LOS ANGELES – Music’s elite converges on Los Angeles this Sunday for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, where multiple artists stand poised to make recording history. Leading the nominations is Pulitzer-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar with nine nods for his critically acclaimed album “GNX,” positioning him as the night’s most recognized artist following his five-Grammy sweep last year.
The Album of the Year category features an exceptionally diverse lineup, with Latin megastar Bad Bunny challenging for the top honor with his introspective “Debi Tirar Mas Fotos” (I Should Have Taken More Photos). The Puerto Rican sensation, currently on a massively successful world tour, could become the first artist to win the category with a Spanish-language album after his previous nomination for “Un verano sin ti” in 2022.
Pop icon Lady Gaga makes a formidable return with seven nominations for her dark-edged album “Mayhem,” marking her dramatic comeback to the music scene. A victory would complete her trifecta of Grammy’s most prestigious awards after previously winning Record and Song of the Year for “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born.”
The competition extends beyond the three frontrunners, with pop sensation Sabrina Carpenter, R&B artist Leon Thomas, hip-hop duo Clipse (Pusha T and Malice), and Justin Bieber – making his first studio album appearance in four years – all contending for the evening’s top prize.
Performance highlights will include sets from Gaga, Bieber, Carpenter, and Bruno Mars, alongside legendary singer Lauryn Hill and a special tribute to rock icon Ozzy Osbourne featuring Post Malone.
The Best New Artist category showcases TikTok phenomenon Addison Rae’s transition from dancer to singer, competing against British soul singer Olivia Dean, girl group Katseye, and several other emerging talents.
Musicologists note the Grammys’ evolving landscape, with the Recording Academy’s voting body expanding significantly to include over 3,800 new members – half under age 39 and 58% representing people of color. This demographic shift explains the increased recognition of rap, reggaeton, and K-pop in major categories, reflecting current musical trends rather than attempting to shape them, according to music expert Lauron Kehrer.
The ceremony, hosted for the fourth consecutive year by comedian Trevor Noah, begins with a pre-gala awarding most of the 95 categories, followed by the main broadcast at 5:00 PM PST (0100 GMT Monday).