bids in this category in 2020 (Painted) and 2023 (Candydrip). With Algorithm, his third studio album, the NOLA crooner could earn his third nod for best R&B album. Andra Day (Cassandra), Eric Benét (Duets), BJ The Chicago Kid (Gravy), Ledisi (Good Life) and Tyrese (Beautiful Pain) are all previous nominees in this category who are in contention this year — and all have yet to win. With four nominations to her name, Ledisi is tied with PJ Morton as the artist with the most nominations in this category without a win.

Eric Bellinger (The Rebirth 3: The Party & The Bedroom) and Kehlani (While We Wait 2) have both been previously nominated for best progressive R&B album. A nod in best R&B album for either star would be their first in this category. Kenyon Dixon earned his first solo Grammy nod at the 2024 ceremony, and he could earn a bid here for The R&B You Love.

Two more entries to keep an eye on: Dopamine, Normani‘s long-awaited debut LP, and The Color Purple (Music From And Inspired By), which features contributions from Grammy winners such as Alicia Keys, Fantasia, Tamela Mann, Usher, H.E.R., Coco Jones, Megan Thee Stallion, Missy Elliott, Mary Mary, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, Mary J. Blige and Black Thought.

Our Fearless Forecast

We’re betting on: Coming Home (Usher), Revenge (Muni Long), 11:11 – Deluxe (Chris Brown), Good Life (Ledisi) and Vantablack (Lalah Hathaway).

Best Progressive R&B Album

Since this category was first established in 2013 (originally as best urban contemporary album), four artists have emerged as its most-nominated acts. Beyoncé, Steve Lacy, Terrace Martin and Miguel have each earned three nods. Queen Bey and The Weeknd are tied as the all-time winners in this category, with two wins each.

If Martin can pull off a nomination for his Alex Isley joint album, I Left My Heart In Ladera, he would become the sole most-nominated artist in the category’s history (four). Given his track record here, Martin is a surefire contender, as is NxWorries, the duo comprised of Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge; .Paak is an eight-time Grammy winner, including a win for best R&B album (2019, Ventura) and a nomination for best progressive R&B album (2017, Malibu). Hiatus Kaiyote (Love Heart Cheat Code), Childish Gambino (Bando Stone and The New World) and Kehlani (Crash) are all previous nominees in this category who could each earn their second bids. Chlöe has been nominated here twice as a part of Chloe x Halle, and though her debut LP, In Pieces, was passed over for a nod, she could earn her first solo nomination here for Trouble In Paradise.

Partynextdoor is one of the few artists to send an R&B album to the Billboard 200’s top 10 this year; a nod for Partynextdoor 4 would be his first Grammy nomination since 2017. Bryson Tiller (Bryson Tiller) and Tinashe (Quantum Baby) both had big hits this year with “Whatever She Wants” and “Nasty,” respectively; both are looking for their first nomination in this category. Also keep an eye on Rae Khalil, a .Paak protégé who’s vying for a nod with her debut LP Crybaby, and Ravyn Lenae, a critical darling who’s in contention with Bird’s Eye. And never count out Black Pumas, a band that has reaped seven Grammy nominations — though none have been in the R&B field.

Other artists to look out for: Durand Bernarr (En Route); Lizzen (On the Bus); Louis York (Songs with Friends) and Sampha (Lahai)

Our Fearless Forecast

We’re going with: Terrace Martin & Alex Isley (I Left My Heart In Ladera), Tinashe (Quantum Baby), NxWorries (Why Lawd?), Hiatus Kaiyote (Love Heart Cheat Code), Childish Gambino (Bando Stone and The New World)

There are five categories devoted to R&B nestled in the R&B, rap and spoken poetry field at the 67th annual Grammy Awards. Here, we preview three of them — best R&B performance, best R&B song and best traditional R&B performance. We’ll preview the other two — best R&B album and best progressive R&B album — later this week.
Best R&B Performance

Though a version of the category has existed since the very first Grammy ceremony in 1959, best R&B performance boasts a particularly tumultuous history. The awarded was given out annually until 1968, when additional categories divided by gender were introduced. Women and men would compete in separate R&B performance categories until a major overhaul ahead of the 2012 ceremony that combined the existing categories of best female R&B vocal performance, best male R&B vocal performance, best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocal and best urban/alternative performance.

Since the best R&B performance was streamlined and reintroduced in 2012, just three artists have won twice: Beyoncé (2015 and 2021), Bruno Mars (2018 and 2022) and Anderson .Paak (2020 and 2022). This year six artists have a chance to join that club, including defending champ Coco Jones, Muni Long, Usher, Corinne Bailey Rae, Lalah Hathway and H.E.R.

