Beyoncé and her groundbreaking album Cowboy Carter lead the Grammy Awards with 11 nominations, putting her up against Taylor Swift and a fresh wave of pop artists.
Announced Friday by the Recording Academy, the nominations make Beyoncé the most-nominated artist in Grammys history, reigniting discussions around genre and race through her album, which celebrates Black cowboy culture.
Despite her long career filled with accolades, Beyoncé has yet to win the top album and record trophies, and she faces stiff competition from Grammy regulars Swift and Billie Eilish, who received six and seven nominations, respectively.
The lineup also features young stars like club hitmaker Charli XCX, who earned seven nods, alongside pop talents Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, each with six nominations.
Kendrick Lamar, whose lyrical sparring with Drake garnered him Grammy attention, and genre-blender Post Malone, each received seven nominations, including in top categories.
Eligible music for this year’s Grammys spanned from Sept. 16, 2023, to Aug. 30, 2024. The Academy will present awards in 94 categories on Feb. 2 in Los Angeles.
The nominations set up another anticipated face-off between Beyoncé and Swift, two global icons. Beyoncé, 43, already the most decorated artist in Grammy history, now surpasses her husband Jay-Z to claim the most nominations as well. However, Beyoncé is frequently seen as one of the Grammys’ most overlooked artists, previously losing Album of the Year to stars like Adele and Harry Styles.
This season, Beyoncé’s nominations stem from Cowboy Carter, her tribute to southern heritage and a challenge to the traditionally white, male-dominated country genre. The conversation around race and the Grammys continues, underscored last year when Jay-Z criticized the Academy onstage for its treatment of Black artists.
Swift, 34, could extend her record for most Album of the Year wins after surpassing legends like Sinatra and Stevie Wonder with her fourth win last year. Joining Beyoncé and Swift in the Album of the Year category are Carpenter, Charli XCX, Eilish, Roan, and Andre 3000, whose flute-based New Blue Sun offers a unique entry. AFP
