Beyoncé has cemented her place in Grammy history, leading the 2025 nominations with 11 nods, bringing her career total to an astounding 99. The superstar is now the most-nominated artist in the history of the prestigious awards.
Her latest album, Cowboy Carter, earned nominations for both Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year, while the hit single “Texas Hold ’Em” is up for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Country Song of the Year. In a groundbreaking move, Beyoncé also received nominations in several new genres for her, including Country, Americana, and Melodic Rap Performance. This marks her first appearance in these categories.
Beyoncé’s continued success at the Grammys is a testament to her musical versatility and cultural influence. If she wins Album of the Year for Cowboy Carter, she will make history as the first Black woman to win the category in the 21st century. Lauryn Hill remains the last Black woman to win Album of the Year, taking home the award in 1999 for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.
Beyoncé’s nominations come on the heels of a career already rich with accomplishments. Despite 32 Grammy wins, the Lemonade artist has never taken home the Album of the Year trophy—a gap she may now be poised to fill.
Post Malone Makes Country Debut with Seven Nominations
Post Malone, who released his debut country album F-1 Trillion in August 2024, also made waves with seven nominations. Among the highlights are nods for Country Album of the Year and Country Song of the Year for “I Had Some Help,” a collaboration with Morgan Wallen. This marks both Malone’s and Wallen’s first-ever Grammy nominations.
Wallen, known for his country hits, is also up for Country Duo/Group Performance alongside Malone. His breakthrough into the Grammy race has added a fresh layer of excitement to this year’s nominations, showing a growing crossover between pop and country music.
Malone is tied with Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, and Charli XCX—each of whom garnered seven nominations. Eilish, with her indie-pop sensibilities, continues to dominate in the Pop and Alternative categories, while Lamar’s Not Like Us is up for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Rap Song.
ADVERTISEMENT
A Diverse and Exciting Year for New Artists
This year’s nominations also reflect a dynamic mix of established stars and fresh talent. Taylor Swift, a perennial nominee, earned six nominations, continuing her reign in the Pop categories. Rising stars Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan also received six nominations each, further signaling the continued prominence of women in music.
In the Best New Artist category, Carpenter and Roan will go head-to-head with artists like Benson Boone, Doechii, Khruangbin, RAYE, Shaboozey, and Teddy Swims. Shaboozey, in particular, has garnered attention for his viral hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which is also up for Remixed Recording.
A Strong Showing in the Song of the Year Category
In the Song of the Year category, Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ’Em” will face off against tracks by Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Post Malone, Charli XCX, and Kendrick Lamar. Swift’s “Fortnight,” Eilish’s “Birds of a Feather,” and Lamar’s Not Like Us are all major contenders. The competition is fierce, with some of the year’s biggest songs making their mark in this prestigious category.
Beyoncé also made waves for her feature on Shaboozey’s track “SPAGHETTII,” alongside Linda Martell, the first Black woman to achieve commercial success in country music. Martell, at 83, received her first Grammy nomination for the collaboration, marking another milestone in her legendary career.
A Year of Genre Blending and Innovation
As always, the Album of the Year category features a wide array of genres. Alongside Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, other nominees include André 3000’s experimental New Blue Sun, Jacob Collier’s Djesse Vol. 4, and rising pop stars Carpenter and Roan’s albums. Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department, Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft, and Charli XCX’s Brat also make appearances in this prestigious category.
The growing variety of genres nominated for the top award has been a point of celebration for Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. He praised the evolving voting process, which strives to ensure that the Grammy Awards reflect a broad spectrum of music styles and cultural influences. “We’re very intentional in how we look at and try to rebalance our membership,” Mason said, emphasizing the importance of genre equity and diverse representation in the industry.
ADVERTISEMENT
Room for Improvement in Representation
Despite the progress made this year, some notable absences from the nominations have sparked conversation. Latin music, which continues to dominate global streaming platforms, remains underrepresented in the major categories, and no Latin artists were nominated for Album of the Year. Similarly, the K-pop genre, which has gained immense popularity in recent years, did not see any nominations for BTS’s solo members RM, J-Hope, or Jimin.
“We definitely see room for improvement across many genres,” Mason acknowledged. “Without the right representation, we don’t get the right results. The work continues.”
Looking Ahead to the 2025 Grammys
The 2025 Grammy Awards will take place on Feb. 2, airing live from Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena. As always, the final round of voting will determine the winners, with Grammy voters casting their ballots from Dec. 12 through Jan. 3.
The 2025 nominations reflect the continued evolution of the music industry, showcasing a range of genres, cultures, and voices that make up the fabric of today’s musical landscape. Whether Beyoncé will finally take home the Album of the Year trophy remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the 2025 Grammys are poised to be a historic and exciting night for music fans everywhere.
