Billie Eilish sweeps Grammy Awards with top 4 prizes

LOS ANGELES - Teen sensation Billie Eilish swept the Grammy Awards on Sunday, winning all four top prizes - album, song, record of the year and best new artist - in a rare feat at the music industry's highest honors.

Eilish, an 18-year-old newcomer with a unique sound, won for her debut studio album "When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?" while her hit single "Bad Guy" was named record of the year and song of the year. In all, she took home five awards.

She is only the second person, and the youngest, to win all four top Grammys on the same night.

Eilish, distinguished by her green hair and baggy clothes, recorded the album with her brother Finneas in the bedroom of their Los Angeles home. Finneas also won the Grammy for non classical producer of the year.

They seemed taken aback by their Grammy haul, which saw them triumph over established stars including Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and rapper Post Malone.

"We didn't make this album to win a Grammy. We wrote about depression and suicidal thoughts and environmental change," Finneas said as the pair accepted the awards. "We stand up here confused and grateful."

Asked backstage what she would do next, Eilish said, "Being in this moment is all I'm thinking about... I'm gonna do whatever I feel."

The Grammy Awards show opened with a dedication to basketball star Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter accident earlier in the day and whose Los Angeles Lakers team has its home at the city's Staples Center and Grammy venue.

"We are literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built," said Grammy host Alicia Keys. "We never imagined in a million years we'd have to start the show like this."

R&B star Lizzo won three of her eight nominations, while gay black country rapper Lil Nas X took two for his viral "Old Town Road" collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus.

Lil Nas X, 20, wearing a cowboy hat and silver lure suit, and country singer Billy Ray Cyrus dazzled the house with a kitschy performance of their viral collaboration "Old Town Road," with contributions from stars ranging from K-Pop band BTS to young yodeler Mason Ramsey.

"He told the world he was gay and overnight he became an inspiration and a role model for hundreds of young people around the world," comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who is also gay, said as she introduced Lil Nas X.

Grande performed a medley of hits from her break-up album "Thank u, Next," including "7 Rings" and "Imagine" but won none of the five Grammys for which she was nominated.

Slain rapper Nipsey Hussle, 33, who was gunned down in his Los Angeles neighborhood last year, won two Grammys and was honored in a tribute by John Legend, DJ Khaled and rapper Meek Mill.

Blake Shelton and his fiancee Gwen Stefani held hands as they debuted their new romantic duet "Nobody But You," while Camila Cabello sang her recent single "First Man" to her tearful father in the audience. Demi Lovato won a standing ovation in her first performance at a major awards show since a drugs overdose in 2018.

The Grammy winners are chosen by members of the Recording Academy, which is currently embroiled in a dispute over the departure of its new chief executive Deborah Dugan and her allegations of conflicts of interest in the nominations process. The Recording Academy has denied the allegations.

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'Tonight is for Kobe': Lizzo dedicates Grammys to late NBA legend

LOS ANGELES - Top nominee Lizzo kicked off the 2020 Grammys on Sunday with a tribute to the late basketball legend Kobe Bryant, before launching into a rousing medley of her hits.

"Tonight is for Kobe," shouted the 31-year-old, who has already won two awards in the pre-gala event that led into music's marquee night.

Bryant -- a hero for Los Angeles who played for the Lakers in the Staples Center, where the Grammys are being held -- died in a helicopter crash earlier in the day, along with eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter.

After a glittering performance of "Truth Hurts" and "Cuz I Love You" -- which featured ballerinas, orchestrals and the artist's signature flute skills -- Lizzo passed the torch to Grammy host Alicia Keys who offered another moving tribute to Bryant.

"We're all feeling crazy sadness right now. Earlier today, Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero," she said. 

"And we're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built," said Keys, before launching into a soulful rendition of "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye" with the group Boyz II Men.

Top contenders at Sunday's glam gala include Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X.

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Grammys set to honor music's best, but scandal overshadows gala

UNITED STATES -- Los Angeles is gearing up for the Grammys, music's marquee night, with Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X leading a pack of young, talented contenders hoping to strike gold on Sunday.

But revelations of infighting at the Recording Academy, which organizes the awards show, and an explosive allegation of rape has cast a dark shadow over the glitzy gala and rattled the institution's efforts to shed its out-of-touch image.

On Tuesday, Deborah Dugan -- the first woman to head the Academy, a move meant to usher in a new era for a body long accused of favoritism and a lack of diversity -- filed an explosive discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

She says she was suspended after raising concerns over sexual harassment, voting irregularities and other misconduct within the Academy, one of music's most influential organizations.

In the complaint, the former CEO -- who was put on leave last week days before her filing, accused of bullying behavior -- also alleged that her predecessor, Neil Portnow, had raped a foreign female musician, an allegation he has rejected as "ludicrous and untrue."

The ongoing tempest is swirling in stark contrast with the Recording Academy's efforts to reinvent itself, and thereby appease critics who long have lambasted the Grammys as too white, too male -- and too generous to music world mainstays.

DIVERSE NOMINEE FIELD

This year's diverse slate of nominees -- which celebrates a mix of established and budding stars -- did appear to be a move in a new direction.

Leading the pack is the effervescent 31-year-old Lizzo -- beloved by fans for her sassy, body-positive persona and unflinching messages of feminist empowerment, sexual freedom and black pride.

She nabbed 8 nominations, including in all the top 4 categories.

The 18-year-old goth-leaning pop iconoclast Billie Eilish and the genre-bending overnight sensation Lil Nas X, 20, both have 6 chances at Grammy gold, while the enigmatic 22-year-old R&B prodigy H.E.R. has 5.

The newbie front-runners will square off against veteran powerhouses including Ariana Grande and Beyonce, as well as alt-leaning acts Lana Del Rey, Bon Iver and Vampire Weekend.

The shift follows years of sharp critique from top-tier artists including Frank Ocean, Drake and Jay-Z, who have all slammed the Grammys as irrelevant, especially citing its failure to recognize black artists.

DIVERSE WINS 'MORE POSSIBLE'

For John Vilanova, a professor at Lehigh University who has extensively researched the intersection of race and gender at the Grammys, this year's field of nominees is evidence of "an environment that feels more possible" for different kinds of artists to have a chance.

"It's quite interesting, to see what will happen when you have artists who are really having their first chance at this," he told AFP.

"Their work is being appraised by the academy for the first time."

