THE GRAMMY CHEW:
FURTHER RUMINATIONS

In our prior writings on Grammy 2019 hopefuls we discussed Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X and Tyler, The Creator. Here are 10 more possible contenders we’ve been pondering. Obviously, this list is far more exhaustive—stay tuned for more chewing.

P!nk: The RCA megadiva’s ridiculous talent and marketplace might aren’t even up for discussion—and yet she’s never really had her grand Grammy recognition. Could she be retroactively acknowledged for a killer career, much like Martin Scorsese getting an Oscar for The Departed?

Gary Clark, Jr.: The Warner Records guitarist has insane chops—but he’s also an ambitious singer/songwriter with diverse influences. Grammy would already be inclined to love him for his traditionalist bona fides; add to this the fact that he’s been in all the right places in the Grammy system and it would seem he’s due for a big moment. His politically potent album This Land, which dropped earlier this year, deserves your attention.

Lewis Capaldi: The Scottish troubadour (on Vertigo Berlin/Capitol) has a breakaway hit with the tender “Somebody You Loved” and his down-to-earth, glamour-free persona has occasioned comparisons to Ed Sheeran. And unlike Sheeran, he hasn’t been snubbed by Grammy yet.

Khalid: The RCA soul/pop star has done everything right, from putting out the right records to kissing the right babies, and Grammy already has a strong crush (he earned SOTY and BNA nods last time, as well as two category nominations). After another year of big hits and his ongoing charm offensive, could Khalid walk away with the most noms of anyone in 2020?

Jonas Brothers: Republic’s reassembled lads can now put the year’s biggest album debut alongside their outta-the-park #1 smash single (“Sucker”)—with a gargantuan tour on the way. Will the Academy now take them seriously? “Sucker” should be a lock for a ROTY nom (at least), but will the JoBros be considered for Album as well?

Luke Combs: The Academy invited Combs to the kids’ table with a BNA nod last year. But given that he’s the top-streaming country artist and truly an act (beyond any specific record), isn’t it time to give him a seat at the big banquet?

Badflower: If you’re going to bring rock back into the Grammy mix, this Big Machine/John Varvatos Records band is the obvious choice. They’ve already scored two radio #1s and their latest single, the vaulting, melodic “Promise Me,” suggests they could have a reach well beyond the format.

Rosalía: Few new acts have generated the kind of buzz that Columbia’s “urban flamenco” phenom from Spain has whipped up. Will she be considered beyond the scope of language-limitation categories? Is she the tyro to beat?

DaBaby: This SCMG/Interscope hip-hop star made a splash with “Suge” and his rhyming skills have earned respect. Did he get big enough to join the smallish group of rappers on Grammy’s radar?

BTS: In case you hadn’t noticed, the Bighit/Columbia K-Pop septet is kinda big. Their very active fan base extends well beyond the K-Pop niche. Is it time now for Academy voters to deem them worthy of top-tier Grammy consideration?

Stay tuned for more chewing. In the meantime, kindly pass the horseradish.