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2021 Grammy nominees: list of highlights

By Kara Santos Published Nov 24, 2020 11:18 pm Updated Nov 24, 2020 11:40 pm

The nominations for the 63rd annual Grammy Awards were announced Tuesday. Beyoncé scored nine nominations, making her the most-nominated female in Grammys history, while Taylor Swift, who recently broke records at the American Music Awards bagged six nods. 

The Recording Academy has announced that The Daily Show's Trevor Noah will be hosting the 2021 Grammys this year, but live performances have yet to be announced.

As reported by The New York Times, the show’s longtime producer, Ken Ehrlich, has retired from the awards after 40 years of service. Ben Winston, known for his work on James Corden’s late night show and “Carpool Karaoke” will be taking over helming duties. 

The winners of the music awards' staggering 83 categories will be announced during the show’s broadcast by CBS from Los Angeles on Sunday, Jan. 31, but  not much else is known about how the awards ceremony will play out. The Grammys are one of the many awards shows taking place as the coronavirus pandemic and its resulting restrictions continue.

While artists Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa and Roddy Ricch picked up the most nominations, there are some surprising snubs and surprises this year. The Weeknd and Luke Combs were among the artists surprisingly snubbed this year, while K-pop sensation BTS got only one nod for best pop duo/group performance, for their chart-topping English-language hit Dynamite. 

Here's a list of some of the Grammy 2021 nomination highlights:

Song of the Year

  • "Black Parade," Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim "Kaydence" Krysiuk & Rickie "Caso" Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)
  • "The Box," Samuel Gloade & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)
  • "Cardigan," Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)
  • "Circles," Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters (Post Malone)
  • "Don’t Start Now," Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren, songwriters (Dua Lipa)
  • "Everything I Wanted," Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)
  • "I Can’t Breathe," Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)
  • "If the World Was Ending," Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, songwriters (JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels)

Album of the Year

  • Jhené Aiko - "Chilombo"
  • Black Pumas - "Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)"
  • Coldplay - "Everyday Life"
  • Jacob Collier - "Djesse Vol. 3"
  • Haim - "Women in Music Pt. III"
  • Dua Lipa - "Future Nostalgia"
  • Post Malone - "Hollywood’s Bleeding"
  • Taylor Swift - "Folklore"

Record of the Year

  • "Black Parade," Beyoncé
  • "Colors," Black Pumas
  • "Rockstar," DaBaby featuring Roddy Rich
  • "Say So," Doja Cat
  • "Everything I Wanted," Billie Eilish
  • "Don’t Start Now," Dua Lipa
  • "Circles," Post Malone
  • "Savage," Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé

Best New Artist

  • Ingrid Andress
  • Phoebe Bridgers
  • Chika
  • Noah Cyrus
  • D Smoke
  • Doja Cat
  • Kaytranada
  • Megan Thee Stallion

Best Pop Vocal Album

  • Justin Bieber - "Changes"
  • Lady Gaga - "Chromatica"
  • Dua Lipa - "Future Nostalgia"
  • Harry Styles - "Fine Line"
  • Taylor Swift - "Folklore"

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

  • Burt Bacharach & Daniel Tashian - "Blue Umbrella"
  • Harry Connick Jr. - "True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter"
  • James Taylor - "American Standard"
  • Rufus Wainwright - "Unfollow the Rules"
  • Renée Zellweger - "Judy"

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

  • "Un Dia (One Day)," J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy
  • "Intentions," Justin Bieber featuring Quavo
  • "Dynamite," BTS
  • "Rain on Me," Lady Gaga featuring Ariana Grande
  • "Exile," Taylor Swift featuring Bon Iver

Best Rock Song

  • Phoebe Bridgers - "Kyoto"
  • Tame Impala - "Lost In Yesterday"
  • Big Thief - "Not"
  • Fiona Apple - "Shameika"
  • Brittany Howard - "Stay High"

Best Rock Performance

  • Fiona Apple - "Shameika"
  • Big Thief - "Not"
  • Phoebe Bridgers - "Kyoto"
  • Haim - "The Steps"
  • Brittany Howard - "Stay High"
  • Grace Potter - "Daylight"

Best Rock Album

  • Fontaines D.C. - "A Hero’s Death"
  • Michael Kiwanuka - "Kiwanuka"
  • Grace Potter - "Daylight"
  • Sturgill Simpson - "Sound and Fury"
  • The Strokes - "The New Abnormal"

Best Metal Performance

  • Body Count - “Bum-Rush”
  • Code Orange - “Underneath”
  • In This Moment - "The In-Between”
  • Poppy - “Bloodmoney"
  • Power Trip - “Executioner’s Tax (Swing Of The Axe) – Live”

Best Alternative Music Album

  • Fiona Apple - "Fetch the Bolt Cutters"
  • Beck - "Hyperspace"
  • Phoebe Bridgers - "Punisher"
  • Brittany Howard - "Jamie"
  • Tame Impala - "The Slow Rush"

Best Comedy Album

  • Tiffany Haddish - "Black Mitzvah"
  • Patton Oswalt - "I Love Everything"
  • Jim Gaffigan - "The Pale Tourist"
  • Bill Burr - "Paper Tiger"
  • Jerry Seinfeld - "23 Hours to Kill"

Best Pop Solo Performance

  • Justin Bieber - "Yummy"
  • Doja Cat - "Say So"
  • Billie Eilish - "Everything I Wanted"
  • Dua Lipa - "Don’t Start Now"
  • Harry Styles - "Watermelon Sugar"
  • Taylor Swift - "Cardigan"

Best Rap Album

  • D Smoke - "Black Habits"
  • Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist - "Alfredo"
  • Jay Electronica - "A Written Testimony"
  • Nas - "King’s Disease"
  • Royce Da 5’9" - "The Allegory"

Best R&B Performance

  • Jhené Aiko Featuring John Legend - "Lightning & Thunder"
  • Beyoncé - "Black Parade"
  • Jacob Collier Featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign - "All I Need"
  • Brittany Howard - "Goat Head"
  • Emily King - "See Me"

Best Country Album

  • Ingrid Andress - "Lady Like"
  • Brandy Clark - "Your Life Is a Record"
  • Miranda Lambert - "Wildcard"
  • Little Big Town - "Nightfall"
  • Ashley McBryde - "Never Will"

Best Country Song

  • “Bluebird” — Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, Songwriters (Miranda Lambert)
  • “The Bones” — Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz, Songwriters (Maren Morris)
  • “Crowded Table” — Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna, Songwriters (The Highwomen)
  • “More Hearts Than Mine” — Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis & Derrick Southerland, Songwriters (Ingrid Andress)
  • “Some People Do” — Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey & Thomas Rhett, songwriters (Old Dominion)

Best Dance Recording

  • “On My Mind” — Diplo & Sidepiece
  • “My High” — Disclosure Featuring Aminé & Slowthai
  • “The Difference” — Flume Featuring Toro Y Moi
  • “Both of Us” — Jayda G
  • “10%” — Kaytranada Featuring Kali Uchis

The winners of the 2021 Grammy Awards will be revealed during the live ceremony on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on CBS. Check out the complete Grammy 2021 nominees list here.