BTS, snubbed singers and Black Lives Matter: Here are 12 things to know about this year’s Grammy Award nominees – MarketWatch

NEW YORK (AP) Twelve things worth noting about Tuesdays nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards, from snubbed singers to posthumous nominees to famous folks competing for awards.

The Weeknd sings about being a star boy but the Grammys response to his latest album? Bye boy.

The pop star was severely snubbed this year despite having one of the years biggest albums with After Hours and topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart with Blinding Lights and Heartless.

Luke Combs also walked away without a single nomination though he was country musics most successful musician this year. Morgan Wallen also had a great year in country music, but didnt earn any nods. And the Chicks first album in 14 years was not recognized.

A group of young R&B female acts moving the needle also missed out on nominations, including Summer Walker, Teyana Taylor and Kehlani. Late rapper Juice WRLD, Brandy and Chris Brown were also snubbed.

Though they received nominations in their genre categories, acts such as Lady Gaga, Fiona Apple and Harry Styles didnt pick up bids for album, song or record of the year.

For years, BTS have said their dream is to be Grammy-nominated. And theyve finally achieved it.

The K-pop band is nominated for best pop duo/group performance with Dynamite, their first song to hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Others who scored their first-ever nominations include Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion, the Strokes, Jay Electronica, Michael Kiwanuka and Mickey Guyton.

Dr. Luke marked a major comeback this year, producing hits for Saweetie, Juice WRLD and Doja Cat, who is signed to his record label. And it earned him his first Grammy nomination in six years.

The hit Say So marked a breakthrough for Doja Cat and Dr. Luke, who last launched a No. 1 smash with Katy Perrys Dark Horse in 2014, the same year his former collaborator Kesha accused him of sexual assault during their yearslong partnership. Dr. Luke has vigorously denied the allegations.

Say So is nominated for record of the year, an award given to the songs artist and producer, helping Dr. Luke earn a nomination. But instead of using his known name on the credits for the song, hes listed as Tyson Trax.

Other monikers Dr. Luke has used are Loctor Duke and MADE IN CHINA.

Reflecting the current times, Black artists released songs this year about the Black Lives Matter movement and the international protests that took place following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others.

And those songs are nominated for Grammys.

Beyoncs Black Parade, released on Juneteenth, is up for four awards including record and song of the year. The protest song I Cant Breathe by H.E.R. is nominated for song of the year and best R&B song, while Lil Babys The Bigger Picture which reached the No. 3 spot on the pop charts is up for best rap song and best rap performance. And Anderson .Paaks Lockdown, about police brutality and racial injustice, is up for best melodic rap performance and best music video.

Country singer Mickey Guyton wrote Black Like Me a year before Floyds death, but rushed to release the song because she said the time was right. The poignant track earned a nomination for best country solo performance.

John Prine died of complications of the coronavirus in April, but his spirit is all over the Grammy Awards.

The icon earned two posthumous nominations, including best American Roots performance and best American Roots song for I Remember Everything.

Breakthrough rapper Pop Smoke died this year but his hit song Dior, a double platinum success, is nominated for best rap performance. Nipsey Hussle, who died last year and won two posthumous Grammys earlier this year, scored a nomination for best rap performance for his guest appearance on Big Seans Deep Reverence.

Leonard Cohen has earned multiple posthumous nominations since his death in 2016 and is nominated for best folk album with Thanks for the Dance, his fifteenth and final studio album.

And songwriter LaShawn Daniels, who died last year and won a Grammy for co-writing Destinys Childs Say My Name, is competing for best gospel performance/song with Come Together by his close friend Rodney Darkchild Jerkins. Daniels and Jerkins started writing the song about the world coming together 17 years ago but Jerkins released it this year during the pandemic to offer healing and hope to listeners.

Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Rene Zellweger are vying for Grammy gold.

Streep is nominated for best spoken world album for Charlottes Web, pitting her against MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, journalist Ronan Farrow and Jeopardy! record-holder Ken Jennings, who is nominated for reading Alex Trebex The Answer Is

Zellweger won her second Academy Award for Judy and her performance on the soundtrack earned her a nomination for best traditional pop vocal album.

Cynthia Erivo, a Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner, scored a nomination for best written song for visual media with Stand Up from Harriet. The song, which she co-wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell, also earned an Oscar nomination earlier this year.

And the best comedy album award is stacked with famous folks, including Tiffany Haddish, Jerry Seinfeld, Patton Oswalt, Jim Gaffigan and Bill Burr.

