The Grammy Eligibility Year Comes To An End On Friday: Who Will Be Nominated For Album Of The Year?

The eligibility period for the 65th annual Grammy Awards, which runs from October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022, ends on Friday. So, let’s take a look at the top contenders for what is widely regarded as the most prestigious Grammy category: album of the year.

The Recording Academy will have ten slots in each of the Big Four categories – album, record, and song of the year, as well as best new artist – for the second year. From 1958, the first year of the Grammys, to 2017, there were usually only five nominees for album of the year. (The number of nominees was increased four times to six.) There were eight nominees from 2018 to 20.

The first round of voting for the 65th Grammy Awards takes place from October 13 to October 23. The nominations will be announced on November 15. The awards will be presented on February 5, 2023, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles (formerly and more elegantly known as Staples Center).

The Grammys always manage to surprise us. Last year, ABBA was nominated for record of the year for “I Still Have Faith in You.” The vocal group had never been nominated in any category before. As a result, their first nomination was in one of the most prestigious categories. That makes sense. This eligibility year saw the release of ABBA’s album Voyage. Is it possible that it will be nominated for album of the year, or was last year’s recognition a fluke? On November 15, we’ll find out.

Certain Things

These five albums appear to be lock-ins for nominations.

Adele (30): This is Adele’s third consecutive album nomination in this category. The award for 2011 went to 25. The 2016 award went to 30. Adele: One Night Only received five Primetime Emmy nominations earlier this month, including best variety special (pre-recorded). Adele shared the latter award as an executive producer of the special, so she only needs a Tony to complete the EGOT. Executive producers of the Grammy telecast are Ben Winston and Raj Kapoor, who won Emmys for their work on the special. Does this give Adele a home-court advantage here? No, it does not. However, it may increase the chances of seeing Adele perform at the Grammys, and who wouldn’t want that?

Beyoncé, Renaissance: This would be Beyoncé’s fourth album to be nominated, and her third solo studio album in a row. Beyonce was nominated for I Am… Beyoncé (2014), Sasha Fierce (2009), and Lemonade (2016). She is attempting to become the first woman of colour to be nominated for four album of the year awards (as a lead artist). She is currently tied for third place in the category with Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and H.E.R.

Harry Styles, Harry’s House: This would be Styles’ first Big Four nomination. On August 28, Harry’s House was named album of the year at the MTV Video Music Awards. That’s probably not the award for album of the year Styles was hoping for, but it’s something.

Kendrick Lamar, Mr. Morale, and The Big Steppers: This would be Lamar’s fourth studio album to be nominated, tying him with Kanye West for the most nods in this category (as a lead artist). Unlike West, Lamar has been nominated for four consecutive studio albums. He received nominations for his roles in good kid, m.A.A.d. city (2013), To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), and DAMN (2017). Lamar is attempting to become the first artist in any genre to be nominated for four consecutive studio albums since Billy Joel in 1998. (1979-83).

Un Verano Sin Ti, Bad Bunny: This would be Bad Bunny’s first nomination in a Big Four category. Furthermore, this would be the first nomination for a Spanish-language album in this category. In 1968, Latin crossover pioneer José Feliciano was nominated for Feliciano!, but that album only contained English-language tracks.

Potential Nominees

These five albums appear to be less likely to be nominated, but they are likely to round out the category.

An Evening With Silk Sonic: This is Bruno Mars’ third nomination in this category, and Anderson.first. Paak’s Mars was nominated for this award for his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans (2011), and won for his third album, 24K Magic (2013). (2017). On June 26, An Evening with Silk Sonic received a BET Award for album of the year. The lead single from the album, “Leave the Door Open,” won four Grammy Awards in April, including record and song of the year.

Special, Lizzo: This is Lizzo’s second nomination in this category. Three years ago, she was nominated for the deluxe edition of Cuz I Love You. On September 12, Lizzo won her first Primetime Emmy Award for Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, which raised her profile at an opportune time.

Top Substitutes

These next dozen albums might just miss out on nominations. If any of the presumed front-runners falters, they are prime candidates to move up:

Brandi Carlile, In These Silent Days: Carlile’s second nomination in this category. She was nominated for By the Way, I Forgive You four years ago. The album’s lead single, “Right on Time,” was nominated for record and song of the year last year.

Miranda Lambert, Palomino: This would be Lambert’s first Big Four nomination. Palomino would be the first country album since Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour four years ago to be nominated for album of the year (which went on to win the award). Palomino has been nominated for album of the year at the upcoming CMA Awards, which will be held on November 9.

Future, I Never Liked You: This would be Future’s first nomination as a lead artist in a Big Four category. As a featured artist on Drake’s Views, he was nominated for album of the year (2016).

Raise the Roof, Robert Plant/Alison Krauss: These artists won this award in 2008 for their first collaboration, Raising Sand. Their long-awaited second collaboration did not fare as well. Nonetheless, Krauss is a 27-time Grammy winner. (Only Beyoncé has won more awards among female artists.) Her awards include the second album of the year, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

=: Ed Sheeran Sheeran would be nominated for the second time in this category. He was nominated for x eight years ago. The lead single from =, “Bad Habits,” was nominated for song of the year last year.

The Weeknd and others Dawn FM: This is The Weeknd’s second nomination for this award. He was nominated for Beauty Behind the Madness seven years ago.

Post Malone, Twelve Carat Toothache: This would be Posty’s third nomination for album of the year. He received nominations for Beerbongs & Bentleys (2018) and Hollywood’s Bleeding Hearts (2020).

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