In her first public interview since unveiling her scathing allegations that the Academy is a "boys' club" where powerful men line their pockets and promote a misogynistic culture with impunity, Dugan told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday: "I actually wanted to make change from within."

In her complaint, she said that some nominated artists have sat on the voting boards for their prospective categories.

But when asked if the Grammys are "rigged," Dugan sidestepped.

"I was trying at each step to take a deep breath and say, 'OK, I can make a difference, I can fix this, I can work with this team,'" she told the ABC morning news program.

'OLD TOWN ROAD' ALL-STAR SHOW

Though one-time Grammy darling Taylor Swift is up for several awards including Song of the Year, many mainstay artists are not "looming significantly" over the ceremony as they have in years past, Vilanova said.

"They aren't leading the discourse, they're afterthoughts -- and when has Taylor Swift been an afterthought?"

Often remembered as much for its performances as its winners, the Grammys will feature Lizzo, Eilish and Grande, along with a genre-blending rendition of Lil Nas X's mega-hit "Old Town Road" that will feature K-pop sensation BTS, country star Billy Ray Cyrus and the eclectic DJ Diplo, among others.

Artists including John Legend, Meek Mill and DJ Khaled -- all up for Grammys this year -- will perform a tribute to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot dead last year and is up for 3 posthumous awards.

Though the Recording Academy drama has threatened to cloud the gala, Vilanova said that in terms of expanding possibilities for artists, the Grammys appear to be taking baby steps toward structural change.

"I hesitate to call it a sea change -- progress in these areas rarely happens in a straight line," he said.

"It's not that one artist should win -- what we want to ask is, 'Do the Grammys actually represent what the music industry sounds like and looks like?'"

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Lizzo leads Grammy nominations with 8 nods

LOS ANGELES -- Pop artist Lizzo led the Grammy nominations on Wednesday with eight nods, followed by alt-pop sensation Billie Eilish, and country rapper Lil Nas X with six apiece.

Lizzo, Eilish and Lil Nas X also scored nods for the top awards - album and record of the year.

The Grammy Awards, the highest honors in the music industry, will be handed out in Los Angeles on January 26, 2020 in a ceremony hosted by Alicia Keys. 

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No host? No problem. Queen, Lady Gaga bring Grammys vibe to Oscars

LOS ANGELES -- There will not be a host and Sunday's Oscars ceremony will not open with the traditional monologue in which celebrities and politicians are skewered.

Yet, with rock band Queen, pop superstar Lady Gaga and two musicals in the race for best picture, the highest honors in the movie industry will have an unusually strong music vibe as the Oscars seek to regain television audiences.

British band Queen, featuring Adam Lambert as lead vocalist, will open the Feb. 24 show with a live performance celebrating the box-office success of best picture nominee "Bohemian Rhapsody," a representative of the band told Reuters.

Bette Midler, Jennifer Hudson, Jennifer Lopez and record producer Pharrell Williams are also set to attend or present, along with James Bond actor Daniel Craig, tennis champion Serena Williams, "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman and comedians Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

Details have been scant about the first Academy Awards ceremony in 30 years to go ahead without a host, bringing a curiosity factor to the last and biggest awards show of the season. Comedian Kevin Hart withdrew from the host job in December after past homophobic tweets resurfaced.

"Hollywood is all about suspense," said Tom O'Neil, founder of awards website Goldderby.com.

One thing is certain: it will not be shorter. A pledge to broadcaster ABC to keep the show to three hours was wrecked last week when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bowed to protests and scrapped plans to hand out four of the 24 Oscars during commercial breaks.

In 1989, the last time there was no host, the telecast opened with an 11-minute song and dance number featuring Rob Lowe and an actress dressed as Snow White that was widely derided.

Under pressure to deliver a compelling show for viewers after last year's TV audience hit an all-time low, producers have made the most of the best original song contenders.

Lady Gaga and actor-director Bradley Cooper will perform a live duet of her hit song "Shallow" from their best picture contender "A Star is Born," while Jennifer Hudson has been tapped to sing "Fight" from documentary "RBG."

Midler will do the honors for the "Mary Poppins Returns" song "The Place Where Lost Things Go" and country duo Gillian Welch and David Rawlings will perform ""When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings."

"That is one of the places where the star wattage can make a difference," said Alison Willmore, critic and culture writer at BuzzFeed News.

"Lady Gaga is a music superstar and I would imagine her hard core fans will be tuning in for her," Willmore added.

Organizers have not said whether rapper Kendrick Lamar will perform his Oscar-nominated song "All the Stars" from superhero movie "Black Panther."

The academy on Wednesday said that Serena Williams, talk show host Trevor Noah and Congressman John Lewis would appear to talk about what the best picture nominees mean to them. Spanish-American chef Jose Andres, musician Tom Morello and Barbra Streisand will also be among those introducing the nominees.

Sunday's show is also expected to dispense with the segments between award handouts that in recent years have focused on pizza deliveries or surprising people on bus tours.

"I'm not going to miss a lot of those little bits. That often feels like the part that makes the ceremony long, so maybe without a host it won't feel like it's dragging," said BuzzFeed's Willmore.

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Cardi B, sassy queen of American hip-hop

LOS ANGELES - She's brash, she's loud, and America is all in for her special brand of sass, from online feuds to strip club brawls. 

But when Cardi B accepted her first Grammy award -- making rap history in the process -- the 26-year-old had the crowd falling in love with her softer side.

On Sunday night in Los Angeles, the unstoppable Bronx native cemented her spot in the upper echelons of hip-hop as the first woman solo artist to win a Best Rap Album Grammy.

And she accepted the trophy with signature, unfiltered charm. 

"The nerves are so bad. Maybe I need to start smoking weed," she quipped, to laughs and applause from the glitzy gala set.

Visibly shaking, she spoke of the odds being stacked against her as she raced to complete her debut album "Invasion of Privacy" while pregnant with her first child.

She clutched her rapper husband, Offset, later turning to him: "You husband, thank you."

The touching vignette was a far cry from the larger-than-life image of the reigning queen of rap, who had earlier gyrated through a sexually-charged performance in leopard thigh-highs and peacock-style feathers.

Born Belcalis Almanzar to a Dominican father and Trinidadian mother, Cardi B's unchartered rise to fame sparked during her days as a stripper, when she carved out a social media personality on platforms including Instagram.

Posting videos that saw her wax poetic on everything from cheating lovers to the qualities of the pancake chain restaurant IHOP, Cardi snagged a spot on the reality series "Love & Hip Hop," further amplifying her image. 

