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2020 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List

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2020 GRAMMYs Awards Show: Complete Winners & Nominations List

Find out who won at the 62nd GRAMMY Awards! 2020 Grammys Complete Winners & Nominations List

GRAMMYs/Nov 20, 2019 - 06:39 pm

The 62nd GRAMMY Awards are here! Find out who won in each of the 84 categories in the full list below (use the links to jump to a desired field).

 

General Field

1. Record Of The Year
Award to the Artist and to the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) and mastering engineer(s), if other than the artist.

  • HEY, MA
    Bon Iver
    BJ Burton, Brad Cook, Chris Messina & Justin Vernon, producers; BJ Burton, Zach Hanson & Chris Messina, engineers/mixers; Greg Calbi, mastering engineer
     
  • BAD GUY - WINNER
    Billie Eilish
    Finneas O'Connell, producer; Rob Kinelski & Finneas O'Connell, engineers/mixers; John Greenham, mastering engineer
     
  • 7 RINGS
    Ariana Grande
    Charles Anderson, Tommy Brown, Michael Foster &
    Victoria Monet, producers; Serban Ghenea, John Hanes,
    Billy Hickey & Brendan Morawski, engineers/mixers;
    Randy Merrill, mastering engineer
     
  • HARD PLACE
    H.E.R.
    Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, producer; Joseph Hurtado, Jaycen Joshua, Derek Keota & Miki Tsutsumi, engineers/mixers; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
     
  • TALK
    Khalid
    Disclosure & Denis Kosiak, producers; Ingmar Carlson, Jon Castelli, Josh Deguzman, John Kercy, Denis Kosiak, Guy Lawrence & Michael Romero, engineers/mixers; Dale Becker, mastering engineer
     
  • OLD TOWN ROAD
    Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
    Andrew "VoxGod" Bolooki,  Jocelyn “Jozzy” Donald & YoungKio, producers; Andrew "VoxGod" Bolooki, Cinco & Joe Grasso, engineers/mixers; Eric Lagg, mastering engineer
     
  • TRUTH HURTS
    Lizzo
    Ricky Reed & Tele, producers; Chris Galland, Manny Marroquin & Ethan Shumaker, engineers/mixers; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
     
  • SUNFLOWER
    Post Malone & Swae Lee
    Louis Bell & Carter Lang, producers; Louis Bell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer

2. Album Of The Year
Award to Artist(s) and to Featured Artist(s), Songwriter(s) of new material, Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s), Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s) credited with at least 33% playing time of the album, if other than Artist.

  • I,I
    Bon Iver
    Brad Cook, Chris Messina & Justin Vernon, producers; Zach Hanson & Chris Messina, engineers/mixers; BJ Burton, Brad Cook & Justin Vernon, songwriters; Greg Calbi, mastering engineer
     
  • NORMAN F***ING ROCKWELL!
    Lana Del Rey
    Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, producers; Jack Antonoff & Laura Sisk, engineers/mixers; Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, songwriters; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
     
  • WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? - WINNER
    Billie Eilish
    Finneas O'Connell, producer; Rob Kinelski & Finneas O'Connell, engineers/mixers; Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell, songwriters; John Greenham, mastering engineer
     
  • THANK U, NEXT
    Ariana Grande
    Tommy Brown, Ilya, Max Martin & Victoria Monet, producers; Serban Ghenea, Sam Holland & Brendan Morawski, engineers/mixers; Tommy Brown, Ariana Grande, Savan Kotecha, Max Martin, Victoria Monet, Tayla Parx & Ilya Salmanzadeh, songwriters; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer
     
  • I USED TO KNOW HER
    H.E.R.
    David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris, H.E.R., Walter Jones & Jeff Robinson, producers; Miki Tsutsumi, engineer/mixer; Sam Ashworth, Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman, David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris & H.E.R., songwriters; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
     
  • 7
    Lil Nas X
    Joe Grasso, engineer/mixer; Montero Lamar Hill, songwriter; Eric Lagg, mastering engineer
     
  • CUZ I LOVE YOU (DELUXE)
    Lizzo
    Ricky Reed, producer; Manny Marroquin & Ethan Shumaker, engineers/mixers; Eric Frederic & Melissa Jefferson, songwriters; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineer
     
  • FATHER OF THE BRIDE
    Vampire Weekend
    Ezra Koenig & Ariel Rechtshaid, producers; John DeBold, Chris Kasych, Takemasa Kosaka, Ariel Rechtshaid & Hiroya Takayama, engineers/mixers; Ezra Koenig, songwriter; Emily Lazar, mastering engineer

3. Song Of The Year
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • ALWAYS REMEMBER US THIS WAY
    Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Lori McKenna, songwriters (Lady Gaga)
     
  • BAD GUY - WINNER
    Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
     
  • BRING MY FLOWERS NOW
    Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
     
  • HARD PLACE
    Ruby Amanfu, Sam Ashworth, D. Arcelious Harris, H.E.R. & Rodney Jerkins, songwriters (H.E.R.)
     
  • LOVER
    Taylor Swift, songwriter (Taylor Swift)
     
  • NORMAN F***ING ROCKWELL
    Jack Antonoff & Lana Del Rey, songwriters (Lana Del Rey)
     
  • SOMEONE YOU LOVED
    Tom Barnes, Lewis Capaldi, Pete Kelleher, Benjamin Kohn & Sam Roman, songwriters (Lewis Capaldi)
     
  • TRUTH HURTS
    Steven Cheung, Eric Frederic, Melissa Jefferson & Jesse Saint John, songwriters (Lizzo)

4. Best New Artist
An artist will be considered for Best New Artist if their eligibility year release/s achieved a breakthrough into the public consciousness and notably impacted the musical landscape.

  • BLACK PUMAS
     
  • BILLIE EILISH - WINNER
     
  • LIL NAS X
     
  • LIZZO
     
  • MAGGIE ROGERS
     
  • ROSALÍA
     
  • TANK AND THE BANGAS
     
  • YOLA

Pop

5. Best Pop Solo Performance
For new vocal or instrumental pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.

  • SPIRIT
    Beyoncé
     
  • BAD GUY
    Billie Eilish
     
  • 7 RINGS
    Ariana Grande
     
  • TRUTH HURTS - WINNER
    Lizzo
     
  • YOU NEED TO CALM DOWN
    Taylor Swift

6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative pop recordings. Singles or Tracks only.

  • BOYFRIEND
    Ariana Grande & Social House
     
  • SUCKER
    Jonas Brothers
     
  • OLD TOWN ROAD - WINNER
    Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
     
  • SUNFLOWER
    Post Malone & Swae Lee
     
  • SEÑORITA
    Shawn Mendes & Camila Cabello

7. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new traditional pop recordings.


  • Andrea Bocelli
     
  • LOVE (DELUXE EDITION)
    Michael Bublé
     
  • LOOK NOW - WINNER
    Elvis Costello & The Imposters
     
  • A LEGENDARY CHRISTMAS
    John Legend
     
  • WALLS
    Barbra Streisand

8. Best Pop Vocal Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal pop recordings.

  • THE LION KING: THE GIFT
    Beyoncé
     
  • WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? - WINNER
    Billie Eilish
     
  • THANK U, NEXT
    Ariana Grande
     
  • NO.6 COLLABORATIONS PROJECT
    Ed Sheeran
     
  • LOVER
    Taylor Swift

Dance/Electronic Music

9. Best Dance Recording
For solo, duo, group or collaborative performances. Vocal or Instrumental. Singles or tracks only.

  • LINKED
    Bonobo
    Simon Green, producer; Simon Green & Frank Merritt, mixers
     
  • GOT TO KEEP ON - WINNER
    The Chemical Brothers
    The Chemical Brothers, producers; Steve Dub Jones & Tom Rowlands, mixers
     
  • PIECE OF YOUR HEART
    Meduza Featuring Goodboys
    Simone Giani, Luca De Gregorio & Mattia Vitale, producers; Simone Giani, Luca De Gregorio & Mattia Vitale, mixers
     
  • UNDERWATER
    RÜFÜS DU SOL
    Jason Evigan & RÜFÜS DU SOL, producers; Cassian Stewart-Kasimba, mixer
     
  • MIDNIGHT HOUR
    Skrillex, Boys Noize & Ty Dolla $ign
    Boys Noize & Skrillex, producers; Tom Norris & Skrillex, mixers

10. Best Dance/Electronic Album
For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.

  • LP5
    Apparat
     
  • NO GEOGRAPHY - WINNER
    The Chemical Brothers
     
  • HI THIS IS FLUME (MIXTAPE)
    Flume
     
  • SOLACE
    RÜFÜS DU SOL
     
  • WEATHER
    Tycho Featuring Saint Sinner

Contemporary Instrumental Music

11. Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
For albums containing approximately 51% or more playing time of instrumental material. For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new recordings.

  • ANCESTRAL RECALL
    Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah
     
  • STAR PEOPLE NATION
    Theo Croker
     
  • BEAT MUSIC! BEAT MUSIC! BEAT MUSIC!
    Mark Guiliana
     
  • ELEVATE
    Lettuce
     
  • METTAVOLUTION - WINNER
    Rodrigo y Gabriela

Rock

12. Best Rock Performance
For new vocal or instrumental solo, duo/group or collaborative rock recordings.

  • PRETTY WASTE
    Bones UK
     
  • THIS LAND - WINNER
    Gary Clark Jr.
     
  • HISTORY REPEATS
    Brittany Howard
     
  • WOMAN
    Karen O & Danger Mouse
     
  • TOO BAD
    Rival Sons

13. Best Metal Performance
For new vocal or instrumental solo, duo/group or collaborative metal recordings.

  • ASTOROLUS - THE GREAT OCTOPUS
    Candlemass Featuring Tony Iommi
     
  • HUMANICIDE
    Death Angel
     
  • BOW DOWN
    I Prevail
     
  • UNLEASHED
    Killswitch Engage
     
  • 7EMPEST - WINNER
    Tool

14. Best Rock Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Rock, Hard Rock and Metal songs. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • FEAR INOCULUM
    Danny Carey, Justin Chancellor, Adam Jones & Maynard James Keenan, songwriters (Tool)
     
  • GIVE YOURSELF A TRY
    George Daniel, Adam Hann, Matthew Healy & Ross MacDonald, songwriters (The 1975)
     
  • HARMONY HALL
    Ezra Koenig, songwriter (Vampire Weekend)
     
  • HISTORY REPEATS
    Brittany Howard, songwriter (Brittany Howard)
     
  • THIS LAND - WINNER
    Gary Clark Jr., songwriter (Gary Clark Jr.)

