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2021 Grammy Nominees Have Just Been Announced!

As we gear up for the holidays there’s another season dusting off its winter coat and getting ready. That’s right, we’re talking about AWARD SEASON! This morning, the Recording Academy announced the full list of nominees for the 2021 GRAMMY Awards and gave us a glimpse of what to expect. We’re so excited to see some incredibly deserving artists on the list of nominees. Of course, Taylor Swift is nominated in a billion categories (alright it’s more like five) and Billie Eilish is close behind with three nominations, but I’m personally so excited to see Yebba, HAIM, Jacob Collier, and Emily King getting their well deserved recognition.

As announced on their website, “The 63rd GRAMMY Awards will be happening, rain or shine, COVID-19 vaccine or not. The health and safety of artists, guests, crew and staff is always front of mind during every GRAMMYs, so, logistically, things will be a little different this year.” They go on to explain that they have three options they are currently preparing for: a traditional show with a full crowd, a limited crowd, or no crowd at all. Any way it goes, the Academy has assured us the show will be on January 31st with whatever precautions are safest at that time.

The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah is scheduled to host, a first for the dimpled dreamboat. In a statement he said, “Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed that the GRAMMYs have refused to have me sing or be nominated for Best Pop Album, I am thrilled to be hosting this auspicious event.” Noah went on to say, “I think as a one-time GRAMMY nominee, I am the best person to provide a shoulder to all the amazing artists who do not win on the night because I too know the pain of not winning the award! (This is a metaphorical shoulder, I’m not trying to catch Corona). See you at the 63rd GRAMMYs!”

Additional changes for 2021 include several category name changes. For example, “Best Urban Contemporary Album” will now be “Best Progressive R&B Album” and “Best Rap/Sung Performance” will be “Best Melodic Rap Performance.” The Academy recognizes the evolution of music and believes the titles should reflect that. They have also announced that, unlike other awards shows this year, they plan to address the civic and social unrest and they encourage the artists to share their thoughts and opinions.

Alright, let’s get to the good stuff, we know why you’re here. Check out some of the categories we are most excited about!

Record Of The Year
Awarded to those behind the scenes such as producers and engineers.

Beyonce, still from Black is King
  • BLACK PARADE
    Beyoncé
    Beyoncé & Derek Dixie, producers; Stuart White, engineer/mixer; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
     
  • COLORS
    Black Pumas
    Adrian Quesada, producer; Adrian Quesada, engineer/mixer; JJ Golden, mastering engineer
     
  • ROCKSTAR
    DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch
    SethinTheKitchen, producer; Derek “MixedByAli” Ali, Chris Dennis & Liz Robson, engineers/mixers; Susan Tabor, mastering engineer
     
  • SAY SO
    Doja Cat
    Tyson Trax, producer; Clint Gibbs, engineer/mixer; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
     
  • EVERYTHING I WANTED
    Billie Eilish
    Finneas O’Connell, producer; Rob Kinelski & Finneas O’Connell, engineers/mixers; John Greenham, mastering engineer
     
  • DON’T START NOW
    Dua Lipa
    Caroline Ailin & Ian Kirkpatrick, producers; Josh Gudwin, Drew Jurecka & Ian Kirkpatrick, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
     
  • CIRCLES
    Post Malone
    Louis Bell, Frank Dukes & Post Malone, producers; Louis Bell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
     
  • SAVAGE
    Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé
    Beyoncé & J. White Did It, producers; Stuart White, engineer/mixer; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer

Album Of The Year
Awarded to the artists and performers

HAIM, photo by Dana Trippe
  • CHILOMBO
    Jhené Aiko
    Fisticuffs & Julian-Quán Việt Lê, producers; Fisticuffs, Julian-Quán Việt Lê, Zeke Mishanec, Christian Plata & Gregg Rominiecki, engineers/mixers; Jhené Aiko Efuru Chilombo, Julian-Quán Việt Lê, Maclean Robinson & Brian Keith Warfield, songwriters; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
     
