The Recording Academy released its 2019 Grammy award nominations today (December 7th), a day later than was planned out of respect for the funeral of former president George H.W. Bush.
Nominations were lead by Kendrick Lamar with a total of eight, followed by Drake with seven. Among women, folk singer Brandi Carlile has six nominations, while Cardi B, Lady Gaga and H.E.R. all were tapped for five different categories. After getting blanked last year despite five nominations, SZA returns this year with four nominations, all for her feature on Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars” single.
The Grammy Awards are always as much about who wasn’t nominated and who was, and it’s been pointed out that Nicki Minaj received zero nods for her Queen album, while Taylor Swift came up with just a single nomination (best pop vocal album) for her Reputation album. Kanye West’s album Ye was also ignored though he did receive a nomination as producer of the year.
In an effort to recognize more artists, the Academy has expanded the number of nominees from five to eight in the four major award categories: album, record and song of the year plus best new artist. Also, the organization also made an effort to bring in new voting members to build in a wider array of tastes and backgrounds among voters.
Below are a list of nominees. The full complete nominations list is available on grammy.com.
Album of the Year
H.E.R.: H.E.R.
Brandi Carlile: By the Way, I Forgive You
Drake: Scorpion
Various Artists: Black Panther: The Album
Kacey Musgraves: Golden Hour
Post Malone: Beerbongs & Bentleys
Cardi B: Invasion of Privacy
Janelle Monáe: Dirty Computer
Record of the Year
Cardi B: “I Like It”
Brandi Carlile: “The Joke”
Childish Gambino: “This Is America”
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper: “Shallow”
Drake: “God’s Plan”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA: “All the Stars”
Post Malone & 21 Savage: “Rockstar”
Zedd & Maren Morris: “The Middle”
Song of the Year
Kendrick Lamar & SZA: “All the Stars”
Ella Mai: “Boo’d Up”
Drake: “God’s Plan”
Shawn Mendes: “In My Blood”
Brandi Carlile: “The Joke”
Zedd & Maren Morris: “The Middle”
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper: “Shallow”
Childish Gambino: “This Is America”
Best New Artist
Chloe x Halle
Luke Combs
Greta Van Fleet
H.E.R.
Dua Lipa
Margo Price
Bebe Rexha
Jorja Smith
Best Pop Solo Performance
Beck: “Colors”
Camila Cabello” Havana” (Live)
Ariana Grande: “God Is a Woman”
Lady Gaga: “Joanne (Where Do You Think You’re Goin’?)”
Post Malone: “Better Now”
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
Christina Aguilera ft. Demi Lovato: “Fall In Line”
Backstreet Boys: “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper: “Shallow”
Maroon 5 ft. Cardi B: “Girls Like You”
Justin Timberlake ft. Chris Stapleton: “Say Something”
Zedd, Maren Morris, and Grey: “The Middle”
Best Pop Vocal Album
Camila Cabello: Camila
Kelly Clarkson: Meaning of Life
Ariana Grande: Sweetener
Shawn Mendes: Shawn Mendes
Pink: Beautiful Trauma
Taylor Swift: Reputation
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Tony Bennett & Diana Krall: Love Is Here to Stay
Willie Nelson: My Way
Gregory Porter: Nat “King” Cole & Me
Seal: Standards (Deluxe)
Barbra Streisand : The Music… The Mem’ries… The Magic!
Best Rap Performance
Cardi B: “Be Careful”
Drake: “Nice for What”
Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, & James Blake: “King’s Dead”
Anderson Paak: “Bubblin”
Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk, & Swae Lee: “Sicko Mode”
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Christina Aguilera ft. Goldlink: “Like I Do”
6LACK ft. J. Cole: “Pretty Little Fears”
Childish Gambino: “This Is America”
Kendrick Lamar & SZA: “All the Stars”
Post Malone ft. 21 Savage: “Rockstar”
Best Rap Song
Drake: “God’s Plan”
Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future, & James Blake: “King’s Dead”
Eminem: “Lucky You”
Travis Scott, Drake, Big Hawk, & Swae Lee: “Sicko Mode”
Jay Rock ft. Kendrick Lamar: “Win”
Best Rap Album
Cardi B: Invasion of Privacy
Mac Miller: Swimming
Nipsey Hussle: Victory Lap
Pusha-T: Daytona
Travis Scott: Astroworld
Best R&B Performance
Toni Braxton: “Long As I Live”
The Carters: “Summer”
Lalah Hathaway: “Y O Y”
H.E.R.: “Best Part” ft. Daniel Caesar
PJ Morton: “First Began”
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Leon Bridges: “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand”
Betty LaVette: “Don’t Fall Apart on Me Tonight”
MAJOR: “Honest”
PJ Morton: “How Deep Is Your Love” ft. Yebba
Charlie Wilson: “Made for Love ft. Lalah Hathaway
Best R&B Song
Ella Mai: “Boo’d Up”
Miguel: “Come Through and Chill ft. J. Cole and Salaam Remi
Childish Gambino: “Feels Like Summer”
H.E.R.: “Focus”
Toni Braxton: “Long As I Live”
Best Urban Contemporary Album
The Carters: Everything Is Love
Chloe x Halle: The Kids Are Alright
Chris Dave and the Drumhedz: Chris Dave and the Drumhedz
Miguel: War & Leisure
Meshell Ndegeocello: Ventriloquism
Best R&B Album
Toni Braxton: Sex & Cigarettes
Leon Bridges: Good Thing
Lalah Hathaway: Honestly
H.E.R.: H.E.R.
PJ Morton: Gumbo Unplugged (Live)
Best Dance Recording
Above & Beyond: “Northern Soul” ft. Richard Bedford
Disclosure: “Ultimatum” ft. Fatoumata Diawara
Fisher: “Losing It”
Silk City & Dua Lipa: “Electricity” ft. Diplo and Mark Ronson
Virtual Self: “Ghost Voices”
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Jon Hopkins: Singularity
Justice: Woman
Sofi Tukker: Treehouse
SOPHIE: Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides
TOKiMONSTA: Lune Rouge
Best Song Written for Visual Media
Kendrick Lamar & SZA: “All the Stars”
Sufjan Stevens: “Mystery of Love”
Miguel: “Remember Me” ft. Natalia Lafourcade
Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper: “Shallow”
Keala Settle & the Greatest Showman Ensemble: “This Is Me”
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Boi-1da
Larry Klein
Linda Perry
Kanye West
Pharrell Williams
Best Music Video
The Carters: “APESHIT”
Childish Gambino: “This Is America”
Joyner Lucas: “I’m Not Racist”
Janelle Monáe: “PYNK”
Tierra Whack: “MUMBO JUMBO”
