GRAMMYS: BEYONCÉ, ADELE, DRAKE LEAD THE WAY
Beyoncé and Adele are nominated in three of the top Grammy categories—Record, Song and Album of the Year—and Justin Bieber and Lukas Graham will contend for two of the biggies. Meghan Trainor, the reigning Best New Artist, announced the Big Four nominations for the 59th annual Grammy Awards today on CBS This Morning.
Beyoncé received another six nominations, taking her tally to nine, one more than Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West. Chance The Rapper received seven noms, and Adele secured five.
Adele’s “Hello,” written with Greg Kurstin, is up for song and record against Bey’s “Formation” and “Seven Years” from Warner Bros.’ Lukas Graham. Competition for the trio in the record category is Twenty One Pilots' "Stressed Out" and Rihanna f/Drake’s “Work” (Westbury Entertainment/Roc Nation). In the song category, they’re up against Mike Posner’s “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” (Island) and Bieber’s “Love Yourself.”
Drake’s 4-million-sellingViews (YMCMB/Republic) is up for Album of the Year against Adele’s 25 (XL/Columbia), Beyonce’s Lemonade (Columbia), Bieber’s Purpose (Def Jam) and Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth (Atlantic).
The Best New Artist nominees are two hip-hop artists, Chance the Rapper and Anderson .Paak, two country artists, Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris, and pop hitmakers The Chainsmokers.
None of the Best New Artist nominees received nominations in the other general categories.
Among Beyonce’s noms is a face-off against Bieber and Adele in the Pop Solo Performance Category; her “Freedom” will duke it out for Rap/Sung Performance against Drake’s “Hotline Bling” and two West tracks; and Lemonade goes up against .Paak’s Malibu and Rihanna’s Anti. She also secured, quite curiously, a Rock Performance nom for her collaboration with Jack White, “Don’t Hurt Yourself.”
Drake and Chance the Rapper go head-to-head in all of the rap categories: Views vs. Coloring Book for Rap Album; “Pop Style” vs. “No Problem” in Rap Performance: “Hotline Bling” vs. “Famous” and “No Problem” in Rap Song; and “Hotline Bling” vs. West f/Chance’s “Ultralight Beam” in Rap/Sung Performance.
Best New Artist nominee Morris, who tweeted “Four Grammy Nominations? I’M SHOOK,” is the only artist to secure three nominations in the country categories; she’s vying for Solo Performance, Song and Album.
Interestingly, Pentatonix received a nomination in the country field for the a cappella group's rendition of Dolly Parton's "Jolene"; other nominated pop act-country star pairings: Kenny Chesney & Pink’s “Setting the World on Fire”; and Dierks Bentley f/Elle King’s “Different for Girls.”
Producer of the Year finds the 2014 winner Max Martin (Justin Timberlake’s “Can't Stop The Feeling!,” Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman”) up against Benny Blanco (Major Lazer’s “Cold Water,” Bieber’s “Love Yourself”); Kurstin (Sia’s “Cheap Thrills,” Adele’s “Hello”); Nineteen85 (Drake’s “Hotline Bling,” DJ Khaled’s “For Free”); Ricky Reed (Trainor’s “Better,” “Me Too” and “No”).
Final-round ballots will be mailed 12/14 and are due 1/13. The Grammys, honoring music released between 10/1/15 and 9/30/16, will be given out at Staples Center on 2/12.
A complete list of nominees can be found on Grammy.com. Our selected list follows.