"Hey, America, washpoppin'?" she said in her intro video for the show.

"You might know me as that annoying dancer on social media that be talking hella crazy, with the long nails and the big ol' titties, but I'm just a regular, degular, shmegular girl from the Bronx."

And thus the New Yorker began clocking her rapid ascent to stardom: as her profile grew, Cardi in 2015 gave up stripping to give rap a go.

'MONEY!'

It was a bold gamble given her lack of experience, but her love of spectacle and fast-talking style helped ensure it paid off.

After releasing a few mixtapes she found runaway success with her breakthrough 2017 megahit "Bodak Yellow" -- a foreboding track with skittering beats whose lyrics revolve heavily around her stripping past.

The song smashed the charts, overtaking pop princess Taylor Swift to snag number one on the Billboard Hot 100 -- the first woman rapper to take the top spot since legend Lauryn Hill did so in 1998.

The internet celebrity turned bona fide rap star then dropped her album "Invasion of Privacy" -- the work that captured this year's top rap Grammy -- in 2018 to critical and commercial acclaim, assuring Cardi a seat at the table in the male-dominated world of hip-hop.

Despite her stream-of-consciousness style on social media, Cardi has proven a sharp student of the rap game, prioritizing the formal aspects of writing and studying the work of her predecessors.

She stacked "Invasion of Privacy" with A-list collaborators: Chance the Rapper, R&B star SZA, and Offset's rap trio Migos are among the guest performers.

Her saucy dance hit "I Like It" soundtracked the summer while nodding to her Latin roots: the track features reggaeton stars Bad Bunny and J Balvin, layering bilingual raps over the vamping piano of boogaloo musician Pete Rodriguez's 1968 hit "I Like It Like That."

And if proof were needed of her place in the pop culture pantheon, Cardi B's signature "Okurrrr" call was the centerpiece of Pepsi's latest Super Bowl ad, in which she starred complete with crystal-encrusted manicure.

An outspoken star with a penchant for drama, Cardi's on again, off again romance with husband Offset provides regular tabloid fodder.

But she wastes little time on the tribulations of love: the superstar favors the themes of proud women -- and money.

"I like boardin' jets, I like mornin' sex," she raps in her current hit "Money," which she performed at the Grammys on a rhinestone-encrusted piano.

Her risque video for the track wowed the internet for scenes that show Cardi breast-feeding, pole-dancing and playing the piano naked, as women shower other women in cash.

The rapper is also unabashed when it comes to politics, recently unleashing a vulgar rant slamming Donald Trump for the US government shutdown.

Cardi B has hinted she will drop a new album in 2019, capitalizing on a year of runaway success.

But no matter what comes next, there is little doubt Cardi from the Bronx will keep building her brand where she began: speaking to her fans directly, and keeping it real.

"Ohhhhh maaaaa Gaaaaaawwwwd!" she shouted in an effusive Instagram video post following her win, eyes wide, hair undone, extra long nail extensions glittering.

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Michelle Obama makes surprise appearance at Grammy Awards

Former US first lady Michelle Obama made a surprise appearance during the opening address at the 61st Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday and was met with a standing ovation from the star-studded crowd.

Grammy host Alicia Keys kicked off the show by inviting Obama, 55, along with Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith and Jennifer Lopez, to share personal anecdotes about how music has changed their lives and empowered them as women.

Obama, wearing a shimmering, silver suit, was briefly interrupted as the crowd erupted in cheers and applause at the beginning of her comments.

"From the Motown records I wore out on the Southside to the 'Who Run the World' songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story," Obama said, referring to the Chicago neighborhood where she grew up.

Obama is currently touring to promote her memoir "Becoming," which was released in the United States and in 28 languages around the world. She and her husband, former U.S. President Barack Obama, signed deals for a book apiece with Penguin Random House a month after Obama left office in January 2017.

"Whether we like country or rap or rock, music helps us share ourselves, our dignity and sorrows, our hopes and joys," Obama said. "It allows us to hear one another, to invite each other in."

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Ariana Grande wins first Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album

LOS ANGELES - Reigning pop princess Ariana Grande took home the first Grammy of her career for Best Pop Vocal Album on Sunday for her fourth studio album "Sweetener," topping a tough field including perennial favorite Taylor Swift.

Grande's Grammy comes after 6 career nominations but the star was notably absent from this year's gala.

Just days before the event, she slammed the ceremony's producer for "lying" about her decision not to perform on music's biggest night.

The chart-topper released her fifth album "Thank U, Next" before lashing out at producer Ken Ehrlich after he told US media the 25-year-old Grande "felt it was too late for her to pull something together."

"i know i’m not there tonight (trust, i tried and still truly wished it had worked out tbh) and i know i said i try not to put too much weight into these things .... but (...) this is wild and beautiful. thank you so much," she tweeted.

Grande had great success in the last 12 months, with Billboard naming her its 2018 Woman of the Year.

But she was passed over in the top Grammy categories of Album, Record and Song of the Year -- though her smash hit "Thank U, Next," the title song off her new album, dropped after this year's nomination deadline.

"Sweetener" includes her signature blend of pop and R&B with inflections of hip-hop, all set to the star's wide-ranging, silky-yet-breathy vocals.

It features appearances from Pharrell Williams, Nicki Minaj and Missy Elliott, and debuted atop the US Billboard 200 chart while boasting 3 top singles.

Grande makes headlines as much for her chart-topping music as her love life, having dated the late rapper Mac Miller and shortly thereafter getting engaged to "Saturday Night Live" comedian Pete Davidson.

Grande and Davidson split in October 2018, just before she released "Thank U, Next" -- in which she reflects on lessons learned from past loves.

She was also nominated this year for Best Pop Solo Performance for "God Is A Woman," but lost out to Lady Gaga, who won for her song "Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Going?)"

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Cardi B steals Grammys red carpet pre-show with oysters and pearls

LOS ANGELES -- Rain did little to dim the sizzle on the Grammys red carpet on Sunday in Los Angeles as a bevy of artists in sparkling, eye-popping attire stepped down the music world's main catwalk -- or, in Cardi B's case, tip-toed.

The rapper, surrounded by handlers, took tiny steps down the red carpet as her pearl-encrusted costume seemed to get the best of her.

