How Pop Stars Are Gaming the Grammy Ballot

Beyoncé and Submit Malone aren’t the one pop stars gunning for nation Grammy nominations. Add “It” woman Sabrina Carpenter to that listing.

The “Espresso” hitmaker submitted her guitar-tinged monitor “Slim Pickens” to the most effective nation music and greatest nation solo efficiency classes. And although the Recording Academy’s nation committee has rejected songs from outsiders previously, they accepted the monitor, and it might assist Carpenter proceed her musical takeover when nominations are revealed Nov. 8.

This 12 months is full of artists who don’t historically launch nation music submitting to the style — one of many many fascinating details revealed within the 2025 Grammy poll, which isn’t made public however was solely retrieved by THR, which breaks down what you could know.

COMING FOR COUNTRY

They dominated the nation charts with their first nation tasks, so Beyoncé and Submit Malone are on monitor to earn a number of nation noms. Together with Carpenter, others who submitted to the style — some due to collabs with nation acts — embody rocker-rapper MGK; pop singers Kesha, Gwen Stefani and Julia Michaels; Auto-Tune specialist T-Ache; pop-rocker Avril Lavigne; DJ-producer Marshmello; singer-songwriter Noah Kahan; rock band NEEDTOBREATHE; R&B singer Ok. Michelle; and rapper Yung Gravy.

The Cyrus sisters could must duke it out for nation duo/group efficiency: Miley might earn a nod for her visitor look on Beyoncé’s “II Most Needed” — the second-biggest hit from Cowboy Carter — whereas Noah’s look on Shaboozey’s “My Fault” is in rivalry.

I’M A ROCK STAR

Megan Thee … rock star? Perhaps so. The rapper submitted “Cobra (Rock Remix)” — which options steel band Spiritbox, led by Courtney LaPlante — to greatest rock efficiency and greatest rock music. Infantile Gambino submitted two songs that have been accepted in rock — “Lithonia” and “Operating Round” — whereas Woman Gaga, Norah Jones, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll and Dolly Parton, who launched her first rock album final 12 months, are on the poll in rock classes. 

STUDY THIS STRATEGY

Talking of Megan Thee Stallion, when she had two of 2020’s largest hits with “Savage,” co-starring Beyoncé, and the Cardi B rap duet “WAP,” she determined to not submit the latter monitor so she wouldn’t compete with herself in key classes. Her technique labored, and she or he received two Grammys for “Savage.” Others ought to take observe. In the most effective nation music, greatest nation/duo group efficiency and greatest music video classes, Jelly Roll has 5 songs in rivalry in every class, making it difficult to land a nom since votes might cut up. And he has 4 songs competing for report and music of the 12 months. Parton is in related footwear: She has 4 tracks going for greatest pop duo/group efficiency.

FAMOUS FACES

Lengthy dwell Matthew Perry: The Mates icon might earn a posthumous Grammy nomination. Perry’s memoir, Mates, Lovers, and the Large Horrible Factor, was submitted to the most effective audio e book, narration and storytelling recording class. Michelle Williams is also on the poll for narrating Britney Spears’ memoir, The Lady in Me, whereas others in rivalry embody RuPaul, Jill Biden, George Takei, Nancy Pelosi, Liev Schreiber, Laura Linney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Insurgent Wilson and Grammy winners Whoopi Goldberg, Jack Black, Jimmy Carter and Tiffany Haddish.

Dave Chappelle and Penélope Cruz could battle it out in a efficiency class: They’re each on the poll for greatest various music efficiency. Chappelle, who has received 5 Grammys, is a attainable nominee due to his look on Travis Scott’s “Parasail,” and Cruz might compete by way of her poetic narration on Latin rapper Residente’s “313,” which additionally earned her a Latin Grammy nod.

THE POST MALONE SHOW 

Right here’s why Submit Malone often is the most nominated artist of the 2025 Grammys: The nation music group has welcomed him with open arms, so he’ll probably earn noms in all 4 nation classes; his nation album and singles are main pop successes, so he’s received the highest three classes on lock (album, music, report of the 12 months); he’s featured on Taylor Swift’s hit “Fortnight,” which is the music she has submitted for main awards; and his visitor look on Beyoncé’s “Levii’s Denims” is also on the poll. However whereas he could get essentially the most nods, he received’t win essentially the most awards — primarily as a result of he’ll compete with himself in a number of classes.

