Cyndi Lauper performs in 2016

Cyndi Lauper

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Cyndi Lauper, Snoop Dogg, The Vandals: 11 Left-Of-Center Christmas Songs

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Tired of the same-old Christmas classics? This playlist of outside-the-box Christmas songs is filled with fresh aural holiday cheer
THE GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
Dec 22, 2017 - 9:10 am

When it comes to holiday music, you can never go wrong with the tried-and-true classics.

Who doesn't love Nat "King" Cole's "The Christmas Song," Elvis Presley's "Blue Christmas," Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas," the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack, or any of the benignly safe versions of fill in the blank?

But let's face it: When it comes to holiday traditions and music, it's always good to get out of one's comfort zone. With that in mind, unwrap this 11-song playlist of outside-the-box Christmas songs, spanning rock to rap and featuring everything from refreshing spins on the familiar to unexpected holiday thrills.

John Prine, "Christmas In Prison"

This first-hand account of spending the most joyous holiday locked up and separated from the one you love reminds us just how lucky we are to be free on Christmas. Of course, "Christmas In Prison" also contains plenty of John Prine's signature romantic wit ("I dream of her always, even when I don't dream) and comedic hyperbole ("Her heart is as big as this whole g*****n jail") with plenty of longing and hope to spare. "Christmas In Prison" appeared on Prine's third album, 1973's Sweet Revenge, and again as a live version on his 1994 album, A John Prine Christmas, which makes for perfect further off-beat holiday exploration. — Nate Hertweck

Eric Johnson, "The First Nowell"

When it comes to gloriously tasty six-string instrumentals, no one does it better than GRAMMY-winning Texan Eric Johnson. For his take on this timeless Christmas carol, the "Cliffs Of Dover" guitarist intermingles acoustic-based lines, sublime clean guitar passages and Hendrix-y double-stops with his trademark creamy violin-like Strat lines. The result is a sonic equivalent on par with the majesty of the Rockefeller Christmas tree. (For more dazzling holiday guitar tomfoolery, look into the album it's featured on, 1997's Merry Axemas.) — Tim McPhate

Gayla Peevy, "I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas"

Who doesn't want a large semiaquatic mammal for the holidays? For then-10-year old child star Gayla Peevy, not only did she score with the catchy tune, she also got her wish. The 1953 novelty hit, written by John Rox, rocketed up the pop charts and led to a fundraising campaign to buy Peevy an actual hippo for Christmas. Children donated their dimes to the cause, and Peevy got her hippo, named Mathilda, which she donated to the Oklahoma City Zoo. The song itself features plodding brass instrumentals and unforgettable lyrics such as "Mom says a hippo, would eat me up but then/Teacher says a hippo is a vegetarian." It seems Peevy still has a fond legacy with the hippo activist community — she was on hand in 2017 when the Oklahoma City Zoo acquired a pygmy hippopotamus. — Renée Fabian

The Vandals, "Oi To The World!"

In a contemplative mood this Christmas? Try getting into the holiday spirit by way of meditating on the true meaning of the season with this brash, up-tempo Southern California crust punk tune. Now the best-known song from the Vandals' 1996 Christmas album of the same name, "Oi To The World!" remained a relatively obscure track by the Huntington Beach punkers until it was covered by a rising pop/ska crossover band from nearby Anaheim, Calif., in 1997. (Perhaps you have heard of them — they were called No Doubt.) Ever since, the song has been a mainstay of the Vandals' live sets, and they have also played the album Oi To The World! in its entirety every year since its release at their annual Winter Formal show in Anaheim, now in its 22nd year. — Brian Haack

OutKast, "Player's Ball (Christmas Version)"

Though it's best known from OutKast's 1994 debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, the Christmas version of the track "Player's Ball" was released earlier on A LaFace Family Christmas, an L.A. Reid-led project to introduce new acts. The then-young Atlanta rapper duo took a Southern hip-hop spin on the season, which can come across as a little irreverent, but at least they're honest: "Ain't no chimneys in the ghetto so I won't be hangin' my socks on no chimneys." Though some people may not find it cheerful, OutKast's season's greetings give "a little somethin' for the players out there hustlin'." — Philip Merrill

Tom Waits, "Christmas Card From A Hooker In Minneapolis"

