This morning, the Recording Academy made the announcement the entire music world has been waiting for: the list of nominations for the 2018 Grammy Awards in all 84 categories (we swear it keeps getting longer). It's been a triumphant year for music that has both spoken to and distracted us from the times we live in, and the nominees come with more than a few surprises. Chief among them is this year's leading artist: Jay Z, with eight nominations for his comeback album 4:44. On the flip-side, few should be surprised that Jay is followed shortly after by Kendrick Lamar, with seven nominations for his critically-acclaimed DAMN.
Perhaps the most welcome development is that this year's celebrated roster is one of the most diverse that we can recall. Four out of the five artists nominated for Album of the Year are artists of color: Jay Z, Kendrick, Childish Gambino, Bruno Mars, and Lorde. What's more is that the nominees for the night's first (and arguably biggest category), Record of the Year, contains only artists of color (the same list as Album of the Year except with Luis Fonsi instead of Lorde).
It was a strong year for pop nominations, too, for anyone worried that the red carpet might be lacking theatricality. Lady Gaga earned three nominations for Joanne and Kesha received two for Rainbow — both in Pop Vocal categories. Nominated alongside them is Lana Del Rey, for her game-changing performance on Lust for Life. The nominees for one of the most hotly anticipated categories, Best New Artist, are SZA, Julia Michaels, Lil Uzi Vert, Alessia Cara, and Khalid, who took home the same title from this year's VMAs.
The eligibility period for this year's awards was from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2017, which is why you won't be seeing Taylor Swift's record breaking album, though th singer was nominated for her songwriting on Little Big Town's "Better Man." The 2018 Grammys will air on CBS from Madison Square Garden on Sunday, January 28. Check out the full list of nominees in major categories below.
Record Of The Year
"Redbone" — Childish Gambino
"Despacito" — Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber
"The Story of O.J." — Jay-Z
"Humble." — Kendrick Lamar
"24K Magic" — Bruno Mars
Album Of The Year
Awaken, My Love — Childish Gambino
4:44 — Jay-Z
DAMN. — Kendrick Lamar
Melodrama — Lorde
24K Magic — Bruno Mars
Song Of The Year
"Despacito" — Ramón Ayala, Justin Bieber, Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Erika Ender, Luis Fonsi & Marty James Garton, songwriters (performed by Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber)
"4:44" — Shawn Carter & Dion Wilson, songwriters (performed by Jay-Z)
"Issues" — Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Julia Michaels & Justin Drew Tranter, songwriters (performed by Julia Michaels)
"1-800-273-8255" — Alessia Caracciolo, Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, Arjun Ivatury & Khalid Robinson, songwriters (performed by Logic featuring Alessia Cara & Khalid)
"That's What I Like" — Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus & Jonathan Yip, songwriters performed by(Bruno Mars) from 24K Magic
Best New Artist
Alessia Cara
Lil Uzi Vert
Khalid
Julia Michaels
SZA
Best Pop Solo Performance
"Love So Soft," Kelly Clarkson
"Praying," Kesha," from Rainbow
"Million Reasons," Lady Gaga, from Joanne
"What About Us," P!nk
"Shape Of You," Ed Sheeran, from ÷ (Divide)
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
"Something Just Like This," The Chainsmokers & Coldplay," from Memories...Do Not Open
"Despacito," Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Featuring Justin Bieber
"Thunder," Imagine Dragons," from Evolve
"Feel It Still," Portugal. The Man," from Woodstock
"Stay," Zedd & Alessia Cara
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
Nobody But Me (Deluxe Version), Michael Bublé
Triplicate, Bob Dylan
In Full Swing, Seth MacFarlane
Wonderland, Sarah McLachlan
Tony Bennett Celebrates 90, (Various Artists), Dae Bennett, Producer
Best Pop Vocal Album
Kaleidoscope EP, Coldplay
Lust For Life, Lana Del Rey
Evolve, Imagine Dragons
Rainbow, Kesha
Joanne, Lady Gaga
÷ (Divide), Ed Sheeran
Best Latin Pop Album
Lo Único Constante, Alex Cuba
Mis Planes Son Amarte, Juanes
Amar Y Vivir En Vivo Desde La Ciudad De México, 2017, La Santa Cecilia
Musas (Un Homenaje Al Folclore Latinoamericano En Manos De Los Macorinos), Natalia Lafourcade
El Dorado, Shakira
Best Country Song
"Better Man," Taylor Swift, songwriter (Performed by Little Big Town), from The Breaker
"Body Like A Back Road," Zach Crowell, Sam Hunt, Shane McAnally & Josh Osborne, songwriters (Performed by Sam Hunt)
"Broken Halos," Mike Henderson & Chris Stapleton, songwriters (Performed by Chris Stapleton), from From A Room: Volume 1