Was she Venus rising from the sea or a pearl inside an oyster Ankle-binding black velvet encased the singer's lower half. But at the hips arose a massive pink fabric fan, like a clam shell. To top it off, Cardi B accessorized with pink princess gloves and a pearl headdress as she posed and pouted for the cameras.

Even Lady Gaga, not known for being demure when it comes to red carpet fashion statements, looked pale by comparison in her silver metallic dress.

Some of the artists seemed to have received a memo demanding "more volume, please."

Rapper Tierra Whack brought out the "wow" factor with a flowing, multicolored feathered cape worthy of Liberace, while Tayla Parx was encased in Barbie pink, her orange hairdo peeking out of a voluminous coat and dress covered with what appeared to be thousands of bits of fabric tabs.

Bebe Rexha sported a bright scarlet gown with layer upon layer of tulle and a train that looked dangerously trippable. Ahead of the show, the singer had taken to Instagram complaining about an unnamed designer who refused to dress her due to her not being "runway size."

"We are beautiful any size! Small or large!" she wrote. "My size 8 ass is still going to the Grammys."

"Havana" singer Camila Cabello sported a backless gown of form-fitting fuchsia rhinestones, while Lee Ann Womack showed off a low-cut bodice trimmed in rhinestones and a sparkly bow at the waist: "This is not my first rodeo," said the country singer.

Sequins were the choice of Hawaiian artist Kalani Pe'a, who brought some sparkle under the tents with a grape-colored sequin jacket.

South Korean boy band "BTS", in their first appearance at the Grammys, looked conservative in traditional tuxedos despite some of the seven members' green and pink hair. Also in somber black were the Backstreet Boys, the US band who said they are nearing 26 years together.

GIRL POWER AND BORDER WALLS

Politics and social issues, such as the #MeToo movement, were once gain talking points on the red carpet.

Many of the female nominees said it was important for young women to see them at the awards show, and come away inspired.

"I want young women to see me ... come and take my place, win an award," said producer and DJ TokiMonsta, who wore an array of "Girl" barrettes in her hair.

A pregnant Margo Price, wearing a flowing red chiffon dress with silver stars at the bodice, saluted the Grammys for including more female artists. "Women always have to work twice as hard as men," she said.

Singer Joy Villa, who wore a "Make America Great Again" dress to the awards two years ago -- a reference to US President Donald Trump's campaign slogan -- did not shy away from controversy this year, with a silver dress adorned with barbed wire and spokes: the Border Wall dress.

When the singer turned for the crush of photographers, the words "Build the Wall," were seen on the back.

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Rap scores Grammy breakthrough while girl power rules awards show

LOS ANGELES -- "This is America," Childish Gambino's searing indictment of police brutality and racism, scored a breakthrough for rap on Sunday at the Grammy awards, where the top prize went to country artist Kacey Musgraves.

It won both record and song of the year, becoming the first hip hop track to win either of the top Grammy categories in 61 years. "This is America" also took Grammys for best music video and best rap performance.

However, Childish Gambino, the music alter ego of actor Donald Glover, was not around to accept the honor.

Both Glover and leading nominee Kendrick Lamar were Grammy no-shows in what was seen as a snub by the rappers for past disappointments when socially incisive rap material lost out to pop or R&B at the highest honors in the music business.

"I really wish he (Glover) was here right now. All of this was his vision and he deserves this credit," said songwriter Ludwig Goransson, who worked with Glover on the track.

"It speaks to people, it calls out injustice, celebrates life and reunites us all at the same time," Goransson said, accepting the award on Glover's behalf.

The album of the year Grammy went to Musgraves for "Golden Hour," reflecting a show and a year that was dominated by female performers and winners across multiple genres.

"I would have nothing without songs. It's all about the songs," said Musgraves, who also won three other Grammys.

SPRINGING A SURPRISE

Popular rapper Cardi B, who wore a black and silver mesh body suit to perform her song "Money," won her first Grammy, taking best rap album for "Invasion of Privacy."

The outspoken New Yorker seemed uncharacteristically overwhelmed by the win.

"Ooh. The nerves are so bad," she said, accepting her Grammy. "Maybe I need to start smoking weed."

Lady Gaga won three trophies and British pop singer Dua Lipa was named best new artist. Canadian rapper Drake, who was also not expected to show up, made a surprise appearance to accept the Grammy for best rap song for "God's Plan."

Drake, the biggest streaming artist of 2018, told musicians not to worry about winning prizes.

"The point is you've already won if you have people who are singing your songs word for word, if you're a hero in your hometown," Drake said in his acceptance speech.

"If there's people who have regular jobs who are coming out in the rain and the snow and spending their hard-earned money to buy tickets to come to your shows, you don't need this right here, I promise you," he said.

Music, old and new, ruled in a live telecast that was largely politics-free, in contrast to U.S. awards shows in the past two years.

Hosted by Alicia Keys, the show featured rousing performances by Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Jennifer Lopez, Diana Ross, Camila Cabello, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Janelle Monae and Katy Perry, as well as a tribute to the late Aretha Franklin.

The Grammys sprang another surprise by bringing on former U.S. first lady Michelle Obama for an opening segment in which she joined Lady Gaga, Keys, Lopez and actress Jada Pinkett Smith to talk about the power of music.

"From the Motown records I wore out on the (Chicago) Southside to the 'Who Run the World' songs that fueled me through this last decade, music has always helped me tell my story," Obama told the cheering celebrity audience in Los Angeles.

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LIST: Nominees for the 2019 Grammy Awards

Here is a list of nominees in the major categories for the Grammy Awards, which will be handed out on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar leads the nominations with 8, followed by Canada's Drake at 7.

Folk rocker Brandi Carlile is the most-nominated female artist with 6 nods:

Album of the Year

Cardi B, "Invasion of Privacy"

Brandi Carlile, "By The Way, I Forgive You"

Drake, "Scorpion"

H.E.R., "H.E.R."