You'd be hard-pressed to find a more heart-breaking Christmas story than this Tom Waits' masterpiece from 1978's Blue Valentine. "Charlie, I'm pregnant and living on 9th Street," begins the Christmas card narrative where a woman writes an old flame to report how much better things are going since she quit drugs and alcohol and found a trombone-playing husband. Waits' signature early-career piano-plinking and tall-tale-storytelling weaves through a dream world of hair grease and used car lots, even sneaking in a Little Anthony And The Imperials reference. In the end, our narrator comes clean with the sobering lyric, "I don't have a husband, he don't play the trombone" before pleading, "I need to borrow money to pay this lawyer and Charlie hey, I'll be eligible for parole come Valentine's Day." For the uninitiated, this is the off-beat genius of GRAMMY winner Waits at his finest. — N.H.

Winger, "Silent Night"

Though they took some lumps in their '80s hair-metal heyday, few would dare deny Winger's talent and musicianship. Surely on display here, frontman Kip Winger (a GRAMMY-nominated classical musician) and his bandmates begin with a traditional unplugged reading of the Franz Xaver Gruber-penned holiday chestnut, complete with four-part harmony. But then it gets really interesting. The boys get "funky" with an inside-out musical pivot that fuses percussive rhythmic accents, pentatonic-based acoustic riffing, Winger's gravely vocals, and some choice bluesy soloing (and high-pitched vocal responses) courtesy of lead guitarist Reb Beach. — T.M.

Cyndi Lauper And The Hives, "A Christmas Duel"

With lyrics that include "I know I should have thought twice before I kissed her" in the opening, you know you're in for a sleigh ride like none other. It's therefore no surprise that Cyndi Lauper and Swedish rock band the Hives' unconventional Christmas duel describes many marital hiccups that might make some blush. Yet the raucous duet somehow comes out on a high note, concluding, "We should both just be glad/And spend this Christmas together." The 2008 track was the brainchild of the Hives, who always wanted to do a song with Lauper. "This is a Christmas song whose eggnog has been spiked with acid, and whose definition of holiday cheer comes with a complimentary kick below the belt," wrote Huffington Post. "It's also an absolute riot." — R.F.

LCD Soundsystem,"Christmas Will Break Your Heart"

Leave it to LCD Soundsystem's producer/frontman James Murphy to pen a holiday song about the depressing side of the season. "If your world is feeling small/There's no one on the phone/You feel close enough to call," he sings, tapping into that special seasonal weirdness that can creep up as a counterpoint to everyone around you being all incessant smiles, warmth and cheer, and pumpkin-spice lattes. While he doesn't shy away from examining the depressing side of surviving the holiday season as an aging 20-, 30-, 40-something, Murphy does at least give a glimmer of hope to grab onto, transient and fleeting though it may be, as he refrains, "But I'm still coming home to you." — B.H.

Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Bad Azz, Dat Nigga Daz, and Tray Deee, "Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto"

As Snoop Dogg declares, "It's Christmas time and my rhyme's steady bumpin'." This track from the 1996 album Christmas On Death Row lets you know why "Santa Claus Goes Straight To The Ghetto." Church food, love between people and happiness stand out as Christmas is "time to get together and give all you got; you got food, good moods and what's better than together with your people." Love in the hard 'hood might have to watch itself, but the various artists of Death Row contagiously testify to abundant love and seasonal joy. — P.M.

Twisted Sister, "Silver Bells"

Bypassing the urge to write new material on their rocking Christmas album, 2006's A Twisted Christmas, Twister Sister instead took the most recognizable holiday classics in the book and made them faster, louder and more aggressive. The result, which to date equate to the group's seventh and final album, is a supercharged concept collection of songs such as "Silver Bells," "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and "Deck The Halls" bludgeoned by chainsaw guitar riffs, thundering drums and lead singer Dee Snider's soaring screams. This unusual combination makes A Twisted Christmas the perfect soundtrack for any child of the '80s still hoping to tick off the neighbors this holiday season. — N.H.

For The Record: Nat "King" Cole's "The Christmas Song"

Holiday sheet music
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How Holiday Music Affects Your Mental Health

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Love it or hate it, there's no doubt holiday music has an impact on our mental health
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Nov 27, 2017 - 12:17 pm

There are generally two kinds of people in this world: Those who love holiday music and those who can't stand it. Regardless of which side of the fence you stand, it turns out science has an explanation.