15. Best Rock Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rock, hard rock or metal recordings.

  • AMO
    Bring Me The Horizon
     
  • SOCIAL CUES -  WINNER
    Cage The Elephant
     
  • IN THE END
    The Cranberries
     
  • TRAUMA
    I Prevail
     
  • FERAL ROOTS
    Rival Sons

Alternative

16. Best Alternative Music Album
Vocal or Instrumental.

R&B

17. Best R&B Performance
For new vocal or instrumental R&B recordings.

  • LOVE AGAIN
    Daniel Caesar & Brandy
     
  • COULD'VE BEEN
    H.E.R. Featuring Bryson Tiller
     
  • EXACTLY HOW I FEEL
    Lizzo Featuring Gucci Mane
     
  • ROLL SOME MO
    Lucky Daye
     
  • COME HOME - WINNER
    Anderson .Paak Featuring André 3000

18. Best Traditional R&B Performance
For new vocal or instrumental traditional R&B recordings.

  • TIME TODAY
    BJ The Chicago Kid
     
  • STEADY LOVE
    India.Arie
     
  • JEROME - WINNER
    Lizzo
     
  • REAL GAMES
    Lucky Daye
     
  • BUILT FOR LOVE
    PJ Morton Featuring Jazmine Sullivan

19. Best R&B Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • COULD'VE BEEN
    Dernst Emile II, David “Swagg R’Celious” Harris, H.E.R. & Hue “Soundzfire” Strother, songwriters (H.E.R. Featuring Bryson Tiller)
     
  • LOOK AT ME NOW
    Emily King & Jeremy Most, songwriters (Emily King)
     
  • NO GUIDANCE
    Chris Brown, Tyler James Bryant, Nija Charles, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Michee Patrick Lebrun, Joshua Huizar, Noah Shebib & Teddy Walton, songwriters (Chris Brown Featuring Drake)
     
  • ROLL SOME MO
    David Brown, Dernst Emile II & Peter Lee Johnson, songwriters (Lucky Daye)
     
  • SAY SO - WINNER
    PJ Morton, songwriter (PJ Morton Featuring JoJo)

20. Best Urban Contemporary Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded contemporary vocal tracks derivative of R&B.

  • APOLLO XXI
    Steve Lacy
     
  • CUZ I LOVE YOU (DELUXE) - WINNER
    Lizzo
     
  • OVERLOAD
    Georgia Anne Muldrow
     
  • SATURN
    NAO
     
  • BEING HUMAN IN PUBLIC
    Jessie Reyez

21. Best R&B Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new R&B recordings.

  • 1123
    BJ The Chicago Kid
     
  • PAINTED
    Lucky Daye
     
  • ELLA MAI
    Ella Mai
     
  • PAUL
    PJ Morton
     
  • VENTURA - WINNER
    Anderson .Paak

Rap

22. Best Rap Performance
For a Rap performance. Singles or Tracks only.

  • MIDDLE CHILD
    J. Cole
     
  • SUGE
    DaBaby
     
  • DOWN BAD
    Dreamville Featuring J.I.D, Bas, J. Cole, EARTHGANG & Young Nudy
     
  • RACKS IN THE MIDDLE - WINNER
    Nipsey Hussle Featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy
     
  • CLOUT
    Offset Featuring Cardi B

23. Best Rap/Sung Performance
For a solo or collaborative performance containing both elements of R&B melodies and Rap.

  • HIGHER - WINNER
    DJ Khaled Featuring Nipsey Hussle & John Legend
     
  • DRIP TOO HARD
    Lil Baby & Gunna
     
  • PANINI
    Lil Nas X
     
  • BALLIN
    Mustard Featuring Roddy Ricch
     
  • THE LONDON
    Young Thug Featuring J. Cole & Travis Scott

24. Best Rap Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • BAD IDEA
    Chancelor Bennett, Cordae Dunston, Uforo Ebong & Daniel Hackett, songwriters (YBN Cordae Featuring Chance The Rapper)
     
  • GOLD ROSES
    Noel Cadastre, Aubrey Graham, Anderson Hernandez, Khristopher Riddick-Tynes, William Leonard Roberts II, Joshua Quinton Scruggs, Leon Thomas III & Ozan Yildirim, songwriters (Rick Ross Featuring Drake)
     
  • A LOT -  WINNER
    Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage & Anthony White, songwriters (21 Savage Featuring J. Cole)
     
  • RACKS IN THE MIDDLE
    Ermias Asghedom, Dustin James Corbett, Greg Allen Davis, Chauncey Hollis, Jr. & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Nipsey Hussle Featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy)
     
  • SUGE
    DaBaby, Jetsonmade & Pooh Beatz, songwriters (DaBaby)

25. Best Rap Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new rap recordings.

  • REVENGE OF THE DREAMERS III
    Dreamville
     
  • CHAMPIONSHIPS
    Meek Mill
     
  • I AM > I WAS
    21 Savage
     
  • IGOR - WINNER
    Tyler, The Creator
     
  • THE LOST BOY
    YBN Cordae

Country

26. Best Country Solo Performance
For new vocal or instrumental solo country recordings.

  • ALL YOUR’N
    Tyler Childers
     
  • GIRL GOIN' NOWHERE
    Ashley McBryde
     
  • RIDE ME BACK HOME - WINNER
    Willie Nelson
     
  • GOD'S COUNTRY
    Blake Shelton
     
  • BRING MY FLOWERS NOW
    Tanya Tucker

27. Best Country Duo/Group Performance
For new vocal or instrumental duo/group or collaborative country recordings.

  • BRAND NEW MAN
    Brooks & Dunn With Luke Combs
     
  • I DON'T REMEMBER ME (BEFORE YOU)
    Brothers Osborne
     
  • SPEECHLESS - WINNER
    Dan + Shay
     
  • THE DAUGHTERS
    Little Big Town
     
  • COMMON
    Maren Morris Featuring Brandi Carlile

28. Best Country Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • BRING MY FLOWERS NOW - WINNER
    Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth, Tim Hanseroth & Tanya Tucker, songwriters (Tanya Tucker)
     
  • GIRL GOIN' NOWHERE
    Jeremy Bussey & Ashley McBryde, songwriters (Ashley McBryde)
     
  • IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE WASH
    Miranda Lambert, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna & Liz Rose, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
     
  • SOME OF IT
    Eric Church, Clint Daniels, Jeff Hyde & Bobby Pinson, songwriters (Eric Church)
     
  • SPEECHLESS
    Shay Mooney, Jordan Reynolds, Dan Smyers & Laura Veltz, songwriters (Dan + Shay)

29. Best Country Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new country recordings.

  • DESPERATE MAN
    Eric Church
     
  • STRONGER THAN THE TRUTH
    Reba McEntire
     
  • INTERSTATE GOSPEL
    Pistol Annies
     
  • CENTER POINT ROAD
    Thomas Rhett
     
  • WHILE I'M LIVIN' -  WINNER
    Tanya Tucker

New Age

30. Best New Age Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental new age recordings.

  • FAIRY DREAMS
    David Arkenstone
     
  • HOMAGE TO KINDNESS
    David Darling
     
  • WINGS - WINNER
    Peter Kater
     
  • VERVE
    Sebastian Plano
     
  • DEVA
    Deva Premal

Jazz

31. Best Improvised Jazz Solo
For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter's name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.

  • ELSEWHERE
    Melissa Aldana, soloist
     
  • SOZINHO - WINNER
    Randy Brecker, soloist
     
  • TOMORROW IS THE QUESTION
    Julian Lage, soloist
     
  • THE WINDUP
    Branford Marsalis, soloist
     
  • SIGHTSEEING
    Christian McBride, soloist

32. Best Jazz Vocal Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal jazz recordings.

  • THIRSTY GHOST
    Sara Gazarek
     
  • LOVE & LIBERATION
    Jazzmeia Horn
     
  • ALONE TOGETHER
    Catherine Russell
     
  • 12 LITTLE SPELLS - WINNER
    Esperanza Spalding
     
  • SCREENPLAY
    Tierney Sutton Band

33. Best Jazz Instrumental Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new instrumental jazz recordings.

  • IN THE KEY OF THE UNIVERSE
    Joey DeFrancesco
     
  • THE SECRET BETWEEN THE SHADOW AND THE SOUL
    Branford Marsalis Quartet
     
  • CHRISTIAN MCBRIDE'S NEW JAWN
    Christian McBride's New Jawn
     
  • FINDING GABRIEL - WINNER
    Brad Mehldau
     
  • COME WHAT MAY
    Joshua Redman Quartet

34. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new ensemble jazz recordings.

  • TRIPLE HELIX
    Anat Cohen Tentet
     
  • DANCER IN NOWHERE
    Miho Hazama
     
  • HIDING OUT
    Mike Holober & The Gotham Jazz Orchestra
     
  • THE OMNI-AMERICAN BOOK CLUB - WINNER
    Brian Lynch Big Band
     
  • ONE DAY WONDER
    Terraza Big Band

35. Best Latin Jazz Album
For vocal or instrumental albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded material. The intent of this category is to recognize recordings that represent the blending of jazz with Latin, Iberian-American, Brazilian, and Argentinian tango music.

  • ANTIDOTE - WINNER
    Chick Corea & The Spanish Heart Band
     
  • SORTE!: MUSIC BY JOHN FINBURY
    Thalma de Freitas With Vitor Gonçalves, John Patitucci, Chico Pinheiro, Rogerio Boccato & Duduka Da Fonseca
     
  • UNA NOCHE CON RUBÉN BLADES
    Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis Featuring Rubén Blades
     
  • CARIB
    David Sánchez
     
  • SONERO: THE MUSIC OF ISMAEL RIVERA
    Miguel Zenón

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music

36. Best Gospel Performance/Song
This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best traditional Christian, roots gospel or contemporary gospel single or track.

  • LOVE THEORY - WINNER
    Kirk Franklin; Kirk Franklin, songwriter
     
  • TALKIN' 'BOUT JESUS
    Gloria Gaynor Featuring Yolanda Adams; Bryan
    Fowler, Gloria Gaynor & Chris Stevens, songwriters
     
  • SEE THE LIGHT
    Travis Greene Featuring Jekalyn Carr
     
  • SPEAK THE NAME
    Koryn Hawthorne Featuring Natalie Grant
     
  • THIS IS A MOVE (LIVE)
    Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Tony Brown, Brandon Lake, Tasha Cobbs Leonard & Nate Moore, songwriters

37. Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song
This award is given to the artist(s) and songwriter(s) (for new compositions) for the best contemporary Christian pop, Christian rap/hip-hop, or Christian rock single or track.

