Taylor Swift accepts the award for tour of the year at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles in this October 2018 file photo. Billboard reported this week that Taylor Swift’s “reputation” was the year’s biggest album, but the Grammys don’t agree. The album surprisingly only earned Swift one single nomination, for best pop vocal album and was snubbed in the album of the year category. (AP)
NEW YORK — Fourteen things worth noting about Friday’s nominations for the 2019 Grammy Awards, from snubs to first-time nominees:
THANK U, NEXT
It’s another year at the Grammys, and another snub for Ed Sheeran.
Though the singer won two pop honors at this year’s show, he was cut out of the top three categories. This time, he’s nowhere to be found.
Sheeran had one of the year’s biggest hits with “Perfect” — both the solo version and duet version with Beyonce. But the song didn’t earn any Grammy nods.
Carrie Underwood is in a similar position: She launched the first album where she co-wrote and co-produced each song this year, but the seven-time Grammy winner didn’t pick up a single nomination for the project. Kane Brown, one of the most successful new artists of the year and a dominator on the country charts, was also snubbed.
Young rappers who heavily dominated on streaming services this year were also left out, including the late XXXTentacion, Juice WRLD, Tekashi 6ix9ine, Lil Pump, Lil Baby, Gunna and others.
Seasoned acts who have won Grammys or scored multiple nominations in the past were also dissed, including Lil Wayne, Sam Smith, Nicki Minaj, Migos and Chris Brown.
NOMINATED BUT STILL SNUBBED
Billboard reported this week that Taylor Swift’s “reputation” was the year’s biggest album, but the Grammys don’t agree.
The album surprisingly only earned Swift one single nomination — for best pop vocal album — and was snubbed in the album of the year category. Her hit song, “Delicate,” was shut out of record and song of the year, and even best pop solo performance. At the Grammys earlier this year, her song “Look What You Made Me Do” qualified for awards but didn’t garner any nominations.
Could it be Taylor fatigue?
Kanye West, whose year focused more on politics than music, has a similar problem: He only received one nomination, too. He’s up for producer of the year, despite releasing an album and producing a number of projects.
Ariana Grande received nominations for best pop solo performance and best pop vocal album, but many felt she should have earned nods for album, song or record of the year.
Maroon 5 had one of the year’s biggest hits with “Girls Like You,” featuring Cardi B, but only earned a nod for best pop duo/group performance.
Luke Combs had the year’s most streamed country album, but he didn’t get any country nods. He’s up for best new artist though.
And Eminem released two albums but only earned one nomination — for best rap song.
J. COLD
With hip-hop dominating the pop charts and streaming services this year, many wondered who would earn Grammy nominations in the rap categories because of all the competition.
J. Cole seemed like a shoo-in.
He earned two nominations for his collaborations with others, but his impressive and acclaimed “KOD” album was left out of best rap album and album of the year. The album’s songs also didn’t earn nods like best rap song or best rap performance.
TOTAL REQUEST LIVE
The best pop/duo group performance is looking like MTV’s “TRL” in the late 90’s and early 2000s.
Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys and Justin Timberlake are nominated in the category, which has seven nominees.
Aguilera is up for “Fall In Line,” her duet with Demi Lovato; Timberlake and Chris Stapleton are nominated for “Say Something”; and Backstreets Boys’ latest single, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” earned them a nomination, their first since the 2002 Grammys.
LONG LIVE THE DEAD
Mac Miller died in September, a month after releasing the album “Swimming.” Now, it’s competing for best rap album, where he will compete with Cardi B, Travis Scott, Pusha T and Nipsey Hussle.
Chris Cornell died last year and was a posthumous nominee at the 2018 Grammys in best rock performance. He’s nominated in the category again with “When Bad Does Good.”
BEYONCE VS. HER MENTEES
Has the student become the master? The soulful duo Chloe x Halle, mentored by Beyonce, will compete with Queen Bey at the Grammys.
Chloe x Halle’s full-length debut, “The Kids are Alright,” is nominated for best urban contemporary album, where Beyonce and Jay-Z’s “Everything Is Love” is also a nominee.
