It’s been a wild roller coaster of a year, but the one thing we’ve been able to count on is an abundance of great music releases. And now, the 2021 Grammy Awards nominations have arrived, and we’re celebrating artists like Fiona Apple, Brittany Howard, Grace Potter, and more! The nominees were announced on Nov. 24 by four-time Grammy winner Pepe Aguilar, Yemi Alade, Nicola Benedetti, Lauren Daigle, Mickey Guyton, Imogen Heap, Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, Gayle King, and The Talk host Sharon Osbourne.
Beyoncé reclaimed her place as most-nominated artist of the year with nine nominations, followed by Roddy Ricch, Dua Lipa, and Taylor Swift, who earned six nods each. Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes fame picked up five nods for her solo debut, with Megan Thee Stallion earning four for her Hot Girl Year. Check out the full list of nominations ahead, and get ready for music’s biggest night, hosted by Trevor Noah, airing on Jan. 31, 2021!
Related: Presenting the Winners of the 2020 American Music Awards
RECORD OF THE YEAR
“Black Parade” – Beyoncé
“Colors” – Black Pumas
“Rockstar” – DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
“Say So” – Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted” – Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now” – Dua Lipa
“Circles” – Post Malone
“Savage” – Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Chilombo by Jhené Aiko
Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition) by Black Pumas
Everyday Life by Coldplay
Djesse Vol.3 by Jacob Collier
Women in Music Pt. III by Haim
Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa
Hollywood’s Bleeding by Post Malone
Folklore by Taylor Swift
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Black Parade” by Beyoncé
“The Box” by Roddy Ricch
“Cardigan” by Taylor Swift
“Circles” by Post Malone
“Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa
“Everything I Wanted” by Billie Eilish
“I Can’t Breathe” by H.E.R.
“If the World Was Ending” by JP Saxe feat. Julia Michaels
BEST NEW ARTIST
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
“Yummy” by Justin Bieber
“Say So” by Doja Cat
“Everything I Wanted” by Billie Eilish
“Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa
“Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles
“Cardigan” by Taylor Swift
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
“Un Dia (One Day)” by J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, and Tainy
“Intentions” by Justin Bieber feat. Quavo
“Dynamite” by BTS
“Rain on Me” by Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande
“Exile” by Taylor Swift feat. Bon Iver
BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Blue Umbrella by Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian
True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter by Harry Connick Jr.
American Standard by James Taylor
Unfollow the Rules by Rufus Wainwright
Judy by Renée Zellweger
BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Changes by Justin Bieber
Chromatica by Lady Gaga
Future Nostalgia by Dua Lipa
Fine Line by Harry Styles
Folklore by Taylor Swift
BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
“Lightning & Thunder” by Jhené Aiko feat. John Legend
“Black Parade” by Beyoncé
“All I Need” by Jacob Collier feat. Mahalia and Ty Dolla $ign
“Goat Head” by Brittany Howard
“See Me” by Emily King
BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
“Sit On Down” by The Baylor Project feat. Jean Baylor and Marcus Baylor
“Wonder What She Thinks of Me” by Chloe X Halle
“Let Me Go” by Mykal Kilgore
“Anything For You” by Ledisi
“Distance” by Yebba
BEST R&B SONG
“Better Than I Imagine” by Robert Glasper feat. H.E.R. and Meshell Ndegeocello
“Black Parade” by Beyoncé
“Collide” by Tiana Major9 and Earthgang
“Do It” by Chloe X Halle
“Slow Down” by Skip Marley and H.E.R.