  • ONLY JESUS
    Casting Crowns; Mark Hall, Bernie Herms & Matthew West, songwriters
     
  • GOD ONLY KNOWS - WINNER
    for KING & COUNTRY & Dolly Parton; Josh Kerr, Jordan Reynolds, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone & Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters
     
  • HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET
    Danny Gokey; Danny Gokey, Ethan Hulse & Colby Wedgeworth, songwriters
     
  • GOD'S NOT DONE WITH YOU (SINGLE VERSION)
    Tauren Wells
     
  • RESCUE STORY
    Zach Williams; Ethan Hulse, Andrew Ripp, Jonathan Smith & Zach Williams, songwriters

38. Best Gospel Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional or contemporary/R&B gospel music recordings.

  • LONG LIVE LOVE - WINNER
    Kirk Franklin
     
  • GOSHEN
    Donald Lawrence Presents The Tri -City Singers
     
  • TUNNEL VISION
    Gene Moore
     
  • SETTLE HERE
    William Murphy
     
  • SOMETHING'S HAPPENING! A CHRISTMAS ALBUM
    CeCe Winans

39. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, contemporary Christian music, including pop, rap/hip hop, or rock recordings.

  • I KNOW A GHOST
    Crowder
     
  • BURN THE SHIPS - WINNER
    for KING & COUNTRY
     
  • HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET
    Danny Gokey
     
  • THE ELEMENTS
    TobyMac
     
  • HOLY ROAR
    Chris Tomlin

40. Best Roots Gospel Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of newly recorded, vocal, traditional/roots gospel music, including country, Southern gospel, bluegrass, and Americana recordings.

  • DEEPER ROOTS: WHERE THE BLUEGRASS GROWS
    Steven Curtis Chapman
     
  • TESTIMONY - WINNER
    Gloria Gaynor
     
  • DEEPER OCEANS
    Joseph Habedank
     
  • HIS NAME IS JESUS
    Tim Menzies
     
  • GONNA SING, GONNA SHOUT
    (Various Artists)
    Jerry Salley, Producer

Latin

41. Best Latin Pop Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new Latin pop recordings.

  • VIDA
    Luis Fonsi
     
  • 11:11
    Maluma
     
  • MONTANER
    Ricardo Montaner
     
  • #ELDISCO -  WINNER
    Alejandro Sanz
     
  • FANTASIA
    Sebastian Yatra

42. Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new Latin rock, urban or alternative recordings.

  • X 100PRE
    Bad Bunny
     
  • OASIS
    J Balvin & Bad Bunny
     
  • INDESTRUCTIBLE
    Flor De Toloache
     
  • ALMADURA
    iLe
     
  • EL MAL QUERER - WINNER
    ROSALÍA

43. Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new regional Mexican (banda, norteño, corridos, gruperos, mariachi, ranchera and Tejano) recordings.

  • CAMINANDO
    Joss Favela
     
  • PERCEPCIÓN
    Intocable
     
  • POCO A POCO
    La Energia Norteña
     
  • 20 ANIVERSARIO
    Mariachi Divas De Cindy Shea
     
  • DE AYER PARA SIEMPRE -  WINNER
    Mariachi Los Camperos

44. Best Tropical Latin Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new tropical Latin recordings.

  • OPUS - WINNER (TIE)
    Marc Anthony
     
  • TIEMPO AL TIEMPO
    Luis Enrique + C4 Trio
     
  • CANDELA
    Vicente García
     
  • LITERAL
    Juan Luis Guerra 4.40
     
  • A JOURNEY THROUGH CUBAN MUSIC - WINNER (TIE)
    Aymée Nuviola

American Roots Music

45. Best American Roots Performance
For new vocal or instrumental American Roots recordings. This is for performances in the style of any of the subgenres encompassed in the American Roots Music field including Americana, bluegrass, blues, folk or regional roots. Award to the artist(s).

  • SAINT HONESTY - WINNER
    Sara Bareilles
     
  • FATHER MOUNTAIN
    Calexico And Iron & Wine
     
  • I'M ON MY WAY
    Rhiannon Giddens With Francesco Turrisi
     
  • CALL MY NAME
    I'm With Her
     
  • FARAWAY LOOK
    Yola

46. Best American Roots Song
A Songwriter(s) Award. Includes Americana, bluegrass, traditional blues, contemporary blues, folk or regional roots songs. A song is eligible if it was first released or if it first achieved prominence during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • BLACK MYSELF
    Amythyst Kiah, songwriter (Our Native Daughters)
     
  • CALL MY NAME - WINNER
    Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O'Donovan & Sara Watkins, songwriters (I'm With Her)
     
  • CROSSING TO JERUSALEM
    Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal, songwriters (Rosanne Cash)
     
  • FARAWAY LOOK
    Dan Auerbach, Yola & Pat McLaughlin, songwriters (Yola)
     
  • I DON'T WANNA RIDE THE RAILS NO MORE
    Vince Gill, songwriter (Vince Gill)

47. Best Americana Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental Americana recordings.

  • YEARS TO BURN
    Calexico And Iron & Wine
     
  • WHO ARE YOU NOW
    Madison Cunningham
     
  • OKLAHOMA - WINNER
    Keb' Mo'
     
  • TALES OF AMERICA
    J.S. Ondara
     
  • WALK THROUGH FIRE
    Yola

48. Best Bluegrass Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental bluegrass recordings.

  • TALL FIDDLER - WINNER
    Michael Cleveland
     
  • LIVE IN PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
    Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver
     
  • TOIL, TEARS & TROUBLE
    The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys
     
  • ROYAL TRAVELLER
    Missy Raines
     
  • IF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT
    Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen

49. Best Traditional Blues Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental traditional blues recordings.

  • KINGFISH
    Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
     
  • TALL, DARK & HANDSOME - WINNER
    Delbert McClinton & Self-Made Men + Dana
     
  • SITTING ON TOP OF THE BLUES
    Bobby Rush
     
  • BABY, PLEASE COME HOME
    Jimmie Vaughan
     
  • SPECTACULAR CLASS
    Jontavious Willis

50. Best Contemporary Blues Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental contemporary blues recordings.

  • THIS LAND - WINNER
    Gary Clark Jr.
     
  • VENOM & FAITH
    Larkin Poe
     
  • BRIGHTER DAYS
    Robert Randolph & The Family Band
     
  • SOMEBODY SAVE ME
    Sugaray Rayford
     
  • KEEP ON
    Southern Avenue

51. Best Folk Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental folk recordings.

  • MY FINEST WORK YET
    Andrew Bird
     
  • REARRANGE MY HEART
    Che Apalache
     
  • PATTY GRIFFIN - WINNER
    Patty Griffin
     
  • EVENING MACHINES
    Gregory Alan Isakov
     
  • FRONT PORCH
    Joy Williams

52. Best Regional Roots Music Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental regional roots music recordings.

Reggae

53. Best Reggae Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new reggae recordings.

  • RAPTURE - WINNER
    Koffee
     
  • AS I AM
    Julian Marley
     
  • THE FINAL BATTLE: SLY & ROBBIE VS. ROOTS RADICS
    Sly & Robbie & Roots Radics
     
  • MASS MANIPULATION
    Steel Pulse
     
  • MORE WORK TO BE DONE
    Third World

World Music

54. Best World Music Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new vocal or instrumental World Music recordings.

  • GECE
    Altin Gün
     
  • WHAT HEAT
    Bokanté & Metropole Orkest Conducted By Jules Buckley
     
  • AFRICAN GIANT
    Burna Boy
     
  • FANM D'AYITI
    Nathalie Joachim With Spektral Quartet
     
  • CELIA - WINNER
    Angelique Kidjo

Children's

55. Best Children's Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new musical or spoken word recordings that are created and intended specifically for children.

  • AGELESS SONGS FOR THE CHILD ARCHETYPE - WINNER
    Jon Samson
     
  • FLYING HIGH!
    Caspar Babypants
     
  • I LOVE RAINY DAYS
    Daniel Tashian
     
  • THE LOVE
    Alphabet Rockers
     
  • WINTERLAND
    The Okee Dokee Brothers

Spoken Word

56. Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)

  • BEASTIE BOYS BOOK
    (Various Artists)
    Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz, Scott Sherratt & Dan Zitt, producers
     
  • BECOMING - WINNER
    Michelle Obama
     
  • I.V. CATATONIA: 20 YEARS AS A TWO-TIME CANCER SURVIVOR
    Eric Alexandrakis
     
  • MR. KNOW-IT-ALL
    John Waters
     
  • SEKOU ANDREWS & THE STRING THEORY
    Sekou Andrews (& The String Theory)

Comedy

57. Best Comedy Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new recordings.

  • QUALITY TIME
    Jim Gaffigan
     
  • RELATABLE
    Ellen DeGeneres
     
  • RIGHT NOW
    Aziz Ansari
     
  • SON OF PATRICIA
    Trevor Noah
     
  • STICKS & STONES - WINNER
    Dave Chappelle

Musical Theater

58. Best Musical Theater Album
For albums containing at least 51% playing time of new recordings. Award to the principle vocalist(s) and the album producer(s) of 51% or more playing time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of a new score are eligible for an Award if they have written and/or composed a new score which comprises 51% or more playing time of the album.

  • AIN'T TOO PROUD: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS
    Saint Aubyn, Derrick Baskin, James Harkness, Jawan M. Jackson, Jeremy Pope & Ephraim Sykes, principal soloists; Scott M. Riesett, producer (Original Broadway Cast)
     
  • HADESTOWN - WINNER
    Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada & Patrick Page, principal soloists; Mara Isaacs, David Lai, Anaïs Mitchell & Todd Sickafoose, producers (Anaïs Mitchell, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)
     
  • MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
    Danny Burstein, Tam Mutu, Sahr Ngaujah, Karen Olivo & Aaron Tveit, principal soloists; Justin Levine, Baz Luhrmann, Matt Stine & Alex Timbers, producers (Original Broadway Cast)
     
  • THE MUSIC OF HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD - IN FOUR CONTEMPORARY SUITES
    Imogen Heap, producer; Imogen Heap, composer (Imogen Heap)
     
  • OKLAHOMA!
    Damon Daunno, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Ali Stroker, Mary Testa & Patrick Vaill, principal soloists; Daniel Kluger & Dean Sharenow, producers (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2019 Broadway Cast)

Music for Visual Media

59. Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
Award to the artist(s) and/or ‘in studio' producer(s) of a majority of the tracks on the album. In the absence of both, award to the one or two individuals proactively responsible for the concept and musical direction of the album and for the selection of artists, songs and producers, as applicable. Award also goes to appropriately credited music supervisor(s).

  • THE LION KING: THE SONGS
    (Various Artists)
    Jon Favreau & Hans Zimmer, compilation producers
     
  • QUENTIN TARANTINO'S ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD
    (Various Artists)
    Quentin Tarantino, compilation producer; Mary Ramos, music supervisor
     
  • ROCKETMAN
    Taron Egerton
    Giles Martin, compilation producer
     
  • SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
    (Various Artists)
    Spring Aspers & Dana Sano, compilation producers; Kier Lehman, music supervisor
     
  • A STAR IS BORN - WINNER
    Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
    Paul “DJWS” Blair, Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Nick Monson, Lukas Nelson, Mark Nilan Jr. & Benjamin Rice, compilation producers; Julianne Jordan & Julia Michels, music supervisors

60. Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media
Award to Composer(s) for an original score created specifically for, or as a companion to, a current legitimate motion picture, television show or series, video games or other visual media.

