Surprise: Anderson .Paak, Best New Artist
The rapper/R&B crooner Anderson .Paak already has several albums to his name, but his 2016 effort “Malibu” finally put him on the map.
Snub: Alessia Cara, Best New Artist
The 20-year-old pop star had a sleeper hit with her first single “Here” and earned praise for her debut album “Know-It-All,” but was inexplicably overlooked by the Recording Academy.
Surprise: Kelsea Ballerini, Best New Artist
Country singer Kelsea Ballerini’s debut album “The First Time” couldn’t crack the top three, but the singer has been a country radio mainstay with singles like “Dibs” and “Peter Pan.”
Snub: “One Dance,” Record/Song of the Year
Drake ruled the Summer of 2016 with the dancehall-tinged “One Dance” off his Album of the Year-nominated “VIEWS,” but the rapper is nonetheless absent from the Record of the Year category.
Surprise: “I Took a Pill in Ibiza,” Song of the Year
In addition to its status as a radio hit, the Mike Posner’s catchy single “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” earned the singer his first ever Grammy nomination.
Snub: “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” Record/Song of the Year
Justin Timberlake’s “Trolls” soundtrack cut “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” is up for Best Song Written for Visual Media, but the sunny pop tune is surprisingly absent from Song and Record of the Year.
Surprise: “7 Years,” Record of the Year
The biographical single by the Danish band Luka Graham beat out hits by Drake, Justin Bieber and Sia for a Record of the Year nomination.
Snub: “Sorry,” Record/Song of the Year
Justin Bieber earned four nominations, including an Album of the Year nod for “Purpose,” but the chart-topping single “Sorry” was overlooked in the Song and Record of the Year categories in favor of the Ed Sheeran co-write “Love Yourself.”
Surprise: “Stressed Out,” Record of the Year
The rap-rock duo Twenty One Pilots had a banner year in 2016, complete with their first Grammy nomination for their hit single “Stressed Out.”
Snub: “This Is Acting,” Album of the Year
Sia came away with three nominations this year, but the bewigged pop star was shut out of the top three categories for her album “This Is Acting.”
Surprise: “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth,” Album of the Year
Country singer Sturgill Simpson’s third studio album “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” topped out at No. 3 on Billboard’s album’s chart, but the critically acclaimed record still managed to sneak into the Album of the Year category alongside albums from household names like Adele, Drake, Beyonce and Justin Bieber.
Snub: “A Moon Shaped Pool,” Album of the Year
Radiohead’s first album in five years, “A Moon Shaped Pool” won critical acclaim following its May release, but the album is conspicuously absent from the list of nominees, save two nods for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Rock Song.