Post Malone, "Beerbongs & Bentleys"

Janelle Monae, "Dirty Computer"

Kacey Musgraves, "Golden Hour"

Various Artists, "Black Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By" 

Record of the Year, recognizing overall performance on a song

Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin, "I Like It"

Brandi Carlile, "The Joke" 

Childish Gambino, "This Is America"

Drake, "God's Plan" 

Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper, "Shallow" (from "A Star Is Born")

Kendrick Lamar & SZA, "All The Stars" (from "Black Panther")

Post Malone featuring 21 Savage, "Rockstar" 

Zedd, Maren Morris & Grey, "The Middle"

Song of the Year, recognizing songwriting

Kendrick Lamar and SZA, with songwriters Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears and Anthony Tiffith, "All The Stars" (from "Black Panther")

Ella Mai with songwriters Larrance Dopson, Joelle James and Dijon McFarlane, "Boo'd Up" 

Drake with songwriters Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels and Noah Shebib, "God's Plan" 

Shawn Mendes with songwriters Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris and Geoffrey Warburton, "In My Blood" 

Brandi Carlile with songwriters Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth and Tim Hanseroth, "The Joke" 

Zedd and Grey, with songwriters Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson and Marcus Lomax, "The Middle" 

Lady Gaga with songwriters Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt, "Shallow" 

Donald Glover (Childish Gambino) and Ludwig Goransson, "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 Music Video 

The Carters, "APES**T"

Childish Gambino, "This Is America"

Joyner Lucas, "I'm Not Racist"

Janelle Monae, "Pynk"

Tierra Whack, "Mumbo Jumbo"

Best Rap Album 

Cardi B, "Invasion Of Privacy"

Mac Miller, "Swimming"

Nipsey Hussle, "Victory Lap"

Pusha T, "Daytona"

Travis Scott, "Astroworld"

Best Rock Album

Alice in Chains, "Rainier Fog"

Fall Out Boy, "Mania"

Ghost, "Prequelle"

Greta Van Fleet, "From the Fires"

Weezer, "Pacific Daydream"

Best Pop Vocal Album

Camila Cabello, "Camila"

Kelly Clarkson, "Meaning of Life"

Ariana Grande, "Sweetener" 

Shawn Mendes, "Shawn Mendes"

P!nk, "Beautiful Trauma"

Taylor Swift, "Reputation"

Best Alternative Music Album

Arctic Monkeys, "Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino"

Beck, "Colors"

Bjork, "Utopia"

David Byrne, "American Utopia"

St. Vincent, "Masseduction"

Best World Music Album

Bombino, "Deran"

Fatoumata Diawara, "Fenfo"

Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, "Black Times"

Soweto Gospel Choir, "Freedom"

Yiddish Glory, "The Lost Songs of World War II"

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Fun-loving Bruno Mars divisive in his Grammy glory

NEW YORK- After a tumultuous political year, the Grammys took a stand for the rights of women and immigrants -- but the top awards went to a singer whose mind is on sex, booze and parties.

The surprise sweep by Bruno Mars has renewed criticism in quarters that the music industry's premier prizes are out of touch with the wider world, but for fans of the retro R&B and funk star, he is an undisputed talent who provides exactly the type of joy the world needs right now.


The Recording Academy, the group of 13,000 professionals who vote for the awards, had seemed set to change the narrative this year, with hip-hop for the first time dominating the nominations.

But rap mogul Jay-Z, who led with eight nominations, left New York's Madison Square Garden empty-handed. Kendrick Lamar, who has given musical voice to the Black Lives Matter movement, for the second time swept the rap awards but was shut out in the general categories.

During the televised broadcast, President Donald Trump was skewered, stars defended immigrants facing deportation and Kesha's powerful performance punctuated the growing #MeToo movement to end sexual harassment.

The singer, who fought her label to stop working with a producer she says raped her, delivered her autobiographical song "Praying" with palpable ferocity.

But Kesha was also passed over for awards, with "Praying" edged out for Best Pop Solo Performance by Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" about putting the moves on a woman at a bar.

'Least threatening artist'  

Mars won Album and Record of the Year for "24K Magic," whose title track speaks of the sight of hot women "waking up the rocket" in his pants, and Song of the Year for "That's What I Like" about making love in high style.

His victory triggered an avalanche of social media postings questioning whether Mars really represented 2017 in music.
The satirical site The Onion summed up much of the criticism with the headline: "Bruno Mars Takes Home Coveted 'Least Threatening Artist' Award."

Justin Vernon of experimental rockers Bon Iver, who won the Best New Artist Grammy in 2012, wrote on Twitter that while Mars had a "fun voice," the singer "made a name in the INDUSTRY by making hits OUT of hits of yesteryear."

Others faulted the Grammys for snubbing "Despacito," the most-streamed track in history.

At a precarious time for Spanish-speaking immigrants as well as hurricane-hit Puerto Rico, "Despacito" would have been the first non-English song to take a top Grammy since the very first awards in 1959.

The fate of "Despacito" entered the political arena, with Democratic Senator Bob Menendez tweeting that the song by Puerto Ricans Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee was "robbed."

Proud of roots  

But Mars, whose real name is Peter Hernandez, does not lend to a simple narrative. He is himself partially Puerto Rican and also has Jewish, Filipino and Spanish ancestry.

The 32-year-old from Hawaii in an interview last year with Latina magazine voiced pride in his Puerto Rican heritage and suggested that he took a stage name to avoid being pigeon-holed as a Latin artist.

He has rarely spoken overtly about politics, instead explaining that he sees music's power to excite and unite.

Alisha Lola Jones, an assistant professor of ethnomusicology at Indiana University, said Mars deserved praise for acknowledging his debt to R&B and funk greats rather than appropriating them.

At the Grammys, Mars credited towering African American songwriters Babyface, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and Teddy Riley for inspiring him.

Many scholars of African American culture "actually appreciate that as he draws from the tradition, he's telling us the history," Jones said.

"African-American tradition does not always have to be protest. Folks who are true to the tradition do as Bruno Mars suggests, which is get people up and moving."

But she said that Mars's high-energy dance routines could be an easier sell at the Grammys than Lamar, who put on a symbolism-rich performance with camouflage-clad dancers dropping to the ground to simulated bullets.

Mars "does a palatable music industry performance that folks can digest, where Kendrick Lamar in contrast has folks on edge," she said.

Another possibility for Mars's victory is that, with multiple hip-hop stars in competition, he benefited from a split in the vote.

Recording Academy president Neil Portnow hinted at that theory, telling reporters: "When you look at five nominations (in a category), the math of how that works out and who votes for whom is a little unpredictable."

Whatever the reason, the Grammys also face another issue. Initial figures from Nielsen said that 19.8 million people watched the show, a drop of more than one quarter from last year and the lowest in a decade.

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Bruno Mars wins 6 Grammys

Bruno Mars holds six Grammys which includes Album and Record of the Year for “24K Magic” and Song of the Year for “That’s What I Like;” Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for “That’s What I Like.” “24K Magic” was also awarded Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical).