Scientists tell NBC News it all comes down to your childhood association with holiday music.

"Our response to Christmas songs depends on the association," said Dr. Rhonda Freeman, a clinical neuropsychologist. "Many of us associate this music with childhood and a happy time of presents and traditions and all the specialness that happens around that time of year."

However, on the other side, those who had a difficult childhood or who associate the season with loss find that holiday music brings on more painful associations.

The reason these childhood holiday music impressions have so much power over us even as adults is thatthe prefrontal cortex area of the brain, the rational thinking part of the brain, is still developing in children. As a result, a child's brain is more emotional, and those emotional associations around music stick well past adolescence. 

Because we listen to the same body of holiday music year after year since the time we are small, and tunes like "Silent Night" or "Carol Of The Bells" are designed to elicit an emotional response, it makes complete sense it's hard to get these songs out of our heads and hearts.

So love them or hate them, know you're not alone in your holiday music feels.

U.K. Charity Brings Live Holiday Music To Senior Centers

GRAMMYs

Lizzo

Photo:  David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

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Summerfest 2019: Lizzo, Brandi Carlile, Rodrigo Y Gabriela & More

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The massive festival will take place June 26–30 and July 2–7 in downtown Milawaukee and will also feature Billie Eilish, The Roots, The Lonely Island and Atmosphere
Jennifer Velez
GRAMMYs
Apr 10, 2019 - 4:48 pm

Brandi Carlile, Jimmy Eat World, Lizzo and Rodrigo y Gabriela are among the over 100 headlining musical artists that have been announced for Summerfest, the 11-day music festival in Milwaukee, this year.

The massive festival will take place June 26–30 and July 2–7 in downtown Milawaukee and will also feature Billie Eilish, The Roots, The Lonely Island and Atmosphere. The full lineup can be seen at the Summerfest website. 

Last week, the fest announced that Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg and Schoolboy Q will headline the last day of performances at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater, which will host a series of performances with tickets that can be purchased separately from the Summerfest general admission ticket (but also include G.A. access). A weekday admission ticket can also be purchased. More info on the variety of tickets can be found here.  

Summerfest features 12 stages and over 800 acts in 11 days, according to the fest. For more information on ticket sales, visit the Summerfest website. 

Beyonce To Drop 'Homecoming' Documentary On April 17

Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow

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Sheryl Crow To Snoop Dogg: 11 Summer Solstice Songs To Start The Season

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Spend the longest day of the year bumping this playlist of solstice-friendly summer songs
THE GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
Jun 21, 2018 - 5:59 am

Whether you're living it up in the sun or waiting out the sweaty dog days of summer, the daylight lasts longer on June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere than any other day of the year. We know this day as the summer solstice, and it marks the official start of the season of beaches, vacations and camping, a reason for celebration if there ever was one.

The sun has served as a consistent muse for songwriters through the centuries, and it continues to shine its way into the lyrics, videos and festivals that shape today's music. From infectious sunny pop hits to the moody music that makes summer love so bittersweet, many of the world's greatest songs are solar powered.

With this in mind and in honor of the summer solstice, we've compiled a playlist to keep your long day burning bright and take you into the year's shortest night.

Sheryl Crow, "Soak Up The Sun"

Released in April 2002 on Sheryl Crow's C'mon, C'mon, which went on to be nominated for Best Rock Album at the 45th GRAMMY Awards. The song "Soak Up The Sun," our summer focus here, was nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Crow won that year for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for "Steve McQueen," but by July "Soak Up The Sun" had reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped to define maximum summer with its discipline of appreciating the rays. No matter how bad things are, enjoy the sunlight, as her lyric says, "While it's still free."  — Phillip Merrill

Joseph Arthur, "In The Sun"

Immediately catchy, accessible and cool, Joseph Arthur scored his biggest hit with "In The Sun," the lead-off track from his third album, 2000's Come To Where I'm From. Produced by GRAMMY winner T Bone Burnett, the song announced Arthur's unique songwriting talent to a much wider audience. Right from the opening line of "I picture you in the sun wondering what went wrong," it's a redemptive story — the kind Arthur tells best — of forgiveness revolving around the idea that no matter what, the sun will rise again.  — Nate Hertweck

Katy Perry Featuring Snoop Dogg, "California Gurls"