  • BLACK PUMAS (DELUXE EDITION)
    Black Pumas
    Jon Kaplan & Adrian Quesada, producers; Adrian Quesada, Jacob Sciba, Stuart Sikes & Erik Wofford, engineers/mixers; Eric Burton & Adrian Quesada, songwriters; JJ Golden, mastering engineer
     
  • EVERYDAY LIFE
    Coldplay
    Daniel Green, Bill Rahko & Rik Simpson, producers; Mark “Spike” Stent, engineer/mixer; Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion & Chris Martin, songwriters; Emily Lazar, mastering engineer
     
  • DJESSE VOL.3
    Jacob Collier
    Jacob Collier, producer; Ben Bloomberg & Jacob Collier, engineers/mixers; Jacob Collier, songwriter; Chris Allgood & Emily Lazar, mastering engineers
     
  • WOMEN IN MUSIC PT. III
    HAIM
    Rostam Batmanglij, Danielle Haim & Ariel Rechtshaid, producers; Rostam Batmanglij, Jasmine Chen, John DeBold, Matt DiMona, Tom Elmhirst, Joey Messina-Doerning & Ariel Rechtshaid, engineers/mixers; Rostam Batmanglij, Alana Haim, Danielle Haim, Este Haim & Ariel Rechtshaid, songwriters; Emily Lazar, mastering engineer
     
  • FUTURE NOSTALGIA
    Dua Lipa
    Koz, producer; Josh Gudwin & Cameron Gower Poole, engineers/mixers; Clarence Coffee Jr. & Dua Lipa, songwriters; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
     
  • HOLLYWOOD’S BLEEDING
    Post Malone
    Louis Bell & Frank Dukes, producers; Louis Bell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
     
  • FOLKLORE
    Taylor Swift
    Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, producers; Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dessner, Serban Ghenea, John Hanes, Jonathan Low & Laura Sisk, engineers/mixers; Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer

Song Of The Year

Billie Eilish, photo by Matty Vogel
  • “BLACK PARADE”
    Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
     
  • “THE BOX”
    Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
     
  • “CARDIGAN”
    Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
     
  • “CIRCLES”
    Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters (Post Malone)
     
  • “DON’T START NOW”
    Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren, songwriters (Dua Lipa)
     
  • “EVERYTHING I WANTED”
    Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
     
  • “I CAN’T BREATHE”
    Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)
     
  • “IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING”
    Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, songwriters (JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels)

Best New Artist

Megan Thee Stallion, via Instagram
  • INGRID ANDRESS
     
  • PHOEBE BRIDGERS
     
  • CHIKA
     
  • NOAH CYRUS
     
  • D SMOKE
     
  • DOJA CAT
     
  • KAYTRANADA
     
  • MEGAN THEE STALLION

Best Pop Solo Performance

Harry Styles for Vogue, photo by Tyler Mitchell
  • “YUMMY”
    Justin Bieber
     
  • “SAY SO”
    Doja Cat
     
  • “EVERYTHING I WANTED”
    Billie Eilish
     
  • “DON’T START NOW”
    Dua Lipa
     
  • “WATERMELON SUGAR”
    Harry Styles
     
  • “CARDIGAN”
    Taylor Swift

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

  • “UN DIA (ONE DAY)”
    J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy
     
  • “INTENTIONS”
    Justin Bieber Featuring Quavo
     
  • “DYNAMITE”
    BTS
     
  • “RAIN ON ME”
    Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande
     
  • “EXILE”
    Taylor Swift Featuring Bon Iver

Best Pop Vocal Album

Lady Gaga, Interscope Records
  • CHANGES
    Justin Bieber
     
  • CHROMATICA
    Lady Gaga
     
  • FUTURE NOSTALGIA
    Dua Lipa
     
  • FINE LINE
    Harry Styles
     
  • FOLKLORE
    Taylor Swift

Best Alternative Music Album

  • FETCH THE BOLT CUTTERS
    Fiona Apple
     
  • HYPERSPACE
    Beck
     
  • PUNISHER
    Phoebe Bridgers
     
  • JAIME
    Brittany Howard
     
  • THE SLOW RUSH
    Tame Impala

Best R&B Performance

  • “LIGHTNING & THUNDER”
    Jhené Aiko Featuring John Legend
     
  • “BLACK PARADE”
    Beyoncé
     
  • “ALL I NEED”
    Jacob Collier Featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign
     