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Earlier this year, Jones triumphed with her Billboard chart-topping “ICU,” which spent four weeks atop Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (chart dated May 27, 2023). For the current Grammy cycle, she’s in contention with a pair of tracks: her featured turn on BJ the Chicago Kid‘s “Spend the Night” and her own “Here We Go (Uh Oh).” According to the 2025 Grammys rulebook, an artist can only receive one nomination in best R&B performance, so Jones won’t be able to pull double duty here. Either way, her chances are strong; BJ is a seven-time nominee, while “Here We Go” became her second song to reach the top 10 on Adult R&B Airplay (No. 8).

Usher is another artist who will suffer from the “one nomination per artist” rule. A previous winner for “Climax” back in 2013, he’s back in contention with three songs: his guest appearance on Victoria Monét‘s “SOS (Sex On Sight),” his Color Purple H.E.R. duet “Risk It All,” and his own Pheelz-assisted “Ruin.” Given Monét’s three-Grammy haul at the 2023 ceremony and the chart-topping airplay run of “Risk It All,” either of those two tracks are the A-Town icon’s strongest shots. Similarly, H.E.R. could pull off a nod with either “Risk It All” or Lila Iké’s “He Loves Us Both,” but the former is her best bet.

Corinne Bailey Rae (2012) and Lalah Hathaway (2014) were the first two women to win this category since the 2012 restructuring. Bailey Rae could reap a bid for “Fly Away” (with Eric Benét), while Hathaway could earn a nod for “So in Love.” And then there was Muni Long. The 2023 winner of this category — for her breakout hit “Hrs & Hrs” — is in contention with a live version of one of the year’s biggest R&B crossover hits, “Made for Me,” which reached No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Several artists could earn their first nods in this category this year, including Tems (“Burning”), Leon Thomas (“Mutt”), Tinashe (“Nasty”), Ravyn Lenae (“One Wish”), Blxst (“Dancing With the Devil”), October London (“She Keeps Calling”), Partynextdoor (“No Chill”) and Normani (“All Yours”).

Some previous Grammy winners and nominees to keep an eye on: SZA (“Saturn”), NxWorries and Thundercat (“Keep Her”), Mary J. Blige and Fabolous (“Breathing”), Childish Gambino (“In the Night”), Chris Brown (“Residuals”), Chlöe and Halle (“Want Me”), Ledisi (“Good Life”), Lucky Daye (“HERicane”), PJ Morton (“Please Be Good”), Terrace Martin, Alex Isley and Robert Glasper (“I Left My Heart In Ladera”), Bryson Tiller (“Persuasion”), Marsha Ambrosius (“One Night Stand”) and Jeymes Samuel, D’Angelo and Jay-Z (“I Want You Forever”).

Our Fearless Forecast

There’s a chance the entire 2024 lineup could repeat, but we’re predicting: “Residuals” (Chris Brown), “SOS (Sex On Sight)” (Victoria Monét & Usher), “Saturn” (SZA), “Made for Me — Live on BET” (Muni Long) and “Keep Her” (NxWorries & Thundercat).

Best R&B Song

For the last five Grammy ceremonies, the nominees for best R&B song and best R&B performance haven’t overlapped much. In fact, the 2022 ceremony is the only instance this decade where three or more songs earned nods in both categories. As a reminder, best R&B song is awarded to the songwriter, while best R&B performance goes to the recording artist.

In addition to the aforementioned tracks, here are a few more songs to look out for. Halle pulled off a surprise nod with “Angel” last year and she could do it again with “Because I Love You,” which was co-written by RAYE. SZA triumphed here with “Snooze” last year, and both she (“Saturn”) and co-writer Leon Thomas (“Mutt”) are in contention this year. Beyoncé is the most-awarded songwriter (five) in this category, and she could earn her 10th nod here with her Dolly Parton-assisted “Tyrant.” Notably, as Parton is not a credited songwriter on “Tyrant,” she would not receive a nomination should the song make the final five. Bruno Mars has won here twice before (2018 and 2022), and he could earn a third nomination in this category thanks to Lucky Daye’s chart-topping “That’s You,” which he co-wrote with Daye and six-time Grammy winner D’Mile.

Since live versions are only eligible in performance categories, Muni Long is contention here with “Ruined Me,” the latest single from her Revenge album. That song has already become her fifth consecutive top 10 hit on Adult R&B Airplay and is gaining traction across social media. Like Long, Tinashe had a crossover R&B hit this year with “Nasty,” which could earn her the first Grammy nod of her career.