  • AVENGERS: ENDGAME
    Alan Silvestri, composer
     
  • CHERNOBYL - WINNER
    Hildur Guðnadóttir, composer
     
  • GAME OF THRONES: SEASON 8
    Ramin Djawadi, composer
     
  • THE LION KING
    Hans Zimmer, composer
     
  • MARY POPPINS RETURNS
    Marc Shaiman, composer

61. Best Song Written For Visual Media
A Songwriter(s) award. For a song (melody & lyrics) written specifically for a motion picture, television, video games or other visual media, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • THE BALLAD OF THE LONESOME COWBOY
    Randy Newman, songwriter (Chris Stapleton)
    Track from: Toy Story 4
     
  • GIRL IN THE MOVIES
    Dolly Parton & Linda Perry, songwriters (Dolly Parton)
    Track from: Dumplin'
     
  • I'LL NEVER LOVE AGAIN (FILM VERSION) - WINNER
    Natalie Hemby, Lady Gaga, Hillary Lindsey & Aaron Raitiere, songwriters (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper)
    Track from: A Star Is Born
     
  • SPIRIT
    Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Timothy McKenzie & Ilya Salmanzadeh, songwriters (Beyoncé)
    Track from: The Lion King
     
  • SUSPIRIUM
    Thom Yorke, songwriter (Thom Yorke)
    Track from: Suspiria

Composing/Arranging

62. Best Instrumental Composition
A Composer's Award for an original composition (not an adaptation) first released during the Eligibility Year. Singles or Tracks only.

  • BEGIN AGAIN
    Fred Hersch, composer (Fred Hersch & The WDR Big Band Conducted By Vince Mendoza)
     
  • CRUCIBLE FOR CRISIS
    Brian Lynch, composer (Brian Lynch Big Band)
     
  • LOVE, A BEAUTIFUL FORCE
    Vince Mendoza, composer (Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & Temple University Studio Orchestra)
     
  • STAR WARS: GALAXY'S EDGE SYMPHONIC SUITE - WINNER
    John Williams, composer (John Williams)
     
  • WALKIN' FUNNY
    Christian McBride, composer (Christian McBride)

63. Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • BLUE SKIES
    Kris Bowers, arranger (Kris Bowers)
     
  • HEDWIG'S THEME
    John Williams, arranger (Anne-Sophie Mutter & John Williams)
     
  • LA NOVENA
    Emilio Solla, arranger (Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra)
     
  • LOVE, A BEAUTIFUL FORCE
    Vince Mendoza, arranger (Vince Mendoza, Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts & Temple University Studio Orchestra)
     
  • MOON RIVER - WINNER
    Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier)

64. Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals
An Arranger's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • ALL NIGHT LONG - WINNER
    Jacob Collier, arranger (Jacob Collier Featuring Jules Buckley, Take 6 & Metropole Orkest)
     
  • JOLENE
    Geoff Keezer, arranger (Sara Gazarek)
     
  • MARRY ME A LITTLE
    Cyrille Aimée & Diego Figueiredo, arrangers (Cyrille Aimée)
     
  • OVER THE RAINBOW
    Vince Mendoza, arranger (Trisha Yearwood)
     
  • 12 LITTLE SPELLS (THORACIC SPINE)
    Esperanza Spalding, arranger (Esperanza Spalding)

Package

65. Best Recording Package

  • ANÓNIMAS & RESILIENTES
    Luisa María Arango, Carlos Dussan, Manuel García-Orozco & Juliana Jaramillo-Buenaventura, art directors (Voces Del Bullerengue)
     
  • CHRIS CORNELL - WINNER
    Barry Ament, Jeff Ament & Joe Spix, art directors (Chris Cornell)
     
  • HOLD THAT TIGER
    Andrew Wong & Fongming Yang, art directors (The Muddy Basin Ramblers)
     
  • I,I
    Aaron Anderson & Eric Timothy Carlson, art directors (Bon Iver)
     
  • INTELLEXUAL
    Irwan Awalludin, art director (Intellexual)

66. Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package

  • ANIMA
    Stanley Donwood & Tchocky, art directors (Thom Yorke)
     
  • GOLD IN A BRASS AGE
    Amanda Chiu, Mark Farrow & David Gray, art directors (David Gray)
     
  • 1963: NEW DIRECTIONS
    Josh Cheuse, art director (John Coltrane)
     
  • THE RADIO RECORDINGS 1939-1945
    Marek Polewski, art director (Wilhelm Furtwängler & Berliner Philharmoniker)
     
  • WOODSTOCK: BACK TO THE GARDEN - THE DEFINITIVE 50TH ANNIVERSARY ARCHIVE - WINNER
    Masaki Koike, art director (Various Artists)

Notes

67. Best Album Notes

  • THE COMPLETE CUBAN JAM SESSIONS
    Judy Cantor-Navas, album notes writer (Various Artists)
     
  • THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MALACO
    Robert Marovich, album notes writer (Various Artists)
     
  • PEDAL STEAL + FOUR CORNERS
    Brendan Greaves, album notes writer (Terry Allen And The Panhandle Mystery Band)
     
  • PETE SEEGER: THE SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS COLLECTION)
    Jeff Place, album notes writer (Pete Seeger)
     
  • STAX '68: A MEMPHIS STORY - WINNER
    Steve Greenberg, album notes writer (Various Artists)

Historical

68. Best Historical Album

  • THE GIRL FROM CHICKASAW COUNTY - THE COMPLETE CAPITOL MASTERS
    Andrew Batt & Kris Maher, compilation producers; Simon Gibson, mastering engineer (Bobbie Gentry)
     
  • THE GREAT COMEBACK: HOROWITZ AT CARNEGIE HALL
    Robert Russ, compilation producer; Andreas K. Meyer & Jennifer Nulsen, mastering engineers (Vladimir Horowitz)
     
  • KANKYO ONGAKU: JAPANESE AMBIENT, ENVIRONMENTAL & NEW AGE MUSIC 1980-1990
    Spencer Doran, Yosuke Kitazawa, Douglas Mcgowan & Matt Sullivan, compilation producers; John Baldwin, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
     
  • PETE SEEGER: THE SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS COLLECTION - WINNER
    Jeff Place & Robert Santelli, compilation producers; Pete Reiniger, mastering engineer (Pete Seeger)
     
  • WOODSTOCK: BACK TO THE GARDEN - THE DEFINITIVE 50TH ANNIVERSARY ARCHIVE
    Brian Kehew, Steve Woolard & Andy Zax, compilation producers; Dave Schultz, mastering engineer (Various Artists)

Production, Non-Classical

69. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
An Engineer's Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.)

  • ALL THESE THINGS
    Tchad Blake, Thomas Dybdahl, Adam Greenspan & Roderick Shearer, engineers; Bernie Grundman, mastering engineer (Thomas Dybdahl)
     
  • ELLA MAI
    Chris "Shaggy" Ascher, Jaycen Joshua & David Pizzimenti, engineers; Chris Athens, mastering engineer (Ella Mai)
     
  • RUN HOME SLOW
    Paul Butler & Sam Teskey, engineers; Joe Carra, mastering engineer (The Teskey Brothers)
     
  • SCENERY
    Tom Elmhirst, Ben Kane & Jeremy Most, engineers; Bob Ludwig, mastering engineer (Emily King)
     
  • WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? - WINNER
    Rob Kinelski & Finneas O'Connell, engineers; John Greenham, mastering engineer (Billie Eilish)

70. Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
A Producer's Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses.)

  • JACK ANTONOFF

• Arizona Baby (Kevin Abstract) (A)
• Lover (Taylor Swift) (A)
• Norman F***ing Rockwell! (Lana Del Rey) (A)
• Red Hearse (Red Hearse) (A)

  • DAN AUERBACH

• The Angels In Heaven Done Signed My Name (Leo Bud Welch) (A)
• "Let's Rock" (The Black Keys) (A)
• Mockingbird (The Gibson Brothers) (A)
• Myth Of A Man (Night Beats) (A)
• Southern Gentleman (Dee White) (A)
• Walk Through Fire (Yola) (A)

  • JOHN HILL

• Heat Of The Summer (Young The Giant) (T)
• Hundred (Khalid) (T)
• No Drug Like Me (Carly Rae Jepsen) (T)
• Outta My Head (Khalid With John Mayer) (T)
• Social Cues (Cage The Elephant) (A)
• Superposition (Young The Giant) (T)
• Too Much (Carly Rae Jepsen) (T)
• Vertigo (Khalid) (T)
• Zero (From "Ralph Breaks The Internet") (Imagine Dragons) (T)

  • FINNEAS - WINNER

• When We Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? (Billie Eilish) (A)

  • RICKY REED

• Almost Free (Fidlar) (A)
• Burning (Maggie Rogers) (T)
• Confidence (X Ambassadors Featuring K.Flay) (T)
• Juice (Lizzo) (T)
• Kingdom Of One (Maren Morris) (T)
• Power Is Power (SZA Featuring The Weeknd & Travis Scott) (T)
• Tempo (Lizzo Featuring Missy Elliott) (T)
• Truth Hurts (Lizzo) (T)
• The Wrong Man (Ross Golan) (A)

71. Best Remixed Recording
A Remixer's Award. (Artists names appear in parentheses for identification.) Singles or Tracks only.

  • I RISE (TRACY YOUNG'S PRIDE INTRO RADIO REMIX) - WINNER
    Tracy Young, remixer (Madonna)
     
  • MOTHER'S DAUGHTER (WUKI REMIX)
    Wuki, remixer (Miley Cyrus)
     
  • THE ONE (HIGH CONTRAST REMIX)
    Lincoln Barrett, remixer (Jorja Smith)
     
  • SWIM (FORD. REMIX)
    Luc Bradford, remixer (Mild Minds)
     
  • WORK IT (SOULWAX REMIX)
    David Gerard C Dewaele & Stephen Antoine C Dewaele, remixers (Marie Davidson)

Production, Immersive Audio

72. Best Immersive Audio Album
For vocal or instrumental albums in any genre. Must be commercially released on DVD-Audio, DVD-Video, SACD, Blu-Ray, or burned download-only/streaming-only copies and must provide a new immersive mix of four or more channels. Award to the immersive mix engineer, immersive producer (if any) and immersive mastering engineer (if any).

