The 60th Grammy Awards nominations were a triumph for hip-hop — but beyond that, they embraced a few dark horses and ignored several favorites. Here’s the scorecard.
SURPRISE: Jay-Z, the guy with the most nominations this year, eight, was recognized in major categories (Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year) where he was not expected to be a big contender.
SNUB: For the first time in three years, country music was shut out in the top categories, leaving the likes of Miranda Lambert and her “The Weight of These Wings” album out in the cold.
SURPRISE: Julia Michaels, the only white artist in the Best New Artist category also made a surprise appearance in the Song of the Year category with “Issues.”
SNUB: The pioneering rockers Metallica were thought to have a chance to crash the Album of the Year category with “Hardwired … To Self Destruct,” but they ended up with a single nod in the Best Rock Song category.
SNUB: James Arthur, Logic and Cardi B. were considered likelier Best New Artist nominees, but rapper Lil Uzi Vert grabbed the final slot.
SNUB: Everybody thought Ed Sheeran’d be a lock for the top categories, but everybody was wrong — his album “÷” and song “Shape of You” shockingly landed a paltry two nominations in the pop categories.
SURPRISE: It’s not a surprise that the deep-voiced bard was nominated for his final album, but it’s delicious to find Leonard Cohen competing against Chris Cornell and Foo Fighters in the Best Rock Performance category, and against Alabama Shakes and Blind Boys of Alabama for Best American Roots Performance.
SNUB: Lady Gaga was thought to be a Song of the Year contender for “Million Reasons” and an Album of the Year contender for “Joanne,” but couldn’t get noms outside the pop categories.
SURPRISE: Senator Bernie Sanders lost in the primaries but is now nominated for Best Spoken Word Album for “Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In.” This time, he’s competing against Bruce Springsteen and Carrie Fisher.
SNUB: Kesha did get two pop nominations for her album “Rainbow” and song “Praying,” but she had Song of the Year and Record of the Year aspirations.
SURPRISE: Childish Gambino, the name used by actor Donald Glover in his musical career, wasn’t expected to contend in the Album of the Year and Record of the Year categories, but his album “Awaken My Love” and song “Redbone” were both nominees.
SNUB: We won’t really know if Grammy voters have cooled on Taylor Swift until next year, when her album “Reputation” is eligible. But the singles “Look What You Made Me Do” was eligible, and it was shut out.