NEW YORK — Twelve things worth noting about Tuesday’s nominations for the 2021 Grammy Awards, from snubbed singers to posthumous nominees to famous folks competing for awards.
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SNUBBED SINGERS
The Weeknd sings about being a “star boy” but the Grammys’ response to his latest album? Bye boy.
The pop star was severely snubbed this year despite having one of the year’s biggest albums with “After Hours” and topping the Billboard Hot 100 chart with “Blinding Lights” and “Heartless.”
Luke Combs also walked away without a single nomination though he was country music’s most successful musician this year. Morgan Wallen also had a great year in country music, but didn’t earn any nods. And the Chicks’ first album in 14 years was not recognized.
A group of young R&B female acts moving the needle also missed out on nominations, including Summer Walker, Teyana Taylor and Kehlani. Late rapper Juice WRLD, Brandy and Chris Brown were also snubbed.
Though they received nominations in their genre categories, acts such as Lady Gaga, Fiona Apple and Harry Styles didn’t pick up bids for album, song or record of the year.
K-POP KINGS
For years BTS have said their dream is to be Grammy-nominated. And they’ve finally achieved it.
The K-pop band is nominated for best pop duo/group performance with “Dynamite,” their first song to hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Others who scored their first-ever nominations include Harry Styles, Megan Thee Stallion, the Strokes, Jay Electronica, Michael Kiwanuka and Mickey Guyton.
DR. LUKE aka TYSON TRAX
Dr. Luke marked a major comeback this year, producing hits for Saweetie, Juice WRLD and Doja Cat, who is signed to his record label. And it earned him his first Grammy nomination in six years.
The hit “Say So” marked a breakthrough for Doja Cat and Dr. Luke, who last launched a No. 1 smash with Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” in 2014, the same year his former collaborator Kesha accused him of sexual assault during their yearslong partnership. Dr. Luke has vigorously denied the allegations.
“Say So” is nominated for record of the year, an award given to the song’s artist and producer, helping Dr. Luke earn a nomination. But instead of using his known name on the credits for the song, he’s listed as Tyson Traxe.
Other monikers Dr. Luke has used are Loctor Duke and MADE IN CHINA.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
Reflecting the current times, Black artists released songs this year about the Black Lives Matter movement and the international protests that took place following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and others.
And those songs are nominated for Grammys.
Beyoncé’s “Black Parade,” released on Juneteenth, is up for four awards including record and song of the year. The protest song “I Can’t Breathe” by H.E.R. is nominated for song of the year and best R&B song, while Lil Baby’s “The Bigger Picture” — which reached the No. 3 spot on the pop charts — is up for best rap song and best rap performance. And Anderson .Paak’s “Lockdown,” about police brutality and racial injustice, is up for best melodic rap performance and best music video.
Country singer Mickey Guyton wrote “Black Like Me” a year before Floyd’s death, but rushed to release the song because she said the time was right. The poignant track earned a nomination for best country solo performance.
LONG LIVE THE DEAD
John Prine died of complications of the coronavirus in April, but his spirit is all over the Grammy Awards.
The icon earned two posthumous nominations, including best American Roots performance and best American Roots song for “I Remember Everything.”
Breakthrough rapper Pop Smoke died this year but his hit song “Dior,” a double platinum success, is nominated for best rap performance. Nipsey Hussle, who died last year and won two posthumous Grammys earlier this year, scored a nomination for best rap performance for his guest appearance on Big Sean’s “Deep Reverence.”
Leonard Cohen has earned multiple posthumous nominations since his death in 2016 and is nominated for best folk album with “Thanks for the Dance,” his fifteenth and final studio album.
And songwriter LaShawn Daniels, who died last year and won a Grammy for co-writing Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name,” is competing for best gospel performance/song with “Come Together” by his close friend Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins. Daniels and Jerkins started writing the song about the world coming together 17 years ago but Jerkins released it this year during the pandemic to offer healing and hope to listeners.
A-LIST ACTS
Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Renée Zellweger are vying for Grammy gold.
Streep is nominated for best spoken world album for “Charlotte’s Web,” pitting her against MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow, journalist Ronan Farrow and “Jeopardy!” record-holder Ken Jennings, who is nominated for reading “Alex Trebex — The Answer Is…”
Zellweger won her second Academy Award for “Judy” and her performance on the soundtrack earned her a nomination for best traditional pop vocal album.
Cynthia Erivo, a Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner, scored a nomination for best written song for visual media with “Stand Up” from “Harriet.” The song, which she co-wrote with Joshuah Brian Campbell, also earned an Oscar nomination earlier this year.
And the best comedy album award is stacked with famous folks, including Tiffany Haddish, Jerry Seinfeld, Patton Oswalt, Jim Gaffigan and Bill Burr.
WOMEN WHO ROCK
Female acts dominate in the best rock song and best rock performance categories, with performers like Fiona Apple, Brittany Howard, HAIM, Grace Potter, Phoebe Bridgers and Big Thief — led by Adrianne Lenker — in contention.
And while country radio is overloaded with male artists, the Grammys’ best country album category is packed with women, including Miranda Lambert, Brandy Clark, Ashley McBryde and Ingrid Andress.
IT’S BRITTANY B(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk)(asterisk)!
Brittany Howard has already won four Grammys with her talented band Alabama Shakes, but her first solo album is getting tons of Grammy love.
“Jaime” was released last year and is one of those rare albums competing for multiple genres at the Grammys. The album is nominated for best alternative music album, her song “Stay High” is up for best rock song and best rock performance, the track “Goat Head” is nominated for best R&B performance, and “Short and Sweet” is competing for best American Roots performance.
JAY-Z, THE SONGWRITERS, SHINES
Happy wife, happy life: Jay-Z has lent his songwriting hand to his wife Beyoncé and he’s earned Grammy nominations for it.
Jay-Z co-wrote Beyoncé’s “Black Parade” and “Savage” with Megan Thee Stallion, and now he’s nominated for song of the year, best R&B song and best rap song — categories reserved for songwriters.
Jay-Z and Beyoncé have won five Grammys together.
HIP-HOP IS DEAD
Despite rap music being today’s most popular genre, no rap albums are nominated for the top prize, album of the year.
Expected nominees included Roddy Ricch’s “Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial,” Lil Baby’s “My Turn” and DaBaby’s “Blame It on Baby” or “Kirk.”
But those albums didn’t even score nomination in the best rap album category. Instead, nominees were focused on rap purists and respected lyricists instead of the young performers dominating the pop charts.
Nominees for best rap album include Nas’ “King’s Disease,” Jay Electronica’s “A Written Testimony,” Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist’s “Alfredo,” “The Allegory” by Royce Da 5’9” and D Smoke’s “Black Habits.”
PAUL McCARTNEY, THE ART DIRECTOR
Paul McCartney scored his 79th Grammy nominations this year — as an art director.
The former Beatle is nominated for best boxed or special limited edition package for the collector’s edition of his 10th solo album, “Flaming Pie.” He’s listed as one of the art directors on the project, and shares his nomination with Linn Wie Andersen, Simon Earith and James Musgrave.
McCartney is the owner of 18 Grammys.
PAIN OF THE PANDEMIC
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Best Immersive Audio Album Craft Committee was unable to meet to decide winners for the best immersive audio album Grammy. The judging of the entries has been postponed, and the nominees will be announced next year. The winners for the 2021 award will be announced at the 2022 show.
Mesfin Fekadu, The Associated Press