  • CHAIN TRIPPING
    Luke Argilla, immersive audio engineer; Jurgen Scharpf, immersive audio mastering engineer; Jona Bechtolt, Claire L. Evans & Rob Kieswetter, immersive audio producers (YACHT)
     
  • KVERNDOKK: SYMPHONIC DANCES
    Jim Anderson, immersive audio engineer; Robert C. Ludwig, immersive audio mastering engineer; Ulrike Schwarz, immersive audio producer (Ken-David Masur & Stavanger Symphony Orchestra)
     
  • LUX - WINNER
    Morten Lindberg, immersive audio engineer; Morten Lindberg, immersive audio mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, immersive audio producer (Anita Brevik, Trondheimsolistene & Nidarosdomens Jentekor)
     
  • THE ORCHESTRAL ORGAN
    Keith O. Johnson, immersive audio engineer; Keith O. Johnson, immersive audio mastering engineer; Marina A. Ledin & Victor Ledin, immersive audio producers (Jan Kraybill)
     
  • THE SAVIOR
    Bob Clearmountain, immersive audio engineer; Bob Ludwig, immersive audio mastering engineer; Michael Marquart & Dave Way, immersive audio producers (A Bad Think)

Production, Classical

73. Best Engineered Album, Classical
An Engineer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)

  • AEQUA - ANNA THORVALDSDÓTTIR
    Daniel Shores, engineer; Daniel Shores, mastering engineer (International Contemporary Ensemble)
     
  • BRUCKNER: SYMPHONY NO. 9
    Mark Donahue, engineer; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
     
  • RACHMANINOFF - HERMITAGE PIANO TRIO
    Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer (Hermitage Piano Trio)
     
  • RILEY: SUN RINGS - WINNER
    Leslie Ann Jones, engineer; John Kilgore, Judith Sherman & David Harrington, engineers/mixers; Robert C. Ludwig, mastering engineer (Kronos Quartet)
     
  • WOLFE: FIRE IN MY MOUTH
    Bob Hanlon & Lawrence Rock, engineers; Ian Good & Lawrence Rock, mastering engineers (Jaap Van Zweden, Francisco J. Núñez, Donald Nally, The Crossing, Young People's Chorus Of NY City & New York Philharmonic)

74. Producer Of The Year, Classical
A Producer's Award. (Artist names appear in parentheses.)

  • BLANTON ALSPAUGH - WINNER

• Artifacts - The Music Of Michael McGlynn (Charles Bruffy & Kansas City Chorale)
• Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Fantaisie Sur La Tempête De Shakespeare (Andrew Davis & Toronto Symphony Orchestra)
• Copland: Billy The Kid; Grohg (Leonard Slatkin & Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
• Duruflé: Complete Choral Works (Robert Simpson & Houston Chamber Choir)
• Glass: Symphony No. 5 (Julian Wachner, The Choir Of Trinity Wall Street, Trinity Youth Chorus, Downtown Voices & Novus NY)
• Sander: The Divine Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom (Peter Jermihov & PaTRAM Institute Singers)
• Smith, K.: Canticle (Craig Hella Johnson & Cincinnati Vocal Arts Ensemble)
• Visions Take Flight (Mei-Ann Chen & ROCO)

  • JAMES GINSBURG

• Project W - Works By Diverse Women Composers (Mei-Ann Chen & Chicago Sinfonietta)
• Silenced Voices (Black Oak Ensemble)
• 20th Century Harpsichord Concertos (Jory Vinikour, Scott Speck & Chicago Philharmonic)
• Twentieth Century Oboe Sonatas (Alex Klein & Phillip Bush)
• Winged Creatures & Other Works For Flute, Clarinet, And Orchestra (Anthony McGill, Demarre McGill, Allen Tinkham & Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra)

  • MARINA A. LEDIN, VICTOR LEDIN

• Bates: Children Of Adam; Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem (Steven Smith, Erin R. Freeman, Richmond Symphony & Chorus)
• The Orchestral Organ (Jan Kraybill)
• The Poetry Of Places (Nadia Shpachenko)
• Rachmaninoff - Hermitage Piano Trio (Hermitage Piano Trio)

  • MORTEN LINDBERG

• Himmelborgen (Elisabeth Holte, Kåre Nordstoga & Uranienborg Vokalensemble)
• Kleiberg: Do You Believe In Heather? (Various Artists)
• Ljos (Fauna Vokalkvintett)
• LUX (Anita Brevik, Trondheimsolistene & Nidarosdomens Jentekor)
• Trachea (Tone Bianca Sparre Dahl & Schola Cantorum)
• Veneliti (Håkon Daniel Nystedt & Oslo Kammerkor)

• Bruckner: Symphony No. 9 (Manfred Honeck & Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)

Classical

75. Best Orchestral Performance
Award to the Conductor and to the Orchestra.

  • BRUCKNER: SYMPHONY NO. 9
    Manfred Honeck, conductor (Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra)
     
  • COPLAND: BILLY THE KID; GROHG
    Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Detroit Symphony Orchestra)
     
  • NORMAN: SUSTAIN - WINNER
    Gustavo Dudamel, conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
     
  • TRANSATLANTIC
    Louis Langrée, conductor (Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra)
     
  • WEINBERG: SYMPHONIES NOS. 2 & 21
    Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, conductor (City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra & Kremerata Baltica)

76. Best Opera Recording
Award to the Conductor, Album Producer(s) and Principal Soloists.

  • BENJAMIN: LESSONS IN LOVE & VIOLENCE
    George Benjamin, conductor; Stéphane Degout, Barbara Hannigan, Peter Hoare & Gyula Orendt; Raphaël Mouterde & James Whitbourn, producers (Orchestra Of The Royal Opera House)
     
  • BERG: WOZZECK
    Marc Albrecht, conductor; Christopher Maltman & Eva-Maria Westbroek; François Roussillon, producer (Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra; Chorus Of Dutch National Opera)
     
  • CHARPENTIER: LES ARTS FLORISSANTS; LES PLAISIRS DE VERSAILLES
    Paul O'Dette & Stephen Stubbs, conductors; Jesse Blumberg, Teresa Wakim & Virginia Warnken; Renate Wolter-Seevers, producer (Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Ensemble; Boston Early Music Festival Vocal Ensemble)
     
  • PICKER: FANTASTIC MR. FOX - WINNER
    Gil Rose, conductor; John Brancy, Andrew Craig Brown, Gabriel Preisser, Krista River & Edwin Vega; Gil Rose, producer (Boston Modern Orchestra Project; Boston Children's Chorus)
     
  • WAGNER: LOHENGRIN
    Christian Thielemann, conductor; Piotr Beczała, Anja Harteros, Tomasz Konieczny, Waltraud Meier & Georg Zeppenfeld; Eckhard Glauche, producer (Festspielorchester Bayreuth; Festspielchor Bayreuth)

77. Best Choral Performance
Award to the Conductor, and to the Choral Director and/or Chorus Master where applicable and to the Choral Organization/Ensemble.

  • BOYLE: VOYAGES
    Donald Nally, conductor (The Crossing)
     
  • DURUFLÉ: COMPLETE CHORAL WORKS - WINNER
    Robert Simpson, conductor (Ken Cowan; Houston Chamber Choir)
     
  • THE HOPE OF LOVING
    Craig Hella Johnson, conductor (Conspirare)
     
  • SANDER: THE DIVINE LITURGY OF ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
    Peter Jermihov, conductor (Evan Bravos, Vadim Gan, Kevin Keys, Glenn Miller & Daniel Shirley; PaTRAM Institute Singers)
     
  • SMITH, K.: THE ARC IN THE SKY
    Donald Nally, conductor (The Crossing)

78. Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
For new recordings of works with chamber or small ensemble (twenty-four or fewer members, not including the conductor). One Award to the ensemble and one Award to the conductor, if applicable.

  • CERRONE: THE PIECES THAT FALL TO EARTH
    Christopher Rountree & Wild Up
     
  • FREEDOM & FAITH
    PUBLIQuartet
     
  • PERPETULUM
    Third Coast Percussion
     
  • RACHMANINOFF - HERMITAGE PIANO TRIO
    Hermitage Piano Trio
     
  • SHAW: ORANGE - WINNER
    Attacca Quartet

79. Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Award to the Instrumental Soloist(s) and to the Conductor when applicable.

  • THE BERLIN RECITAL
    Yuja Wang
     
  • HIGDON: HARP CONCERTO
    Yolanda Kondonassis; Ward Stare, conductor (The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra)
     
  • MARSALIS: VIOLIN CONCERTO; FIDDLE DANCE SUITE - WINNER
    Nicola Benedetti; Cristian Măcelaru, conductor (Philadelphia Orchestra)
     
  • THE ORCHESTRAL ORGAN
    Jan Kraybill
     
  • TORKE: SKY, CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN
    Tessa Lark; David Alan Miller, conductor (Albany Symphony)

80. Best Classical Solo Vocal Album
Award to: Vocalist(s), Collaborative Artist(s) (Ex: pianists, conductors, chamber groups) Producer(s), Recording Engineers/Mixers with 51% or more playing time of new material.

  • THE EDGE OF SILENCE - WORKS FOR VOICE BY GYÖRGY KURTÁG
    Susan Narucki (Donald Berman, Curtis Macomber, Kathryn Schulmeister & Nicholas Tolle)
     
  • HIMMELSMUSIK
    Philippe Jaroussky & Céline Scheen; Christina Pluhar, conductor; L’Arpeggiata, ensemble (Jesús Rodil & Dingle Yandell)
     
  • SCHUMANN: LIEDERKREIS OP. 24, KERNER-LIEDER OP. 35
    Matthias Goerne; Leif Ove Andsnes, accompanist
     
  • SONGPLAY - WINNER
    Joyce DiDonato; Chuck Israels, Jimmy Madison, Charlie Porter & Craig Terry, accompanists (Steve Barnett & Lautaro Greco)
     
  • A TE, O CARA
    Stephen Costello; Constantine Orbelian, conductor (Kaunas City Symphony Orchestra)

81. Best Classical Compendium
Award to the Artist(s) and to the Album Producer(s) and Engineer(s) of over 51% playing time of the album, if other than the artist.

  • AMERICAN ORIGINALS 1918
    John Morris Russell, conductor; Elaine Martone, producer
     
  • LESHNOFF: SYMPHONY NO. 4 'HEICHALOS'; GUITAR CONCERTO; STARBURST
    Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor; Tim Handley, producer
     
  • MELTZER: SONGS AND STRUCTURES
    Paul Appleby & Natalia Katyukova; Silas Brown & Harold Meltzer, producers
     
  • THE POETRY OF PLACES - WINNER
    Nadia Shpachenko; Marina A. Ledin & Victor Ledin, producers
     
  • SAARIAHO: TRUE FIRE; TRANS; CIEL D'HIVER
    Hannu Lintu, conductor; Laura Heikinheimo, producer

82. Best Contemporary Classical Composition
A Composer's Award. (For a contemporary classical composition composed within the last 25 years, and released for the first time during the Eligibility Year.) Award to the librettist, if applicable.

