Beyoncé leads the 2025 Grammys nominee pack, however Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Charli xcx are vying for his or her second within the highlight.
Beyoncé is up for 11 awards due to “Cowboy Carter,” tying Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” document for many nominations for a single album.” She’s additionally probably the most awarded artist in Grammys’ historical past. Is it lastly her time to take dwelling the highest prize? If she wins the album of the 12 months, she’ll grow to be the primary Black lady to take action within the twenty first century.
Who else shall be victorious, incomes these gramophone-shaped trophies on Sunday?
The Associated Press’ Maria Sherman and Jonathan Landrum Jr. break down the shut races for Grammy glory.
“New Blue Sun,” André 3000; “Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé; “Short n’ Sweet,” Sabrina Carpenter; “BRAT,” Charli xcx; “Djesse Vol. 4, “Jacob Collier; “Hit Me Hard and Soft,” Billie Eilish; “Chappell Roan The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” Chappell Roan; “The Tortured Poets Department,” Taylor Swift
SHERMAN: I’ve received my gloves on, let the boxing start. The album of the 12 months class is stacked with a few of the largest pop releases in latest historical past. Jacob Collier seems like a protracted shot; in some methods, so does André 3000, although it will be nice for a very instrumental, alt-jazz album take dwelling the highest prize. He’s received earlier than, with Outkast, for 2004’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below.”
My cash is on Beyoncé. She leads the nominations this 12 months. And whereas “Cowboy Carter” is a masterclass in reclamation, a needed work that exists in opposition to nation music’s inflexible energy buildings, it isn’t her finest album. But her AOTY trophy is lengthy overdue. (Lest we overlook the “Lemonade” snub, AP’s choose for finest album of the final decade.) She’s probably the most awarded artist in Grammy historical past and has by no means received the highest prize. Let’s repair that!
LANDRUM: Hope you’ve received nook, as a result of I don’t pull punches.
Sure, this class is stacked, however there’s just one who stands tall: Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter.” Her win shouldn’t be about previous snubs. It’s about the truth that she delivered the very best total challenge. Period. Beyoncé dove into nation music headfirst, shining a highlight on Black nation acts like Shaboozey, Brittney Spencer and Tiera Kennedy whereas redefining the style’s prospects.
Eilish’s “Hit Me Hard and Soft” is unbelievable and well-deserving of a win right here. But Beyoncé didn’t simply make historical past by turning into the primary Black lady to prime Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 80 years, she owned this excessive threat, excessive reward alternative.
If this doesn’t result in Beyonce’s first album of the 12 months win, then voters clearly missed the memo.
“Now and Then,” the Beatles; “Texas Hold ’Em,” Beyoncé; “Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter; “360,” Charli xcx; “Birds of a Feather,” Billie Eilish; “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar; “Good Luck, Babe!”, Chappell Roan; “Fortnight,” Taylor Swift that includes Post Malone
SHERMAN: Beyoncé has by no means received on this class, however I feel her huge win shall be for album of the 12 months. The Beatles have additionally by no means received document of the 12 months. But giving them the prize in 2024 can be much less for the AI-assisted observe, and extra for the truth that we’re speaking a couple of new Beatles tune. Lamar deserves to win, however everyone knows the Grammys love Eilish… I feel it’s hers to lose.
LANDRUM: The Grammys love handing out trophies to Eilish and Lamar — 17 for him, 9 for her. Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” is an infectious, breezy melody, little doubt. But “Not Like Us” ought to win. Why? This was a game-changing observe the place Lamar delivered the ultimate knockout blow throughout an epic rap beef to Drake, following a string of energy punches from hits like “Like That,” “Euphoria,” and “6:16 in LA.”
And who might overlook when Lamar carried out the tune 5 occasions in a row at his Juneteenth “Pop Out” live performance final summer season? That was a mic drop second for the tradition.