Female acts dominate in the best rock song and best rock performance categories, with performers like Fiona Apple, Brittany Howard, HAIM, Grace Potter, Phoebe Bridgers and Big Thief led by Adrianne Lenker in contention.

And while country radio is overloaded with male artists, the Grammys best country album category is packed with women, including Miranda Lambert, Brandy Clark, Ashley McBryde and Ingrid Andress.

Brittany Howard has already won four Grammys with her talented band Alabama Shakes, but her first solo album is getting tons of Grammy love.

Jaime was released last year and is one of those rare albums competing for multiple genres at the Grammys. The album is nominated for best alternative music album, her song Stay High is up for best rock song and best rock performance, the track Goat Head is nominated for best R&B performance, and Short and Sweet is competing for best American Roots performance.

Happy wife, happy life: Jay-Z has lent his songwriting hand to his wife Beyonc and hes earned Grammy nominations for it.

Jay-Z co-wrote Beyoncs Black Parade and Savage with Megan Thee Stallion, and now hes nominated for song of the year, best R&B song and best rap song categories reserved for songwriters.

Jay-Z and Beyonc have won five Grammys together.

Despite rap music being todays most popular genre, no rap albums are nominated for the top prize, album of the year.

Expected nominees included Roddy Ricchs Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial, Lil Babys My Turn and DaBabys Blame It on Baby or Kirk.

But those albums didnt even score nomination in the best rap album category. Instead, nominees were focused on rap purists and respected lyricists instead of the young performers dominating the pop charts.

Nominees for best rap album include Nas Kings Disease, Jay Electronicas A Written Testimony, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemists Alfredo, The Allegory by Royce Da 59 and D Smokes Black Habits.

Paul McCartney scored his 79th Grammy nominations this year as an art director.

The former Beatle is nominated for best boxed or special limited edition package for the collectors edition of his 10th solo album, Flaming Pie. Hes listed as one of the art directors on the project, and shares his nomination with Linn Wie Andersen, Simon Earith and James Musgrave.

McCartney is the owner of 18 Grammys.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Best Immersive Audio Album Craft Committee was unable to meet to decide winners for the best immersive audio album Grammy. The judging of the entries has been postponed, and the nominees will be announced next year. The winners for the 2021 award will be announced at the 2022 show.

Heres a list of nominees in the top categories at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, announced Tuesday by The Recording Academy.

Album of the year: Chilombo, Jhen Aiko; Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition), Black Pumas; Everyday Life, Coldplay; Djesse Vol. 3, Jacob Collier; Women In Music Pt. III, HAIM; Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa; Hollywoods Bleeding, Post Malone; folklore, Taylor Swift.

Record of the year: Black Parade, Beyonc; Colors, Black Pumas; Rockstar, DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch; Say So, Doja Cat; Everything I Wanted, Billie Eilish; Dont Start Now, Dua Lipa; Circles, Post Malone; Savage, Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyonc.

Song of the year (songwriters award): Black Parade, Beyonc, Jay-Z, Derek Dixie, Denisia Andrews, Stephen Bray, Brittany Coney, Akil King, Kim Kaydence Krysiuk and Rickie Caso Tice; The Box, Roddy Ricch and Samuel Gloade; cardigan, Taylor Swift and Aaron Dessner; Circles, Post Malone, Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk and Billy Walsh; Dont Start Now, Dua Lipa, Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick and Emily Warren; Everything I Wanted, Billie Eilish and Finneas; I Cant Breathe, H.E.R., Dernst Emile II and Tiara Thomas; If the World Was Ending, Julia Michaels and JP Saxe.

Best new artist: Ingrid Andress; Phoebe Bridgers; Chika; Noah Cyrus; D Smoke; Doja Cat; Kaytranada; Megan Thee Stallion.

Best pop solo performance: Yummy, Justin Bieber; Say So, Doja Cat; Everything I Wanted, Billie Eilish; Dont Start Now, Dua Lipa; Watermelon Sugar, Harry Styles; cardigan, Taylor Swift.

Best pop duo/group performance: UN DIA (ONE DAY), J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy; Intentions, Justin Bieber featuring Quavo; Dynamite, BTS; Rain on Me, Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande; Exile, Taylor Swift featuring Bon Iver.

Best pop vocal album: Changes, Justin Bieber; Chromatica, Lady Gaga; Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa; Fine Line, Harry Styles; folklore, Taylor Swift.

Best traditional pop vocal album: Blue Umbrella, Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian; True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter, Harry Connick, Jr.; American Standard, James Taylor; Unfollow the Rules, Rufus Wainwright; Judy, Rene Zellweger.

