The Recording Academy rolled out its list of nominees for the 63rd Grammy Awards on Nov. 24. Interim Recording Academy president Harvey Mason Jr. was joined by music stars Dua Lipa, Imogen Heap, Lauren Daigle, Mickey Guyton, Yemi Alade, Nicole Benedetti, Pepe Aguilar, and Sharon Osbourne to announce the artists that will be up for a Grammy when the ceremony takes place on Jan. 31, 2021. Though the past twelve months will likely go down as one of the worst years in recent history, 2020 produced some incredible albums from some of the biggest stars – Fiona Apple, Taylor Swift, Bob Dylan, Dua, etc. – and the Academy made sure to celebrate them. There were some obvious snubs — Finoa Apple’s Fetch The Bolt Cutters was denied an Album of the Year nomination, and the Grammys blew over The Weeknd — so there should be plenty of arguments from here until January.
It’s still unclear just how the 63rd Grammy Awards will look like. COVID numbers in America are starting to rise again, meaning that an in-house audience seems unlikely. Will “Music’s Biggest Night” be completely virtual like the BET Awards, or live like the VMAs? It’s all up in the air, but one this is certain: there will be a dash of comedy. Hours before the nominations were rolled out, the Recording Academy (formerly the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) announced that The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah would host the show.
This marks the first time that Trevor, 36, has hosted a major awards show. He takes over for Alicia Keys, who hosted for the past two years. “Despite the fact that I am extremely disappointed that the Grammys have refused to have me sing or be nominated for best pop album, I am thrilled to be hosting this auspicious event,” said Noah in a statement, per Rolling Stone.
“I think as a one-time Grammy nominee,” he added (he was nominated for Best Comedy Album in 2020 but lost to Dave Chapelle), “I am the best person to provide a shoulder to all the amazing artists who do not win on the night because I too know the pain of not winning the award! (This is a metaphorical shoulder, I’m not trying to catch Corona.) See you at the 63rd Grammys!”
See The List of Nominees Below (Courtesy of Grammy.com):
Record of the Year
Beyonce, “Black Parade”
Black Pumas, “Colors”
DaBaby Ft. Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”
Doja Cat, “Say So”
Billie Eilish, “Everything I Wanted”
Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”
Post Malone, “Circles”
Megan Thee Stallion ft. Beyonce, “Savage”
Album of the Year
Jhene Aiko, Chilombo
Black Pumas, Black Pumas Deluxe Elimination
Coldplay, Everyday Life
Jacob Collier, DJesse Vol.3
Haim, Women In Music Pt. III
Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
Post Malone, Hollywood’s Bleeding
Taylor Swift, Folklore
Song of the Year
“Black Parade” Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“The Box” Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
“Cardigan” Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
“Circles” Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters (Post Malone)
“Don’t Start Now” Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren, songwriters (Dua Lipa)
“Everything I Wanted” Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
“I Can’t Breathe” Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)
“If The World Was Ending” Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, songwriters (JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels)
Best New Artist
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Chika
Noah Cyrus
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
Best Rap Performance
Big Sean ft. Nipsey Hussle, “Deep Reverence”
DaBaby, “Bop”
Luke James, “What’s Poppin”
Lil Baby, “The Bigger Picture”
Megan Thee Stallion Ft. Beyonce, “Savage”
Pop Smoke, “Dior”
Best Melodic Rap Performance
DaBaby fr. Roddy Ricch, “Rockstar”
Drake Ft. Lil Durk, “Laugh Now, Cry Later”
Anderson .Paak, “Lockdown”
Roddy Ricch, “The Box”
Travis Scott, “Highest In The Room”
Best Rap Song
“The Bigger Picture” Dominique Jones, Noah Pettigrew & Rai’shaun Williams, songwriters (Lil Baby)
“The Box” Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
“Laugh Now, Cry Later” Durk Banks, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Ron LaTour & Ryan Martinez, songwriters (Drake Featuring Lil Durk)
“Rockstar” Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, Ross Joseph Portaro IV & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch)
“Savage” Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White, songwriters (Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé)
Best Rap Album
D Smoke, Black Habits
Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, Alfredo
Jay Electronica, A Written Testimony
Nas, King’s Disease
Royce Da 5’9, The Allegory
Best R&B Performance
Jhené Aiko ft. John Legend, “Lighting & Thunder”
Beyoncé, “Black Parade”
Jacob Collier Ft. Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign, “All I Need”
Brittany Howard, “Goat Head”
Emily King, “See Me”
Best R&B Song”
“Better Than I Imagine” Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello)
“Black Parade” Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
“Collide” Sam Barsh, Stacey Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann, Akil King, Josh Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar & Benedetto Rotondi, songwriters (Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG)
“Do It” Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl, Victoria Monét, Scott Storch & Vincent Van Den Ende, songwriters (Chloe X Halle)
“Slow Down” Nasri Atweh, Badriia Bourelly, Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Skip Marley & H.E.R.)