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Kesha lets music do talking in powerful Time's Up Grammy performance

LOS ANGELES -- Dressed in white and accompanied by five fellow female artists, pop singer Kesha took the spotlight at the Grammys on Sunday to deliver a powerful ballad as part of the Time's Up movement to end workplace sexual harassment.

Kesha, 30, who has been battling her former record producer Dr. Luke for years in U.S. courts over allegations of emotional and sexual abuse, performed her defiant single "Praying" alongside Cyndi Lauper, Andra Day, Camila Cabello, Bebe Rexha and Julia Michaels and an all-female choir.

Dr. Luke has repeatedly denied Kesha's allegations.

Actress and musician Janelle Monae introduced Kesha, calling for the music industry as a whole to "create safe work environments, equal pay and access for all women."

"We come in peace but we mean business. And to those who would dare try to silence us, we offer you two words: Time's up," Monae said as the audience applauded.

The Time's Up movement was launched by more than 300 Hollywood industry figures earlier this month in response to sexual assault and harassment allegations against powerful men in entertainment, politics and other fields.

"It's not just going on in Hollywood or in Washington. It's right here in our industry as well. Just as we have the power to shape culture, we also have the power to undo the culture that does not serve us well," Monae said.

"Praying" is the lead single from "Rainbow," Kesha's first album in five years following her bitter legal fight over her record contract.

"You brought the flames and you put me through hell; I had to learn how to fight for myself," Kesha sang.

The singer broke down in tears at the end of her performance and hugged the artists accompanying her on stage. Host James Corden, with tears in his eyes, said, "Music often resonates more than the spoken word ever could."

Both "Praying" and "Rainbow" were nominated for Grammy awards this year but lost to Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You" song and "Divide" album in the pop categories.

The music industry showed its support for women's equality and freedom from sexual harassment by wearing or carrying white roses at Sunday's Grammy Awards in solidarity with Time's Up.

Lady Gaga spoke the words "time's up" when she performed her song "Joanne," and rapper Kendrick Lamar wore a white rose as he accepted his numerous accolades on stage.

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Music industry hails Jay-Z before Grammys

NEW YORK -- Jay-Z, who once boycotted the Grammys as biased against hip-hop, was hailed Saturday by the music industry's power brokers ahead of the latest awards where he leads nominations.

The rapper who rose from a broken home to become a hip-hop multimillionaire was contrite over his previous attacks on the Grammys when he accepted a prize as an "industry icon" at a pre-award gala thrown by veteran music executive Clive Davis.

Jay-Z refused to attend the Grammys in 1999 because the Recording Academy which administers the awards snubbed fellow rapper DMX.

He stayed away, upset at the lack of recognition for hip-hop, until coming in 2004 with wife-to-be Beyonce, who joined him on Saturday.

"I realize like, man, art is super subjective and everybody is doing their best and the Academy, they are human like we are," Jay-Z told the packed ballroom in New York's Times Square.

"We can pretend we don't care, but we really care," he said of Grammy recognition. "We care because we see the most incredible artists stand on that stage and we aspire to be there."

A who's who of top artists performed in Jay-Z's honor, with soul legend Gladys Knight singing her classic "Midnight Train to Georgia" and Luis Fonsi dancing through his viral hit "Despacito."

Alicia Keys weaved Jay-Z's songs from "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" to their collaboration "Empire State of Mind" into a piano medley, in which she raised her hands and led a chant of the rapper's nickname Hov.

Breakthrough year for rap 

Jay-Z is in the running for eight awards at Sunday's Grammys including Album of the Year for "4:44," a strikingly introspective work in which the rapper apologizes for infidelity to Beyonce and supports his mother as she comes out as lesbian.

The music industry's premier awards gala -- which has returned to New York after 15 years in Los Angeles -- is shaping up to be a big night for hip-hop, which for the first time makes up a majority of nominations in the top categories.

Jay-Z is already one of the most accoladed artists in Grammy history with 21 awards. But until this year he had always been passed over for the main categories.

Jay-Z grew up fatherless in Brooklyn and became a small-time drug dealer.

He is now worth an estimated $1 billion with Beyonce after amassing a business empire that includes fashion, entertainment and the Tidal streaming service.

In an interview aired Saturday on CNN for a new show of Van Jones, the community activist and former aide to president Barack Obama, Jay-Z urged African American entrepreneurship.

"Until we come to the table with our own... power base, nothing will change," he said.

Jay-Z is nominated for Record of the Year, which recognizes the top song, for "The Story of O.J.," which explores the persistence of racism with his own success as a backdrop.

Tough competition

While Jay-Z is ahead for Sunday, music industry prognosticators see fewer clear-cut favorites compared with previous years.

West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar closely trails Jay-Z with seven nominations amid acclaim for his album "DAMN.," a return to a classic hip-hop sound by an artist known for his experimentation.

Lamar's previous album, "To Pimp a Butterfly," offered an unofficial musical soundtrack for the Black Lives Matter movement against police brutality -- but, to the disappointment of many music industry watchers, was denied Album of the Year two years ago.

Album of the Year contenders also include two high-selling pop albums -- "24K Magic" by Bruno Mars, who has revived fun-loving retro funk, and "Melodrama" by Lorde, the 21-year-old pop prodigy from New Zealand.

A dark horse in the category is "'Awaken, My Love!'," the psychedelic, R&B-infused album of Childish Gambino, the rap alter ego of actor and comedian Donald Glover.

Lorde is the only woman nominated in one of the two top categories -- despite the growing attention to gender discrimination in the entertainment industry following revelations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

In a show of support for the #MeToo movement, performers selected for the televised Grammy show include Kesha, who has taken on sexism in the industry after accusing her producer of raping her.

A group set up by female entertainment executives plans to hand out white roses as a show of solidarity with women fighting abuse.

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Adele makes Grammy history again

Adele breaks the Grammy for Record of the Year for "Hello" after having it presented to her at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California, U.S. on Sunday. Adele made history on Sunday for winning Grammy’s three top awards: album, record and song of the year, twice, the first in 2012 for her album “21.”

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Adele sweeps Grammys in shock victory over Beyonce

Adele: "My artist of my life is Beyonce and this album, the Lemonade album, was just so monumental."
 #GRAMMYs pic.twitter.com/noldxnyEYq

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 13, 2017

LOS ANGELES -- Adele won the top three Grammy awards on Sunday, taking home the statuettes for album, record and song of the year in a shock victory over Beyonce.

