As it turns out, there aren’t many like Kendrick Lamar.
For the second consecutive year, the hip-hop kingpin dominates as a leading nominee for the Grammy Awards.
Lamar’s nine nominations include record and song of the year for “Luther,” his duet with tour partner SZA, as well as album of the year for “GNX,” his fifth consecutive studio album to achieve the inclusion.
At last year’s awards, Lamar swept his five nominated categories with his assertive anthem “Not Like Us,” including record and song of the year.
For the 68th annual Grammy Awards, Lamar’s nods are followed by Lady Gaga and producers Cirkut and Jack Antonoff with seven; songwriter-turned-artist Leon Thomas, producer/engineer Serban Ghenea, pop princess Sabrina Carpenter and Super Bowl headliner Bad Bunny with six; and the assembly of producer/songwriter Andrew Watt, hip-hop veterans Clipse, Pusha T & Malice, last year’s best rap album winner Doechii, producer/songwriter Sounwave, hip-hop trailblazer SZA, hard rock band Turnstile and hip-hop singer/producer Tyler, the Creator notching five nominations each.
The varied lineup of top nominees represents the efforts of the Recording Academy to diversify its nearly 15,000 voting members.
But while there is no definitive trend among this year’s leading slate, many of the artists are achieving new career milestones.
Lamar’s latest round gives him a total of 66 career nominations (and 22 wins so far).
Lady Gaga will look to add to her 14 wins with possibilities in several categories. Her sizzling single “Abracadabra” will vie for song and record of the year as well as best dance pop recording (her first in the category).
“Mayhem,” the album that birthed her clever hit, will compete for best pop vocal album as well as the prestigious album of the year against Bad Bunny (“Debí Tirar Más Fotos"), Justin Bieber (“Swag”), Carpenter (“Man’s Best Friend”), Clipse, Pusha T & Malice featuring Pharrell Williams (“Let God Sort Em Out”), Thomas (“Mutt”), Tyler, the Creator (“Chromakopia”) and Lamar (“GNX”).
Lady Gaga also flexes her chameleonic style with a nod for best traditional pop vocal album for “Harlequin,” her bold big band companion to “Joker: Folie à Deux,” in which she also starred.
Bad Bunny is augmenting his standing as a crossover superstar with his first nominations in song of the year (“DTMF”) and best global music performance (“EoO”) categories.
As well, his album of the year contender marks the second time an all-Spanish album has been nominated in the category. The first was in 2023 with his “Un Verano Sin Ti," which he lost to "Harry's House" by Harry Styles.
The Grammy Awards will take place Feb. 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The ceremony will air live on CBS and Paramount+. The eligibility period ran from Aug. 31, 2024, to Aug. 30.
2026 GRAMMY AWARDS NOMINEES
Album of the year
“DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” Bad Bunny
“SWAG,” Justin Bieber
“Man's Best Friend,” Sabrina Carpenter
“Let God Sort Em Out,” Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
“MAYHEM,” Lady Gaga
“GNX,” Kendrick Lamar
“MUTT,” Leon Thomas
“CHROMAKOPIA,” Tyler, The Creator
Record of the year
“DtMF,” Bad Bunny
“Manchild,” Sabrina Carpenter
“Anxiety,” Doechii
“WILDFLOWER,” Billie Eilish
“Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga
“luther,” Kendrick Lamar with SZA
“The Subway,” Chappell Roan
“APT.,” ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
Song of the year (goes to songwriter)
“Abracadabra,” Lady Gaga. Written by Henry Walter, Lady Gaga & Andrew Watt
“Anxiety,” Doechii. Written by Jaylah Hickmon
“APT.,” ROSÉ, Bruno Mars. Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Henry Walter, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park & Theron Thomas