“Not Like Us” has grow to be a every day affirmation for a lot of (effectively, possibly not Drake). It’s the sort of observe that’s so impactful you nearly hope Lamar performs it a number of occasions throughout his upcoming Super Bowl halftime present efficiency.
Will that occur? Probably not. But hey, a brotha can dream, proper?
Much respect to the opposite nominees, however “Not Like Us” deserves to win, proving as soon as and for all that nothing else even got here shut.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”; “Birds of a Feather”; “Die with a Smile”; “Fortnight”; “Good Luck, Babe!”; “Not Like Us”; “Please Please Please”; “Texas Hold ’Em.” See the total listing of songwriters right here.
LANDRUM: Picture this: the presenter opens the envelope and declares, “‘Not Like Us’ by Kendrick Lamar,” as the gang erupts in cheers. They can’t resist reciting the refrain: “They not like us, they not like us, they not us!”
It’s not far-fetched to think about this taking place. Lamar’s pen was as deadly as ever on this observe. Just ask Drake. With Lamar because the observe’s sole songwriter, this seems like the proper second for him to lastly snag his first win on this class.
SHERMAN: If there’s any justice on this world, you’re appropriate! And it’s about time Lamar earns a trophy in a prime 4 class.
Benson Boone; Sabrina Carpenter; Doechii; Khruangbin; RAYE; Chappell Roan; Shaboozey; Teddy Swims
SHERMAN: Last 12 months we had been settlement that Victoria Monét would win finest new artist, after which she did. Will lightning strike twice? There’s no scarcity of deserving expertise right here, however I feel it would come right down to Carpenter and Roan. Shaboozey is an innovator however his tune eclipsed his album; Doechii’s mainstream rise to fame arrived too late within the 12 months. Between the 2 pop girls, I’d love for it to go to Roan — who seems like a breath of recent air in music’s mainstream. However, I feel it would go to Carpenter, although she is on her sixth album.
LANDRUM: I feel we’re each in settlement: This is Carpenter’s class to lose. But let’s be actual. Crowning a finest new artist who’s on their sixth album feels off. It’s like letting a sixth-year school soccer participant compete in opposition to freshmen and sophomores. Sure, they’re technically eligible, nevertheless it doesn’t fairly sit proper. They ought to be competing within the execs.
Still, guidelines are guidelines, and right here we’re. Carpenter may win, nevertheless it’s laborious to not query if this “new artist” title hits slightly in a different way. Maybe it must be tweaked.
“Bodyguard,” Beyoncé; “Espresso,” Sabrina Carpenter; “Apple,” Charli xcx; “Birds of a Feather,” Billie Eilish; “Good Luck, Babe!”, Chappell Roan
SHERMAN: First issues first — it’s thrilling to see an all-woman lineup and it comes as no shock: they’re dominating streaming progress within the U.S. Something tells me this may go to Sabrina Carpenter for her summertime-and-then-some smash, “Espresso.”
LANDRUM: In this all-women class, I see Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather” hovering to victory.
“Enough (Miami),” Cardi B; “When the Sun Shines Again,” Common and Pete Rock that includes Psdnuos; “Nissan Altima,” Doechii; “Houdini,” Eminem; “Like That,” Future and Metro Boomin that includes Kendrick Lamar; “Yeah Glo!”, GloRilla; “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar
LANDRUM: There are some huge names on this class, however not one of the nominees are fairly like Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” The solely actual challenger? Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” which, um, options Lamar himself.
Either approach, Lamar takes the win.
SHERMAN: It is Lamar’s, no query about it.
“Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé; “F-1 Trillion,” Post Malone; “Deeper Well,” Kacey Musgraves; “Higher,” Chris Stapleton; “Whirlwind,” Lainey Wilson
SHERMAN: A number of issues could be true without delay: I imagine, in my coronary heart of hearts, Post Malone might earn his first Grammy on the 2025 award present. I imagine Beyoncé will win album of the 12 months for “Cowboy Carter.” But in the case of the very best nation album class – and the names Chris Stapleton and Lainey Wilson are included – it’s laborious for me to think about they’d lose, given the Grammys’ observe document.