Who could forget the bubblegum pop of Katy Perry circa 2010? Enter "California Gurls," an homage to the Golden Coast that featured Snoop Dogg. The hit earned a GRAMMY nod for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals at the 53rd GRAMMY Awards, and with lyrics that call out summer icons such as palm trees, bikinis, martinis, sun-kissed skin, the beach, and popsicles, it rightfully earned a "summer anthem" designation. As Snoop Dogg raps, "Summertime is everything," and who knows that better than California gurls? — Renée Fabian

Cream, "Sunshine Of Your Love"

Their 1967 sophmore album, Disraeli Gears, took Cream to a pinnacle of psychedelic acid rock and brought the band a Best New Artist Of The Year nomination at the 11th GRAMMY Awards. In 1999 the album was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame, and the band went on to receive the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. The classic riff  in "Sunshine Of Your Love" was inspired by Jimi Hendrix, who later covered the hit himself. It's said that the lyric, "It's getting near dawn and lights close their tired eyes," began it all, written while waiting for the sun to rise. — P.M.

Lana Del Rey, "Summertime Sadness"

Sometimes there's a lot of pressure to be bright and happy all summer long, but let's face it. That's just not realistic. For those times when you're feeling a little morose even as the sun shines high overhead, Lana Del Rey has you covered with her 2012 hit, "Summertime Sadness." But don't be fooled. Despite the song's title and down tempo there's also a deep electricity to the track: "I feel it in the air/Telephone wires above/Are sizzlin' like a snare/Honey I'm on fire, I feel it everywhere/Nothin' scares me anymore." If we catch you driving down the highway at 99 like Del Rey in a dramatic, arms spread pose, we'll know exactly what you're listening too. — R.F.

Lucinda Williams, "Big Red Sun Blues"

Lucinda Williams not only has a way with words, but also an abundance of love and pain in her twangy, gravel-road voice that goes beyond words. Long before Time Magazine called her "America's best songwriter," Williams'1988 self-titled third album announced her arrival in a new space beyond country where Americana would put down its roots. The album also earned Williams her first GRAMMY win for Best Country Song for "Passionate Kisses," but it was the slide-guitar lament "Big Red Sun Blues" that had us howlin' at the sun with lines like, "The sun is hangin' in the sky/Sinkin' low and so am I," and still wondering, "How'm I gonna lose these big red sun blues," 30 years later. — N.H.

Donovan, "Sunshine Superman"

The No. 1 Hot 100 hit at the end of summer 1966, Donovan's "Sunshine Superman" presented an upbeat "you're going to be mine" anticipation, inspired by the morning sunshine. This positive attitude combined with its bouncy U.K. pop-rock joy was contagious. Some of the excellence of its original recording was contributed by John Paul Jones on bass and Jimmy Page on one of the song's electric guitars, both of whom went on to GRAMMY wins. May your sunshine make you feel just as good as Superman, too. — P.M.

Snoop Dogg Featuring Pharrell Williams, "Drop It Like It's Hot"

Ah yes, the perfect song, if you will, for when the sand is hot and the beer is cold. Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams took the common phrase (and dance move) and codified it in hip-hop history with their 2004 single "Drop It Like It's Hot." The track turned out to be a smash hit and it earned two GRAMMY nominations at the 47th GRAMMY Awards: Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group and Best Rap Song. In 2009 Billboard named the track the most popular rap song of the decade, which is a great reason to add it to your summer solstice playlist this year. — R.F.

Neurosis, "A Sun That Never Sets"

Oakland, Calif.'s legendary experimental heavyweights Neurosis have a rich — and complicated — history with the sun. Early in their career they chose to never perform underneath it, preferring the cloak of night for their epic, visually enhanced live set. They even released a brilliantly brutal album titled Enemy Of The Sun in 1993. All that changed when they faced the sun onstage for the first time at Ozzfest in 1996, and five years later, they'd made their solar amends and delivered "A Sun That Never Sets." Recorded by recent World Series of Poker seven-card stud champ and engineering wizard Steve Albini, the song's stark, haunting intro builds into a massive, sun-blazed sonic catharsis tailor-made for the celebrating solstice. — N.H.

