Save this article to read it later.
Find this story in your accountsSaved for Latersection.
So what should we expect on stage this Sunday?
Billie Eilish has won ROTY twice this decade, so never count her out.
So how should we parse this?
Those winnersusuallyhave a throwback quality to them.
Really, though, this should be an open-and-shut case for Not Like Us.
With history already secured for Swift, Id expect voters to spend their picks elsewhere.
Perhaps, finally, onBeyonce?
But Carpenter, Charli, and Roan are all standing in the way.
The ingenue churning out gossamer pop hits?
The pop workhorse who turned her breakthrough into a multimedia cultural moment?
The queer prima donna conquering festivals while staying unabashedly herself?
She also had the same dominant year that carried Taylor Swift andHarry Stylesto recent wins here.
That singles out a few contenders.
Swifts Fortnight is a third-person tale of infidelity, like a more modernfolkloreorevermorecut.
But shes facing competition from someone who grew up studying her own songwriting, in Roan.
Good Luck, Babe!
Maybe its a sign that the Academy respects the craft of A Bar Song more than anything.
Or, as I suspect, it means Shaboozey was on the cusp of a ROTY nod and missed.
Thats a shame, because an innovative hit like A Bar Song deserves top honors.
The wider voting pool puts more emphasis on marquee pop projects, which narrows this down to three names.
Mustard andDMileboth have credits on highly touted songs in Not Like Us and Die With a Smile, respectively.
1 and Rose and Bruno Marss APT.
continued its global dominance.
They deserve recognition eventually, but Allens portfolio is undeniable.
But that would require voters to pick against Espresso, which is hard for me to imagine.
This race is even more stacked than Pop Solo Performance, featuring half of our AOTY field.
(Good thing Ariana Grande hasan Oscar campaignto focus on.)
That makesHit Me Hard and Softthe likeliest pick.
Ill believe voters are tired of awarding Eilish once I see it.
This could be the year, especially with an influx of pop members now voting here too.
And for once, they were early to a trend, ahead of last yearsbratsummer.
This should be Charlis easiest layup of the night.
Charli XCX is on a similar path this year but has even more of an advantage.
For one, shes been working in electronic music for more than a decade.
But more importantly, she can lean on a bloc of pop voters, too, now.
Another easy win forBrat.
But Im expecting that to change with pop voters now choosing the award.
Half of these nominees have been making music since the 20th century, and two more since the 2000s.
Will win:Now and ThenShould win:Gift Horse
Best Metal PerformanceMea Culpa (Ah!
Its such an obvious pick all itll take is voters passing up seven-time winners Metallica.
Will win:Mea Culpa (Ah!
Gift Horse could actually be Idless breakthrough win.
But I see two more likely outcomes.
One, Dark Matter is a late prize for the under-awarded Pearl Jam.
The Academy loves to correct their old mistakes, and this is a ripe opportunity.
I wouldnt be disappointed to see either of them win, or Fontaines D.C. for their Gorillaz-esque Starburster.
But the Alternative field is St. Vincents home turf.
Then, weeks before the Grammys, it went viral on TikTok, and ended up hitting No.
20 on the Hot 100.
Unable to nominate the studio version of the song again, Long entered a live version of her hit.
But Im not counting out Jhene Aiko.
Shes up for her first nomination after a surprise AOTY showing in 2021 forChilombo.
But never bet againstKendrick Lamarhere, where hes won six times.
GloRilla
Lamars history here isnt as impressive as Best Rap Performance.
As fun as that song is, though, I never enjoy a clean sweep.
So Im pulling for some hardware forGloRillas wonderfully cocky brag track Yeah Glo!
Will win:Not Like UsShould win:Yeah Glo!
Best Rap AlbumMight Delete Later, J. ColeThe Auditorium, Vol.
Unfortunately,Eminems probably gonna win his seventh trophy instead.
But dont expect a clean sweep like the one Beyonce got in the Dance/Electronic categories forRenaissancetwo years ago.
So, BeyHive, dont freak out when Beyonce doesnt win this award.
Country voters have to give their annual trophy toChris Stapletonsomewhere.
But Bad Bunnys last three albums have won Grammys, and I see no reason that stops withNadie Sabe.
Will win:Nadie Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar MananaShould win:Att.
But I wonder if Jacob Colliers programmed drums and autotuned vocals will be too much for global voters.
So Im turning to two other first-time winners: Sheila E. and Mimy Succar.
(Having eight-time winner Gloria Estefan in the mix also helps.)
Expect them to rectify that this year, with both artists nominated.
Wizkid has the better chance alongside return-nominee Asake, with opportunities to reward Tems in two other categories.
They certainly have worthy choices.
Id lobby for RemasHeis, a high-energy album that charts a clubby future for Afrobeats.
But the bettors pick isTemss long-awaited debut albumBorn in the Wild, which also earned her two other nominations.
Will win:Born In the WildShould win:Heis