  • BERMEL: MIGRATION SERIES FOR JAZZ ENSEMBLE & ORCHESTRA
    Derek Bermel, composer (Derek Bermel, Ted Nash, David Alan Miller, Juilliard Jazz Orchestra & Albany Symphony Orchestra)
     
  • HIGDON: HARP CONCERTO - WINNER
    Jennifer Higdon, composer (Yolanda Kondonassis, Ward Stare & The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra)
     
  • MARSALIS: VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR
    Wynton Marsalis, composer (Nicola Benedetti, Cristian Măcelaru & Philadelphia Orchestra)
     
  • NORMAN: SUSTAIN
    Andrew Norman, composer (Gustavo Dudamel & Los Angeles Philharmonic)
     
  • SHAW: ORANGE
    Caroline Shaw, composer (Attacca Quartet)
     
  • WOLFE: FIRE IN MY MOUTH
    Julia Wolfe, composer (Jaap Van Zweden, Francisco J. Núñez, Donald Nally, The Crossing, Young People's Chorus Of NY City & New York Philharmonic)

Music Video/Film

83. Best Music Video
Award to the artist, video director, and video producer.

  • WE'VE GOT TO TRY
    The Chemical Brothers
    Ninian Doff, video director; Ellie Fry, video producer
     
  • THIS LAND
    Gary Clark Jr.
    Savanah Leaf, video director; Danielle Hinde, Jason Cole, Alicia Martinez & Devin Sarno, video producers
     
  • CELLOPHANE
    FKA twigs
    Andrew Thomas Huang, video director; Alex Chamberlain, video producer
     
  • OLD TOWN ROAD (OFFICIAL MOVIE) - WINNER
    Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus
    Calmatic, video director; Candice Dragonas, Melissa Larsen & Saul Levitz, video producers
     
  • GLAD HE'S GONE
    Tove Lo
    Vania Heymann & Gal Muggia, video directors; Natan Schottenfels, video producer

84. Best Music Film
For concert/performance films or music documentaries. Award to the artist, video director, and video producer.

  • HOMECOMING - WINNER
    Beyoncé
    Beyoncé Knowles-Carter & Ed Burke, video directors; Steve Pamon & Erinn Williams, video producers
     
  • REMEMBER MY NAME
    David Crosby
    A.J. Eaton, video director; Cameron Crowe, Michele Farinola & Greg Mariotti, video producers
     
  • BIRTH OF THE COOL
    (Miles Davis)
    Stanley Nelson, video director; Nicole London, video producer
     
  • SHANGRI-LA
    (Various Artists)
    Jeff Malmberg & Morgan Neville, video directors; Danny Breen, video producer
     
  • ANIMA
    Thom Yorke
    Paul Thomas Anderson, video director; Paul Thomas Anderson, Erica Frauman & Sara Murphy, video producers

2021 GRAMMYs: Complete Nominees List

GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016
Kendrick Lamar

Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

video

GRAMMY Rewind: Kendrick Lamar Honors Hip-Hop's Greats While Accepting Best Rap Album GRAMMY For 'To Pimp a Butterfly' In 2016

Upon winning the GRAMMY for Best Rap Album for 'To Pimp a Butterfly,' Kendrick Lamar thanked those that helped him get to the stage, and the artists that blazed the trail for him.

GRAMMYs/Oct 13, 2023 - 06:01 pm

Updated Friday Oct. 13, 2023 to include info about Kendrick Lamar's most recent GRAMMY wins, as of the 2023 GRAMMYs.

A GRAMMY veteran these days, Kendrick Lamar has won 17 GRAMMYs and has received 47 GRAMMY nominations overall. A sizable chunk of his trophies came from the 58th annual GRAMMY Awards in 2016, when he walked away with five — including his first-ever win in the Best Rap Album category.

This installment of GRAMMY Rewind turns back the clock to 2016, revisiting Lamar's acceptance speech upon winning Best Rap Album for To Pimp A Butterfly. Though Lamar was alone on stage, he made it clear that he wouldn't be at the top of his game without the help of a broad support system. 

"First off, all glory to God, that's for sure," he said, kicking off a speech that went on to thank his parents, who he described as his "those who gave me the responsibility of knowing, of accepting the good with the bad."

Looking for more GRAMMYs news? The 2024 GRAMMY nominations are here!

He also extended his love and gratitude to his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and shouted out his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. Lamar specifically praised Top Dawg's CEO, Anthony Tiffith, for finding and developing raw talent that might not otherwise get the chance to pursue their musical dreams.

"We'd never forget that: Taking these kids out of the projects, out of Compton, and putting them right here on this stage, to be the best that they can be," Lamar — a Compton native himself — continued, leading into an impassioned conclusion spotlighting some of the cornerstone rap albums that came before To Pimp a Butterfly.

"Hip-hop. Ice Cube. This is for hip-hop," he said. "This is for Snoop Dogg, Doggystyle. This is for Illmatic, this is for Nas. We will live forever. Believe that."

To Pimp a Butterfly singles "Alright" and "These Walls" earned Lamar three more GRAMMYs that night, the former winning Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song and the latter taking Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (the song features Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat). He also won Best Music Video for the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood." 

Lamar has since won Best Rap Album two more times, taking home the golden gramophone in 2018 for his blockbuster LP DAMN., and in 2023 for his bold fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.

Watch Lamar's full acceptance speech above, and check back at GRAMMY.com every Friday for more GRAMMY Rewind episodes. 

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A Guide To Modern Funk For The Dance Floor: L'Imperatrice, Shiro Schwarz, Franc Moody, Say She She & Moniquea
Franc Moody

Photo: Rachel Kupfer 

list

A Guide To Modern Funk For The Dance Floor: L'Imperatrice, Shiro Schwarz, Franc Moody, Say She She & Moniquea

James Brown changed the sound of popular music when he found the power of the one and unleashed the funk with "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag." Today, funk lives on in many forms, including these exciting bands from across the world.

GRAMMYs/Nov 25, 2022 - 04:23 pm

It's rare that a genre can be traced back to a single artist or group, but for funk, that was James Brown. The Godfather of Soul coined the phrase and style of playing known as "on the one," where the first downbeat is emphasized, instead of the typical second and fourth beats in pop, soul and other styles. As David Cheal eloquently explains, playing on the one "left space for phrases and riffs, often syncopated around the beat, creating an intricate, interlocking grid which could go on and on." You know a funky bassline when you hear it; its fat chords beg your body to get up and groove.

Brown's 1965 classic, "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," became one of the first funk hits, and has been endlessly sampled and covered over the years, along with his other groovy tracks. Of course, many other funk acts followed in the '60s, and the genre thrived in the '70s and '80s as the disco craze came and went, and the originators of hip-hop and house music created new music from funk and disco's strong, flexible bones built for dancing.

Legendary funk bassist Bootsy Collins learned the power of the one from playing in Brown's band, and brought it to George Clinton, who created P-funk, an expansive, Afrofuturistic, psychedelic exploration of funk with his various bands and projects, including Parliament-Funkadelic. Both Collins and Clinton remain active and funkin', and have offered their timeless grooves to collabs with younger artists, including Kali Uchis, Silk Sonic, and Omar Apollo; and Kendrick Lamar, Flying Lotus, and Thundercat, respectively.

In the 1980s, electro-funk was born when artists like Afrika Bambaataa, Man Parrish, and Egyptian Lover began making futuristic beats with the Roland TR-808 drum machine — often with robotic vocals distorted through a talk box. A key distinguishing factor of electro-funk is a de-emphasis on vocals, with more phrases than choruses and verses. The sound influenced contemporaneous hip-hop, funk and electronica, along with acts around the globe, while current acts like Chromeo, DJ Stingray, and even Egyptian Lover himself keep electro-funk alive and well.

Today, funk lives in many places, with its heavy bass and syncopated grooves finding way into many nooks and crannies of music. There's nu-disco and boogie funk, nodding back to disco bands with soaring vocals and dance floor-designed instrumentation. G-funk continues to influence Los Angeles hip-hop, with innovative artists like Dam-Funk and Channel Tres bringing the funk and G-funk, into electro territory. Funk and disco-centered '70s revival is definitely having a moment, with acts like Ghost Funk Orchestra and Parcels, while its sparkly sprinklings can be heard in pop from Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, and, in full "Soul Train" character, Silk Sonic. There are also acts making dreamy, atmospheric music with a solid dose of funk, such as Khruangbin’s global sonic collage.

There are many bands that play heavily with funk, creating lush grooves designed to get you moving. Read on for a taste of five current modern funk and nu-disco artists making band-led uptempo funk built for the dance floor. Be sure to press play on the Spotify playlist above, and check out GRAMMY.com's playlist on Apple Music, Amazon Music and Pandora.

Say She She

Aptly self-described as "discodelic soul," Brooklyn-based seven-piece Say She She make dreamy, operatic funk, led by singer-songwriters Nya Gazelle Brown, Piya Malik and Sabrina Mileo Cunningham. Their '70s girl group-inspired vocal harmonies echo, sooth and enchant as they cover poignant topics with feminist flair.

While they’ve been active in the New York scene for a few years, they’ve gained wider acclaim for the irresistible music they began releasing this year, including their debut album, Prism. Their 2022 debut single "Forget Me Not" is an ode to ground-breaking New York art collective Guerilla Girls, and "Norma" is their protest anthem in response to the news that Roe vs. Wade could be (and was) overturned. The band name is a nod to funk legend Nile Rodgers, from the "Le freak, c'est chi" exclamation in Chic's legendary tune "Le Freak."

Moniquea

Moniquea's unique voice oozes confidence, yet invites you in to dance with her to the super funky boogie rhythms. The Pasadena, California artist was raised on funk music; her mom was in a cover band that would play classics like Aretha Franklin’s "Get It Right" and Gladys Knight’s "Love Overboard." Moniquea released her first boogie funk track at 20 and, in 2011, met local producer XL Middelton — a bonafide purveyor of funk. She's been a star artist on his MoFunk Records ever since, and they've collabed on countless tracks, channeling West Coast energy with a heavy dose of G-funk, sunny lyrics and upbeat, roller disco-ready rhythms.

Her latest release is an upbeat nod to classic West Coast funk, produced by Middleton, and follows her February 2022 groovy, collab-filled album, On Repeat.

Shiro Schwarz

Shiro Schwarz is a Mexico City-based duo, consisting of Pammela Rojas and Rafael Marfil, who helped establish a modern funk scene in the richly creative Mexican metropolis. On "Electrify" — originally released in 2016 on Fat Beats Records and reissued in 2021 by MoFunk — Shiro Schwarz's vocals playfully contrast each other, floating over an insistent, upbeat bassline and an '80s throwback electro-funk rhythm with synth flourishes.

Their music manages to be both nostalgic and futuristic — and impossible to sit still to. 2021 single "Be Kind" is sweet, mellow and groovy, perfect chic lounge funk. Shiro Schwarz’s latest track, the joyfully nostalgic "Hey DJ," is a collab with funkstress Saucy Lady and U-Key.

