Best R&B Performance nominees

(L-R) Kehlani, Bruno Mars, Ledisi, Kali Uchis, SZA, Daniel Caesar

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2018 GRAMMYs Poll: Who Will Win Best R&B Performance?

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Daniel Caesar featuring Kali Uchis, Kehlani, Ledisi, Bruno Mars, and SZA are officially the 60th GRAMMY nominees for Best R&B Performance — who will voters choose?
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Dec 19, 2017 - 10:18 am

Daniel Caesar featuring Kali Uchis, Kehlani, Ledisi, Bruno Mars, and SZA are the Best R&B Performance nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards, bringing their uniquely personal takes on R&B to this emotive and musically demanding genre.

Who do you think GRAMMY voters will choose? Cast your vote now!

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Who will GRAMMY voters choose for Best R&B Performance for the 60th GRAMMYs?

60th GRAMMY Awards: Full Nominations List

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

60th GRAMMYs R&B Field Nominees

(l-r) Childish Gambino, Kehlani, PJ Morton, 6lack, Ledisi, Daniel Caesar

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2018 GRAMMYs: 7 Things To Know About The R&B Field Nominees

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From soulful mainstays to the fresh sounds of the future, dive into the R&B Field nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Dec 5, 2017 - 3:31 pm

The 60th GRAMMY Award nominations are marked by a surge of R&B in the major categories, with no less than two artists up for Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year and Best New Artist.

Best R&B Album Nominees | 60th GRAMMY Awards

This may not come as a surprise to the astute music fan, considering the elements of R&B formed the genesis of so many other musical genres including hip-hop, rock and roll, and modern pop.

Covering both traditional and contemporary sounds and styles, today's R&B Field recognizes artists and recordings in five categories: Best R&B Performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album, and Best R&B Album.

This year's class of nominees proudly represents the many varieties of R&B. Led by Childish Gambino, Ledisi and Bruno Mars with three nominations each, the R&B Field for the 60th GRAMMY Awards contains some of music's groundbreaking artists.

Dig into this year's R&B Field with these seven factual nuggets about the nominees.

1. Caesar's Arrival

First-time nominee Daniel Caesar earned not one but two GRAMMY nominations: Best R&B Performance for his hit "Get You" featuring Kali Uchis and Best R&B Album for his debut album, Freudian.

But the Canadian singer is no overnight success. Caesar released multiple popular EPs and singles before arriving with his full-length debut, proving that behind all great accomplishments lies an ample amount of hard work.

In 2014, Rolling Stone praised Caesar's 2014 EP, Praise Break, saying he "quavers, croons and grabs samples (Jeff Buckley, Pink Floyd, Casablanca dialogue), to evoke the coming-of-age clouding his head," adding that, "we're witnessing the dawn of an abiding talent."

Three years and two GRAMMY nominations later, the Toronto phenom seems ready to step into his rightful spot on the shortlist of today's top R&B artists.

2. Veterans Get Their Due Recognition

In a genre very much alive with fresh emerging talent like five-time nominees Khalid and SZA, the R&B field is also stacked with genre mainstays like Anthony Hamilton, Ledisi and Musiq Soulchild.

All three have been nominated in the past, but only Hamilton has taken home GRAMMY gold so far. This year the North Carolina native goes for his second career win in the Best Traditional R&B Performance category with a nomination for "What I'm Feelin'" featuring the Hamiltones.

Ledisi has two chances to score her first GRAMMY win: She's up for Best R&B Performance for "High" and for Best Traditional R&B Performance for "All The Way."

Musiq Soulchild earned a nod for Best R&B Album for Feel The Real, his sprawling 100-minute, 24-song double album that features contributions from the likes of Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Eight studio albums and nearly two decades into his career, the Philly-born singer is still upping his game, as this album and nomination clearly show.

3. Childish Gambino "Awakens" A New Sound

Described by most as an actor/rapper since his first musical release back in 2011, Camp, Donald Glover — aka Childish Gambino — finds himself firmly planted in the R&B Field this time around.

His electrifying, falsetto-heavy 2016 album, "Awaken, My Love!," is up for Best Urban Contemporary Album and his hit single "Redbone" is in the running for Best R&B Song and Best Traditional R&B Performance, a reflection of the successful stylistic pivot his music has made.

"I like things that you're not expecting," Glover told Triple J Radio about his intentions in writing the album. "We play with pictures and sounds that affect people in ways they don't realize are happening until the fifth listen."

