Kendrick Lamar Dominates the Field (Image Credits: Upload.wikimedia.org)
The Recording Academy revealed its 2026 Grammy nominations in November, positioning Kendrick Lamar at the forefront with nine nods ahead of the February 1 ceremony at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.[1][2]
Kendrick Lamar Dominates the Field
Kendrick Lamar emerged as the top nominee with nine total recognitions, including bids in three of the four general field categories.[1] His album GNX earned a spot in Album of the Year, while the track luther featuring SZA contended for Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Lamar’s strong showing followed his sweep of key awards at the prior ceremony.
Lady Gaga trailed closely with seven nominations, securing three general field entries for her album MAYHEM and single Abracadabra.[3] Producers Jack Antonoff and Cirkut also notched seven each, underscoring their influence across multiple projects. Sabrina Carpenter, Bad Bunny, and Leon Thomas each received six nods, reflecting broad acclaim for recent releases.[2]
Big Four Categories Take Shape
The general field categories highlighted fierce competition among established and rising talents. Album of the Year featured eight contenders:
- DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS by Bad Bunny
- SWAG by Justin Bieber
- Man’s Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter
- Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
- MAYHEM by Lady Gaga
- GNX by Kendrick Lamar
- MUTT by Leon Thomas
- CHROMAKOPIA by Tyler, The Creator
Record of the Year nominees included high-profile tracks like DtMF by Bad Bunny, Manchild by Sabrina Carpenter, Anxiety by Doechii, WILDFLOWER by Billie Eilish, Abracadabra by Lady Gaga, luther by Kendrick Lamar with SZA, The Subway by Chappell Roan, and APT. by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars.[4]
Song of the Year mirrored much of the Record field, emphasizing songwriting prowess from artists like Lady Gaga, Doechii, and Billie Eilish. Best New Artist introduced fresh faces such as Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, The Marias, Addison Rae, sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, and Lola Young.[2]
Genre Spotlights: Pop, Rap, and Country Standouts
Pop categories buzzed with energy from Sabrina Carpenter’s Man’s Best Friend album and Chappell Roan’s The Subway, alongside Justin Bieber’s SWAG and Lady Gaga’s Disease.[4] Duo efforts like APT. by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars added global flair.
Rap saw robust representation, with Kendrick Lamar’s GNX vying for Best Rap Album against Tyler, The Creator’s CHROMAKOPIA and Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out. Doechii’s Anxiety picked up multiple rap nods, signaling her breakout momentum.[3]
Country nominees emphasized tradition and innovation. Best Country Solo Performance included Tyler Childers’ Nose On The Grindstone and Lainey Wilson’s Somewhere Over Laredo. The new Best Traditional Country Album category debuted with entries from Charley Crockett, Lukas Nelson, Willie Nelson, Margo Price, and Zach Top.[2]
New Categories and Broader Recognition
The Academy expanded its scope with two additions: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover, alongside renaming Best Country Album to Best Contemporary Country Album.[4] These changes aimed to honor evolving artistry.
Other fields shone brightly. Rock featured Linkin Park’s The Emptiness Machine and Turnstile’s NEVER ENOUGH. R&B highlighted Leon Thomas’ MUTT and SZA contributions. Dance/Electronic nods went to Disclosure & Anderson.Paak’s No Cap and Skrillex’s VOLTAGE.[2]
Key Takeaways
- Kendrick Lamar’s nine nominations position him as the frontrunner across rap and general fields.
- Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter dominate pop with multiple Big Four entries.
- New categories like Best Traditional Country Album broaden the Academy’s recognition.
As voting concludes, these nominations promise a dynamic night on February 1. What do you think about it? Tell us in the comments.
Besides founding Festivaltopia, Fritz is the managing director of Europe’s largest manufacturer of mobile stages Kultour and has a lot of experience in the event industry, loves music and likes to go to festivals.
