Snubs & Surprises in the 2025 Grammy Nominations

Instrumental albums are rarely nominated for album of the year. And artists rarely cap 17-year hiatuses with album of the year nods. But André 3000 defied the odds with New Blue Sun, his first album of new material since OutKast’s 2006 album Idlewild. André 3000 received two album of the year nods as part of that duo, for Stankonia, which was nominated in 2002, and Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which won in 2004. (New Blue Sun includes one of the longest nominated song titles in Grammy history — “I Swear, I Really Wanted to Make a ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time,” which is a finalist for best instrumental composition.)

Hozier’s impeccably-produced “Too Sweet” became his first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 this summer. It was thought to have a good chance at a record of the year nod, but it was passed over both in that category and song of the year, where the Irishman’s breakthrough hit, “Take Me to Church,” was nominated nine years ago.

The beloved band’s “Now and Then” was nominated for record of the year, surprising only because it had such a brief run on the Hot 100 – just two weeks. This gives the group a record 60-year span of nominations in that category. They were first nominated for the world-rattling “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at the 1965 ceremony. The Fab Four just barely noses out the old record holder for longest span of nods in the category, Tony Bennett, whose nods span 59 years – from “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (the winner in 1963) to his Lady Gaga collab “I Get a Kick Out of You” (a nominee at the 2022 ceremony).

Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” a No. 2 hit on the Hot 100, was passed over for nods for record and song of the year and best pop solo performance. Boone’s smash has many of the hallmarks of past Grammy nominees. The way it starts off softly and builds to a rock-edged finish echoes Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever,” a record and song of the year nominee three years ago. Boone is nominated for best new artist, one of the marquee awards.

RAYE’s best new artist nomination was not a surprise, but her nod for songwriter of the year (non-classical) was. She was nominated on the strength of songs she wrote for Rita Ora, Halle, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé and NEIKED featuring Ayra Starr, as well as a few tracks she wrote for herself, either solo or in tandem with other artists (Hans Zimmer and Lucky Daye).

Sexyy Red won best breakthrough hip hop artist at the BET Hip Hop Awards in October, and was nominated for best new artist at the BET Awards in June, but she was passed over for a best new artist nod here. That’s surprising because seven female rappers have been nominated in this category in the past four years, including Megan Thee Stallion, who won the award, plus Chika, Doja Cat, Saweetie, Latto, Ice Spice and Doechii, just this year.

Collier received a surprise album of the year nod four years ago for Djesse Vol 3. He’s nominated again in that category this year for his next installment in the series, Djesse Vol. 4. This is similar to when Jon Batiste followed a surprise winner, We Are, with another nominee in the category, World Music Radio. When Grammy voters like somebody, they stick with them. Djesse Vol. 4 is this year’s only album of the year nominee that wasn’t nominated in its respective genre album category. It was entered for best pop vocal album, but was passed over in that very competitive category.

Cher’s Christmas album was thought to have a good chance at a nomination for best traditional pop vocal album, but it didn’t come to pass. Cher has received just seven Grammy nominations in a 60-year recording career (counting both Sonny & Cher and her solo work). She has just one win, best dance recording for “Believe.”

The Texas rock band received a surprise best new artist nomination. The trio is known for blending global music influences, such as classic soul, dub, rock and psychedelia. Its 2024 album A La Sala reached No. 38 on the Billboard 200. Its best new artist nomination is considered a surprise because such higher-profile acts as Megan Moroney, Dasha and Tommy Richman fell short.

Blackpink has yet to receive a Grammy nomination, but that group’s LISA was vying for a best new artist nomination. She would have been the first K-pop artist to be nominated in this category, but she fell short.

Brown received three nominations – his biggest one-year total in 10 years. This ups his career total of nods to 25 (though he has won only once). Brown is nominated for best R&B performance for “Residuals,” best R&B album for the deluxe edition of 11:11 and best African music performance for “Sensational” (featuring Davido & Lojay).

Grande failed to receive a nomination in a Big Four category, despite having a well-received No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, eternal sunshine, which produced two No. 1 singles on the Hot 100. She probably was just overshadowed by the many women who exploded later in the year, including Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. Grande did land three nominations in the pop and dance/electronic field – best pop vocal album, best pop duo/group performance for “the boy is mine” (a collab with Brandy & Monica) and best dance pop recording for “yes, and?” This is Grande’s sixth nomination for best pop vocal album, which puts her in a tie with Kelly Clarkson for the most nods in the history of the category.

Antonoff received seven nominations, including two each for album of the year and song of the year. The snub stems from the surprising fact that he was passed over for a producer of the year, non-classical nod. Antonoff had won in that category the last three years running and was vying to become the first person ever to win four years in a row. That won’t happen, but at least all those other nominations should provide some consolation.