In relation to probably the most adorned artist in Grammy historical past, two issues could be true on the identical time: Beyoncé can break information (99 nominations in 25 years) and nonetheless be snubbed.
Alas, the album of the yr trophy has eluded the multifaceted artist, and she or he’s solely picked up one of many large three awards regardless of a number of nominations. This yr, her groundbreaking Cowboy Carter is up for 11 Grammys — probably the most ever for a single album — together with 4 within the nation music class and one for greatest Americana efficiency.
Might Queen Bey take residence music’s largest prize on music’s largest night time? Her monitor document of noms and wins doesn’t provide a transparent path to victory, however many Recording Academy members would agree it’s a recognition lengthy overdue.
Say Her Identify
Beyoncé earned her first nomination in 2000, when Future’s Youngster’s “Payments, Payments, Payments” competed (and misplaced) R&B tune and R&B efficiency by a duo or group with vocals. A yr later, she gained the identical honors for “Say My Identify,” which launched the woman group as a pop act. On the identical time, Future’s Youngster downsized to a trio, and Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams attended the 2001 Grammys, although former members LeToya Luckett and LaTavia Roberson additionally had been named winners. Williams’ first Grammy as a part of a trio got here the next yr when “Survivor,” impressed by a joke a radio station made in regards to the group dropping members, gained.
Sonic Adventurer
The very best encompass sound Grammy was created in 2005 to focus on albums of remarkable sonic high quality. It’s one of many few classes the place classical and nonclassical recordings can compete with each other. In 2015, Bey beat out the Philharmonia Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra to win the award, incomes it as a encompass producer on her self-titled shock album. The award was renamed to greatest immersive audio album in 2019.
Rock Royalty
Beyoncé’s Lemonade was the discuss of the 2017 Grammys with its 9 nominations. However she additionally factored into the rock competitors, incomes a nom for her collaboration with Jack White, “Don’t Harm Your self.” Up for greatest rock efficiency, she made historical past as the primary artist to earn bids within the rock, pop, rap and R&B classes in the identical yr. Bey misplaced to David Bowie (her Columbia Data labelmate), who posthumously gained 5 honors a yr after he died.
R&Beyoncé
Having bother maintaining with Bey’s dozens of R&B honors? You’re not alone. The style makes up 36 of her 99 nominations, however the class she’s gained probably the most has modified names a number of occasions. As R&B has developed to a extra trendy sound, greatest modern R&B album (Beyoncé nabbed it 3 times) changed into greatest city modern album then greatest progressive R&B album in 2023.
Video Vixen
Although Cowboy Carter and Renaissance had been launched with out music movies, Beyoncé has at all times been identified for her daring and explosive visuals. Grammy voters took discover. She picked up greatest music video for “Formation” and “Brown Pores and skin Lady” in addition to greatest music movie for the groundbreaking live performance doc Homecoming. She’s additionally earned nods within the latter class for Lemonade, Black Is King and Beyoncé & Jay Z: On the Run Tour — initiatives which have additionally earned a number of Emmy nods.
Cowboy Carter’s 11 Grammy nominations embody 4 within the nation subject, one for greatest Americana efficiency, and nods for rap and pop efficiency. PHOTOGRAPHER: BLAIR CALDWELL
BLAIR CALDWELL/PARKWOOD ENTERTAINMENT LLC.
A Profitable Spouse
Jay-Z is second to his spouse in terms of profession Grammy nominations, and 20 of his 89 bids (six of his 24 wins) are from collaborations with Beyoncé. These embody “Loopy in Love,” “Drunk in Love” and their joint album, Every part Is Love. He has additionally earned a number of nominations for co-writing his spouse’s music, together with a win for greatest rap tune for Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé’s “Savage” in addition to a present album of the yr nod for Cowboy Carter, the place he contributed to 5 tracks. The household enterprise has additionally expanded to daughter Blue Ivy, who shares the 2021 greatest music video Grammy for “Brown Pores and skin Lady” along with her mom.
The Massive Three
5 of Beyoncé’s eight albums have been nominated for album of the yr, and she or he even scored a sixth nod within the class for her look on Girl Gaga’s The Fame Monster. She’s the artist with probably the most noms for document of the yr, incomes her ninth this yr for “Texas Maintain ’Em.” And he or she’s been nominated for tune of the yr six occasions. It’s the one class of the massive three she’s gained — for “Single Women” in 2010
This story appeared within the Jan. 9 difficulty of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.
