Grammy nominations preview: An album of the year race that’s impossible to predict and more

Get ready for an exciting 2025 Grammy Awards as women continue to dominate the charts and reshuffle the race for Album of the Year. Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, and Chappell Roan are some of the biggest names this year, and it’s likely many of them will earn multiple nominations when the Recording Academy announces its picks.

Since the Album of the Year category expanded to eight nominees in 2019, female artists have made significant strides in this prestigious category. Women have accounted for over 50% of the nominees in recent years, peaking last year when seven of the eight nominees were female. Jon Batiste was the only male nominee in that group. Billboard’s Awards Editor, Paul Grein, predicts this trend will continue, given the dominance of women in pop music. He suggests that the 2025 crop of nominees could mirror last year’s, which is “remarkable.”

Beyoncé, Swift, and Eilish Lead the Charge

Beyoncé, Swift, and Eilish have emerged as the front-runners for Album of the Year. Beyoncé, with her album Cowboy Carter, is poised for her fifth nomination in this category. Despite her vast success, she has never won Album of the Year, and many believe she could finally clinch the prize this time. Grein notes that Beyoncé’s husband, Jay-Z, pointed out this oversight during last year’s Grammy ceremony, which could influence voters’ decisions.

Taylor Swift, who won Album of the Year last year for Midnights, is tied with Barbra Streisand for the most all-time nominations in this category by a female artist, with six. If Swift earns a seventh nomination for her new album, The Tortured Poet’s Department, she’ll break her own record. There’s no sign of any rivalry between Swift and Beyoncé; both artists have supported each other publicly, dispelling rumors of a feud.

Rising Stars: Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter

A wave of new talent has also broken through to the mainstream this year. Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter, who have all been building their careers for years, are set to be major contenders at the Grammys. Roan and Carpenter, in particular, could earn nominations in the big four categories: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist, which promises to be one of the most suspenseful races on Grammy night.

Charli XCX is expected to earn nominations in Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year for her album Brat. However, she opted not to submit herself for Best New Artist, a category she was previously nominated for back in 2015 for her hit “Fancy.”

Genre-Spanning Submissions

This year’s Grammy nominations are shaping up to reflect a wide range of musical styles. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter isn’t a traditional country album, despite its cowboy-themed visuals. The album blends pop, country, rap, and Americana, and she’s submitted tracks in multiple categories representing those genres. Other artists, like Sabrina Carpenter and Megan Thee Stallion, have followed suit by submitting songs in genres outside their typical sound. Carpenter may be recognized in country categories for “Slim Pickens,” while Megan Thee Stallion could earn a nod in a rock category for her “Cobra (Rock Remix)” with metal band Spiritbox.

The Drama: Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake

One of the most interesting stories surrounding this year’s nominations is the continued feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us,” which targeted Drake, has become a major hit, spending two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Given the track’s popularity, it seems likely Lamar will earn a Grammy nomination, potentially overshadowing Drake in the process.

Celine Dion’s Return

Celine Dion, who has not been nominated since 2001, could make a dramatic comeback this year. Her candid documentary I Am Celine Dion, which explores her return to music and her struggle with Stiff-Person Syndrome, is expected to be nominated in the Best Music Film category. Dion’s emotional return to the stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics added to the significance of this nomination.

Iconic Rock Rivalry: The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones

In a historic twist, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones could both be nominated in the same category for the first time. The Beatles submitted their track “Now and Then,” while the Stones entered “Sounds of Heaven,” featuring Lady Gaga, for consideration in Best Rock Performance. This marks an iconic moment, as both bands have shaped the rock genre but were slow to gain recognition at the Grammys, with the Stones’ first nomination coming in 1978.

Post Malone’s Grammy Moment?

Post Malone has never won a Grammy, but 2025 could be his year. After collaborating with Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Morgan Wallen, and releasing his album F-1 Trillion, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, Malone is expected to earn multiple nominations. His collaborations with Swift and Beyoncé, particularly Fortnight and “Levii’s Jeans,” have been commercially successful and may help him secure his first Grammy win.

The 2025 Grammy nominations will be announced live on Friday at 10:45 a.m. EDT/7:45 a.m. PDT on the Recording Academy’s YouTube page, promising plenty of surprises and fierce competition across the board.