BEST R&B ALBUM
Happy 2 Be Here by Ant Clemons
Take Time by Giveon
To Feel Love/D by Luke James
Bigger Love by John Legend
All Rise by Gregory Porter
BEST PROGRESSIVE R&B ALBUM
Chilombo by Jhené Aiko
Ungodly Hour by Chloe X Halle
Free Nationals by Free Nationals
F*ck Yo Feelings by Robert Glasper
It Is What It Is by Thundercat
BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
“Deep Reverence” by Big Sean feat. Nipsey Hussle
“Bop” by DaBaby
“What’s Poppin” by Jack Harlow
“The Bigger Picture” by Lil Baby
“Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
“Dior” by Pop Smoke
BEST MELODIC RAP PERFORMANCE
“Rockstar” by DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” by Drake feat. Lil Durk
“Lockdown” by Anderson .Paak
“The Box” by Roddy Ricch
“Highest in the Room” by Travis Scott
BEST RAP SONG
“The Bigger Picture” by Lil Baby
“The Box” by Roddy Ricch
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” by Drake feat. Lil Durk
“Rockstar” by DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch
“Savage” by Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé
BEST RAP ALBUM
Black Habits by D Smoke
Alfredo by Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist
A Written Testimony by Jay Electronica
King’s Disease by Nas
The Allegory Royce by Da 5’9″
BEST GLOBAL MUSIC ALBUM
Fu Chronicles by Antibalas
Twice as Tall by Burna Boy
Agora by Bebel Gilberto
Love Letters by Anoushka Shankar
Amadjar by Tinariwen
BEST DANCE RECORDING
“On My Mind” by Diplo and Sidepiece
“My High” by Disclosure feat. Aminé and Slowthai
“The Difference” by Flume feat. Toro Y Moi
“Both of Us” by Jayda G
“10%” by Kaytranada feat. Kali Uchis
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM
Kick I by Arca
Planet’s Mad by Baauer
Energy by Disclosure
Bubba by Kaytranada
Good Faith by Madeon
BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Axiom by Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah
Chronology of a Dream: Live at The Village Vanguard by Jon Batiste
Take the Stairs by Black Violin
Americana by Grégoire Maret, Romain Collin, and Bill Frisell
Live at the Royal Albert Hall by Snarky Puppy
BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
“Shameika” by Fiona Apple
“Not” by Big Thief
“Kyoto” by Phoebe Bridgers
“The Steps” by Haim
“Stay High” by Brittany Howard
“Daylight” by Grace Potter
BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
“Bum-Rush” by Body Count
“Underneath” by Code Orange
“The In-Between” by In This Moment
“Bloodmoney” by Poppy
“Executioner’s Tax (Swing of the Axe) Live” by Power Trip
BEST ROCK SONG
“Kyoto” by Phoebe Bridgers
“Lost in Yesterday” by Tame Impala
“Not” by Big Thief
“Shameika” by Fiona Apple
“Stay High” by Brittany Howard
BEST ROCK ALBUM
A Hero’s Death by Fontaines D.C.
Kiwanuka by Michael Kiwanuka
Daylight by Grace Potter
Sound & Fury by Sturgill Simpson
The New Abnormal by The Strokes
BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple
Hyperspace by Beck
Punisher by Phoebe Bridgers
Jaime by Brittany Howard
The Slow Rush by Tame Impala
BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
“Stick That in Your Country Song” by Eric Church
“Who You Thought I Was” by Brandy Clark
“When My Amy Prays” by Vince Gill
“Black Like Me” by Mickey Guyton
“Bluebird” by Miranda Lambert
BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
“All Night” by Brothers Osborne
“10,000 Hours” by Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber
“Ocean” by Lady A
“Sugar Coat” by Little Big Town
“Some People Do” by Old Dominion
BEST COUNTRY SONG
“Bluebird” by Miranda Lambert
“The Bones” by Maren Morris
“Crowded Table” by The Highwomen
“More Hearts Than Mine” by Ingrid Andress
“Some People Do” by Old Dominion
BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Lady Like by Ingrid Andress
Your Life Is a Record by Brandy Clark
Wildcard by Miranda Lambert
Nightfall by Little Big Town
Never Will by Ashley McBryde
BEST NEW AGE ALBUM
Songs From the Bardo by Laurie Anderson, Tenzin Choegyal, and Jesse Paris Smith
Periphery by Priya Darshini
Form//Less by Superposition
More Guitar Stories by Jim “Kimo” West