LANDRUM: If Beyoncé doesn’t win finest nation album, how can she presumably take dwelling album of the 12 months? Shrugs. Make it make sense. A loss on this class would really feel like a tell-all signal for the way the night may play out for Beyoncé forward of the ceremony’s prime honor.
In my humble opinion, crowning Stapleton — or every other artist — over Beyoncé on this class wouldn’t make sense, particularly since she’s the one nominee on this class that’s up for album of the 12 months. Plus, her culturally groundbreaking album isn’t only a genre-defying masterpiece; it’s a cultural second that ought to rightfully dominate the evening.
Voters have made some questionable calls up to now. But if justice prevails, Queen Bey ought to be leaving with this nation music crown.
“11:11 (Deluxe),” Chris Brown; “Vantablack,” Lalah Hathaway; “Revenge,” Muni Long; “Algorithm,” Lucky Daye; “Coming Home,” Usher
LANDRUM: Did you understand it’s been a decade since Usher final took dwelling a Grammy? 2015 to be precise. I feel Usher’s Grammy-winning drought lastly involves an finish together with his “Coming Home” album. That stated, don’t sleep on Muni Long’s “Revenge,” which might sneak in and steal the highlight.
SHERMAN: I usually discover that Grammy voters award an artist for his or her very huge years. After strategically dropping the nice “Coming Home” forward of his Super Bowl efficiency and following it up with a tour after his tremendous common Vegas residency, how might it not go to Usher?
“BRAT,” Charli xcx; “Three,” Four Tet; “Hyperdrama,” Justice; “Timeless,” KAYTRANADA; “Telos,” Zedd
SHERMAN: Charli xcx’s “BRAT” was greater than an album, it was a zeitgeist-shifting motion the place the foundations are have enjoyable, be messy, go to a rave and embrace a vomit-y chartreuse coloration. Right? I imagine she is going to win her first Grammy at this 12 months’s present, and I imagine no less than one in every of them shall be for finest dance/digital album – until, after all, the Justice followers emerge out of the woodwork.
LANDRUM: This seems like “BRAT” is destined to win, particularly because it’s the one challenge on this class additionally up for album of the 12 months. However, if Beyoncé might probably lose finest nation album, then something’s potential together with KAYTRANADA’s “Timeless” pulling off the upset.
Both tasks are on par with one another, and KAYTRANADA together with Justice have triumphed on this class earlier than. But it simply seems like the celebs are aligning for Charli xcx to take this one.
“Funk Generation,” Anitta; “El Viaje,” Luis Fonsi; “GARCÍA,” Kany García; “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran,” Shakira; “ORQUÍDEAS,” Kali Uchis
SHERMAN: While música Mexicana continues to develop globally (and that class will doubtless see one other win from Peso Pluma — or possibly Carin León for his hooky “Boca Chueca, Vol. 1”) I wished to speak by means of the Latin pop album class, as a result of I feel there’s some potential for competitors right here. Kali Uchis’ “ORQUÍDEAS” was not solely one in every of AP’s picks for better of 2024, nevertheless it was additionally met with wide-spread acclaim. Could Recording Academy members agree? Kany García received a number of trophies on the 2024 Latin Grammys, however my cash is on Shakira’s “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran.” It is her first new album in seven years, and I feel she shall be awarded accordingly.
LANDRUM: Shakira may need a robust shot at taking this class, however my cash’s on “ORQUIDEAS.” With out-of-this-world manufacturing, Uchis effortlessly switches between Spanish and English, taking listeners on a journey that flows from melodic vibes to full-on dance ground power. It’s the proper fusion, and the last word recipe for a win.
The 67th Grammy Awards shall be held Sunday at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The present will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+.
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