Best dance/electronic album: Kick I, Arca; Planets Mad, Baauer; Energy, Disclosure; Bubba, Kaytranada; Good Faith, Madeon.

Best rock album: A Heros Death, Fontaines D.C.; Kiwanuka, Michael Kiwanuka; Daylight, Grace Potter; Sound & Fury, Sturgill Simpson; The New Abnormal, the Strokes.

Best alternative music album: Fetch the Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple; Hyperspace, Beck; Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers; Jaime, Brittany Howard; The Slow Rush, Tame Impala.

Best progressive R&B album: Chilombo, Jhen Aiko; Ungodly Hour, Chloe x Halle; Free Nationals, Free Nationals; F Yo Feelings, Robert Glasper; It Is What It Is, Thundercat.

Best R&B album: Happy 2 Be Here, Ant Clemons; Take Time, Giveon; To Feel Loved, Luke James; Bigger Love, John Legend; All Rise, Gregory Porter.

Best rap album: Black Habits, D Smoke; Alfredo, Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist; A Written Testimony, Jay Electronica; Kings Disease, Nas; The Allegory, Royce Da 59.

Best country album: Lady Like, Ingrid Andress; Your Life Is a Record, Brandy Clark; Wildcard, Miranda Lambert; Nightfall, Little Big Town; Never Will, Ashley McBryde.

Best jazz vocal album: ONA, Thana Alexa; Secrets Are the Best Stories, Kurt Elling featuring Danilo Prez; Modern Ancestors, Carmen Lundy; Holy Room: Live at Alte Oper, Somi with Frankfurt Radio Big Band; Whats the Hurry, Kenny Washington.

Best jazz instrumental album: On the Tender Spot of Every Calloused Moment, Ambrose Akinmusire; Waiting Game, Terri Lyne Carrington and Social Science; Happening: Live at the Village Vanguard, Gerald Clayton; Trilogy 2, Chick Corea, Christian McBride and Brian Blade; RoundAgain, Redman Mehldau McBride Blade.

Best gospel album: 2econd Wind: Ready, Anthony Brown & group therAPy; My Tribute, Myron Butler; Choirmaster, Ricky Dillard; Gospel According to PJ, PJ Morton; Kierra, Kierra Sheard.

Best contemporary Christian music album: Run to the Father, Cody Carnes; All of My Best Friends, Hillsong Young & Free; Holy Water, We the Kingdom; Citizen of Heaven, Tauren Wells; Jesus Is King, Kanye West.

Best Latin pop or urban album: YHLQMDLG, Bad Bunny; Por Primera Vez, Camilo; Mesa Para Dos, Kany Garca; Pausa, Ricky Martin; 3:33, Debi Nova.

Best Latin rock or alternative album: Aura, Bajofondo; Monstruo, Cami; Sobrevolando, Cultura Proftica; La Conquista del Espacio, Fito Pez; Miss Colombia, Lido Pimienta.

Best reggae album: Upside Down 2020, Buju Banton; Higher Place, Skip Marley; It All Comes Back to Love, Maxi Priest; Got to Be Tough, Toots and the Maytals; One World, The Wailers.

Best spoken world album: Acid for the Children: A Memoir, Flea; Alex Trebek The Answer Is, Ken Jennings; Blowout: Corrupted Democracy, Rogue State Russia, and the Richest, Most Destructive Industry on Earth, Rachel Maddow; Catch and Kill, Ronan Farrow; Charlottes Web (E.B. White), Meryl Streep (and full cast).

Best comedy album: Black Mitzvah, Tiffany Haddish; I Love Everything, Patton Oswalt; The Pale Tourist, Jim Gaffigan; Paper Tiger, Bill Burr; 23 Hours to Kill, Jerry Seinfeld.

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, Max Richter; Becoming, Kamasi Washington; Joker, Hildur Gunadttir; 1917, Thomas Newman; Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, John Williams.

Producer of the year, non-classical: Jack Antonoff; Dan Auerbach; Dave Cobb; Flying Lotus; Andrew Watt.

Best music video: Brown Skin Girl, Beyonc; Life Is Good, Future featuring Drake; Lockdown, Anderson .Paak; Adore You, Harry Styles; Goliath, Woodkid.

Best music film: Beastie Boys Story, Beastie Boys; Black Is King, Beyonc; We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, Freestyle Love Supreme (including Lin-Manuel Miranda); Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, Linda Ronstadt; That Little Ol Band from Texas, ZZ Top.

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BTS, snubbed singers and Black Lives Matter: Here are 12 things to know about this year's Grammy Award nominees - MarketWatch