The 2025 Grammy Awards are shaping up to be a historic year with a star-studded lineup with several first time nominees making the cut.
Country superstar Morgan Wallen finally earned his first Grammy nods with his hit “I Had Some Help,” a collaboration with Post Malone. The song is nominated for both Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song.
While Dancehall superstar Vybz Kartel is nominated for Best Reggae Album for the EP Party With Me.
J-Kwon, known for his 2004 hit “Tipsy,” also received his first nomination as a co-songwriter on Shaboozey’s Song of the Year contender, “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” This unexpected recognition comes two decades after his original hit.
Singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson earned a nod for Best Musical Theater Album for The Notebook, the musical she produced, composed, and wrote lyrics for. Meanwhile, Willow (formerly Willow Smith) joins her family’s Grammy legacy with a nomination for Best Arrangement, Instrument, and Vocals for “Big Feelings” from her latest album, Empathogen.
Lastly, alternative rock icon Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth fame achieved her first Grammy recognition with two nominations for her solo album The Collective—Best Alternative Music Album and Best Alternative Music Performance for “Bye Bye.”
Album Of The Year
In the coveted Album of the Year category, featuring several first-time nominees alongside Grammy legends. Leading the list is New Blue Sun by André 3000, marking the OutKast legend’s first solo Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. The project is a genre-defying journey, making his solo debut an unexpected but welcome addition to this year’s nominees.
Beyoncé, dominates this year’s Grammys with 11 nominations, the most of any artist this year, and most for any female in a single year. She breaks a record previously held by Lauryn Hill. She is strong contender for Album of the Year with COWBOY CARTER.
Sabrina Carpenter, another first-time Album of the Year nominee, dazzles with Short n’ Sweet, a project that combines playful energy and heartfelt lyrics, establishing her as a force to be reckoned with in the pop scene.
Charli XCX’s BRAT also joins the Album of the Year race while making a splash in Best Dance/Electronic Album. Her experimental approach and infectious beats have earned her widespread acclaim. British musical prodigy Jacob Collier returns with Djesse Vol. 4.
Billie Eilish, brings HIT ME HARD AND SOFT into the mix. Other than Album Of The Year, the record earns her a Best Pop Vocal Album nomination. Rising star Chappell Roan’s The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess also earns a spot in this prestigious category. Her unapologetically bold exploration of identity, infused with a fresh pop sound, has made waves this year, solidifying her place among the year’s top artists.
Taylor Swift, another heavyweight in Grammy history, rounds out the Album of the Year contenders with THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, making her seventh nomination in this category—a record-breaking achievement for a female artist, surpassing Barbra Streisand.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, at age 100, has made history as the oldest Grammy nominee, receiving a nod for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording for his work Last Sundays in Plains: A Centennial Celebration. This nomination marks Carter’s 10th Grammy recognition, following three previous wins in the Best Spoken Word Album category. Joining him in this year’s category are notable figures such as Dolly Parton with Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, George Clinton’s …And Your Ass Will Follow, and Barbra Streisand’s My Name Is Barbra.
The Best Pop Vocal Album category is filled with chart-topping releases. Alongside Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet and Billie Eilish’s HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, nominations include Ariana Grande’s eternal sunshine, Chappell Roan’s The Rise And Fall Of A Midwest Princess, and Taylor Swift’s THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT.
Country music has its own standouts, with a fresh twist on collaborations in Best Country Duo/Group Performance. Nominations include Kelsea Ballerini and Noah Kahan’s Cowboys Cry Too, Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus’s II MOST WANTED, Brothers Osborne’s Break Mine, Dan + Shay’s Bigger Houses, and Post Malone and Morgan Wallen’s I Had Some Help.
In the Best Music Video category, Taylor Swift receives a nod alongside A$AP Rocky, whose video Tailor Swif has captured attention for its creative narrative.