Adele won all five Grammys for which she was nominated, including for her comeback album "25" and her single "Hello."

Beyonce, who had gone into Sunday's awards show with a leading nine nominations for her "Lemonade" album, won just two.

"My queen and my idol is Queen B. I adore you," Adele said to Beyonce as she accepted her award.

"The 'Lemonade' album was so monumental," she added.

Beyonce and Adele also had the most talked-about moments on a night marked by political statements, an emotional tribute to British pop star George Michael, and a rocking memorial to pioneering funk musician Prince.

Watch: @BrunoMars pays tribute to Prince at the #GRAMMYs https://t.co/FAHHkXVW3n pic.twitter.com/NWuOimQrXs

 — Hollywood Reporter (@THR) February 13, 2017

In her first public appearance since her announcement 12 days ago that she is expecting twins, Beyonce donned a sheer, glittering gold dress and halo to sing ballads "Love Drought" and "Sandcastles" from her album "Lemonade."

Moments later, Adele literally stopped the show after flubbing the start of a tribute to the late British pop star Michael.

"I'm sorry. I know it's live TV," she said, cursing, stopping her slow ballad version of Michael's "Fastlove" and asking to start again. "I can't mess this up for him (Michael)," she said.

Adele, 28, was competing head-on with Beyonce, 35, the only other artist to be nominated this year for all three top awards - album, song and record of the year.

Chance the Rapper was named best new artist, while Twenty One Pilots won the Grammy for best pop duo/group performance for "Stressed Out."

The other big Grammy winner was late British singer David Bowie, who won all five of the nominations for his final album "Blackstar," including best rock song.

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Adele, Beyonce each nominated in three top Grammy categories

LOS ANGELES — Beyonce became the most-nominated female artist in Grammy award history on Tuesday as she received a leading nine nods this year, followed closely by Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West with eight nominations each.

Beyonce's haul of nine included album, song and record of the year, the top three Grammy accolades, for her hit song "Formation" and visual album "Lemonade," a collection of songs about race, feminism and empowerment.

The R&B singer, 35, has been nominated 62 times in Grammy history and has won 20 Grammy awards over her career spanning two decades. Rapper Kanye West, who has eight nominations this year for his "The Life of Pablo" album, has notched 68 Grammy nominations over his career, and won 21 awards.

British singer Adele is also up for the top three awards with her hit ballad "Hello" and album "25" and has a total of five nominations. The singer previously swept all three top categories in 2012 with her "21" album.

Canadian pop star Justin Bieber's "Purpose," Canadian hip hop star Drake's "Views" and country music singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson's "A Sailor's Guide To Earth" rounded out the contenders of album of the year.

The Grammy Awards are the top U.S. music honors and each year, members of the music industry choose nominees and winners across more than 80 categories.

This year's winners will be announced at a star-studded televised ceremony in Los Angeles on Feb. 12.

Other record of the year contenders include Lukas Graham's "7 Years," Rihanna's "Work" and Twenty One Pilots' "Stressed Out." Graham's "7 Years" is also nominated for song of the year alongside Mike Posner's "I Took a Pill in Ibiza" and Bieber's "Love Yourself."

Drake and Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna shared three of their eight individual nominations, two for their steamy duet on Rihanna's sultry "Work" and one for Rihanna as a featured artist on Drake's "Views."

Chance The Rapper landed seven nominations including the best new artist category, in which the 23-year-old Chicago native is up against pop duo The Chainsmokers, California rapper Anderson Paak and country music singers Kelsea Ballerini and Maren Morris.

Late British singer David Bowie, who died in January two days after the release of his final album "Blackstar," received four nominations including best alternative album.

Late music star Prince, who died in April, also landed one Grammy nomination for his final record, "Hit n Run Phase Two," in the best engineered non-classical album category alongside Bowie's "Blackstar."

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Hip-hop rules at Grammys show, Adele falls flat

Hip-hop ruled the Grammys stage on Monday in performances that put racial tension back in the national spotlight and where some of music's biggest stars failed to deliver, or in the case of Rihanna, failed to show up at all.

Kendrick Lamar's "To Pimp a Butterfly" lost out on the coveted album of the year. But it was his passionate, politically charged performance of "The Blacker the Berry" and "Alright," featuring chained black men in a prison, and African tribal dancers, that quickly stole the show.

"I'm African-American, I'm African, I'm black as the moon, heritage of a small village, pardon my residence, came from the bottom of mankind," rapped Lamar, 28, who hails from Compton, California, the birthplace of hip-hop.

Lamar's performance ended with a backdrop of a large map of Africa with the name Compton written across it.

National Public Radio's Eric Deggans called it "A performance that woke up a sleepy #Grammys" and entertainment website E! Online tweeted that "Kendrick Lamar just SHUT. IT. DOWN. at the Grammys."

Lamar wasn't the only rapper making waves.

Broadway's sold-out musical "Hamilton" which mixes rap, jazz, ballads and casts black and Latino actors as the U.S. founding fathers, performed live from New York. The show won the best musical theater album award and its creator, Lin Manuel-Miranda, delivered his acceptance speech in rap.

"Kendrick then Lin Manuel serving nonstop back to back black and brown genius," tweeted Daniel Jose Older.

Going into the Grammys, all eyes had been on Adele, who was returning to music's biggest night after a four-year absence and following the blockbuster success of her new album "25."

But the British singer's delivery of ballad "All I Ask," was marred by sound issues and uncharacteristic flat notes that dismayed many fans.

"The piano mics fell on to the piano strings, that's what the guitar sound was. It made it sound out of tune. Shit happens. X," Adele tweeted in response.

Instead, it was Lady Gaga who brought the audience at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to its feet with a psychedelic tribute to David Bowie, who died in January.

Rihanna pulled out at the last minute with bronchitis, disappointing fans watching at home who complained the 2016 Grammys lacked star power.

"But can we really blame Rihanna? If I was at the Grammys I would've left too," Twitter user Sophia commented.

Beyonce later made the briefest of appearances to present an award at the end of the 3-1/2-hour show, but did not perform.