Album of the year:
25 – Adele
Lemonade – Beyoncé
Purpose – Justin Bieber
Views – Drake
A Sailor’s Guide to Earth – Sturgill Simpson
Record of the year:
“Hello” – Adele
“Formation” – Beyoncé
“7 Years” – Lukas Graham
“Work” – Rihanna featuring Drake
“Stressed Out” – Twenty One Pilots
Song of the year:
“Formation” – Khalif Brown, Asheton Hogan, Beyoncé Knowles & Michael L. Williams II, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“Hello” – Adele Adkins & Greg Kurstin, songwriters (Adele)
“I Took a Pill In Ibiza” – Mike Posner, songwriter (Mike Posner)
“Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber, Benjamin Levin & Ed Sheeran, songwriters (Justin Bieber)
“7 Years” – Lukas Forchhammer, Stefan Forrest, Morten Pilegaard & Morten Ristorp, songwriters (Lukas Graham)
Best new artist:
Kelsea Ballerini
The Chainsmokers
Chance the Rapper
Maren Morris
Anderson .Paak
Best pop solo performance
“Hello” – Adele
“Hold Up” – Beyoncé
“Love Yourself” – Justin Bieber
“Piece by Piece” (Idol version) – Kelly Clarkson
“Dangerous Woman” – Ariana Grande
Best pop duo/group performance
“Closer” – The Chainsmokers featuring Halsey
“7 Years” – Lukas Graham
“Work” – Rihanna featuring Drake
“Cheap Thrills” – Sia Featuring Sean Paul
“Stressed Out” – Twenty One Pilots
“Culcha Vulcha” – Snarky Puppy
Best pop vocal album:
25 – Adele
Purpose – Justin Bieber
Dangerous Woman – Ariana Grande
Confident – Demi Lovato
This Is Acting – Sia
Best dance/electronic album:
Skin – Flume
Electronica 1: The Time Machine – Jean-Michel Jarre
Epoch – Tycho
Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future – Underworld
Louie Vega Starring…XXVIII – Louie Vega
Best rock performance
“Joe (Live From Austin City Limits)” – Alabama Shakes
“Don’t Hurt Yourself” – Beyoncé featuring Jack White
“Blackstar” – David Bowie
“The Sound of Silence (Live on Conan)” – Disturbed
“Heathens” – Twenty One Pilots
Best metal performance
“Shock Me” – Baroness
“Silvera” – Gojira
“Rotting in Vain” – Korn
“Dystopia” – Megadeth
“The Price Is Wrong” – Periphery
Best rock song
“Blackstar” – David Bowie, songwriter (David Bowie)
“Burn the Witch” – Radiohead, songwriters (Radiohead)
“Hardwired” – James Hetfield & Lars Ulrich, songwriters (Metallica)
“Heathens” – Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)
“My Name Is Human” – Rich Meyer, Ryan Meyer & Johnny Stevens, songwriters (Highly Suspect)
Best rock album
California – Blink-182
Tell Me I’m Pretty – Cage the Elephant
Magma – Gojira
Death of a Bachelor – Panic! at the Disco
Weezer – Weezer
Best alternative music album
22, a Million – Bon Iver
Blackstar – David Bowie
The Hope Six Demolition Project – PJ Harvey
Post Pop Depression – Iggy Pop
A Moon Shaped Pool – Radiohead
Best R&B performance
“Turnin’ Me Up” – BJ the Chicago Kid
“Permission” – Ro James
“I Do” – Musiq Soulchild
“Needed Me” – Rihanna
“Cranes in the Sky” – Solange
Best traditional R&B performance
“The Three of Me” – William Bell
“Woman’s World” – BJ the Chicago Kid
“Sleeping With the One I Love” – Fantasia
“Angel” – Lalah Hathaway
“Can’t Wait” – Jill Scott
Best R&B song
“Come See Me” – J. Brathwaite, Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters (PartyNextDoor featuring Drake)
“Exchange” – Michael Hernandez & Bryson Tiller, songwriters (Bryson Tiller)
“Kiss It Better” – Jeff Bhasker, Robyn Fenty, John-Nathan Glass & Natalia Noemi, songwriters (Rihanna)
“Lake by the Ocean“ – Hod David & Musze, songwriters (Maxwell)
“Luv” – Magnus August Høiberg, Benjamin Levin & Daystar Peterson, songwriters (Tory Lanez)
Best urban contemporary album
Lemonade – Beyoncé
Ology – Gallant
We Are King – King
Malibu – Anderson .Paak
Anti – Rihanna
Best R&B album
In My Mind – BJ the Chicago Kid
Lalah Hathaway Live – Lalah Hathaway
Velvet Portraits – Terrace Martin
Healing Season – Mint Condition
Smoove Jones – Mya
Best rap performance
“No Problem” – Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz
“Panda” – Desiigner
“Pop Style” – Drake featuring the Throne
“All the Way Up” – Fat Joe & Remy Ma featuring French Montana & Infared
“That Part” – Schoolboy Q featuring Kanye West
Best rap/sung performance
“Freedom” – Beyoncé featuring Kendrick Lamar
“Hotline Bling” – Drake
“Broccoli” – D.R.A.M. featuring Lil Yachty
“Ultralight Beam” – Kanye West featuring Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & the-Dream
“Famous” – Kanye West featuring Rihanna
Best rap song
