Superstars Kendrick Lamar, Bad Bunny, and Lady Gaga are poised to make history Sunday in Los Angeles at the 68th Grammy Awards, which honor the year’s best in music.
All three are vying for Album of the Year for the first time, the ceremony’s top prize.
Lamar leads the field with nine nominations, the most of any artist this year, including Record and Song of the Year. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper won five Grammys last year and has 22 overall. He is nominated for his album GNX, which includes the single “Luther” featuring SZA.
Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny are also nominated in the three major categories. Gaga, who has 14 Grammys, could complete a top-award sweep with a win. She is nominated for Mayhem, her latest studio album, and is set to perform during the ceremony.
Bad Bunny, meanwhile, enters the night with six nominations. He is currently on a world tour for Debi Tirar Mas Fotos and will headline the Super Bowl halftime show a week after the Grammys. His 2022 album Un verano sin ti became the first Spanish-language release nominated for Album of the Year.
Also competing for the top album prize are Sabrina Carpenter, Leon Thomas, Tyler, the Creator, hip-hop duo Clipse, and Justin Bieber, who earned his first nomination in four years.
Musicologist Lauron Kehrer said Bad Bunny’s latest album stood out for its range and themes, citing its nods to decolonization and Puerto Rican musical traditions.
Lady Gaga’s Mayhem marks her return to pop-heavy material, blending theatrical flair with darker tones. She previously won Record and Song of the Year for “Shallow” from A Star Is Born.
This year’s Song of the Year race includes Carpenter’s “Manchild” and “Golden” from the animated hit KPop Demon Hunters, which many industry watchers see as a favorite.
Nominees for best new artist include Alex Warren, Katseye, Olivia Dean, Addison Rae, The Marías, sombr, Lola Young, and Thomas, who previously won a Grammy as a producer.
Kehrer said the growing presence of rap, reggaeton and K-pop in major categories reflects changes within the Recording Academy. More than 3,800 new voting members have been added, with over half under 40 and 58 percent people of color.
“The Grammys are more reactionary than anything else,” Kehrer said. “The winners reflect where the industry is, rather than trying to steer it.”
The ceremony will be hosted by Trevor Noah. The main broadcast begins at 5:00 p.m. Sunday (Monday in Manila), with most of the 95 awards presented earlier during the pre-telecast ceremony.