"Drinkin' Problem," Jess Carson, Cameron Duddy, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne & Mark Wystrach, songwriters (Performed by Midland)
"Tin Man," Jack Ingram, Miranda Lambert & Jon Randall, songwriters (Performed by Miranda Lambert), from The Weight Of These Wings
Best Country Album
Cosmic Hallelujah, Kenny Chesney
Heart Break, Lady Antebellum
The Breaker, Little Big Town
Life Changes, Thomas Rhett
From A Room: Volume 1, Chris Stapleton
Best Americana Album
Southern Blood, Gregg Allman
Shine On Rainy Day, Brent Cobb
Beast Epic, Iron & Wine
The Nashville Sound, Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit
Brand New Day, The Mavericks
Best Dance Recording
"Bambro Koyo Ganda," Bonobo featuring Innov Gnawa, Bonobo, producer; Bonobo, mixer, from Migration
"Cola," Camelphat & Elderbrook," Mike Di Scala, Elderbrook & David Whelan, producers; Mike Di Scala, Elderbrook & David Whelan, mixers
"Andromeda," Gorillaz Featuring DRAM," Damon Albarn, Jamie Hewlett, Remi Kabaka & Anthony Khan, producers; Stephen Sedgwick, mixer, from Humanz
"Tonite," LCD Soundsystem," James Murphy, producer; James Murphy, mixer, fromAmerican Dream
"Line Of Sight," Odesza featuring WYNNE & Mansionair, Clayton Knight & Harrison Mills, producers; Eric J Dubowsky, mixer, from A Moment Apart
Best Dance/Electronic Album
Migration, Bonobo
3-D The Catalogue, Kraftwerk
Mura Masa, Mura Masa
A Moment Apart, Odesza
What Now, Sylvan Esso
Best Remixed Recording
"Can't Let You Go (Louie Vega Roots Mix)," Louie Vega, remixer (performed by Loleatta Holloway)
"Funk O' De Funk (SMLE Remix)," SMLE, remixers (performed by Bobby Rush)
"Undercover (Adventure Club Remix)," Leighton James & Christian Srigley, remixers (performed by Kehlani)
"A Violent Noise (Four Tet Remix)," Four Tet, remixer (performed by The xx)
"You Move (Latroit Remix)," Dennis White, remixer (performed by Depeche Mode)
Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical
Calvin Harris
Greg Kurstin
Blake Mills
No I.D.
The Stereotypes
Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Uptown, Downtown, Bill Charlap Trio
Rebirth, Billy Childs
Project Freedom, Joey DeFrancesco & The People
Open Book, Fred Hersch
The Dreamer Is The Dream, Chris Potter
Best American Roots Performance
"Killer Diller Blues," Alabama Shakes (Alabama Shakes), from The American Epic Sessions (Deluxe)
"Let My Mother Live,"Blind Boys Of Alabama (Blind Boys Of Alabama), from Almost Home
"Arkansas Farmboy," Glen Campbell (Glen Campbell), from Adiós
"Steer Your Way," Leonard Cohen (Leonard Cohen), from You Want It Darker
"I Never Cared For You," Alison Krauss (Alison Krauss), from Windy City
Best Bluegrass Album
Fiddler's Dream, Michael Cleveland
Laws Of Gravity, The Infamous Stringdusters
Original, Bobby Osborne
Universal Favorite, Noam Pikelny
All The Rage - In Concert Volume One [Live], Rhonda Vincent And The Rage
Best Folk Album
Mental Illness, Aimee Mann
Semper Femina, Laura Marling
The Queen Of Hearts, Offa Rex
You Don't Own Me Anymore, The Secret Sisters
The Laughing Apple, Yusuf / Cat Stevens
Best New Age Album
Reflection, Brian Eno
SongVersation: Medicine, India.Arie
Dancing On Water, Peter Kater
Sacred Journey Of Ku-Kai, Volume 5, Kitaro
Spiral Revelation, Steve Roach
Best World Music Album
Memoria De Los Sentidos, Vicente Amigo
Para Mi, Buika
Rosa Dos Ventos, Anat Cohen & Trio Brasileiro
Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Elwan, Tinariwen
Best Instrumental Composition
"Alkaline," Pascal Le Boeuf, composer (Le Boeuf Brothers & JACK Quartet), from Imaginist
"Choros #3," Vince Mendoza, composer (Vince Mendoza & WDR Big Band Cologne), from Homecoming
"Home Free (For Peter Joe)," Nate Smith, composer (Nate Smith), from Kinfolk: Postcards From Everywhere
"Three Revolutions," Arturo O'Farrill, composer (Arturo O'Farrill & Chucho Valdés), from Familia: Tribute To Bebo & Chico
"Warped Cowboy," Chuck Owen, composer (Chuck Owen And The Jazz Surge), from Whispers On The Wind
Best Historical Album
Bobo Yeye: Belle Epoque In Upper Volta, Jon Kirby, Florent Mazzoleni, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineers (Various Artists)
The Goldberg Variations - The Complete Unreleased Recording Sessions June 1955, Robert Russ, compilation producer; Matthias Erb, Martin Kistner & Andreas K. Meyer, mastering engineers (Glenn Gould)
Leonard Bernstein - The Composer, Robert Russ, compilation producer; Martin Kistner & Andreas K. Meyer, mastering engineers (Leonard Bernstein)
Sweet As Broken Dates: Lost Somali Tapes From The Horn Of Africa, Nicolas Sheikholeslami & Vik Sohonie, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Various Artists)
Washington Phillips And His Manzarene Dreams, Michael Corcoran, April G. Ledbetter & Steven Lance Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer (Washington Phillips)