Grammy Awards 2025: Who Will Dominate Music’s Biggest Night?

The countdown to music’s biggest night is on, and the 2025 Grammy Awards are already shaping up to be a showcase of exceptional talent, surprises, and potentially historic moments. This year’s nominees include an impressive blend of industry veterans and rising stars, reflecting the diversity and innovation that define the music landscape today.

From Beyoncé’s genre-defying “Cowboy Carter” to Tems’ Afrocentric “Born in the Wild,” The Nollywood Reporter (TNR) highlights the artists, records, and albums poised to shine—and the surprises that might steal the spotlight.

The Big Four Categories: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist

Record of the Year

This category celebrates the overall sound and production quality of a track, focusing on the collaborative efforts that bring a song to life.

Many of the nominees dominated the Billboard Hot 100, debuting in the top ten or clinching the number-one spot. These anthems have defined 2024, gracing radio stations worldwide.

Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” stands out as the front-runner. The singer-songwriter achieved global stardom in 2024 with her “sweet” twist on the pop genre. “Espresso,” a high-energy anthem blending witty lyrics with Carpenter’s charismatic delivery, features layered production by Julian Bunetta. The result is a vibrant, fresh take on pop, catapulting Carpenter to main pop girl status—a worthy recognition for this first-time Grammy nominee.

However, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” could easily take home the award. The critically acclaimed diss track, fueled by Lamar’s feud with Drake, showcases spitfire lyrics paired with Mustard’s dynamic production. It’s a standout track that could earn Lamar his eighteenth Grammy.

Equally compelling is The Beatles’ nomination for “Now and Then.”Now and Then” is such a beautiful ballad that captures the themes of loss, love, and reflection. The nostalgic aura the song brings, which is reminiscent of the band’s 70s sound, has the potential to win the hearts of the Recording Academy. This might be The Beatles’ last chance to win another Grammy award because “Now and Then” is dubbed “the last Beatles song.”

Album of the Year

The 2024 album releases have been nothing short of extraordinary, making this one of the most competitive categories.

But no one deserves Album of the Year more than Queen B herself—Beyonce. She released her eighth studio album “Cowboy Carter” back in March and shook the music industry. She pivoted from her signature pop/R&B sound into the uncharted waters of country music and made a masterpiece of an album. She revived the Americana wave and through her album, she spotlighted the legendary black artists that made country music what it is today.

Beyonce also provided a platform for lesser-known artists like Shaboozey, Britney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tanner Adell, and Tiera Kennedy to shine on the global stage.

It’s very strange that an artist of her caliber has yet to receive a Grammy for Album of the Year despite being the most decorated artist at the award show with 32 Grammys—a fact her husband Jay-Z pointed out at last year’s Grammys during his Dr Dre Global Impact Award acceptance speech.

As the most nominated artist at the 2025 ceremony with eleven nominations, one can only wait with bated breath for the decision of the Recording Academy.

“Brat” is also another top contender for Album of the Year. The album has been ranked by various pop culture magazines like Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and Billboard as the number one best album of 2024. The album is Charli XCX’s most unapologetic as the singer painted the world neon green with electropop signatures and edgy lyrics that had everyone dancing.

She owned summer 2024 as the word “Brat” was on everyone’s lips. With various remixes that had collaborations with Troye Sivan, Lorde, Ariana Grande, Addison Rae, and Billie Eilish, the album is so quintessentially Charli—innovative, provocative, and irresistibly catchy.

The Recording Academy is widely known for letting the underdogs steal the show, so it won’t be shocking to see Chappell Roan’s “The Rise and Fall of the Midwest Princess” take home the award. Roan is a new artist that achieved global success thanks to her brutally honest lyricism and infusion of drag-pop into mainstream music.

It’s an album that captures the journey of a small-town girl navigating life, relationships, and her sexuality. Tracks like “Casual,” “Pink Pony Club,” and “My Kink is Karma” deserve their own Grammy category for Best Song Written for the Heartbreak Girls.

Song of the Year

A lot of songs defined 2024 with songwriting that was nothing short of magical. Artists in this category showcased lyrical depth, creativity, and storytelling in their different genres.

“I’ll love you’ til the day that I die,” “Certified lover boy? Certified pedophile,” “If the world was ending, I’d wanna be next to you,” and “You had to stop the world just to start a feeling,” are just a few lyrics that resonated deeply with listeners and made an emotional impact.

“Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish has a strong potential to win in this category. The synth-pop song is built on the back of delicate melodies and the kind of longing that modern pop love songs are missing. Its minimalist instrumentation, featuring soft piano chords and ambient textures, allows the emotional weight of the lyrics to shine through. “I want you to stay, till I’m in the grave” and the haunting way Eilish drawls “I’ll love you ’til the day that I die” is enough to earn her the award.

It also helps that Eilish is a Grammy darling with nine Grammys under her belt at just twenty-two years old.

Of course, no one can count out “Die With a Smile.” The surprise collaboration between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars topped Billboard’s Global Charts and bulldozed its way into social media platforms like Tik Tok and Instagram.

Charts and social media aside, the emotionally charged collaboration explains the importance of holding the ones you love dear before life in itself vanishes. Gaga and Mars’ vocals blend perfectly to create the ultimate ballad. So, before the world ends and “our time on earth was through,” the Recording Academy might pick this song as its Song of the Year.

