On the back of a major change to the nominating process revealed in late April this year, the Grammy Awards for 2022 comes with a different category selection. The board of the Recording Academy has voted to eliminate the use of anonymous expert committees to whittle down the final ballot for multiple categories, a long-standing practice since 1989. Some may argue that the nomination processes this year still lacks transparency and continues to be mysterious. However, if you’re a fan of some of these incredible artists, you will find yourself celebrating today as we go into the festive mood.
To round things up, New Orleans born Jon Batiste, bags 11 nominations in one of the single biggest winners this year. The jazz and R&B rockstar took away the greatest number of nominations than any other artist for an array of categories including Album of the Year, Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Best R&B Album and Best American Roots Song. Kudos to the talent!
With a year that continues to be stricken with confusion on whether live festivals, summer venues and concerts are re-opening, who can say that they have not heard of Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘drivers license’ all over streaming platforms or ‘good 4 u’ lashing out at graduation parties? The 18-year-old has emerged as a front runner, picking up nominations across all four main categories including Best Album, Best New Artist, Record of the Year and Song of the Year for the smash hit ‘drivers license’
We can all agree that the Biebs is a champion of his highly incredible musical talent. The Recording Academy has also recognized that. Justin Bieber picked up eight nominations across four major categories this year, including ‘Peaches’ for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, ‘Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe)’ for Album of the Year, ‘Anyone’ for Pop Solo Performance and ‘Lonely’ for Pop Duo/ Group Performance, as well as pop vocal album, R&B performance and music video.
However, K-Pop fans worldwide might feel the pinch (yet again). While many can agree that BTS is arguably the biggest boyband at the moment, the group has only received one nomination for Best Pop Duo/ Group Performance category, missing out on major categories like Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Despite their global domination and making history at the American Music Awards 2021 this week for bagging the ‘Artist of the Year’ award, BTS has found themselves having to stay patient again as we cast our hopeful eyes for future Grammy’s nominations.
Sorry, Swifties. With only one nomination this year for ‘Album of the Year’, it is hard not to feel bad for Taylor’s hard work. This is her second consecutive album of the year nomination for ‘Evermore after she bagged the award for ‘Album of the Year’ last year for ‘Folklore’. With the current domination of ‘Red (Taylor’s Version)’ all over the global charts, it is a testimony of the great effort that the super star has put into her musical work. All eyes are going to be on this award category come 31st January as the tight race of well-deserving contenders like Justin Bieber, Olivia Rodrigo, and Kanye West, are not going down without a fierce fight.
Well, but who doesn’t love the classics? Abba has received their first ever Grammy nominations after 48 years of making music. Comeback single ‘I Still Have Faith in You’ is up for Record of the Year and we could not help but feel a tinge of nostalgia and happiness for the Swedish pop titans after their multi decades of smashing hits and a really long-standing career in the music industry.
Here is a list of the nominees. Take your time to make your predictions as we eagerly anticipate the annual show airing live from the Crypto.com Arena (formerly the Staples normal) in Los Angeles on 31 January 2022. The Grammys hands out awards in 26 various fields across 86 categories. Visit the Grammy’s website for all the excitement.
Record of the Year
“I Still Have Faith In You” ”” ABBA
“Freedom” ”” Jon Batiste
“I Get A Kick Out Of You” ”” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
“Peaches” ”” Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
“Right On Time” ”” Brandi Carlile
“Kiss Me More” ”” Doja Cat Featuring SZA
“Happier Than Ever” ”” Billie Eilish
“Montero” (Call Me By Your Name) ”” Lil Nas X
“drivers license” ”” Olivia Rodrigo
“Leave The Door Open” ”” Silk Sonic
Album of the Year
We Are ”” Jon Batiste
Love For Sale ”” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe) ”” Justin Bieber
Planet Her (Deluxe) ”” Doja Cat
Happier Than Ever ”” Billie Eilish
Back Of My Mind ”” H.E.R.
Montero ”” Lil Nas X
Sour ”” Olivia Rodrigo
Evermore ”” Taylor Swift
Donda ”” Kanye West
Song of the Year
“Bad Habits” ”” Fred Gibson, Johnny McDaid & Ed Sheeran, songwriters (Ed Sheeran)
“A Beautiful Noise” ”” Ruby Amanfu, Brandi Carlile, Brandy Clark, Alicia Keys, Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Linda Perry & Hailey Whitters, songwriters (Alicia Keys Featuring Brandi Carlile)
“drivers license” ”” Daniel Nigro & Olivia Rodrigo, songwriters (Olivia Rodrigo)
“Fight For You” ”” Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“Happier Than Ever” ”” Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“Kiss Me More” ”” Rogét Chahayed, Amala Zandile Dlamini, Lukasz Gottwald, Carter Lang, Gerard A. Powell II, Solána Rowe & David Sprecher, songwriters (Doja Cat Featuring SZA)
“Leave The Door Open” ”” Brandon Anderson, Christopher Brody Brown, Dernst Emile II & Bruno Mars, songwriters (Silk Sonic)
“Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” ”” Denzel Baptiste, David Biral, Omer Fedi, Montero Hill & Roy Lenzo, songwriters (Lil Nas X)
“Peaches” ”” Louis Bell, Justin Bieber, Giveon Dezmann Evans, Bernard Harvey, Felisha “Fury” King, Matthew Sean Leon, Luis Manual Martinez Jr., Aaron Simmonds, Ashton Simmonds, Andrew Wotman & Keavan Yazdani, songwriters (Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon)
“Right On Time” ”” Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters (Brandi Carlile)
Best New Artist
Arooj Aftab
Jimmie Allen
Baby Keem
FINNEAS
Glass Animals
Japanese Breakfast
The Kid Laroi
Arlo Parks
Olivia Rodrigo
Saweetie
Best Pop Vocal Album
Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe) ”” Justin Bieber
Planet Her (Deluxe) ”” Doja Cat
Happier Than Ever ”” Billie Eilish
Positions ”” Ariana Grande
Sour ”” Olivia Rodrigo
Best Dance/Electronic Recording
“Hero” ”” Afrojack & David Guetta
“Loom” ”” Ólafur Arnalds Featuring Bonobo
“Before” ”” James Blake
“Heartbreak” ”” Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs
“You Can Do It” ”” Caribou
“Alive” ”” Rüfüs Du Sol
“The Business” ”” Tiësto
Best Alternative Music Album
Shore ”” Fleet Foxes
If I Can‘t Have Love, I Want Power ”” Halsey
Jubilee ”” Japanese Breakfast
Collapsed In Sunbeams ”” Arlo Parks
Daddy’s Home ”” St. Vincent
Best R&B Performance
“Lost You” ”” Snoh Aalegra
“Peaches” ”” Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
“Damage” ”” H.E.R.
