Lauryn Hill‘s ‘The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill’ was the last album by a black woman to win the Grammy Award for Album Of The Year in 1999. Only 37 albums by 25 Black women have earned nods for music’s big award since 1959, per Hollywood Reporter. The nominees this year are:
- Boygenius – The Record.
- Janelle Monáe – The Age of Pleasure.
- Jon Batiste – World Music Radio.
- Lana Del Rey – Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.
- Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer Vacation.
- Olivia Rodrigo – Guts.
- SZA – SOS.
- Taylor Swift – Midnights.
If Taylor Swift wins, it will be her fourth time, a milestone unmatched since the inception of the Grammy Awards in the 1950s. This accomplishment would surpass iconic figures like Frank Sinatra but SZA’s album “SOS” is poised to potentially break a 25-year streak.
SZA’s “SOS” is a strong contender, boasting both commercial success and critical acclaim. The album, released December 9, 2022, is certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America and has over 11 billion streams. It spent a record-breaking 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking the longest run by a woman in nearly seven years. With five Top 10 pop hits, including the No. 1 “Kill Bill” and the enduring “Snooze,” SZA’s impact on the music scene is undeniable. The artist’s nine Grammy nominations this year further solidify her as a top contender for the coveted award.
However, Jon Batiste, Miley Cyrus, Lana Del Rey, Olivia Rodrigo, and Janelle Monáe vying for the album of the year honor. Despite the historical significance of SZA’s potential win, and the Grammys focus on diversity, history has shown that Black artists, particularly those in R&B and rap, face challenges in securing top awards at the Grammys.
Ella Fitzgerald was the first black woman to be nominated in 1959, and the list includes notable names like Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson, Missy Elliott, and Rihanna and Beyoncé.
In the lead-up to the Grammy Awards, where industry luminaries gathered, Swift’s influence stood out. Winning artists typically enjoy increased sales, streams, and enhanced bargaining power for future contracts and Billboard already recognized Swift as the industry’s most powerful figure, a distinction usually bestowed upon male executives. She is ranked above her own label head, Universal Music CEO Lucian Grainge.
“I’ve never, ever in my entire career been so thrilled to be number two on a list,” Grainge, known for making the biggest deals in music commented.
Shenseea was the first female Jamaican to ever be nominated for “Album Of The Year,” but she got the nod by way of her involvement on Kanye West’s Donda album in 2022 due to a rule change made by the Recording Academy to credit all persons involved in the nominated project.
She was followed by Grace Jones who got a nomination for Album Of The Year for her work on Beyoncé’s “Renaissance” album in 2023.
See full list of black women to be nominated for “Album Of The Year.”
- 1959: Ella Fitzgerald, Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook (Winner: Henry Mancini, The Music from Peter Gunn)
- 1974: Roberta Flack, Killing Me Softly With His Song (Winner: Stevie Wonder, Innervisions)
- 1980: Donna Summer, Bad Girls (Winner: Billy Joel, 52nd Street)
- 1985: Tina Turner, Private Dancer (Winner: Lionel Richie, Can’t Slow Down)
- 1986: Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston (Winner: Phil Collins, No Jacket Required)
- 1987: Janet Jackson, Control (Winner: Paul Simon, Graceland)
- 1988: Whitney Houston, Whitney (Winner: U2, The Joshua Tree)
- 1989: Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman (Winner: George Michael, Faith)
- 1991: Mariah Carey, Mariah Carey (Winner: Quincy Jones, Back on the Block)
- 1992: Natalie Cole, Unforgettable… with Love (Winner)
- 1994: Whitney Houston, The Bodyguard soundtrack (Winner)
- 1996: Mariah Carey, Daydream (Winner: Alanis Morissette, Jagged Little Pill)
- 1997: Fugees (Lauryn Hill), The Score (Winner: Celine Dion, Falling into You)
- 1999: Lauryn Hill, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (Winner)
- 2000: TLC, Fanmail (Winner: Santana, Supernatural)
- 2002: India.Arie, Acoustic Soul (Winner: Various artists, Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack)
- 2004: Missy Elliott, Under Construction (Winner: OutKast, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below)
- 2005: Alicia Keys, The Diary of Alicia Keys (Winner: Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company)
- 2006: Mariah Carey, The Emancipation of Mimi (Winner: U2, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb)
- 2010: Beyoncé, I Am … Sasha Fierce (Winner: Taylor Swift, Fearless)
- 2012: Rihanna, Loud (Winner: Adele, 21)
- 2015: Beyoncé, Beyoncé (Winner: Beck, Morning Phase)
- 2016: Alabama Shakes (Brittany Howard), Sound & Color (Winner: Taylor Swift, 1989)
- 2017: Beyoncé, Lemonade (Winner: Adele, 25)
- 2019: Janelle Monáe, Dirty Computer (Winner: Kacey Musgraves, Golden Hour)
- 2019: H.E.R., H.E.R.
- 2019: Cardi B, Invasion of Privacy
- 2020: Lizzo, Cuz I Love You [Deluxe] (Winner: Billie Eilish, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?)
- 2020: H.E.R., I Used to Know Her
- 2021: Jhené Aiko, Chilombo (Winner: Taylor Swift, Folklore)
- 2022: Doja Cat, Planet Her [Deluxe] (Winner: Jon Batiste, We Are)
- 2022: H.E.R., Back of My Mind
- 2023: Beyoncé, Renaissance (Winner: Harry Styles, Harry’s House)
- 2023: Mary J. Blige, Good Morning Gorgeous [Deluxe]
- 2023: Lizzo, Special
- 2024: SZA, SOS
- 2024: Janelle Monáe, The Age of Pleasure