Another top contender is Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone. It might be hard to believe, but despite being one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of the century, Swift has yet to secure a win in this category. This might be her year to finally take home the gold.

“Fortnight” shows just how far Swift can push her pen by transforming her signature modern pop sounds into poetic, Dylan Thomas-esque lyrics. She and Malone paint a vivid picture of two people who share an intense bond that burns brightly but fades just as quickly.

If “I love you, it’s ruining my life,” and “I was a functioning alcoholic ’til nobody noticed my new aesthetic,” doesn’t move the Recording Academy, then what will?

Best New Artist

Due to changes in Grammy rules, some of the artists in this category are not new—they just recently gained mainstream popularity. Carpenter, for example, has had a decade-long career in the music industry. Prior to “Short n’ Sweet” she has released five studio albums.

Career-defining moments pivoted these artists to household names, and it’s indeed another highly competitive category. However, if there’s to be a prediction for a winner, it’ll be Roan. Not only is she the literal definition of a new artist, but her artistry and resilience have earned her a place as a main pop girl in the music industry. She has headlined and performed at multiple festivals around the world, has a platinum-selling debut album (“The Rise and Fall of the Midwest Princess”), and has multiple songs with chart success and RIAA certifications.

The beautiful thing about Roan’s success is her debut album—which was released in 2023—didn’t achieve immediate mainstream attention despite being critically acclaimed. It was the determination to push her album through performances and touring that got it this far to be named a Grammy-nominated album.

If the Recording Academy truly wants to shock the music industry, then the Grammy would go to Doechii. The female rapper is a force to be reckoned with in the world of hip-hop. Her style is characterized by her ability to effortlessly switch between rapid-fire flows, melodic cadences and theatrical delivery. She’s also a great storyteller who blends elements of R&B, pop, hyper-pop, and punk to her rap style.

The last time a female rapper won Best New Artist was back in 1999 when Lauryn Hill took home the award. Maybe Doechii can solidify her place in history in February 2025.

Shaboozey is another artist who isn’t “new” per se since he has been making music since 2014. His breakthrough in 2024 is what artist dreams are made of. His country single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is one of the biggest songs of 2024 and has spent a whopping nineteen weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 charts. It ties Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” as the longest-running number one hit. It’s currently certified 5x platinum by the RIAA and is nominated for three Grammys—Song of the Year, Best Country Song, and Best Country Solo Performance.

Maybe if the Grammys are considering chart success, Shaboozey is the top contender for the award.

Carpenter could also win this award. There’s no reason why she shouldn’t after a sold-out tour, a double platinum, Grammy-nominated album (“Short n’ Sweet”), and multiple songs from that album earning RIAA certifications. She has all the ingredients of a Best New Artist winner (global stardom, commercial success, and a relentless work ethic), so Recording Academy: Please, Please, Please.

Best African Music Performance

This category proves that Nigerians are the Giants of Africa because seven out of the eight nominees are Nigerians.

The front-runner to win this award is “Tomorrow” by Yemi Alade. Alade has always championed African music through her sound and, surprisingly, this is her first-ever nomination. She delivers the positive message of the song with her soulful voice, blending traditional African rhythms with contemporary instrumentals.

Tems also has a high possibility of winning this award giving her Grammy history. With one secured win, the Afrobeats star could make history as the first female Nigerian artist to win two Grammy awards. Her nominated single “Love Me Jeje” is a modern spin on the Seyi Sodimu classic that warmed hearts in the 90s. The breezy track, mixed with Tems’ distinct voice, is a lovely mix of metaphors, imagery, and double entendres used to describe the tenderness that comes with falling in love.

Of course, Burna Boy’s non-album single “Higher” isn’t out of the race just yet. As one of the most influential Afrobeats stars of this generation, his exceptional artistry can never be denied. From dropping platinum-selling albums to selling out shows all over the world, the Grammys winner has everything it takes to win in this category. “Higher” showcases a more introspective side of the artist as he reflects on his personal growth through soulful melodies and a (very) catchy chorus.

Best Global Music Album

This category celebrates the best albums in the international music scene, highlighting their cultural influence in their home country and the world.

Again, Tems could dominate in this category as her debut album— “Born in the Wild”—made huge waves in the international music scene. It debuted at Number 56 on the Billboard 200 (the highest debut ever for a Nigerian female artist) and spawned the now Grammy-nominated singles “Love Me Jeje” and “Burning.” Charts aside, the album showcases Tems’ versatility in tremendous ways as she easily blends Afrobeats, high-life, hip-hop, and pop to her signature R&B stylings.

Rema’s sophomore album “HEIS” is a surprising nomination—and could be an even more surprising win. The Afrobeats star has had a tremendous year thanks to the success of this album. He continues to champion his Afro-rave movement in a rather unconventional way that pays off with this nomination. What’s even more impressive is that the album has no featured artists. It’s just Rema doing what he knows best—making good music.

Matt B’s “Alkebulan II” is less popular than the previously mentioned albums, but the project is a great body of work. As a follow-up to “Alkebulan,” it channels its roots in African mythology and heritage. The album is a collaborative effort with British orchestral sensation The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and it has earned critical acclaim for its vibrant storytelling and cinematic orchestral arrangements.

Matt B has the potential to finally win a Grammy with this masterpiece.