Meditations by Cory Wong and Jon Batiste
BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
“Guinevere” by Christian Scott, Atunde Adjuah, Soloist Track From: Axiom
“Pachamama” by Regina Carter, Soloist Track From: Ona (Thana Alexa)
“Celia” by Gerald Clayton, Soloist
“All Blues” by Chick Corea, Soloist Track From: Trilogy 2 (Chick Corea, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade)
“Moe Honk” by Joshua Redman, soloist Track from: RoundAgain (Redman Mehldau McBride Blade)
BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
Ona by Thana Alexa
Secrets Are the Best Stories by Kurt Elling feat. Danilo Pérez
Modern Ancestors by Carmen Lundy
Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper by Somi with Frankfurt Radio Big Band
What’s the Hurry by Kenny Washington
BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment by Ambrose Akinmusire
Waiting Game by Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science
Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard by Gerald Clayton
Trilogy 2 by Chick Corea, Christian McBride, and Brian Blade
Roundagain by Redman Mehldau McBride Blade
BEST JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM
Dialogues on Race by Gregg August
Monk’estra Plays John Beasley by John Beasley
The Intangible Between by Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band
Songs You Like a Lot by John Hollenbeck with Theo Bleckmann, Kate McGarry, Gary Versace, and the Frankfurt Radio Big Band
Data Lords by Maria Schneider Orchestra
BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM
Tradiciones by Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra
Four Questions by Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra
City of Dreams by Chico Pinheiro
Viento Y Tiempo – Live at Blue Note Tokyo by Gonzalo Rubalcaba and Aymée Nuviola
Trane’s Delight by Poncho Sanchez
BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG
“Wonderful Is Your Name” by Melvin Crispell III
“Release (Live)” by Ricky Dillard feat. Tiff Joy
“Come Together” by Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins Presents: The Good News
“Won’t Let Go” by Travis Greene
“Movin’ On” by Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG
“The Blessing (Live)” by Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, and Elevation Worship
“Sunday Morning” by Lecrae feat. Kirk Franklin
“Holy Water” by We the Kingdom
“Famous For (I Believe)” by Tauren Wells feat. Jenn Johnson
“There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton
BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
2econd Wind: Ready by Anthony Brown and Group Therapy
My Tribute by Myron Butler
Choirmaster by Ricky Dillard
Gospel According to PJ by PJ Morton
Kierra by Kierra Sheard
BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
Run to the Father by Cody Carnes
All of My Best Friends by Hillsong Young & Free
Holy Water by We the Kingdom
Citizen of Heaven by Tauren Wells
Jesus Is King by Kanye West
BEST ROOTS GOSPEL ALBUM
Beautiful Day by Mark Bishop
20/20 by The Crabb Family
What Christmas Really Means by The Erwins
Celebrating Fisk! (The 150th Anniversary Album) by Fisk Jubilee Singers
Something Beautiful by Ernie Haase & Signature Sound
BEST LATIN POP ALBUM
YHLQMDLG by Bad Bunny
Por Primera Vez by Camilo
Mesa Para Dos by Kany García
Pausa by Ricky Martin
3:33 by Debi Nova
BEST LATIN ROCK, URBAN, OR ALTERNATIVE ALBUM
Aura by Bajofondo
Monstruo by Cami
Sobrevolando by Cultura Profética
La Conquista Del Espacio by Fito Paez
Miss Colombia by Lido Pimienta
BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC ALBUM
Hecho en México by Alejandro Fernández
La Serenata by Lupita Infante
Un Canto Por México, Vol. 1 by Natalia Lafourcade
Bailando Sones y Huapangos Con Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez by Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez
Ayayay! by Christian Nodal
BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM
Mi Tumbao by José Alberto “El Ruiseñor”
Infinito by Edwin Bonilla
Sigo Cantando Al Amor (Deluxe) by Jorge Celedon and Sergio Luis
40 by Grupo Niche
Memorias de Navidad by Víctor Manuelle