“DtMF,” Bad Bunny. Written by Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Roberto José Rosado Torres, Marco Daniel Borrero, Hugo René Sención Sanabria & Tyler Thomas Spry
“Golden" (From "KPop Demon Hunters"), HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI. Written by EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick
“luther,” Kendrick Lamar with SZA. Written by Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Ink, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Kendrick Lamar, Mark Anthony Spears, Solána Rowe & Kamasi Washington
“Manchild,” Sabrina Carpenter. Written by Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter
“WILDFLOWER,” Billie Eilish. Written by Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell
Best new artist
Olivia Dean
KATSEYE
The Marias
Addison Rae
sombr
Leon Thomas
Alex Warren
Lola Young
Best pop solo performance
“DAISIES,” Justin Bieber
“Manchild,” Sabrina Carpenter
“Disease,” Lady Gaga
“The Subway,” Chappell Roan
“Messy,” Lola Young
Best pop duo/group performance
“Defying Gravity,” Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande
“Golden" (From “KPop Demon Hunters”), HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI
“Gabriela,” KATSEYE
“APT.,” ROSÉ, Bruno Mars
“30 For 30,” SZA With Kendrick Lamar
Best pop vocal album
“SWAG,” Justin Bieber
“Man’s Best Friend,” Sabrina Carpenter
“Something Beautiful,” Miley Cyrus
“MAYHEM,” Lady Gaga
“I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2),” Teddy Swims
Best music video
“Young Lion,” Sade
“Manchild,” Sabrina Carpenter
“So Be It,” Clipse
“Anxiety,” Doechii
“Love,” OK Go
Best rap performance
“Outside,” Cardi B
“Chains & Whips,” Clipse, Pusha T & Malice Featuring Kendrick Lamar & Pharrell Williams
“Anxiety,” Doechii
“tv off,” Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay
“Darling, I,” Tyler, The Creator Featuring Teezo Touchdown
Best rap album
“Let God Sort Em Out,” Clipse, Pusha T & Malice
“GLORIOUS,” GloRilla
“God Does Like Ugly,” JID
“GNX,” Kendrick Lamar
“CHROMAKOPIA,” Tyler, The Creator
Best rap song
“Anxiety,” Doechii. Written by Jaylah Hickmon
“The Birds Don't Sing,” Clipse, Pusha T & Malice Featuring John Legend & Voices Of Fire. Written by Gene Elliott Thornton Jr., Terrence Thornton, Pharrell Williams & Stevie Wonder
“Sticky,” Tyler, The Creator Featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne. Written by Aaron Bolton, Dudley Alexander Duverne, Gloria Woods, Dwayne Carter, Jr., Janae Wherry, Tyler Okonma & Rex Zamor
“TGIF,” GloRilla. Written by Lucas Alegria, Dillon Brophy, Yakki Davis, Gloria Woods, Jess Jackson, Ronnie Jackson, Mario Mims & Jorge M. Taveras
“tv off,” Kendrick Lamar featuring Lefty Gunplay. Written by Jack Antonoff, Larry Jayy, Kendrick Lamar, Dijon McFarlane, Sean Momberger, Mark Anthony Spears & Kamasi Washington
Best R&B album
“BELOVED,” GIVĒON
“Why Not More?” Coco Jones
“The Crown,” Ledisi
“Escape Room,” Teyana Taylor
“MUTT,” Leon Thomas
Best R&B performance
“YUKON,” Justin Bieber
“It Depends,” Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller
“Folded,” Kehlani
“MUTT (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk),” Leon Thomas
“Heart Of A Woman,” Summer Walker
Best R&B song
“Folded,” Kehlani. Written by Darius Dixson, Andre Harris, Kehlani Parrish, Donovan Knight, Don Mills, Khris Riddick-Tynes & Dawit Kamal Wilson
“Heart Of A Woman,” Summer Walker. Written by David Bishop & Summer Walker
“It Depends,” Chris Brown Featuring Bryson Tiller. Written by Nico Baran, Chris Brown, Ant Clemons, Ephrem Lopez Jr., Ryan Press, Bryson Tiller, Elliott Trent & Dewain Whitmore Jr.
