Which Grammy nominees could break records in 2024? Taylor Swift is in the running
It's Grammy time! That means a blessed break from speech-filled acting awards shows and a genuine evening of live music performances (oh, plus some folks will get a few gramophone-shaped prizes in the process).
The annual recording industry confab also promises its share of broken records, pun intended, as stars from across musical genres gather Sunday at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles (8 p.m. EST on CBS and streaming on Paramount+) for the 66th edition of music's most eclectic night.
If the first name that comes to mind is Taylor Swift, congratulations. That's a gimme. But other names could make history, ranging from current fan favorites like Billie Eilish to rock legends like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
We run down which artists have a shot at making Grammys history in 2024:
Taylor Swift could win her fourth album of the year award
Let's start with the belle of the pop culture ball, Swift, who this past year managed to become a billionaire thanks to her global Eras Tour, revitalize the movie theater business with her Eras Tour movie, and goose the at times flagging fortunes of the National Football League thanks to her enthusiastic cheering for Super Bowl-bound beau, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Swift will be looking to break her tie with Frank Sinatra and Stevie Wonder as three-time album of the year winners. Swift previously took that trophy for "Fearless," "1989" and "folklore." If she won a fourth time for "Midnights" she would vault her past those two legends.
The singer also is looking to get rid of a certain Grammy record: She's the most nominated artist to never win song of the year. Swift nabbed her record seventh nomination in this category for "Anti-Hero." She holds another Grammy anti-record in the best pop solo performance category: her fifth nomination, for "Anti-Hero," makes her the most nominated musician without a win.
In more Taylor Swift Universe news, Jack Antonoff ...
Some of you may know Jack Antonoff for his musicianship duties in Bleachers and, previously, the band named fun. But the talented songwriter has of late been inextricably linked to some of the best work from Swift, winning producer of the year nonclassical honors in 2023 and 2022. If he takes home the trophy in that category again this year, he'd join Babyface as the only three-times-in-a-row winners (Babyface did it in 1995, 1996 and 1997).
Antonoff is up for five other Grammys including work with Swift for album, record and song of the year. If Antonoff were to win the record of the year Grammy as producer on "Anti-Hero," he would be part of an elite Grammy club of artists who have won all four "majors" at the Grammys: record, song, album and best new artist (with fun). Adele, Eilish and Christopher Cross are the only others in the club.
Will Jon Batiste extend his Grammys glow in 2024?
Jon Batiste, the former bandleader for Stephen Colbert, was the de facto star of the 2022 Grammys, taking home the vaunted album of the year trophy for "We Are." The musician/singer/composer has remained in the spotlight musically and culturally, thanks to both his latest album, "World Music Radio," and "American Symphony," an Oscar-favorite documentary chronicling the journey of Batiste and his wife, Suleika Jaouad, during a recurrence of her leukemia.
If Batiste were to win this year's Grammy for album of the year, he would be not only among a handful of musicians to win this top Grammy prize twice but also join an elite duo (Adele and Stevie Wonder) who has won two consecutive studio releases. Batiste also could be the first recording artist to win two best American roots performance Grammys if he wins with "Butterfly."
Will Billie Eilish make record of the year history?
Eilish is no stranger to the golden gramophone. To date, she has seven trophies from 25 nominations. But her nomination for record of the year (for "What Was I Made For?" from the hit movie "Barbie") sets the singer/writer up for a historic moment.
If Eilish were to win her third record trophy (she previously scored here with "Bad Guy" and "Everything I Wanted"), she would become the only female performer with three such accolades, vaulting past two-time winners Adele, Norah Jones and Roberta Flack. Three wins would make her tied with two other triple winners, all men: Paul Simon and Bruno Mars.
Kendrick Lamar looks to extend his Grammys dominance
Kendrick Lamar isn't looking so much to set a record as he is aiming to make sure few can touch his current records. The rapper has 17 trophies from 50 nominations, and in 2024 he's looking to add to that pile.
For starters, Lamar could extend his wins to seven in the best rap performance category if he takes the trophy for "The Hillbillies" (with Baby Keem). On top of that, should Lamar also win in the best music video category for "Count Me Out," that would be a record-setting third win in that category.
Jelly Roll could be the oldest best new artist
If Jelly Roll, who is 39, wins best new artist, he’ll be the oldest solo artist to win in that major category. Sheryl Crow, who was 33 when she won in 1995, holds the title.
The Nashville, Tennessee-born singer has floated around the music industry since 2011, it took a decade and some major personal bumps for him to achieve mainstream success. The burly belter hit the Billboard mainstream rock chart in 2021 with “Dead Man Walking,” but by 2022 crossed over to country. A string of Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts followed, including “Need a Favor,” “Save Me” (with Lainey Wilson, who's nominated with Jelly Roll for a best country/duo group performance Grammy) and “Wild Ones.”
Kelly Clarkson is looking to break away from the great Adele
Kelly Clarkson could break her tie with Adele for most best pop vocal album wins. If she takes it for "Chemistry" this year, it'll be her third trophy in that category. She previously won for "Breakaway" and "Stronger."
Three of this year’s other nominees – Olivia Rodrigo, Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift – are each looking for their second win in the category.
Rolling Stones and Springsteen could get a hat tip at the 2024 Grammys
You'd think legends such as the Rolling Stones, and in particular their powerhouse songwriting duo of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, would have more Grammy Awards than they know what to do with. Wrong. The problem? The band's heyday some 50 years back came at a time with the awards were decidedly not inclined to reward rock's bad boys. (Think Chris Cross' "Sailing" to get a sense of where Grammy skewed.)
But there's a chance to remedy that at this year's awards ceremony. The Stones duo, along with Andrew Watt, are up for best rock song honors for "Angry," off the band's 24th album, "Hackney Diamonds." Although the two were nominated before as songwriters (for "Bittersweet Symphony" and "Doom and Gloom") they've never taken the Grammy stage to pick up that trophy.
And while Bruce Springsteen won't be setting any records this year – nor does he need to with 20 statues to his credit – he could make a little personal history if he wins best traditional pop vocal album for "Only the Strong Survive." It would end his Grammy dry spell that's run for 14 years. He last won in 2010 for best solo rock vocal performance for "Working on a Dream."
And finally let's check in on the Grammy Awards GOAT, Beyoncé
As most Grammy Awards aficionados (or humans with ears) can tell you, last year Beyoncé made Grammy history when she won the award for best dance/electronic music album for "Renaissance," making her the artist with the most statues ever: 32. She topped Hungarian classical music conductor Sir Georg Solti, who reigned forever with 31.
While Queen Bey isn't going to extend that record this year, she has little to worry about. Most of those remotely in her Grammy orbit has left the planet, including Solti, jazz musician Chick Corea (27) and pianist Vladimir Horowitz (25). Living legends who are close include producer Quincy Jones (28) and singer/musician Alison Krauss (27), but neither of them are nominated this year. Long live the queen.