L'Impératrice

L'Impératrice (the empress in French) are a six-piece Parisian group serving an infectiously joyful blend of French pop, nu-disco, funk and psychedelia. Flore Benguigui's vocals are light and dreamy, yet commanding of your attention, while lyrics have a feminist touch.

During their energetic live sets, L'Impératrice members Charles de Boisseguin and Hagni Gwon (keys), David Gaugué (bass), Achille Trocellier (guitar), and Tom Daveau (drums) deliver extended instrumental jam sessions to expand and connect their music. Gaugué emphasizes the thick funky bass, and Benguigui jumps around the stage while sounding like an angel. L’Impératrice’s latest album, 2021’s Tako Tsubo, is a sunny, playful French disco journey.

Franc Moody

Franc Moody's bio fittingly describes their music as "a soul funk and cosmic disco sound." The London outfit was birthed by friends Ned Franc and Jon Moody in the early 2010s, when they were living together and throwing parties in North London's warehouse scene. In 2017, the group grew to six members, including singer and multi-instrumentalist Amber-Simone.

Their music feels at home with other electro-pop bands like fellow Londoners Jungle and Aussie act Parcels. While much of it is upbeat and euphoric, Franc Moody also dips into the more chilled, dreamy realm, such as the vibey, sultry title track from their recently released Into the Ether.

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Living Legends: Billy Idol On Survival, Revival & Breaking Out Of The Cage
Billy Idol

Photo: Steven Sebring

interview

Living Legends: Billy Idol On Survival, Revival & Breaking Out Of The Cage

"One foot in the past and one foot into the future," Billy Idol says, describing his decade-spanning career in rock. "We’ve got the best of all possible worlds because that has been the modus operandi of Billy Idol."

GRAMMYs/Nov 25, 2022 - 04:19 pm

Living Legends is a series that spotlights icons in music still going strong today. This week, GRAMMY.com spoke with Billy Idol about his latest EP,  Cage, and continuing to rock through decades of changing tastes.

Billy Idol is a true rock 'n' roll survivor who has persevered through cultural shifts and personal struggles. While some may think of Idol solely for "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding," the singer's musical influences span genres and many of his tunes are less turbo-charged than his '80s hits would belie.  

Idol first made a splash in the latter half of the '70s with the British punk band Generation X. In the '80s, he went on to a solo career combining rock, pop, and punk into a distinct sound that transformed him and his musical partner, guitarist Steve Stevens, into icons. They have racked up multiple GRAMMY nominations, in addition to one gold, one double platinum, and four platinum albums thanks to hits like "Cradle Of Love," "Flesh For Fantasy," and "Eyes Without A Face." 

But, unlike many legacy artists, Idol is anything but a relic. Billy continues to produce vital Idol music by collaborating with producers and songwriters — including Miley Cyrus — who share his forward-thinking vision. He will play a five-show Vegas residency in November, and filmmaker Jonas Akerlund is working on a documentary about Idol’s life. 

His latest release is Cage, the second in a trilogy of annual four-song EPs. The title track is a classic Billy Idol banger expressing the desire to free himself from personal constraints and live a better life. Other tracks on Cage incorporate metallic riffing and funky R&B grooves. 

Idol continues to reckon with his demons — they both grappled with addiction during the '80s — and the singer is open about those struggles on the record and the page. (Idol's 2014 memoir Dancing With Myself, details a 1990 motorcycle accident that nearly claimed a leg, and how becoming a father steered him to reject hard drugs. "Bitter Taste," from his last EP, The Roadside, reflects on surviving the accident.)

Although Idol and Stevens split in the late '80s — the skilled guitarist fronted Steve Stevens & The Atomic Playboys, and collaborated with Michael Jackson, Rick Ocasek, Vince Neil, and Harold Faltermeyer (on the GRAMMY-winning "Top Gun Anthem") —  their common history and shared musical bond has been undeniable. The duo reunited in 2001 for an episode of "VH1 Storytellers" and have been back in the saddle for two decades. Their union remains one of the strongest collaborations in rock 'n roll history.

While there is recognizable personnel and a distinguishable sound throughout a lot of his work, Billy Idol has always pushed himself to try different things. Idol discusses his musical journey, his desire to constantly move forward, and the strong connection that he shares with Stevens. 

Steve has said that you like to mix up a variety of styles, yet everyone assumes you're the "Rebel Yell"/"White Wedding" guy. But if they really listen to your catalog, it's vastly different.

Yeah, that's right. With someone like Steve Stevens, and then back in the day Keith Forsey producing... [Before that] Generation X actually did move around inside punk rock. We didn't stay doing just the Ramones two-minute music. We actually did a seven-minute song. [Laughs]. We did always mix things up. 

Then when I got into my solo career, that was the fun of it. With someone like Steve, I knew what he could do. I could see whatever we needed to do, we could nail it. The world was my oyster musically. 

"Cage" is a classic-sounding Billy Idol rocker, then "Running From The Ghost" is almost metal, like what the Devil's Playground album was like back in the mid-2000s. "Miss Nobody" comes out of nowhere with this pop/R&B flavor. What inspired that?

We really hadn't done anything like that since something like "Flesh For Fantasy" [which] had a bit of an R&B thing about it. Back in the early days of Billy Idol, "Hot In The City" and "Mony Mony" had girls [singing] on the backgrounds. 

We always had a bit of R&B really, so it was actually fun to revisit that. We just hadn't done anything really quite like that for a long time. That was one of the reasons to work with someone like Sam Hollander [for the song "Rita Hayworth"] on The Roadside. We knew we could go [with him] into an R&B world, and he's a great songwriter and producer. That's the fun of music really, trying out these things and seeing if you can make them stick. 

I listen to new music by veteran artists and debate that with some people. I'm sure you have those fans that want their nostalgia, and then there are some people who will embrace the newer stuff. Do you find it’s a challenge to reach people with new songs?

Obviously, what we're looking for is, how do we somehow have one foot in the past and one foot into the future? We’ve got the best of all possible worlds because that has been the modus operandi of Billy Idol. 

You want to do things that are true to you, and you don't just want to try and do things that you're seeing there in the charts today. I think that we're achieving it with things like "Running From The Ghost" and "Cage" on this new EP. I think we’re managing to do both in a way. 

**Obviously, "Running From The Ghost" is about addiction, all the stuff that you went through, and in "Cage" you’re talking about  freeing yourself from a lot of personal shackles. Was there any one moment in your life that made you really thought I have to not let this weigh me down anymore?**

I mean, things like the motorcycle accident I had, that was a bit of a wake up call way back. It was 32 years ago. But there were things like that, years ago, that gradually made me think about what I was doing with my life. I didn't want to ruin it, really. I didn't want to throw it away, and it made [me] be less cavalier. 

I had to say to myself, about the drugs and stuff, that I've been there and I've done it. There’s no point in carrying on doing it. You couldn't get any higher. You didn't want to throw your life away casually, and I was close to doing that. It took me a bit of time, but then gradually I was able to get control of myself to a certain extent [with] drugs and everything. And I think Steve's done the same thing. We're on a similar path really, which has been great because we're in the same boat in terms of lyrics and stuff. 

So a lot of things like that were wake up calls. Even having grandchildren and just watching my daughter enlarging her family and everything; it just makes you really positive about things and want to show a positive side to how you're feeling, about where you're going. We've lived with the demons so long, we've found a way to live with them. We found a way to be at peace with our demons, in a way. Maybe not completely, but certainly to where we’re enjoying what we do and excited about it.

[When writing] "Running From The Ghost" it was easy to go, what was the ghost for us? At one point, we were very drug addicted in the '80s. And Steve in particular is super sober [now]. I mean, I still vape pot and stuff. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but it’s incredible. All I want to be able to do is have a couple of glasses of wine at a restaurant or something. I can do that now.

I think working with people that are super talented, you just feel confident. That is a big reason why you open up and express yourself more because you feel comfortable with what's around you.

Did you watch Danny Boyle's recent Sex Pistols mini-series?

I did, yes.

You had a couple of cameos; well, an actor who portrayed you did. How did you react to it? How accurate do you think it was in portraying that particular time period?

I love Jonesy’s book, I thought his book was incredible. It's probably one of the best bio books really. It was incredible and so open. I was looking forward to that a lot.

It was as if [the show] kind of stayed with Steve [Jones’ memoir] about halfway through, and then departed from it. [John] Lydon, for instance, was never someone I ever saw acting out; he's more like that today. I never saw him do something like jump up in the room and run around going crazy. The only time I saw him ever do that was when they signed the recording deal with Virgin in front of Buckingham Palace. Whereas Sid Vicious was always acting out; he was always doing something in a horrible way or shouting at someone. I don't remember John being like that. I remember him being much more introverted.

But then I watched interviews with some of the actors about coming to grips with the parts they were playing. And they were saying, we knew punk rock happened but just didn't know any of the details. So I thought well, there you go. If ["Pistol" is]  informing a lot of people who wouldn't know anything about punk rock, maybe that's what's good about it.

Maybe down the road John Lydon will get the chance to do John's version of the Pistols story. Maybe someone will go a lot deeper into it and it won't be so surface. But maybe you needed this just to get people back in the flow.

We had punk and metal over here in the States, but it feels like England it was legitimately more dangerous. British society was much more rigid.

It never went [as] mega in America. It went big in England. It exploded when the Pistols did that interview with [TV host Bill] Grundy, that lorry truck driver put his boot through his own TV, and all the national papers had "the filth and the fury" [headlines].

We went from being unknown to being known overnight. We waited a year, Generation X. We even told them [record labels] no for nine months to a year. Every record company wanted their own punk rock group. So it went really mega in England, and it affected the whole country – the style, the fashions, everything. I mean, the Ramones were massive in England. Devo had a No. 1 song [in England] with "Satisfaction" in '77. Actually, Devo was as big as or bigger than the Pistols.

You were ahead of the pop-punk thing that happened in the late '90s, and a lot of it became tongue-in-cheek by then. It didn't have the same sense of rebelliousness as the original movement. It was more pop.

It had become a style. There was a famous book in England called Revolt Into Style — and that's what had happened, a revolt that turned into style which then they were able to duplicate in their own way. Even recently, Billie Joe [Armstrong] did his own version of "Gimme Some Truth," the Lennon song we covered way back in 1977.

When we initially were making [punk] music, it hadn't become accepted yet. It was still dangerous and turned into a style that people were used to. We were still breaking barriers.

You have a band called Generation Sex with Steve Jones and Paul Cook. I assume you all have an easier time playing Pistols and Gen X songs together now and not worrying about getting spit on like back in the '70s?

Yeah, definitely. When I got to America I told the group I was putting it together, "No one spits at the audience."

We had five years of being spat on [in the UK], and it was revolting. And they spat at you if they liked you. If they didn't like it they smashed your gear up. One night, I remember I saw blood on my T-shirt, and I think Joe Strummer got meningitis when spit went in his mouth.