Winner's list

Here's a look at the winners at this year's Grammy Awards.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Taylor Swift, 1989

RECORD OF THE YEAR
Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars, "Uptown Funk"

SONG OF THE YEAR
Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

BEST NEW ARTIST
Meghan Trainor

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"

BEST COUNTRY ALBUM
Chris Stapleton, Traveller

BEST RAP ALBUM
Kendrick Lamar, To Pimp a Butterfly

BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ALBUM
Hamilton

BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM
Taylor Swift, 1989

BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION
Arturo O'Farrill, The Afro Latin Jazz Suite

BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTAL OR A CAPPELLA
"Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy"

BEST ARRANGEMENT, INSTRUMENTS AND VOCALS
Maria Schneider, "Sue (Or In A Season Of Crime)"

BEST RECORDING PACKAGE
Still The King: Celebrating The Music Of Bob Wills And His Texas Playboys

BEST ALBUM NOTES
Joni Mitchell, 'Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, A Ballet, Waiting To Be Danced'

BEST BOXED OR SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION PACKAGE
The Rise & Fall Of Paramount Records, Volume Two (1928-32)

BEST HISTORICAL ALBUM
The Basement Tapes Complete: The Bootleg Series Vol. 11

BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL
Shawn Everett, Bob Ludwig, Sound & Color

BEST REMIXED RECORDING, NON-CLASSICAL
Dave Audé, "Uptown Funk (Dave Audé Remix)"

BEST SURROUND SOUND ALBUM
James Guthrie, Joel Plante, Amused To Death

BEST CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
Snarky Puppy, Metropole Orkest, Sylva

BEST NEW AGE ALBUM
Paul Avgerinos, Grace

BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
Christian McBride, "Cherokee"

BEST JAZZ VOCAL ALBUM
Cecile McLorin Salvent, For One To Love

BEST JAZZ INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
John Scofield, Past Present

BEST LARGE JAZZ ENSEMBLE ALBUM
Maria Schneider Orchestra, The Thompson Fields

BEST LATIN JAZZ ALBUM
Eliane Elias, Made In Brazil

BEST REGGAE ALBUM
Morgan Heritage, Strictly Roots

BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM
Angelique Kidjo, Sings

BEST CHILDREN'S ALBUM
Tim Kubart, Home

BEST SPOKEN WORD ALBUM
Jimmy Carter, A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety

BEST COMEDY ALBUM
Louis CK, Live At Madison Square Garden

BEST LATIN POP ALBUM
Ricky Martin, A Quien Quiera Escuchar (Deluxe Edition)

BEST REGIONAL MEXICAN MUSIC ALBUM
Los Tigres Del Norte, Realidades - Deluxe Edition

BEST TROPICAL LATIN ALBUM
Ruben Blades with Roberto Delgado & Orchestra, Son De Panamá

BEST AMERICAN ROOTS PERFORMANCE
Mavis Staples, See That My Grave Is Kept Clean'

BEST AMERICAN ROOTS SONG
Jason Isbell,"24 Frames"

BEST AMERICANA ALBUM
Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free

BEST BLUEGRASS ALBUM
The SteelDrivers, The Muscle Shoals Recordings

BEST BLUES ALBUM
Buddy Guy, Born To Play Guitar

BEST REGIONAL ROOTS MUSIC ALBUM
Jon Cleary, Go Go Juice

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, CLASSICAL
Judith Sherman

BEST OPERA RECORDING
Seiji Ozawa, Isabel Leonard, Dominic Fyfe, "Ravel: L'Enfant Et Les Sortilèges; Shéhérazade"

BEST CHORAL PERFORMANCE
Charles Bruffy, Phoenix Chorale, Kansas City Chorale, "Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil"

BEST CHAMBER MUSIC/SMALL ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
Eighth Blackbird, "Filament"

BEST CLASSICAL INSTRUMENTAL SOLO
Augustin Hadelich, Ludovic Morlot, "Dutilleux: Violin Concerto, L'Arbre Des Songes"

BEST CLASSICAL SOLO VOCAL ALBUM
Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall

BEST CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL COMPOSITION
Stephen Paulus, "Paulus: Prayers & Remembrances"

BEST CLASSICAL SOLO VOCAL ALBUM
Joyce DiDonato, Antonio Pappano, Joyce & Tony - Live From Wigmore Hall

BEST COMPILATION SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Glen Campbell, Glen Campbell: I'll Be Me

BEST SCORE SOUNDTRACK FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Antonio Sanchez, Birdman

BEST SONG WRITTEN FOR VISUAL MEDIA
Common, Rhymefest, John Legend, "Glory"

BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Taylor Swift, Kendrick Lamar, "Bad Blood"

BEST MUSIC FILM
Amy

BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE/SONG
Kirk Franklin, "Wanna Be Happy?"

BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC PERFORMANCE/SONG
Francesca Battistelli, "Holy Spirit"

BEST GOSPEL ALBUM
Israel and Newbreed, Covered: Alive In Asia [Live]

BEST CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ALBUM
Toby Mac, This Is Not A Test

BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
Chris Stapleton, Traveller

BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"

BEST COUNTRY SOLO PERFORMANCE
Chris Stapleton, Traveller

BEST COUNTRY DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Little Big Town, "Girl Crush"

BEST COUNTRY SONG
Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose, "Girl Crush"

BEST DANCE RECORDING
Skrillex, Diplo and Justin Bieber - "Where Are Ü Now"

BEST DANCE/ELECTRONIC ALBUM
Skrillex and Diplo, Skrillex And Diplo Present Jack Ü

BEST R&B PERFORMANCE
The Weeknd - "Earned It (Fifty Shades Of Grey)"

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
Lalah Hathaway, "Little Ghetto Boy"

BEST R&B SONG
D'Angelo, Kendra Foster, "Really Love"

BEST URBAN CONTEMPORARY ALBUM
The Weeknd, Beauty Behind The Madness

BEST R&B ALBUM
D'Angelo, Black Messiah

BEST METAL PERFORMANCE
Ghost, "Cirice"

BEST ROCK SONG
Alabama Shakes, "Don't Wanna Fight"

BEST ROCK ALBUM
Muse, Drones

BEST ALTERNATIVE MUSIC ALBUM
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color

BEST RAP PERFORMANCE
Kendrick Lamar, "Alright"

BEST RAP/SUNG COLLECTION:
Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise, Thundercat, "These Walls"

BEST RAP SONG
Kendrick Lamar, Kawan Prather, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams, "Alright"

BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE
Ed Sheeran, "Thinking Out Loud"

BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars,"Uptown Funk"

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap, The Silver Lining: The Songs Of Jerome Kern

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR, NON-CLASSICAL
Jeff Bhasker

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