“Leave The Door Open” ”” Silk Sonic
“Pick Up Your Feelings” ”” Jazmine Sullivan
Best R&B Song
“Damage” ”” H.E.R.
“Good Days” ”” SZA
“Heartbreak Anniversary” ”” Giveon
“Leave The Door Open” ”” Silk Sonic
“Pick Up Your Feelings” ”” Jazmine Sullivan
Best Progressive R&B Album
New Light ”” Eric Bellinger
Something To Say ”” Cory Henry
Mood Valiant ”” Hiatus Kaiyote
Table For Two ”” Lucky Daye
Dinner Party: Dessert ”” Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder & Kamasi Washington
Studying Abroad: Extended Stay ”” Masego
Best Rap Performance
“Family Ties” ”” Baby Keem Featuring Kendrick Lamar
“Up” ”” Cardi B
“M Y . L I F E” ”” J. Cole Featuring 21 Savage & Morray
“Way 2 Sexy” ”” Drake Featuring Future & Young Thug
“Thot S***” ”” Megan Thee Stallion
Best Rap Album
The Off Season ”” J. Cole
Certified Lover Boy ”” Drake
King’s Disease II ”” Nas
Call Me If You Get Lost ”” Tyler, The Creator
Donda ”” Kanye West
Best Country Song
“Better Than We Found It” ”” Maren Morris
“camera roll” ”” Kacey Musgraves
“Cold” ”” Chris Stapleton
“Country Again” ”” Thomas Rhett
“Fancy Like” ”” Walker Hayes
“Remember Her Name” ”” Mickey Guyton
Best Jazz Vocal Album
Generations ”” The Baylor Project
SuperBlue ”” Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter
Time Traveler ”” Nnenna Freelon
Flor ”” Gretchen Parlato
Songwrights Apothecary Lab ”” Esperanza Spalding
Best Gospel Album
Changing Your Story ”” Jekalyn Carr
Royalty: Live At The Ryman ”” Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition ”” Maverick City Music
Jonny x Mali: Live In LA ”” Jonathan McReynolds & Mali Music
Believe For It ”” CeCe Winans
Best Latin Pop Album
Vértigo ”” Pablo Alborán
Mis Amores ”” Paula Arenas
Hecho A La Antigua ”” Ricardo Arjona
Mis Manos ”” Camilo
Mendó ”” Alex Cuba
Revelación ”” Selena Gomez
Best Música Urbana Album
AfrodisÃaco ”” Rauw Alejandro
El Último Tour Del Mundo ”” Bad Bunny
Jose ”” J Balvin
KG0516 ”” KAROL G
Sin Miedo (Del Amor Y Otros Demonios) 8 ”” Kali Uchis
Best Global Music Performance
“Mohabbat” ”” Arooj Aftab
“Do Yourself” ”” Angelique Kidjo & Burna Boy
“Pà Pá Pà ” ”” Femi Kuti
“Blewu” ”” Yo-Yo Ma & Angelique Kidjo
“Essence” ”” WizKid Featuring Tems
Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling)
Aftermath ”” LeVar Burton
Carry On: Reflections For A New Generation From John Lewis ”” Don Cheadle
Catching Dreams: Live At Fort Knox Chicago ”” J. Ivy
8:46 ”” Dave Chappelle & Amir Sulaiman
A Promised Land ”” Barack Obama
Best Opera Recording
“Bartók: Bluebeard’s Castle” ”” Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra
“Glass: Akhnaten” ”” The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus
“JanáÄek: Cunning Little Vixen” ”” London Symphony Orchestra; London Symphony Chorus & LSO Discovery Voices
“Little: Soldier Songs” ”” The Opera Philadelphia Orchestra
“Poulenc: Dialogues Des Carmélites” ”” The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus
Best Music Video
“Shot In The Dark” ”” AC/DC
“Freedom” ”” Jon Batiste
“I Get A Kick Out Of You” ”” Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga
“Peaches” ”” Justin Bieber Featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon
“Happier Than Ever” ”” Billie Eilish
“Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” ”” Lil Nas X
“Good 4 U” ”” Olivia Rodrigo
Best Music Film
Inside ”” Bo Burnham
David Byrne‘s American Utopia ”” David Byrne
Happier Than Ever: A Love Letter To Los Angeles ”” Billie Eilish
Music, Money, Madness…Jimi Hendrix In Maui ”” Jimi Hendrix
Summer Of Soul ”” Various Artists
The Grammys air Monday, Jan. 31, 2022 at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT on CBS and Paramount+.