Richie Havens, "Here Comes The Sun"

A song of benediction, "Here Comes The Sun" was one of George Harrison's transcendental contributions to the Beatles' 1969 album, Abbey Road. At a sensational opening performance made famous by the film Woodstock, shot at the 1969 festival and released the following year, Richie Havens and his acoustic strumming set the scene with the songs "Handsome Johnny" and "Freedom." Then his cover of Harrison's hit on his 1971 album Alarm Clock reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, spreading good feelings everywhere it was heard. An evergreen classic covered by many great artists, Haven's folk authenticity made the song uniquely his own. — P.M.

Björk, "Solstice"

The title track of this year's big day, "Solstice", sees Björk trade in her usual — and usually very unusual — brilliant sonic production in favor of a simple, sparse, poetic hymn. Taken from her 2011 album Biophilia, which Pitchfork claimed, "May be her most ambitious yet." This is really saying something when referencing one of our generations' most daring artists. In "Solstice," the Icelandic GRAMMY nominee reminds us, "You are a light bearer, a light bearer/Receiving radiance from others'/Flickering sun flame." Happy solstice, everybody! — N.H.

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60 Facts About The 60th GRAMMY Nominees

(L-R) Jay Z, Rapsody, Lady Gaga, Alessia Cara, Childish Gambino, SZA, Taylor Swift, Luis Fonsi, Bruno Mars, Cardi B
Photos: WireImage.com

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2018 GRAMMYs: Alessia Cara To Jay-Z | 60 Nominee Facts

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From Luis Fonsi, Bruno Mars, SZA, and Childish Gambino to Rapsody, Lady Gaga, Shakira, and Taylor Swift, get forensic with 60 interesting facts about the 60th GRAMMY nominees
Paul Grein
THE GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
Jan 3, 2018 - 4:56 pm

Looking for a different kind of New Year's resolution? How about pledging to become an expert on this year's nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards? We can help you do just that.

From first-time nominees and top nominees to GRAMMY history and potential records at stake, we've sliced and diced the 84 categories to bring you 60 delectable factoids about the 60th nominee class.

Make sure to read all 60 facts below and follow all the storylines during Music's Biggest Night at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, Jan. 28.

1. Jay-Z

Jay-Z is this year's leading GRAMMY nominee with eight nominations. This is the third time the rapper has been the year's leading nominee (or at least tied for the lead). He tied for the lead for 2003 with Beyoncé, OutKast and Pharrell Williams. He held the lead outright for 2013.

Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake Win Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

2. SZA

SZA is this year's top female nominee with five nominations, including Best New Artist.

3. Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino is nominated for five GRAMMYs, including Record and Album Of The Year. The versatile performer, aka Donald Glover, won two Emmy Awards in September for his work on the FX series Atlanta. (He won Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series.)

4. "Despacito"

"Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber is this year's only work to be nominated for both Record and Song Of The Year. It's the first foreign-language hit to be nominated in both categories since "La Bamba," recorded by Los Lobos, 30 years ago.

5. "The Story Of O.J."

"The Story Of O.J." is Jay-Z's fourth single to receive a Record Of The Year nomination. It follows Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love," on which he was featured; Rihanna's "Umbrella," on which he was featured; and "Empire State Of Mind," a collaboration with Alicia Keys. Jay-Z is the first rapper to amass four Record Of The Year nominations.

6. Bruno Mars, Record Of The Year

Bruno Mars' "24K Magic" is nominated for Record Of The Year. It's Mars' fifth nomination in that category since 2010. That's more than any other artist in this decade. Mars and Beyoncé are the only artists to amass five nominations since 2000.

7. Kendrick Lamar

DAMN. is Kendrick Lamar's third consecutive studio album to be nominated for Album Of The Year. Kanye West is the only other rapper to receive nominations in this category for three consecutive studio albums.

8. Lorde

Lorde is among the nominees for Album Of The Year for her sophomore release, Melodrama. The young star has now been nominated in three of the General Field categories. Four years ago, her breakthrough hit, "Royals" was nominated for Record Of The Year and won for Song Of The Year.

Lorde, Joel Little Win Song Of The Year

9. Alessia Cara, Khalid, Julia Michaels: Song Of The Year

Three of this year's Best New Artist nominees — Alessia Cara, Khalid and Julia Michaels — are up for Song Of The Year. Cara and Khalid co-wrote "1-800-273-7255," the Logic hit on which they are featured. Michaels co-wrote her hit "Issues." This is only the second time in GRAMMY history that three Best New Artist nominees have also been nominated for Song Of The Year in the same year. It first happened 16 years ago with Alicia Keys ("Fallin'"), India.Arie ("Video") and Nelly Furtado ("I'm Like A Bird").