  • “GOAT HEAD”
    Brittany Howard
     
  • “SEE ME”
    Emily King

Best Traditional R&B Performance

  • “SIT ON DOWN”
    The Baylor Project Featuring Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor
     
  • “WONDER WHAT SHE THINKS OF ME”
    Chloe X Halle
     
  • “LET ME GO”
    Mykal Kilgore
     
  • “ANYTHING FOR YOU”
    Ledisi
     
  • “DISTANCE”
    Yebba

Best R&B Song

Chloe X Halle, photo by Julian Dadkouk
  • “BETTER THAN I IMAGINE”
    Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello)
     
  • “BLACK PARADE”
    Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
     
  • “COLLIDE”
    Sam Barsh, Stacey Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann, Akil King, Josh Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar & Benedetto Rotondi, songwriters (Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG)
     
  • “DO IT”
    Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl, Victoria Monét, Scott Storch & Vincent Van Den Ende, songwriters (Chloe X Halle)
     
  • “SLOW DOWN”
    Nasri Atweh, Badriia Bourelly, Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Skip Marley & H.E.R.)

Best Progressive R&B Album

  • CHILOMBO
    Jhené Aiko
     
  • UNGODLY HOUR
    Chloe X Halle
     
  • FREE NATIONALS
    Free Nationals
     
  • F*** YO FEELINGS
    Robert Glasper
     
  • IT IS WHAT IT IS
    Thundercat

Best R&B Album

  • HAPPY 2 BE HERE
    Ant Clemons
     
  • TAKE TIME
    Giveon
     
  • TO FEEL LOVE/D
    Luke James
     
  • BIGGER LOVE
    John Legend
     
  • ALL RISE
    Gregory Porter

Best Rock Performance

Brittany Howard, photo by Ruven Afanador
  • “SHAMEIKA”
    Fiona Apple
     
  • “NOT”
    Big Thief
     
  • “KYOTO”
    Phoebe Bridgers
     
  • “THE STEPS”
    HAIM
     
  • “STAY HIGH”
    Brittany Howard
     
  • “DAYLIGHT”
    Grace Potter

Best Metal Performance

Poppy, photo by Erika Astrid
  • “BUM-RUSH”
    Body Count
     
  • “UNDERNEATH”
    Code Orange
     
  • “THE IN-BETWEEN”
    In This Moment
     
  • “BLOODMONEY”
    Poppy
     
  • “EXECUTIONER’S TAX (SWING OF THE AXE) – LIVE”
    Power Trip

Best Rock Song

  • “KYOTO”
    Phoebe Bridgers, Morgan Nagler & Marshall Vore, songwriters (Phoebe Bridgers)
     
  • “LOST IN YESTERDAY”
    Kevin Parker, songwriter (Tame Impala)
     
  • “NOT”
    Adrianne Lenker, songwriter (Big Thief)
     
  • “SHAMEIKA”
    Fiona Apple, songwriter (Fiona Apple)
     
  • “STAY HIGH”
    Brittany Howard, songwriter (Brittany Howard)

Best Rock Album

  • A HERO’S DEATH
    Fontaines D.C.
     
  • KIWANUKA
    Michael Kiwanuka
     
  • DAYLIGHT
    Grace Potter
     
  • SOUND & FURY
    Sturgill Simpson
     
  • THE NEW ABNORMAL
    The Strokes

Best Comedy Album

  • BLACK MITZVAH
    Tiffany Haddish
     
  • I LOVE EVERYTHING
    Patton Oswalt
     
  • THE PALE TOURIST
    Jim Gaffigan
     
  • PAPER TIGER
    Bill Burr
     
  • 23 HOURS TO KILL
    Jerry Seinfeld

 
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