Some other names to look out for: Mavis Staples (“Worthy”), Brittany Howard (“I Don’t), Meshell Ndegeocello (“Love”), Sampha (“Only”) and Gary Clark Jr. & Stevie Wonder (“What About The Children”).

Our Fearless Forecast

We’re predicting: “Saturn” (SZA), “Because I Love You” (Halle), “That’s You” (Lucky Daye), “Nasty” (Tinashe) and “Tyrant” (Beyoncé & Dolly Parton).

Best Traditional R&B Performance

Since best traditional R&B performance — a category honoring recordings that adhere to classic R&B/soul sonic signifiers as opposed to more contemporary approaches to the genre — was first awarded in 1999, two artists have emerged as the all-time winners.

Beyoncé and Lalah Hathaway each have three wins to their name in this category. While Queen Bey does not have a song contending here this year, Hathaway could snag her fourth win if her Michael McDonald-assisted “No Lie” scores a nod. There are a number of high-profile duets to keep an eye on here, including Eric Benét and Tamar Braxton (“Something We Can Make Love To”), Chlöe and Ty Dolla $ign (“Might As Well”), Clark Jr. & Wonder (“What About the Children”), Keyon Harrold and PJ Morton (“Beautiful Day”), Kamasi Washington and BJ The Chicago Kid (“Together”) and Louis York and Tamia (“Three Little Words”). The Benét-Braxton team-up received a lot of love in R&B circles, and the Chlöe-Ty link-up highlights the perseverance of traditional R&B amongst the newest generation of crooners.

Muni Long’s name is sure to pop up across the R&B field this cycle, and “Make Me Forget,” which became her first Adult R&B Airplay chart-topper in August, is her entry in this category. Last year’s winners — PJ Morton and Susan Carol (“Good Morning”) — could return with solo songs of their own. Morton is contending with “I Found You,” while Carol entered “Karma.”

Some other names to look out for: Brittany Howard (“I Don’t”), Marsha Ambrosius (“Wet”), Jacob Collier, John Legend and Tori Kelly (“Bridge Over Troubled Water”), Kenyon Dixon (“Can I Have This Groove”), Meshell Ndegeocello (“Love”), Lucky Daye (“That’s You”), NxWorries, Snoop Dogg & October London (“FromHere”) and Usher (“Please U”).

Our Fearless Forecast

Here goes nothing: “That’s You” (Lucky Daye), “FromHere” (NxWorries, Snoop Dogg & October London), “Make Me Forget” (Muni Long), “Bridge Over Troubled Water” (Jacob Collier, John Legend & Tori Kelly) and “No Lie” (Lalah Hathaway & Michael McDonald)

When the nominations for the 67th annual Grammy Awards are announced on Friday Nov. 8, we’re likely to see considerable overlap in the nods for record of the year (which honors a specific recording of a song) and song of the year (which honors the song itself). Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!,” Billie Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” and Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars’ “Die With a Smile,” among others, are likely to wind up with nominations in both categories.
There is usually a fairly high degree of overlap in the nominations for these two high-profile awards. Last year, for example, five of the eight nominees for record of the year were also nominated for song of the year.

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But that wasn’t the case when the nominations for the 47th annual Grammy Awards were announced on Dec. 7, 2004. For the first and still the only time in Grammy history, there was no overlap in the nominations in these two marquee categories.

One of the record of the year nominees, Ray Charles’ “Here We Go Again” (with Norah Jones), wasn’t eligible for song of the year. It was a remake of a Charles hit from 1967, which had reached No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Grammy rules, which have fluctuated on this point over the years, don’t allow songs that were already prominent to be considered for song of the year.

The other four record of the year nominees competed for song of the year nominations and simply didn’t receive enough votes. They were The Black Eyed Peas’ “Let’s Get It Started,” Green Day’s “American Idiot,” Los Lonely Boys’ “Heaven” and Usher’s “Yeah!” (featuring Lil Jon and Ludacris).

Three of these songs were nominated for songwriting awards in genre categories. “American Idiot” was nominated for best rock song; “Yeah!” for best R&B song; and “Let’s Get It Started” for best rap song. “Heaven” was classified as pop in the Grammy process; there was no (and still is no) best pop song category.

The song of the year nominees, all of which also vied for record of the year nods (and likewise simply didn’t receive enough votes to wind up with nominations in that category) were John Mayer’s “Daughters,” Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You,” Kanye West’s “Jesus Walks,” Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” and Hoobastank’s “The Reason.”

When the Grammy Awards were presented on Feb. 13, 2005, the Charles/Jones collab won record of the year. Mayer’s ballad won song of the year.