You had to go through a lot to become successful, it wasn't like you just kind of got up there and did a couple of gigs. I don't think some young rock bands really get that today.

With punk going so mega in England, we definitely got a leg up. We still had a lot of work to get where we got to, and rightly so because you find out that you need to do that. A lot of groups in the old days would be together three to five years before they ever made a record, and that time is really important. In a way, what was great about punk rock for me was it was very much a learning period. I really learned a lot [about] recording music and being in a group and even writing songs.

Then when I came to America, it was a flow, really. I also really started to know what I wanted Billy Idol to be. It took me a little bit, but I kind of knew what I wanted Billy Idol to be. And even that took a while to let it marinate.

You and Miley Cyrus have developed a good working relationship in the last several years. How do you think her fans have responded to you, and your fans have responded to her?

I think they're into it. It's more the record company that she had didn't really get "Night Crawling"— it was one of the best songs on Plastic Hearts, and I don't think they understood that. They wanted to go with Dua Lipa, they wanted to go with the modern, young acts, and I don't think they realized that that song was resonating with her fans. Which is a shame really because, with Andrew Watt producing, it's a hit song.

But at the same time, I enjoyed doing it. It came out really good and it's very Billy Idol. In fact, I think it’s more Billy Idol than Miley Cyrus. I think it shows you where Andrew Watt was. He was excited about doing a Billy Idol track. She's fun to work with. She’s a really great person and she works at her singing — I watched her rehearsing for the Super Bowl performance she gave. She rehearsed all Saturday morning, all Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning and it was that afternoon. I have to admire her fortitude. She really cares.

I remember when you went on "Viva La Bamback in 2005 and decided to give Bam Margera’s Lamborghini a new sunroof by taking a power saw to it. Did he own that car? Was that a rental?

I think it was his car.

Did he get over it later on?

He loved it. [Laughs] He’s got a wacky sense of humor. He’s fantastic, actually. I’m really sorry to see what he's been going through just lately. He's going through a lot, and I wish him the best. He's a fantastic person, and it's a shame that he's struggling so much with his addictions. I know what it's like. It's not easy.

Musically, what is the synergy like with you guys during the past 10 years, doing Kings and Queens of the Underground and this new stuff? What is your working relationship like now in this more sober, older, mature version of you two as opposed to what it was like back in the '80s?

In lots of ways it’s not so different because we always wrote the songs together, we always talked about what we're going to do together. It was just that we were getting high at the same time.We're just not getting [that way now] but we're doing all the same things.

We're still talking about things, still [planning] things:What are we going to do next? How are we going to find new people to work with? We want to find new producers. Let's be a little bit more timely about putting stuff out.That part of our relationship is the same, you know what I mean? That never got affected. We just happened to be overloading in the '80s.

The relationship’s… matured and it's carrying on being fruitful, and I think that's pretty amazing. Really, most people don't get to this place. Usually, they hate each other by now. [Laughs] We also give each other space. We're not stopping each other doing things outside of what we’re working on together. All of that enables us to carry on working together. I love and admire him. I respect him. He's been fantastic. I mean, just standing there on stage with him is always a treat. And he’s got an immensely great sense of humor. I think that's another reason why we can hang together after all this time because we've got the sense of humor to enable us to go forward.

There's a lot of fan reaction videos online, and I noticed a lot of younger women like "Rebel Yell" because, unlike a lot of other '80s alpha male rock tunes, you're talking about satisfying your lover.

It was about my girlfriend at the time, Perri Lister. It was about how great I thought she was, how much I was in love with her, and how great women are, how powerful they are.

It was a bit of a feminist anthem in a weird way. It was all about how relationships can free you and add a lot to your life. It was a cry of love, nothing to do with the Civil War or anything like that. Perri was a big part of my life, a big part of being Billy Idol. I wanted to write about it. I'm glad that's the effect.

Is there something you hope people get out of the songs you've been doing over the last 10 years? Do you find yourself putting out a message that keeps repeating?

Well, I suppose, if anything, is that you can come to terms with your life, you can keep a hold of it. You can work your dreams into reality in a way and, look, a million years later, still be enjoying it.

The only reason I'm singing about getting out of the cage is because I kicked out of the cage years ago. I joined Generation X when I said to my parents, "I'm leaving university, and I'm joining a punk rock group." And they didn't even know what a punk rock group was. Years ago, I’d write things for myself that put me on this path, so that maybe in 2022 I could sing something like "Cage" and be owning this territory and really having a good time. This is the life I wanted.

The original UK punk movement challenged societal norms. Despite all the craziness going on throughout the world, it seems like a lot of modern rock bands are afraid to do what you guys were doing. Do you think we'll see a shift in that?

Yeah.  Art usually reacts to things, so I would think eventually there will be a massive reaction to the pop music that’s taken over — the middle of the road music, and then this kind of right wing politics. There will be a massive reaction if there's not already one. I don’t know where it will come from exactly. You never know who's gonna do [it].

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Hear All Of The Best Country Solo Performance Nominees For The 2023 GRAMMY Awards
2023 GRAMMYs

Graphic: The Recording Academy

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Hear All Of The Best Country Solo Performance Nominees For The 2023 GRAMMY Awards

The 2023 GRAMMY Award nominees for Best Country Solo Performance highlight country music's newcomers and veterans, featuring hits from Kelsea Ballerini, Zach Bryan, Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris and Willie Nelson.

GRAMMYs/Nov 23, 2022 - 03:01 pm

Country music's evolution is well represented in the 2023 GRAMMY nominees for Best Country Solo Performance. From crossover pop hooks to red-dirt outlaw roots, the genre's most celebrated elements are on full display — thanks to rising stars, leading ladies and country icons.

Longtime hitmaker Miranda Lambert delivered a soulful performance on the rootsy ballad "In His Arms," an arrangement as sparing as the windswept west Texas highlands where she co-wrote the song. Viral newcomer Zach Bryan dug into similar organic territory on the Oklahoma side of the Red River for "Something in the Orange," his voice accompanied with little more than an acoustic guitar.

Two of country's 2010s breakout stars are clearly still shining, too, as Maren Morris and Kelsea Ballerini both received Best Country Solo Performance GRAMMY nods. Morris channeled the determination that drove her leap-of-faith move from Texas to Nashville for the playful clap-along "Circles Around This Town," while Ballerini brought poppy hooks with a country edge on the infectiously upbeat "HEARTFIRST."

Rounding out the category is the one and only Willie Nelson, who paid tribute to his late friend Billy Joe Shaver with a cover of "Live Forever" — a fitting sentiment for the 89-year-old legend, who is approaching his eighth decade in the business. 

As the excitement builds for the 2023 GRAMMYs on Feb. 5, 2023, let's take a closer look at this year's nominees for Best Country Solo Performance.

Kelsea Ballerini — "HEARTFIRST"

In the tradition of Shania Twain, Faith Hill and Carrie Underwood, Kelsea Ballerini represents Nashville's sunnier side — and her single "HEARTFIRST" is a slice of bright, uptempo, confectionary country-pop for the ages.

Ballerini sings about leaning into a carefree crush with her heart on her sleeve, pushing aside her reservations and taking a risk on love at first sight. The scene plays out in a bar room and a back seat, as she sweeps nimbly through the verses and into a shimmering chorus, when the narrator decides she's ready to "wake up in your T-shirt." 

There are enough steel guitar licks to let you know you're listening to a country song, but the story and melody are universal. "HEARTFIRST" is Ballerini's third GRAMMY nod, but first in the Best Country Solo Performance category.

Zach Bryan — "Something In The Orange"

Zach Bryan blew into Music City seemingly from nowhere in 2017, when his original song "Heading South" — recorded on an iPhone — went viral. Then an active officer in the U.S. Navy, the Oklahoma native chased his muse through music during his downtime, striking a chord with country music fans on stark songs led by his acoustic guitar and affecting vocals.

After his honorable discharge in 2021, Bryan began his music career in earnest, and in 2022 released "Something in the Orange," a haunting ballad that stakes a convincing claim to the territory between Tyler Childers and Jason Isbell in both sonics and songwriting. Slashing slide guitar drives home the song's heartbreak, as Bryan pines for a lover whose tail lights have long since vanished over the horizon. 

"Something In The Orange" marks Bryan's first-ever GRAMMY nomination.

Miranda Lambert — "In His Arms"

Miranda Lambert is the rare, chart-topping contemporary country artist who does more than pay lip service to the genre's rural American roots. "In His Arms" originally surfaced on 2021's The Marfa Tapes, a casual recording Lambert made with Jack Ingram and Jon Randall in Marfa, Texas — a tiny arts enclave in the middle of the west Texas high desert.

In this proper studio version — recorded for her 2022 album, Palomino — Lambert retains the structure and organic feel of the mostly acoustic song; light percussion and soothing atmospherics keep her emotive vocals front and center. A native Texan herself, Lambert sounds fully at home on "In His Arms."

Lambert is the only Best Country Solo Performance nominee who is nominated in all four Country Field categories in 2023. To date, Miranda Lambert has won 3 GRAMMYs and received 27 nominations overall. 

Maren Morris — "Circles Around This Town"

When Maren Morris found herself uninspired and dealing with writer's block, she went back to what inspired her to move to Nashville nearly a decade ago — and out came "Circles Around This Town," the lead single from her 2022 album Humble Quest.

Written in one of her first in-person songwriting sessions since the pandemic, Morris has called "Circles Around This Town" her "most autobiographical song" to date; she even recreated her own teenage bedroom for the song's video. As she looks back to her Texas beginnings and the life she left for Nashville, Morris' voice soars over anthemic, yet easygoing production. 

Morris last won a GRAMMY for Best Country Solo Performance in 2017, when her song "My Church" earned the singer her first GRAMMY. To date, Maren Morris has won one GRAMMY and received 17 nominations overall.

Willie Nelson — "Live Forever"

Country music icon Willie Nelson is no stranger to the GRAMMYs, and this year he aims to add to his collection of 10 gramophones. He earned another three nominations for 2023 — bringing his career total to 56 — including a Best Country Solo Performance nod for "Live Forever."

Nelson's performance of "Live Forever," the lead track of the 2022 tribute album Live Forever: A Tribute to Billy Joe Shaver, is a faithful rendition of Shaver's signature song. Still, Nelson puts his own twist on the tune, recruiting Lucinda Williams for backing vocals and echoing the melody with the inimitable tone of his nylon-string Martin guitar. 

Shaver, an outlaw country pioneer who passed in 2020 at 81 years old, never had any hits of his own during his lifetime. But plenty of his songs were still heard, thanks to stars like Elvis Presley, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings. Nelson was a longtime friend and frequent collaborator of Shaver's — and now has a GRAMMY nom to show for it.

2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Nominees List