10. Alessia Cara, Best New Artist

Alessia Cara is the first artist who was born in Canada to receive a Best New Artist nomination since 2010, when both Justin Bieber and Drake were nominated.

11. Khalid, Best New Artist

Khalid, 19, is the first teenager to receive a Best New Artist nomination since Justin Bieber, who was 16 when he was a finalist for the 2010 award. Khalid will turn 20 on Feb. 11.

12. Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé lands his eighth nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Nobody But Me (Deluxe Version). He is a four-time winner in the category.

13. Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Triplicate. This gives the music legend a 55-year span of GRAMMY nominations. He received his first nomination for 1962, when his debut album was up for Best Folk Recording. Dylan received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 1991.

14. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga's Joanne is among the nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album. She won in this category seven years ago for The Fame Monster. Gaga is vying to become the third two-time winner in the category's history, following Kelly Clarkson and Adele.

15. Kraftwerk

Electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk are nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album for the second time for 3-D The Catalogue. The German group was first nominated in this category 12 years ago for Minimum-Maximum. 3-D The Catalogue is also nominated for Best Surround Sound Album. Electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk are nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album for the second time for 3-D The Catalogue. The German group was first nominated in this category 12 years ago for Minimum-Maximum. 3-D The Catalogue is also nominated for Best Surround Sound Album. Kraftwerk received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2014.

16. Leonard Cohen, Chris Cornell

Leonard Cohen and Chris Cornell are posthumously nominated for Best Rock Performance. Another late, great artist, David Bowie, won the award posthumously last year for "Blackstar."

17. Body Count

Body Count are vying for Best Metal Performance for "Black Hoodie." Bandleader Ice-won a GRAMMY 27 years ago for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group, for his featured role on the title song from Quincy Jones' album, Back On The Block. He's vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

18. Best Metal Performance

Each of the five bands vying for Best Metal Performance — August Burns Red, Body Count, Code Orange, Mastodon, and Meshuggah — is looking to bring home their first GRAMMY Award.

19. Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters are nominated for Best Rock Song for "Run." The group won in the category six years ago for their similarly titled song "Walk." In addition, group members Dave Grohl and Pat Smear shared the 2013 award in that category for "Cut Me Some Slack," a collaboration with Paul McCartney and Krist Novoselic.

20. Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire lands their fifth nomination for Best Alternative Music Album for Everything Now. Only one other group or duo has amassed five or more nominations in this category. Radiohead have had eight.

21. LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem's American Dream is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album. The group's first two albums, LCD Soundsystem and Sound Of Silver, were nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

22. Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis receives her first GRAMMY nomination for Best R&B Performance for her featured role on Daniel Caesar's "Get You." At the recent Latin GRAMMY Awards, she received a Record Of The Year nod for "El Ratico," a collaboration with Juanes, who is also a current GRAMMY nominee.

23. The Weeknd

The Weeknd's Starboy is among the nominees for Best Urban Contemporary Album. The Weeknd's previous album, Beauty Behind The Madness, won in the category two years ago. He is vying to become the first two-time winner in the category.

24. Ledisi

Ledisi's Let Love Rule is nominated for Best R&B Album. This is Ledisi's fourth nomination in this category. She was previously nominated for Lost & Found, Turn Me Loose and Pieces Of Me. Ledisi was nominated for Best New Artist 10 years ago.

25. Bruno Mars, Best R&B Album

Bruno Mars' 24K Magic is nominated for Best R&B Album. Mars won Best Pop Vocal Album four years ago for Unorthodox Jukebox. He is vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

Bruno Mars wins 2014 Best Pop Vocal Album GRAMMY

26. Cardi B

"Bodak Yellow" brings Cardi B her first GRAMMY nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. The title is a play on its musical inspiration: Kodak Black's 2014 hip-hop hit "No Flockin."

27. Jay-Z, Best Rap Album

Jay-Z's 4:44 is nominated for Best Rap Album. Jay-Z won in that category 19 years ago for Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life. If he wins, he'll have the longest span of wins in the category's history. Eminem currently holds that distinction, with a 15-year span of wins in the category.

