The Grammy nominations for 2025 have been unveiled, and this year’s lineup reflects surprising exclusions, historic achievements, and a strong presence of female talent across categories. With 94 categories in total, let’s break down the highlights, including the snubs, surprises, and notable trends.
The Snubs
Despite her popularity, Ariana Grande missed out on nominations for the Grammy’s top three categories—Record, Album, and Song of the Year. Despite receiving three nominations, Grande did not receive a nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance. Similarly, Post Malone did not secure an Album of the Year nomination. His nominations for Record and Song of the Year come from a feature on Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight,” not for his chart-topping single, “I Need Some Help,” with Morgan Wallen.
Taylor Swift also faced unexpected omissions. Despite her six nominations, The Eras Tour, her concert film, did not make it to the Best Music Film category, and “Fortnight” did not make it to the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category. Instead, Swift received a nomination for her work on Gracie Abrams’ “Us.
Bad Bunny, Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, Dua Lipa, and several K-pop artists like Lisa, RM, and Jung Kook were notably absent from the nominations. Viral sensations Hozier, Tommy Richman, and Vampire Weekend also received no recognition despite recent popular releases.
Dominance of Female Artists
Building on the success of 2024, when female acts won all televised awards, women continue to lead in major categories for 2025. Women dominate Album and Record of the Year, holding six out of eight nominations in each. Additionally, female artists hold strong representation in categories like Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best R&B Performance, and Best Americana Performance.
Beyoncé’s Historic Milestone
Beyoncé continues to break records, adding another genre to her résumé this year with a nomination in the country category. Her track “Spaghetti,” in collaboration with Linda Martell, earned a nod for Best Melodic Rap Performance. This recognition is Martell’s first Grammy nomination, acknowledging her pioneering contributions to Black representation in country music since her debut in 1970. Beyoncé’s nominations span across genres like pop, R&B, rock, rap, and now country, making her a multi-genre icon in Grammy history.
Female Rappers in the Spotlight
Though Nicki Minaj and Megan Thee Stallion didn’t make the list, female rappers like Doechii, GloRilla, and Cardi B garnered recognition. Doechii received three nominations, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal, and Best Rap Performance for “Nissan Altima.” GloRilla and Cardi B’s “Enough (Miami)” are also in the running for Best Rap Performance. Meanwhile, Latto and Rapsody are vying for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
The Weeknd Returns as a Nominee
Following his 2021 Grammy boycott, The Weeknd makes a comeback, receiving a nomination for Best Melodic Rap Performance with his feature on Future and Metro Boomin’s track “We Still Don’t Trust You.” Previously, he won in this category for his feature on Kanye West’s “Hurricane” in 2022.
Celebrities and Newcomers in the Race
This year, Daniel Radcliffe is up for Best Musical Theater Album with Merrily We Roll Along, competing against Alicia Keys and Wayne Brady. In comedy, Nikki Glaser faces off with veterans like Dave Chappelle and Trevor Noah for Best Comedy Album.
The audiobook category saw a unique mix of nominees, including Jimmy Carter, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, and George Clinton, with Matthew Perry and Michelle Williams notably missing.
A Second Chance for Muni Long
R&B artist Muni Long scored nominations after resubmitting her viral hit “Made for Me” as a live version from her BET Awards performance. She’s now in contention for Best R&B Performance and also earned nominations for Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song, and Best Traditional R&B Performance.
André 3000’s Flute Album Garners Acclaim
André 3000 surprised fans with his unique flute album, New Blue Sun, securing nominations for Album of the Year and Best Alternative Jazz Album. The album’s lengthy track title, “I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time,” also received a nod for Best Instrumental Composition.
John Legend and The Beatles: New Milestones
With 12 Grammy wins under his belt, John Legend explores new territories with nominations for Best Children’s Music Album and Best Arrangement. His wife, Chrissy Teigen and children make appearances on his children’s album, My Favorite Dream, which draws inspiration from his family. Meanwhile, The Beatles garnered Record of the Year recognition for their final release, “Now and Then,” with Sean Ono Lennon earning a nomination for art direction on Mind Games.
Kate Bush’s Art Director Debut
Kate Bush is back in the Grammy race, not as a performer but as an art director. Her work on Hounds of Love The Baskerville Edition is nominated for Best Recording Package and Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package.
Celebrating Movie Soundtracks
Film soundtracks made waves at this year’s nominations. Deadpool & Wolverine secured a nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack, featuring NSYNC’s hit “Bye, Bye, Bye.” Other films with strong music ties, like The Color Purple and Maestro, also received nominations in this category.
Female Producers Break New Ground
The last time a female producer was nominated in the Non-Classical Producer of the Year category was in 2019, but Alissia is changing that narrative. Known for her work with artists like Coco Jones and BJ The Chicago Kid, she is up against prominent names such as Dan Nigro and Mustard.
With these diverse and groundbreaking nominations, the 2025 Grammy Awards promise a night filled with history-making wins, vibrant performances, and a celebration of musical innovation across genres. Female artists continue to pave the way, reshaping the industry and amplifying their influence in every category.