MORGAN’S MOMENT

Morgan Wallen has dominated the pop charts for the previous 4 years, however he’s by no means earned a Grammy nom. That ought to change this 12 months — not due to Wallen’s solo music however as a result of he’s featured on Submit Malone’s megahit “I Had Some Assist.” Bro-country varieties are normally ignored on the Grammys, however it will likely be arduous to disclaim Wallen this 12 months since “I Had Some Assist” is the principle music Malone has put forth for awards.

BOYS WHO BOYCOTT

Although they vowed to by no means undergo the Grammys after points with the awards present, Drake and The Weeknd have continued to win awards due to others placing forth their collaborations. The 2025 present will not be completely different. Drake might earn nods for his songs with Sexyy Pink and Gordo, whereas The Weeknd was submitted for his look on Future and Metro Boomin’s “We Nonetheless Don’t Belief You” — phrases The Weeknd may use to precise his emotions towards the Grammys.

ALL HAIL QUEEN BEY

Beyoncé made historical past on the 2017 Grammys when her Lemonade album helped her develop into the primary artist to be nominated within the rock, rap, R&B and pop fields in the identical 12 months. Since then, she’s received a pair of dance Grammys and will add the nation and American Roots genres to her résumé this 12 months. She additionally might assist nation music pioneer Linda Martell earn her first-ever Grammy nom. Martell, the primary Black lady to carry out solo on the Grand Ole Opry, is featured on Beyoncé’s “Spaghetti,” which additionally contains Shaboozey and was submitted for greatest melodic rap efficiency. 

LET IT BE(ATLE)

The Beatles final competed on the Grammys in 1997, however they might mark a comeback with their remaining music, “Now and Then,” launched in November 2023. It’s on the poll for report of the 12 months, greatest rock efficiency and greatest music video, and a brief film in regards to the music might earn a nod for greatest music movie. Ringo Starr might even discover himself going towards his band for greatest rock efficiency since he submitted his music “Gonna Want Somebody.”

QUEER COWBOYS

Willie Nelson had been taking part in a canopy of Ned Sublette’s 1981 music “Cowboys Are Continuously Secretly Keen on Every Different” on tour for years, however he lastly launched his model in 2006 after the success of Brokeback Mountain. Almost 20 years later, the music might earn a Grammy nomination. Nelson’s 2024 rendition with overtly homosexual nation singer Orville Peck is on the poll for greatest nation duo/group efficiency and greatest music video.

HIP-NOT and R&BOOOOO

Breakthrough singer Tommy Richman cashed out on “Million Greenback Child” when he tweeted that he wasn’t a hip-hop artist. He later clarified his phrases however turned heads when it was revealed his workforce submitted the TikTok hit to the rap classes on the Grammys. The choice ought to have been overturned however wasn’t, and Black Twitter isn’t joyful about it.

The Grammys ought to have had the identical power when it got here to Tyla’s self-titled album. It was submitted to greatest R&B album, and it ought to have been moved to greatest progressive R&B album however was pushed to pop, the place she’ll must tackle heavyweights like Swift and Eilish. That is when the Grammys determine to maneuver one thing to a different class? Make it make sense.

PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999

NSYNC banded collectively for the Trolls Band Collectively soundtrack, they usually might earn their first nomination in over 20 years with “Higher Place,” which was submitted to greatest pop duo/group efficiency.

R&B singers Monica and Brandy — who received a Grammy for his or her epic 1998 duet “The Boy Is Mine” — jumped on the remix of Ariana Grande’s “The Boy Is Mine,” and the music is on this 12 months’s poll in two classes.

BILLIE ‘ENGINEER’ EILISH

Most singers don’t engineer their very own tasks, however Victoria Monét made historical past by profitable greatest engineered album (non-classical) this 12 months alongside her co-engineers. Eilish could do the identical since she’s listed as an engineer on her third album, Hit Me Arduous & Mushy. Her debut album received the engineering award in 2020, and the consideration went to her co-writer/producer/brother Finneas. Justin Timberlake additionally is likely one of the few pop stars who could place within the class since he has engineering credit score on his newest album, All the pieces I Thought I Was.

ARIANA, THE ARRANGER 

Vocal beast Ariana Grande additionally might earn a uncommon Grammy nomination for arranging her music and vocals. She’s listed as an arranger on “We Can’t Be Mates (Await Your Love)” in the most effective association, devices and vocals class. Eilish and Finneas additionally might earn nods for the prize because the arrangers of “Birds of a Feather.”

This story appeared within the Oct. 30 subject of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.