This week’s “Five Burning Questions” dives into the recently released Grammy nominations, analysing how well they reflect the state of the music industry in 2025. With the 68th Annual Grammy Awards just three months away, the nominations have sparked debates about who’s in, who’s out, and what it all means for the future of the awards.
Announced on Friday (7 November), the nominations have set the stage for months of speculation leading up to the 1 February ceremony. Some big names are leading the pack, but other contenders have been notably overlooked. Let’s break down the key moments.
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Kendrick Lamar Leads with Nine Nominations
Unsurprisingly, Kendrick Lamar has earned the most nominations, with nine total. His chart-topping album GNX — featuring hit singles like “Luther” and “TV Off” — is at the heart of his Grammy hopes. Following closely behind him are Lady Gaga (7 nominations), Bad Bunny (6), and Sabrina Carpenter (6). All four artists are competing in the prestigious Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year categories.
But how well does this year’s list reflect the musical landscape? And where does the Recording Academy still have room to improve? Billboard’s team weighs in below.
1. How well do the 2026 Grammy nominations reflect the past year in music? (Rating from 1-10)
Katie Atkinson: 8/10
“It feels like there’s less to debate this year compared to previous ones. The nominations mostly feel deserved, though I wonder why songs like ‘Golden’ made it for Song of the Year but not Record of the Year. There’s also a refreshing lack of eyebrow-raising inclusions in the major categories this year.”
Eric Renner Brown: 8/10
“While I’m disappointed that indie breakout MJ Lenderman didn’t get more recognition for Manning Fireworks, the nominees as a whole are solid. The genre categories reflect a good range of music, and I’m glad there’s no deluxe edition nomination for Album of the Year, which had become a trend from 2020-2022.”
Kyle Denis: 8/10
“Most of the artists who had significant breakthroughs this year are here, but the lack of recognition for Ravyn Lenae and BigXThaPlug is baffling. I expected much more for them.”
Paul Grein: 8.5/10
“The nominations are generally on point, though they overlooked a key genre once again — we’ll get to that.”
Andrew Unterberger: 8/10
“Honestly, this year is pretty predictable. There’s no major shock like previous years, but the biggest issue might be that the nominations are just too safe.”
2. What omission from the big categories surprised you the most?
Katie Atkinson:
“It was surprising to see Alex Warren’s ‘Ordinary’ miss out on the big categories, especially after its massive success. I also expected Ravyn Lenae to at least get a Best New Artist nod, especially with the timing of her breakout single ‘Love Me Not.’”
Eric Renner Brown:
“Lorde was snubbed entirely this year, despite releasing one of her strongest albums in over a decade. That felt like a missed opportunity. Also, Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s Who Believes in Angels? was a Grammy contender, so it was surprising to see that left out.”
Kyle Denis:
“I’m disappointed to see ‘Love Me Not’ by Ravyn Lenae miss out. Also, I was shocked that Alex Warren’s ‘Ordinary’ wasn’t recognised in the general categories — it’s one of the biggest hits of the year.”
Paul Grein:
“Alex Warren’s omission is baffling given how much Ordinary dominated the charts. Also, HUNTR/X’s ‘Golden’ getting a Song of the Year nod but not a Record of the Year nomination was a surprising choice.”
Andrew Unterberger:
“It was shocking to see The Weeknd completely left out of the big four categories after his dramatic return to the Grammys last year. His Hurry Up Tomorrow album or ‘Timeless’ seemed like a surefire contender.”
3. Which genre categories are you most interested in this year?
Katie Atkinson:
“I’m fascinated by the Best Audiobook, Narration & Storytelling Recording category. The range of nominees this year is wild, including Trevor Noah, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and the Dalai Lama, to name a few.”
Eric Renner Brown:
“Country, Americana, and folk are well-represented in their genre categories, even though they were largely overlooked in the general field. The competition in these categories is fierce, and it’s a shame they didn’t get more recognition.”
Kyle Denis:
“I’m most intrigued by Best Dance Pop Recording this year. It’s a tight race, with Zara Larsson and Pinkpantheress among the contenders. Plus, Best Progressive R&B Album is shaping up to be an interesting battle with strong representation from both girl groups and Black queer artists.”
Paul Grein:
“The Best Music Film category is also packed with intriguing nominees, from Devo’s long-awaited return to the Grammys to Pharrell Williams’ Piece by Piece.”
Andrew Unterberger:
“The rock nominations are wild this year. Amyl and the Sniffers for Best Rock Performance and Tyler, the Creator’s dance album being up for Best Alternative Music Album? There are some truly unexpected surprises this year.”
4. Does the Recording Academy still lack proper representation in certain genres or demographics?
Katie Atkinson:
“There’s good representation in the Album of the Year category, with a diverse selection of artists, including rap, R&B, and Spanish-language albums. However, the real test will be seeing who takes home the trophy.”
Eric Renner Brown:
“The general field feels more diverse than ever, with a majority of nominees being people of colour. Still, I’m disappointed that country music, dance/electronic, and Caribbean artists weren’t recognised more widely. Dance music, in particular, has been a mainstream force for over a decade and deserves more visibility.”
Kyle Denis:
“The lack of Caribbean representation is glaring. Hits like Shake It to the Max by Moliy and Silent Addy & Disco Neil should have been recognised — yet there was barely any Caribbean music outside of the Reggae category. This is a huge oversight.”
Paul Grein:
“Country music remains underrepresented in the Grammy voting body. Only 7% of voters align with country, which is far less than other genres like jazz or classical. This imbalance continues to be a problem.”
Andrew Unterberger:
“Country is still the genre most often ignored by the Grammys. Despite country’s crossover success, it remains underrepresented in major categories, and this year’s shutout in Best New Artist shows that it still doesn’t get the respect it deserves.”
5. Who do you think is most likely to be the big winner at the 2026 Grammys?
Katie Atkinson:
“Kendrick Lamar seems like the obvious favourite, but Leon Thomas is another strong contender. He could win multiple awards in his categories and be one of the biggest breakout stars of the night.”
Eric Renner Brown:
“Bad Bunny is having an incredible year, and with his album Debí Tirar Más Fotos up for Album of the Year, he could take home several awards. But Kendrick Lamar has an even stronger chance, especially with his history of winning big in general categories.”
Kyle Denis:
“This is a two-way race between Kendrick Lamar and Bad Bunny, but right now, I’d give the edge to Bad Bunny. He’s had a year of dominance across the board.”
Paul Grein:
“I predict Kendrick Lamar will sweep the Grammys, possibly winning seven awards, just shy of the record of eight. Leon Thomas may also have a big night, with several wins in the R&B categories.”
Andrew Unterberger:
“While Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny could still surprise me, Kendrick Lamar seems like the favourite for a big night. He’s beloved, and I think this is his year to dominate.”