“Overqualified,” Durand Bernarr. Written by John Abrahart Jr & Durand Bernarr
“YES IT IS,” Leon Thomas. Written by Jariuce Banks, Lazaro Andres Camejo, Mike Hector, Peter Lee Johnson, Rodney Jones Jr., Ali Prawl & Leon Thomas
Best country solo performance
“Nose On The Grindstone,” Tyler Childers
“Good News,” Shaboozey
“Bad As I Used To Be" (From “F1 The Movie”), Chris Stapleton
“I Never Lie,” Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo,” Lainey Wilson
Best country duo/group performance
“A Song To Sing,” Miranda Lambert And Chris Stapleton
“Trailblazer,” Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, Lainey Wilson
“Love Me Like You Used To Do,” Margo Price & Tyler Childers
“Amen,” Shaboozey & Jelly Roll
“Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame,” George Strait, Chris Stapleton
Best country song
“Bitin’ List,” Tyler Childers. Written by Tyler Childers
“Good News,” Shaboozey. Written by Michael Ross Pollack, Sam Elliot Roman & Jacob Torrey
“I Never Lie,” Zach Top. Written by Carson Chamberlain, Tim Nichols & Zach Top
“Somewhere Over Laredo,” Lainey Wilson. Written by Andy Albert, Trannie Anderson, Dallas Wilson & Lainey Wilson
“A Song To Sing,” Miranda Lambert and Chris Stapleton. Written by Jenee Fleenor, Jesse Frasure, Miranda Lambert & Chris Stapleton
Best traditional country album
“Dollar A Day,” Charley Crockett
“American Romance,” Lukas Nelson
“Oh What A Beautiful World,” Willie Nelson
“Hard Headed Woman,” Margo Price
“Ain't In It For My Health,” Zach Top
Best contemporary country album
“Patterns,” Kelsea Ballerini
“Snipe Hunter,” Tyler Childers
“Evangeline Vs. The Machine,” Eric Church
“Beautifully Broken,” Jelly Roll
“Postcards From Texas,” Miranda Lambert
Best rock album
“private music,” Deftones
“I quit,” HAIM
“From Zero,” Linkin Park
“NEVER ENOUGH,” Turnstile
“Idols,” YUNGBLUD
Best rock performance
“U Should Not Be Doing That,” Amyl and The Sniffers
“The Emptiness Machine,” Linkin Park
“NEVER ENOUGH,” Turnstile
“Mirtazapine,” Hayley Williams
“Changes (Live From Villa Park) Back To The Beginning,” YUNGBLUD Featuring Nuno Bettencourt, Frank Bello, Adam Wakeman, II
Best rock song
“As Alive As You Need Me To Be,” Nine Inch Nails. Written by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
“Caramel,” Sleep Token. Written by Vessel1 & Vessel2
“Glum,” Hayley Williams. Written by Daniel James & Hayley Williams
“NEVER ENOUGH,” Turnstile. Written by Daniel Fang, Franz Lyons, Pat McCrory, Meg Mills & Brendan Yates
“Zombie,” YUNGBLUD. Written by Dominic Harrison & Matt Schwartz
Best Latin pop album
“Cosa Nuestra,” Rauw Alejandro
“BOGOTÁ (DELUXE),” Andrés Cepeda
“Tropicoqueta,” KAROL G
“Cancionera,” Natalia Lafourcade
“¿Y ahora qué?” Alejandro Sanz
Best música urbana album
“DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS,” Bad Bunny
“Mixteip,” J Balvin
“FERXXO VOL X: Sagrado,” Feid
“NAIKI,” Nicki Nicole
“EUB DELUXE,” Trueno
“SINFÓNICO (En Vivo),” Yandel
Best compilation soundtrack for visual media
“A Complete Unknown,” Timothée Chalamet
“F1 The Album,” Various Artists
“KPop Demon Hunters,” Various Artists
“Sinners,” Various Artists
“Wicked,” Various Artists
Best song written for visual media
“As Alive As You Need Me To Be (from "TRON: Ares")" Nine Inch Nails. Written by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
“Golden" (From "KPop Demon Hunters"), HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI. Written by EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick
“I Lied to You" (From "Sinners"), Miles Caton. Written by Ludwig Göransson & Raphael Saadiq
“Never Too Late" (From "Elton John: Never Too Late"), Elton John, Brandi Carlile. Written by Brandi Carlile, Elton John, Bernie Taupin & Andrew Watt
“Pale, Pale Moon" (From "Sinners"), Jayme Lawson. Written by Ludwig Göransson & Brittany Howard
“Sinners" (From "Sinners"), Rod Wave. Written by Leonard Denisenko, Rodarius Green, Travis Harrington, Tarkan Kozluklu, Kyris Mingo & Darius Povilinus
Best comedy album
“Drop Dead Years,” Bill Burr
“PostMortem,” Sarah Silverman
“Single Lady,” Ali Wong
“What Had Happened Was...,” Jamie Foxx
“Your Friend, Nate Bargatze,” Nate Bargatze
Best musical theater album
“Buena Vista Social Club”
“Death Becomes Her”
“Gypsy”
“Just In Time”
“Maybe Happy Ending”
Producer of the year, non-classical
Dan Auerbach
Cirkut
Dijon
Blake Mills
Sounwave
Songwriter of the year, non-classical
Amy Allen
Edgar Barrera
Jessie Jo Dillon
Tobias Jesso Jr.
Laura Veltz
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: See Grammy 2026 nominations, including front-runners Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga
Reporting by Jennifer McClellan and Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

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