Best Progressive R&B Album
Jhené Aiko, Chilombo
Chloe x Halle, Ungodly Hour
Free Nationals, Free Nationals
Robert Glasper, F— Yo Feelings
Thundercat, It Is What It Is
Best R&B Album
Ant Clemons, Happy 2 Be Here
Giveon, Take Time
Luke James, To Feel Love/d
John Legen, Bigger Love
Gregory Porter, All Rise
Best Country Solo Performance
Eric Church, “Stick That In Your Country Song”
Brandy Clark, “Who You Thought I Was”
Vince Gill, “When My Amy Prays”
Mickey Guyton, “Black Like Me”
Miranda Lambert, “Bluebird”
Best Country Song
“Bluebird” Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
“The Bones” Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
“Crowded Table” Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna, songwriters (The Highwomen)
“More Hearts Than Mine” Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis & Derrick Southerland, songwriters (Ingrid Andress)
“Some People Do” Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey & Thomas Rhett, songwriters (Old Dominion)
Best Country Group/Duo Performance
Brothers Osbourne, “All Night”
Dan + Shay Ft. Justin Bieber, “10,000 Hours”
Lady A, “Ocean”
Little Big Town, “Sugar Coat”
Old Dominion, “Some People Do”
Best Country Album
Ingrid Andress, Lady Like
Brandy Clark, Your Life Is A Record
Miranda Lambert, Wildcard
Little Big Town, Nightfall
Ashley McBryde, Never Will
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Cody Carnes, Run To The Father
Hillsong Young & Free, All Of My Best Friends
We The Kingdon, Holywater
Tauren Wells, Citizens of Heaven
Kanye West, Jesus Is King
Best Pop Solo Performance
Justin Bieber, “Yummy”
Doja Cat, “Say So”
Billie Eilish, “Everything I Wanted”
Dua Lipa, “Don’t Start Now”
Harry Styles, “Watermelon Sugar”
Best Pop Vocal Album
Justin Bieber, Changes
Lady Gaga, Chromatica
Dua Lipa, Future Nostalgia
Harry Styles, Fine Line
Taylor Swift, Folklore
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Tainy, “Un Dia (One Day)”
Justin Bieber ft. Quavo, “Intentions”
BTS, “Dynamite”
Lady Gaga Ft. Ariana Grande, “Rain On Me”
Taylor Swift Ft. Bon Iver, “Exile”
Producer of the Year
Jack Antonoff
Dan Auerbach
Dave Cobb
Flying Lotus
Andrew Watt
Best Rock Performance
Fiona Apple, “Shameika”
Big Thief, “Not”
Phoebe Bridgers, “Kyoto”
HAIM, “The Steps”
Brittany Howard, “Stay High”
Grace Potter, “Daylight
Best Rock Album
Fontaines D.C., A Hero’s Death
Michael Kiwanuka, Kiwanuka
Grace Potter, Daylight
Sturgill Simpson, Sound & Fury
The Strokes, The New Abnormal
Best Metal Performance
Body-Count, “Bum Rush”
Code Orange, “Underneath”
In This Moment, “The In-Between”
Poppy, “Bloodmoney”
Power Trip, “Executioner’s Tax (Swing Of The Axe) – Live”
Best Alternative Music Album
Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters
Beck, Hyperspace
Phoebe Bridgers, Punisher
Brittany Howard, Jaime
Tame Impala, The Show Rush
Best Latin Pop or Urban Album
Bad Bunny, YHLQMDLG
Camilo, Por Primera Vez
Kany García, Mesa Para Dos
Ricky Martin, Pausa
Debi Nova, 3:33
Best Music Film
Beastie Boys Story, Beastie Boys
Black Is King, Beyoncé
We Are Freestyle Love Supreme, Freestyle Love Supreme
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, Linda Ronstadt
That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, ZZ Top
Best Music Video
Beyonce, “Brown Skin Girl”
Future Ft. Drake, “Life Is Good”
Anderson .Paak, “Lockdown”
Harry Styles, “Adore You”
Woodkid, “Goliath”
The 2020 Grammys took place hours after Kobe Bryant was killed — alongside his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others – in a helicopter crash outside Calabasas, California. The loss permeated throughout the ceremony, which took place at the Staples Center (home to the Los Angeles Lakers, the team Kobe played with for 20 years.) While the 62nd Grammys will be remembered for being an impromptu memorial for the basketball icon, it will also go down as the night Billie Eilish won everything. She swept the top four major categories – Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist – the first person to do so since Christopher Cross in 1981.
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