The sister duo, who co-star in the “black-ish” spinoff series “grown-ish,” also picked up a nomination for best new artist.
HOLLLYWOOD’S HOTTEST
While Bradley Cooper earned Golden Globe nominations and is a likely Oscar contender, the Grammys are also part of his awards season.
The actor scored two nominations for his duet with Lady Gaga, “Shallow,” including record of the year and best pop duo/group performance.
Tiffany Haddish, a recent Emmy winner, has a reason to wear the famous white dress she’s sported everywhere one more time: She’s nominated for best spoken word album.
Famous faces also make up the nominees for best comedy album, including Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Fred Armisen, Jim Gaffigan and Patton Oswalt.
WHAT THE…?
The Grammys just gave Pusha T major bragging rights.
His rival, Drake, may be up for album of the year, but he’s not nominated for best rap album, where Pusha T is nominated.
Janelle Monae also earned an album of the year nomination, but she’s not competing in any R&B categories.
Even the “Black Panther” soundtrack, an album of the year contender, does not appear in the best compilation soundtrack for visual media category, where nominees include “The Greatest Showman” and “Deadpool 2.”
FINALLY!!!
Florida Georgia Line have launched multiple hits since they released their debut album in 2012, but they never received Grammy love.
Until now.
The country duo earned their first ever nomination this year for best country duo/group performance for “Meant to Be,” which features Bebe Rexha and is the longest-running No. 1 song on Billboard’s country songs chart.
Shawn Mendes has been a star since he emerged on the music scene, but he’s finally competing for Grammy gold with his third album. He’s nominated for song of the year with “In My Blood” and best pop vocal album for his self-titled release.
Camila Cabello didn’t earn any nominations when she was in the group Fifth Harmony, but her solo debut earned her two nominations this year.
The country duo Dan + Shay and DJ Mustard, who co-wrote Ella Mai’s hit “Boo’d Up,” are also first-time nominees.
CHARLIE PUTH, THE ENGINEER, SHINES
Charlie Puth didn’t earn nods like song of the year or best pop vocal album, but his work as an engineer has given him a chance at winning a Grammy.
Puth is nominated for best engineered album (non-classical) for “Voicenotes,” his sophomore album. He’s listed as an engineer on the project and shares the nomination with Manny Marroquin and Dave Kutch.
Puth was previously nominated for three Grammys at the 2016 show for his hit, “See You Again.”
LADIES’ NIGHT
Almost a year after Neil Portnow told women to “step up” — which he later corrected — female performers are dominating in the major categories at the Grammys.
Five of the eight album of the year nominees are women, including Janelle Monae, Kacey Musgraves, H.E.R., Brandi Carlile and Cardi B.
Six of the eight best new artist nominees are women, including H.E.R., Jorja Smith, Margo Price, Chloe x Halle, Bebe Rexha and Dua Lipa.
Women are also strongly represented in song and record of the year, too, where nominees include Lady Gaga, SZA, Cardi B, Maren Morris, Ella Mai and Carlile.
WOMEN IN COUNTRY MUSIC
For years women have struggled on the country music charts and country radio, but at the Grammys, they shine brightly.
The country categories, like usual, includes more women nominees than men. Three of the five best country album nominees are women, including Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini and Ashley McBryde.
Three of the five best country solo performance nominees are also women, including Musgraves, Loretta Lynn and Maren Morris.
A SOLDIER’S SONG
Folk singer Mary Gauthier released an album this year exclusively featuring songs co-written with veterans and their family members from sessions with the nonprofit organization, SongwritingWith:Soldiers.
Now the album, “Rifles & Rosary Beads,” is nominated for best folk album at the Grammys.
The critically acclaimed 11-song project earned a nomination earlier this year for album of the year at the Americana Music Honors & Awards, but lost to Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit’s “The Nashville Sound.”
MOVING GENRES
Tori Kelly, who burst on the music scene as a pop singer, released a gospel album this year and picked up two nods in the gospel category.
Sting, who released a collaborative album with Shaggy this year, earned a best reggae album nomination for the project.