“All the Way Up” – Joseph Cartagena, Edward Davadi, Shandel Green, Karim Kharbouch, Andre Christopher Lyon, Reminisce Mackie & Marcello Valenzano, songwriters (Fat Joe & Remy Ma featuring French Montana & Infared)
“Famous” – Chancelor Bennett, Ross Birchard, Ernest Brown, Andrew Dawson, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Noah Goldstein, Kejuan Muchita, Patrick Reynolds, Kanye West & Cydel Young, songwriters (Kanye West featuring Rihanna)
“Hotline Bling” – Aubrey Graham & Paul Jefferies, songwriters (Drake)
“No Problem” – Chancelor Bennett, Dwayne Carter & Tauheed Epps, songwriters (Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz)
“Ultralight Beam” – Chancelor Bennett, Kasseem Dean, Mike Dean, Kirk Franklin, Noah Goldstein, Samuel Griesemer, Terius Nash, Jerome Potter, Kelly Price, Nico “Donnie Trumpet” Segal, Derek Watkins, Kanye West & Cydel Young, songwriters (Kanye West featuring Chance the Rapper, Kelly Price, Kirk Franklin & the-Dream)
Best rap album
Coloring Book – Chance the Rapper
And the Anonymous Nobody – De La Soul
Major Key – DJ Khaled
Views – Drake
Blank Face LP – Schoolboy Q
The Life of Pablo – Kanye West
Best country solo performance
“Love Can Go to Hell” – Brandy Clark
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert
“My Church” – Maren Morris
“Church Bells” – Carrie Underwood
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Keith Urban
Best country duo/group performance
“Different for Girls” – Dierks Bentley featuring Elle King
“21 Summer” – Brothers Osborne
“Setting the World on Fire” – Kenny Chesney & P!nk
“Jolene” – Pentatonix featuring Dolly Parton
“Think of You” – Chris Young With Cassadee Pope
Best country song
“Blue Ain’t Your Color” – Clint Lagerberg, Hillary Lindsey & Steven Lee Olsen, songwriters (Keith Urban)
“Die a Happy Man” – Sean Douglas, Thomas Rhett & Joe Spargur, songwriters (Thomas Rhett)
“Humble and Kind” – Lori McKenna, songwriter (Tim McGraw)
“My Church” – busbee & Maren Morris, songwriters (Maren Morris)
“Vice” – Miranda Lambert, Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
Best country album
Big Day in a Small Town – Brandy Clark
Full Circle – Loretta Lynn
Hero – Maren Morris
A Sailor’s Guide to Earth – Sturgill Simpson
Ripcord – Keith Urban
Best American roots performance
“Ain’t No Man” – The Avett Brothers
“Mother’s Children Have a Hard Time” – Blind Boys of Alabama
“Factory Girl” – Rhiannon Giddens
“House of Mercy” – Sarah Jarosz
“Wreck You” – Lori McKenna
American roots music
“Alabama at Night” – Robbie Fulks
“City Lights” – Jack White
“Gulfstream” – Roddie Romero and the Hub City All-Stars
“Kid Sister” – The Time Jumpers
“Wreck You” – Lori McKenna
Best Americana album
True Sadness – The Avett Brothers
This Is Where I Live – William Bell
The Cedar Creek Sessions – Kris Kristofferson
The Bird & the Rifle – Lori McKenna
Kid Sister – The Time Jumpers
Best traditional blues album
Can’t Shake This Feeling – Lurrie Bell
Live at the Greek Theatre – Joe Bonamassa
Blues & Ballads (A Folksinger’s Songbook: Volumes I & II) – Luther Dickinson
The Soul of Jimmie Rodgers – Vasti Jackson
Porcupine Meat – Bobby Rush
Best contemporary blues album
The Last Days of Oakland – Fantastic Negrito
Love Wins Again – Janiva Magness
Bloodline – Kenny Neal
Give It Back to You – The Record Company
Everybody Wants a Piece – Joe Louis Walker
Best folk album
Silver Skies Blue – Judy Collins & Ari Hest
Upland Stories – Robbie Fulks
Factory Girl – Rhiannon Giddens
Weighted Mind – Sierra Hull
Undercurrent – Sarah Jarosz
Best comedy album
… America … Great … – David Cross
American Myth – Margaret Cho
Boyish Girl Interrupted – Tig Notaro
Live at the Apollo – Amy Schumer
Talking for Clapping – Patton Oswalt
Best musical theater album
Bright Star
The Color Purple
Fiddler on the Roof
Kinky Boots
Waitress
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media
Amy (Various Artists)
Miles Ahead (Miles Davis & Various Artists)
Straight Outta Compton (Various Artists)
Suicide Squad (Collector’s Edition) (Various Artists)
Vinyl: The Essentials Season 1 (Various Artists)
Best score soundtrack for visual media
Bridge of Spies – Thomas Newman, composer
Quentin Tarantino’s the Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone, composer
The Revenant – Alva Noto & Ryuichi Sakamoto, composers
Star Wars: The Force Awakens – John Williams, composer
Stranger Things Volume 1 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers
Stranger Things Volume 2 – Kyle Dixon & Michael Stein, composers
