The yr in music already belonged to Submit Malone properly earlier than he scored the longest-running No. 1 music of the yr (up to now) with the lead single off his upcoming album, the Morgan Wallen-assisted “I Had Some Assist.” In an unlikely coincidence, he had been summoned by the musical gods of up to date music — Beyoncé and Taylor Swift — to look on each of their latest albums, which had been launched three weeks aside in March and April.
You possibly can name Malone the luckiest artist on the earth, however getting the decision from Bey and Tay solely proves he’s obtained the particular sauce that would flip into potential Grammy gold for the rapper/singer/songwriter/guitarist/rising nation star who has 10 profession nominations with no wins.
THR breaks down how Malone, who holds the document for many diamond-certified songs in music historical past, may lastly be victorious on the Grammys.
A TAYLOR-MADE WIN
Due to his starry collaborations and F-1 Trillion, his first nation album that’s dropping Aug. 16, Malone may simply be the highest contender on the 2025 Grammys with nominations going into the double digits. 4 of them might be for “Fortnight” alone, the lead single and No. 1 hit from Swift’s The Tortured Poets Division that includes Malone. Swift almost definitely will submit the music for key awards, and it may earn nominations for document of the yr, music of the yr (Malone co-wrote it), finest music video and finest pop duo/group efficiency. Within the latter class, “Fortnight” is likely one of the frontrunners.
THE BEYONCÉ EFFECT
Although Malone’s look on Beyoncé’s “Levii’s Denims” wasn’t launched as a single, it nonetheless reached No. 16 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 and is one in every of Cowboy Carter‘s finest and most streamed tracks. Since Queen Bey has variety of friends on her challenge, she has choices relating to Grammy submissions. For collaborations, her principal precedence shall be “II Most Wished,” her epic duet with Miley Cyrus, which she may undergo finest nation duo/efficiency or finest pop/duo efficiency. As soon as she decides that, she may discover a dwelling for “Levii’s Denims” with Malone — and it may give him one other shot at a Grammy.
And who is aware of, perhaps the icon will lastly shock us along with her particular model of elevated visuals, enabling her to additionally submit for finest music video, which may end in one other nom, or win, for Malone.
COUNTRY BOY
Then there are the nominations Malone may earn for his personal album and its singles. F-1 Trillion‘s August launch date makes it eligible for album of the yr and finest nation album. The album’s 18 songs — that includes high-profile nation music stars — shall be eligible for a number of awards.
The plain selection can be “I Had Some Assist,” which not solely topped the all-genre Sizzling 100 chart however led the Sizzling Nation Songs chart for seven weeks. The music, that includes Wallen, may rating noms like document of the yr, music of the yr, finest nation music, finest nation duo/group efficiency and finest music video.
However right here’s why Group Malone ought to think about different songs. On the Grammys, bro-country varieties can obtain a lukewarm reception, and Wallen stays ice chilly with the Recording Academy. Regardless of being a record-breaking, chart-topping streaming juggernaut, Malone has missed out on Grammy noms since he launched his über-successful 2018 debut. And when his hit “Final Night time” — the second longest-running No. 1 music in Billboard historical past — picked up a nom earlier this yr, it was in finest nation music, which didn’t embrace Wallen as a result of he didn’t write on it. It’s like voters had been giving the music the one Grammy nom that might exclude him.
Malone has different nice prospects for key nation awards. He’s launched singles that includes Luke Combs and Blake Shelton, acts who haven’t gained Grammys but however have earned a number of profession nominations. My best choice can be “California Sober,” that includes Chris Stapleton, a Grammy darling who has gained 10 honors and barely loses nation awards. One other sturdy contender: “Have the Coronary heart” with Dolly Parton, whose 54 noms makes her the second-most-nominated feminine act in historical past behind Beyoncé’s 88 nods. Parton has gained 10 Grammys.
Malone’s album additionally options Hank Williams Jr., Tim McGraw, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Brad Paisley. No matter what he submits, he’s in good standing with the nation neighborhood, a gaggle that isn’t all the time welcoming to outsiders. On the Grammys, for instance, the nation committee wouldn’t permit Beyoncé to submit “Daddy Classes” from Lemonade and categorised Kacey Musgraves’ Star-Crossed and Brandi Carlile’s “Proper on Time” as pop. Beyoncé, Musgraves and Carlile have made it clear they weren’t happy with the rejection of their submissions within the class.
However Malone is not going to have that drawback, with nation radio being extraordinarily supportive. His solely situation may be having an excessive amount of in rivalry, and he may discover himself competing towards himself in classes like document and music of the yr. Not a nasty Grammy drawback to have.
This story first appeared within the Aug. 14 situation of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.