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE
“Colors” by Black Pumas
“Deep in Love” by Bonny Light Horseman
“Short and Sweet” by Brittany Howard
“I’ll Be Gone” by Norah Jones and Mavis Staples
“I Remember Everything” by John Prine
BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG
“Cabin” by The Secret Sisters
“Ceiling to the Floor” by Sierra Hull
“Hometown” by Sarah Jarosz
“I Remember Everything” by John Prine
“Man Without a Soul” by Lucinda Williams
BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Old Flowers by Courtney Marie Andrews
Terms of Surrender by Hiss Golden Messenger
World on the Ground by Sarah Jarosz
El Dorado by Marcus King
Good Souls Better Angels by Lucinda Williams
BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM
Man on Fire by Danny Barnes
To Live in Two Worlds, Vol. 1 by Thomm Jutz
North Carolina Songbook by Steep Canyon Rangers
Home by Billy Strings
The John Hartford Fiddle Tune Project, Vol. 1 by Various Artists
BEST TRADITIONAL BLUEGRASS ALBUM
All My Dues Are Paid by Frank Bey
You Make Me Feel by Don Bryant
That’s What I Heard by Robert Cray Band
Cypress Grove by Jimmy “Duck” Holmes
Rawer Than Raw by Bobby Rush
BEST CONTEMPORARY BLUES ALBUM
Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? by Fantastic Negrito
Live at the Paramount by Ruthie Foster Big Band
The Juice by G. Love
Blackbirds by Bettye LaVette
Up and Rolling by North Mississippi Allstars
BEST FOLK ALBUM
Bonny Light Horseman by Bonny Light Horseman
Thanks For the Dance by Leonard Cohen
Song For Our Daughter by Laura Marling
Saturn Return by The Secret Sisters
All the Good Times by Gillian Welch and David Rawlings
BEST REGIONAL ROOTS MUSIC ALBUM
My Relatives by “Nikso Kowaiks” Black Lodge Singers
Cameron Dupuy and the Cajun Troubadours by Cameron Dupuy and the Cajun Troubadours
Lovely Sunrise by Nā Wai ‘ehā
Atmosphere by New Orleans Nightcrawlers
A Tribute to Al Berard by Sweet Cecilia
BEST MUSIC FILM
Beastie Boys Story by Beastie Boys – Spike Jonze, video director; Amanda Adelson, Jason Baum, and Spike Jonze, video producers
Black Is King by Beyoncé
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme by Freestyle Love Supreme – Andrew Fried, video director; Andrew Fried, Jill Furman, Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sarina Roma, Jenny Steingart, and Jon Steingart, video producers
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice by Linda Ronstadt – Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, video directors; Michele Farinola and James Keach, video producers
That Little Ol’ Band From Texas by ZZ Top – Sam Dunn, video director; Scot McFadyen, video producer
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
“Brown Skin Girl” by Beyoncé
“Life Is Good” by Future feat. Drake
“Lockdown” by Anderson .Paak
“Adore You” by Harry Styles
“Goliath” by Woodkid
BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA
“Beautiful Ghosts [From Cats]” by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Taylor Swift, songwriters
“Carried Me With You [From Onward]” by Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth, songwriters
“Into the Unknown [From Frozen 2]” by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, songwriters
“No Time to Die [From No Time to Die]” by Billie Eilish O’Connell and Finneas Baird O’Connell, songwriters
“Stand Up [From Harriet]” by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo, songwriters
BEST MUSICAL THEATER ALBUM
Amélie by Original London Cast
American Utopia on Broadway by Original Cast
Jagged Little Pill by Original Broadway Cast
Little Shop of Horrors by The New Off-Broadway Cast
The Prince of Egypt by Original Cast
Soft Power by Original Cast
BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Bill & Ted Face the Music
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga
Frozen 2
Jojo Rabbit
BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Ad Astra by Max Richter, composer
Becoming by Kamasi Washington, composer
Joker by Hildur Guðnadóttir, composer
1917 by Thomas Newman, composer
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker by John Williams, composer