Best song written for visual media
“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” – Max Martin, Shellback & Justin Timberlake, songwriters (Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, Gwen Stefani, James Corden, Zooey Deschanel, Walt Dohrn, Ron Funches, Caroline Hjelt, Aino Jawo, Christopher Mintz-Plasse & Kunal Nayyar)
“Heathens” – Tyler Joseph, songwriter (Twenty One Pilots)
“Just Like Fire” – Oscar Holter, Max Martin, P!nk & Shellback, songwriters (P!nk)
“Purple Lamborghini” – Shamann Cooke, Sonny Moore & William Roberts, songwriters (Skrillex & Rick Ross)
“Try Everything” – Mikkel S. Eriksen, Sia Furler & Tor Erik Hermansen, songwriters (Shakira)
“The Veil” – Peter Gabriel, songwriter (Peter Gabriel)
Best instrumental composition
“Bridge of Spies (End Title)” – Thomas Newman, composer
“The Expensive Train Set (An Epic Sarahnade For Double Big Band)” – Tim Davies, composer
“Flow” – Alan Ferber, composer
“L’Ultima Diligenza Di Red Rock” Versione Integrale – Ennio Morricone, composer
“Spoken at Midnight” – Ted Nash, composer
Best arrangement, instrumental or a cappella
“Ask Me Now” – John Beasley, arranger
“Good Swing Wenceslas” – Sammy Nestico, arranger
“Linus & Lucy” – Christian Jacob, arranger
“Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds” – John Daversa, arranger
“We Three Kings” – Ted Nash, arranger
“You And I” – Jacob Collier, arrange
Best arrangement, instruments and vocals
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” – Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band Featuring Take 6)
“Do You Want to Know a Secret” – John Daversa, arranger (John Daversa Featuring Renee Olstead)
“Flintstones” – Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)
“I’m a Fool to Want You” – Alan Broadbent, arranger (Kristin Chenoweth)
“Somewhere (Dirty Blvd)” (Extended Version) – Billy Childs & Larry Klein, arrangers (Lang Lang Featuring Lisa Fischer & Jeffrey Wright)
Best recording package
Anti (Deluxe Edition) – Ciarra Pardo & Robyn Fenty, art directors (Rihanna)
Blackstar – Jonathan Barnbrook, art director (David Bowie)
Human Performance – Andrew Savage, art director (Parquet Courts)
Sunset Motel – Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors (Reckless Kelly)
22, A Million – Eric Timothy Carlson, art director (Bon Iver)
Best boxed or special limited edition package
Edith Piaf 1915-2015 – Gérard Lo Monaco, art director (Edith Piaf)
401 Days – Jonathan Dagan & Mathias Høst Normark, art directors (J.Views)
I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware of It (Box Set) – Samuel Burgess-Johnson & Matthew Healy, art directors (The 1975)
Paper Wheels (Deluxe Limited Edition) – Matt Taylor, art director (Trey Anastasio)
Tug of War (Deluxe Edition) – Simon Earith & James Musgrave, art directors (Paul McCartney)
Best album notes
The Complete Monument & Columbia Albums Collection – Mikal Gilmore, album notes writer (Kris Kristofferson)
The Knoxville Sessions, 1929-1930: Knox County Stomp – Ted Olson & Tony Russell, album notes writers (Various Artists)
Ork Records: New York, New York – Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, album notes writers (Various Artists)
Sissle and Blake Sing Shuffle Along – Ken Bloom & Richard Carlin, album notes writers (Eubie Blake & Noble Sissle)
Waxing the Gospel: Mass Evangelism & the Phonograph, 1890-1900 – Richard Martin, album notes writer (Various Artists)
Best historical album
The Cutting Edge 1965-1966: The Bootleg Series, Vol.12 (Collector’s Edition) (Bob Dylan)
Music of Morocco From the Library of Congress: Recorded by Paul Bowles, 1959 (Various Artists)
Ork Records: New York, New York (Various Artists)
Vladimir Horowitz: The Unreleased Live Recordings 1966-1983 (Vladimir Horowitz)
Waxing the Gospel: Mass Evangelism & the Phonograph, 1890-1900 (Various Artists)
Best engineered album, non-classical
Are You Serious – Tchad Blake & David Boucher, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Andrew Bird)
Blackstar – David Bowie, Tom Elmhirst, Kevin Killen & Tony Visconti, engineers; Joe LaPorta, mastering engineer (David Bowie)
Dig in Deep – Ryan Freeland, engineer; Kim Rosen, mastering engineer (Bonnie Raitt)
Hit N Run Phase Two – Booker T., Dylan Dresdow, Chris James, Prince & Justin Stanley, engineers; Dylan Dresdow, mastering engineer (Prince)
Undercurrent – Shani Gandhi & Gary Paczosa, engineers; Paul Blakemore, mastering engineer (Sarah Jarosz)