28. Rapsody

Rapsody's Laila's Wisdom is nominated for Best Rap Album. Rapsody is the fifth female solo artist to be nominated in this category, following Missy Elliott (who has had four nominations in the category), Nicki Minaj (two) and Eve and Iggy Azalea (one each).

29. Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator's Flower Boy is up for Best Rap Album. It's his second GRAMMY nomination. He was nominated as a featured artist on Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, which was an Album Of The Year contender five years ago.

30. Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for "Losing You" and Best American Roots Performance for "I Never Cared For You." Krauss is currently tied with Quincy Jones for the second most wins in GRAMMY history with 27. The late classical conductor Sir Georg Solti is the long-time GRAMMY leader, with 31 awards.

31. Little Big Town

Little Big Town are seeking their third win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Better Man." The group won for "Pontoon" (2012) and "Girl Crush" (2015).

Little Big Town Win Best Country Duo/Group Performance

32. Taylor Swift, Best Country Song

Taylor Swift is vying to win for her third GRAMMY for Best Country Song. She is nominated for writing the Little Big Town hit, "Better Man." Swift previously won for co-writing "White Horse" and writing "Mean." She would become only the second three-time winner in the category. Josh Kear won for co-writing the Carrie Underwood hits "Before He Cheats" and "Blown Away" and the Lady Antebellum hit "Need You Now."

33. Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne are among the writers of two of this year's nominees for Best Country Song. They co-wrote Sam Hunt's "Body Like A Back Road" and Midland's "Drinkin' Problem." McAnally and Osborne won in this category four years ago for co-writing Kacey Musgraves' "Merry Go 'Round."

34. Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton is nominated for Best Country Album for From A Room: Volume 1. He won in the category two years ago for Traveller. Stapleton is vying to become the first male solo artist to win two awards in this category since the late Roger Miller did it more than 50 years ago.

Chris Stapleton Wins Best Country Album

35. Indie.Arie

Indie.Arie's SongVersation: Medicine is nominated for Best New Age Album. She won Best R&B Album 15 years ago for Voyage To India. India.Arie is vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

36. Jazzmeia Horn, Alex Han, Pascal Le Boeuf

Three alumni of the GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session receive their first GRAMMY nominations. Jazzmeia Horn is nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Alex Han for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Pascal Le Boeuf for Best Instrumental Composition. The GRAMMY Museum program is designed for outstanding high school jazz musicians.

37. CeCe Winans

CeCe Winans lands two nominations for Best Gospel Album for Let Them Fall In Love and Best Gospel Performance/Song for "Never Have To Be Alone." These are Winans' first nominations in seven years. The gospel great is a 10-time GRAMMY winner.

38. Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire's Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope is among the nominees for Best Roots Gospel Album. This marks her first nod in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field. She has 13 previous Country Field nominations and one prior Music Video/Film Field nod.

39. Shakira

Shakira's El Dorado is among the nominees for Best Latin Pop Album. Shakira won in that category 17 years ago for Shakira — MTV Unplugged. She is vying to become the first female artist to win twice in this category.

40. Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell is nominated for Best American Roots Performance for "Arkansas Farmboy." This gives the late music legend a 50-year span of GRAMMY nominations. He received six nominations (including four awards) for 1967 for his classic hits "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Gentle On My Mind." Campbell received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2012.

Glen Campbell: Lifetime Achievement Award Acceptance

41. Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit

Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit's The Nashville Sound is nominated for Best Americana Album. Isbell won in this category two years ago for his previous album, Something More Than Free. Isbell is vying to become the second two-time winner in this category, following Levon Helm.

42. The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album for Blue & Lonesome. They won Best Rock Album 23 years ago for Voodoo Lounge. They are vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

43. Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Yusuf/Cat Stevens lands his first GRAMMY nomination, more than 50 years after he released his first album. He is nominated for Best Folk Album for The Laughing Apple.

44. Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is among the nominees for Best Reggae Album for Stony Hill. With two prior category wins, he's looking to join his brother Stephen Marley as a three-time Best Reggae Album winner. Another brother, Ziggy Marley, has the most wins in the category with seven.

45. Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is nominated in two categories with different albums. Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration is nominated for Best World Music Album. Songs Of Peace & Love For Kids & Parents Around The World is nominated for Best Children's Album.

46. Lisa Loeb

Lisa Loeb is nominated for Best Children's Album for Feel What U Feel. It's her second GRAMMY nomination. She was nominated 23 years ago for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Stay (I Missed You)," a chart-topping hit with her group, Nine Stories.

47. Carrie Fisher

The late Carrie Fisher scores her second GRAMMY nomination for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling) for The Princess Diarist. The Star Wars actress was nominated in the same category eight years ago for Wishful Drinking.

48. Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) earns his first GRAMMY nomination alongside actor Mark Ruffalo for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling) for the audio version of his book, Our Revolution: A Future To Believe In. Sanders is the fourth politician to be nominated in this category this decade, following fellow Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter (the 2015 winner).

49. Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen receives his 50th GRAMMY nomination for Born To Run, which is among the nominees for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling). The audiobook shares its title with Springsteen's classic 1975 album, which was voted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 2003.

50. Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman is nominated for Best Comedy Album for A Speck Of Dust. She is vying to become the fifth female comic to win in this category, following Elaine May (who won for a collaboration with Mike Nichols), Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kathy Griffin.

51. Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are nominated for Best Musical Theater Album as composers/lyricists and co-producers of Dear Evan Hansen. They're also nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media for "City Of Stars" from La La Land (which they co-wrote with Justin Hurwitz). They previously won a Tony Award for Dear Evan Hansen and an Academy Award for "City Of Stars."

52. Hello, Dolly!

The New Broadway Cast Recording of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler, is nominated for Best Musical Theater Album. It's the third time a cast album from this durable show has been nominated. An album from the original production, starring Carol Channing, was nominated for 1964. An album from a previous revival, also starring Channing, was nominated for 1995.

53. Justin Hurwitz

Composer Justin Hurwitz's four nominations stemming from the hit film La La Land mark his second try for GRAMMY gold. He was up for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media for his work on Whiplash two years ago. Hurwitz worked with director Damien Chazelle on both films.

54. Game Of Thrones: Season 7

Game Of Thrones: Season 7 is nominated for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media. It's vying to become the first TV soundtrack to win in this category since Mission: Impossible won 50 years ago. Ramin Djawadi is the composer of Game Of Thrones. Lalo Schifrin did the honors on Mission: Impossible.

55. Common, Diane Warren

Common and Diane Warren are nominated for Best Song Written For Visual Media for their collaboration, "Stand Up For Something," from Marshall. Both songwriters are past winners in the category. Common won two years ago for co-writing "Glory" from Selma. Warren won 21 years ago for writing "Because You Loved Me" from Up Close & Personal.

56. Taylor Swift, Best Song Written For Visual Media

Taylor Swift, another nominee for Best Song Written For Visual Media, is also a past winner in that category. Swift, nominated this year for co-writing "I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)," won five years ago for co-writing "Safe And Sound" from The Hunger Games.

57. Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris receives his first Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nomination. Harris won his first GRAMMY five years ago for "We Found Love," his smash collaboration with Rihanna. They shared the award for Best Short Form Music Video.

58. Greg Kurstin

Greg Kurstin, last year's winner for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, is nominated in that category again this year. He's vying to become the first producer to win it two years in a row since Babyface won it three years running from 1995 through 1997.

Greg Kurstin wins Producer Of The Year GRAMMY

59. Producer Of The Year, Classical

The Producer Of The Year, Classical category comprises five producers with previous nods in the category. Morten Lindberg, who now has 24 total GRAMMY nominations, is seeking his first win. Blanton Alspaugh, Manfred Eicher, David Frost, and Judith Sherman have each won the category previously.

60. Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar: Best Music Video

Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar are each vying for their second award in the Best Music Video category. Jay-Z, who is nominated for "The Story Of O.J.," won four years ago for "Suit & Tie," a collaboration with Justin Timberlake. Lamar, nominated for "HUMBLE.," won two years ago for "Bad Blood," a collaboration with Taylor Swift. To date, just four artists have won twice in this category: Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Johnny Cash.

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

(Paul Grein is a veteran music journalist and historian whose work appears regularly at Yahoo.com and Hitsdailydouble.com.)

(GRAMMY.com staff members Renée Fabian, Brian Haack, Nate Hertweck, Tim McPhate, and Philip Merrill contributed to this article.)