With nominations in major categories in tow, including Album Of The Year and Record Of The Year, Glover proves that his versatility truly knows no bounds.

4. PJ Morton Wears Many Hats

You might know his name from his GRAMMY-nominated song "Only One" featuring Stevie Wonder or from his role as keyboardist for pop/rock superstars Maroon 5, but PJ Morton has been a versatile member of R&B, rock and gospel music communities since the early 2000s.

PJ Morton Dishes On His Love For New Orleans

On his fourth solo album, Gumbo, which is up for Best R&B Album, Morton steps back up to the front of the stage and revisit his New Orleans roots. His elegant album opener, "First Began," is up for Best R&B Song, an exposition of Morton's influences and a testament to his writing and vocal chops.

"I wanted to say what I wanted to say and I thought that I didn't really want to have a corporation behind it this time," Morton told GRAMMY.com about the self-released Gumbo. "I've done that before, my previous solo record, and I just felt like I was clear on the vision on what I wanted this to be and felt like I could do it."

5. Introducing 6LACK

Atlanta's Ricardo Valentine — aka 6LACK (pronounced "Black") — burst onto the R&B radar this year with his debut album, FREE 6BLACK, collaborations with Jhené Aiko and an opening slot on tour with fellow 60th GRAMMY nominee The Weeknd and Rae Sremmurd.

While his GRAMMY nod for Best Urban Contemporary Album pits him against some stiff competition, the rising star is used to a good battle.

"Middle school is when I got super obsessed with battle rapping," 6LACK told GQ. "All day in school, if I wasn't doing my work, I would be battling in the cafeteria, on the track outside the gym, in the hallways."

6LACK's hard-won rap skills combined with his melodic instincts make him a major player in R&B's future.

6. Bruno Mars In Orbit

Bruno Mars' otherworldly success this year is topped off by six total GRAMMY nominations, placing him only behind rappers Jay-Z (eight) and Kendrick Lamar (seven).

Mars' blockbuster album 24K Magic and the celebrated single, "That's What I Like," make a strong statement for the modern crossover potential between R&B and pop — a mix that makes for an undeniable combination just as sure Mars' songs are catchy.

"It's very important that the world hears this album in its entirety," Mars said during a 2016 radio interview. "On this album, I really focused on giving you one continuous wave. As soon as you put this album on, you're going to be taken for a ride."

Bruno Mars Recalls Prince GRAMMY Tribute

In addition to big-time nods in Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, and Song Of The Year, Mars is up for Best R&B Album, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance.

7. Kehlani And The Weeknd Return

Two years ago, at the 58th GRAMMY Awards, The Weeknd established himself as a pop powerhouse, earning seven nominations, the same amount as Taylor Swift, and second only to Kendrick Lamar's staggering 11 nominations.

That same year was also a breakthrough year for Oakland native Kehlani, as she garnered her first nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album for her wildfire sophomore mixtape, You Should Be Here, turning the heads of everyone in the R&B community and setting a new precedent for mixtapes.

This year, both artists are back with nominations in the R&B Field. The Weeknd's critically acclaimed — and chart-topping — Starboy is up for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Kehlani returns with a nod for Best R&B Performance for her sultry song "Distraction" from her debut album, SweetSexySavage.

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

60 Facts About The 60th GRAMMY Nominees

(L-R) Jay Z, Rapsody, Lady Gaga, Alessia Cara, Childish Gambino, SZA, Taylor Swift, Luis Fonsi, Bruno Mars, Cardi B
Photos: WireImage.com

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2018 GRAMMYs: Alessia Cara To Jay-Z | 60 Nominee Facts

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From Luis Fonsi, Bruno Mars, SZA, and Childish Gambino to Rapsody, Lady Gaga, Shakira, and Taylor Swift, get forensic with 60 interesting facts about the 60th GRAMMY nominees
Paul Grein
THE GRAMMYs
GRAMMYs
Jan 3, 2018 - 4:56 pm

Looking for a different kind of New Year's resolution? How about pledging to become an expert on this year's nominees for the 60th GRAMMY Awards? We can help you do just that.

From first-time nominees and top nominees to GRAMMY history and potential records at stake, we've sliced and diced the 84 categories to bring you 60 delectable factoids about the 60th nominee class.

Make sure to read all 60 facts below and follow all the storylines during Music's Biggest Night at Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, Jan. 28.

1. Jay-Z

Jay-Z is this year's leading GRAMMY nominee with eight nominations. This is the third time the rapper has been the year's leading nominee (or at least tied for the lead). He tied for the lead for 2003 with Beyoncé, OutKast and Pharrell Williams. He held the lead outright for 2013.

Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake Win Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

2. SZA

SZA is this year's top female nominee with five nominations, including Best New Artist.

3. Childish Gambino

Childish Gambino is nominated for five GRAMMYs, including Record and Album Of The Year. The versatile performer, aka Donald Glover, won two Emmy Awards in September for his work on the FX series Atlanta. (He won Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing For A Comedy Series.)

4. "Despacito"

"Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber is this year's only work to be nominated for both Record and Song Of The Year. It's the first foreign-language hit to be nominated in both categories since "La Bamba," recorded by Los Lobos, 30 years ago.

5. "The Story Of O.J."

"The Story Of O.J." is Jay-Z's fourth single to receive a Record Of The Year nomination. It follows Beyoncé's "Crazy In Love," on which he was featured; Rihanna's "Umbrella," on which he was featured; and "Empire State Of Mind," a collaboration with Alicia Keys. Jay-Z is the first rapper to amass four Record Of The Year nominations.

6. Bruno Mars, Record Of The Year

Bruno Mars' "24K Magic" is nominated for Record Of The Year. It's Mars' fifth nomination in that category since 2010. That's more than any other artist in this decade. Mars and Beyoncé are the only artists to amass five nominations since 2000.

7. Kendrick Lamar

DAMN. is Kendrick Lamar's third consecutive studio album to be nominated for Album Of The Year. Kanye West is the only other rapper to receive nominations in this category for three consecutive studio albums.

8. Lorde

Lorde is among the nominees for Album Of The Year for her sophomore release, Melodrama. The young star has now been nominated in three of the General Field categories. Four years ago, her breakthrough hit, "Royals" was nominated for Record Of The Year and won for Song Of The Year.

Lorde, Joel Little Win Song Of The Year

9. Alessia Cara, Khalid, Julia Michaels: Song Of The Year

Three of this year's Best New Artist nominees — Alessia Cara, Khalid and Julia Michaels — are up for Song Of The Year. Cara and Khalid co-wrote "1-800-273-7255," the Logic hit on which they are featured. Michaels co-wrote her hit "Issues." This is only the second time in GRAMMY history that three Best New Artist nominees have also been nominated for Song Of The Year in the same year. It first happened 16 years ago with Alicia Keys ("Fallin'"), India.Arie ("Video") and Nelly Furtado ("I'm Like A Bird").

10. Alessia Cara, Best New Artist

Alessia Cara is the first artist who was born in Canada to receive a Best New Artist nomination since 2010, when both Justin Bieber and Drake were nominated.

11. Khalid, Best New Artist

Khalid, 19, is the first teenager to receive a Best New Artist nomination since Justin Bieber, who was 16 when he was a finalist for the 2010 award. Khalid will turn 20 on Feb. 11.

12. Michael Bublé

Michael Bublé lands his eighth nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Nobody But Me (Deluxe Version). He is a four-time winner in the category.

13. Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan is nominated for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Triplicate. This gives the music legend a 55-year span of GRAMMY nominations. He received his first nomination for 1962, when his debut album was up for Best Folk Recording. Dylan received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 1991.

14. Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga's Joanne is among the nominees for Best Pop Vocal Album. She won in this category seven years ago for The Fame Monster. Gaga is vying to become the third two-time winner in the category's history, following Kelly Clarkson and Adele.

15. Kraftwerk

Electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk are nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album for the second time for 3-D The Catalogue. The German group was first nominated in this category 12 years ago for Minimum-Maximum. 3-D The Catalogue is also nominated for Best Surround Sound Album. Electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk are nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album for the second time for 3-D The Catalogue. The German group was first nominated in this category 12 years ago for Minimum-Maximum. 3-D The Catalogue is also nominated for Best Surround Sound Album. Kraftwerk received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2014.

16. Leonard Cohen, Chris Cornell

Leonard Cohen and Chris Cornell are posthumously nominated for Best Rock Performance. Another late, great artist, David Bowie, won the award posthumously last year for "Blackstar."

17. Body Count

Body Count are vying for Best Metal Performance for "Black Hoodie." Bandleader Ice-won a GRAMMY 27 years ago for Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group, for his featured role on the title song from Quincy Jones' album, Back On The Block. He's vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

18. Best Metal Performance

Each of the five bands vying for Best Metal Performance — August Burns Red, Body Count, Code Orange, Mastodon, and Meshuggah — is looking to bring home their first GRAMMY Award.

19. Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters are nominated for Best Rock Song for "Run." The group won in the category six years ago for their similarly titled song "Walk." In addition, group members Dave Grohl and Pat Smear shared the 2013 award in that category for "Cut Me Some Slack," a collaboration with Paul McCartney and Krist Novoselic.

20. Arcade Fire

Arcade Fire lands their fifth nomination for Best Alternative Music Album for Everything Now. Only one other group or duo has amassed five or more nominations in this category. Radiohead have had eight.

21. LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem's American Dream is nominated for Best Alternative Music Album. The group's first two albums, LCD Soundsystem and Sound Of Silver, were nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Album.

22. Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis receives her first GRAMMY nomination for Best R&B Performance for her featured role on Daniel Caesar's "Get You." At the recent Latin GRAMMY Awards, she received a Record Of The Year nod for "El Ratico," a collaboration with Juanes, who is also a current GRAMMY nominee.

23. The Weeknd

The Weeknd's Starboy is among the nominees for Best Urban Contemporary Album. The Weeknd's previous album, Beauty Behind The Madness, won in the category two years ago. He is vying to become the first two-time winner in the category.

24. Ledisi

Ledisi's Let Love Rule is nominated for Best R&B Album. This is Ledisi's fourth nomination in this category. She was previously nominated for Lost & Found, Turn Me Loose and Pieces Of Me. Ledisi was nominated for Best New Artist 10 years ago.

25. Bruno Mars, Best R&B Album

Bruno Mars' 24K Magic is nominated for Best R&B Album. Mars won Best Pop Vocal Album four years ago for Unorthodox Jukebox. He is vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

Bruno Mars wins 2014 Best Pop Vocal Album GRAMMY

26. Cardi B

"Bodak Yellow" brings Cardi B her first GRAMMY nominations for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. The title is a play on its musical inspiration: Kodak Black's 2014 hip-hop hit "No Flockin."

27. Jay-Z, Best Rap Album

Jay-Z's 4:44 is nominated for Best Rap Album. Jay-Z won in that category 19 years ago for Vol. 2…Hard Knock Life. If he wins, he'll have the longest span of wins in the category's history. Eminem currently holds that distinction, with a 15-year span of wins in the category.

28. Rapsody

Rapsody's Laila's Wisdom is nominated for Best Rap Album. Rapsody is the fifth female solo artist to be nominated in this category, following Missy Elliott (who has had four nominations in the category), Nicki Minaj (two) and Eve and Iggy Azalea (one each).

29. Tyler, The Creator

Tyler, The Creator's Flower Boy is up for Best Rap Album. It's his second GRAMMY nomination. He was nominated as a featured artist on Frank Ocean's Channel Orange, which was an Album Of The Year contender five years ago.

30. Alison Krauss

Alison Krauss is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance for "Losing You" and Best American Roots Performance for "I Never Cared For You." Krauss is currently tied with Quincy Jones for the second most wins in GRAMMY history with 27. The late classical conductor Sir Georg Solti is the long-time GRAMMY leader, with 31 awards.

31. Little Big Town

Little Big Town are seeking their third win for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for "Better Man." The group won for "Pontoon" (2012) and "Girl Crush" (2015).

Little Big Town Win Best Country Duo/Group Performance

32. Taylor Swift, Best Country Song

Taylor Swift is vying to win for her third GRAMMY for Best Country Song. She is nominated for writing the Little Big Town hit, "Better Man." Swift previously won for co-writing "White Horse" and writing "Mean." She would become only the second three-time winner in the category. Josh Kear won for co-writing the Carrie Underwood hits "Before He Cheats" and "Blown Away" and the Lady Antebellum hit "Need You Now."

33. Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne

Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne are among the writers of two of this year's nominees for Best Country Song. They co-wrote Sam Hunt's "Body Like A Back Road" and Midland's "Drinkin' Problem." McAnally and Osborne won in this category four years ago for co-writing Kacey Musgraves' "Merry Go 'Round."

34. Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton is nominated for Best Country Album for From A Room: Volume 1. He won in the category two years ago for Traveller. Stapleton is vying to become the first male solo artist to win two awards in this category since the late Roger Miller did it more than 50 years ago.

Chris Stapleton Wins Best Country Album

35. Indie.Arie

Indie.Arie's SongVersation: Medicine is nominated for Best New Age Album. She won Best R&B Album 15 years ago for Voyage To India. India.Arie is vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

36. Jazzmeia Horn, Alex Han, Pascal Le Boeuf

Three alumni of the GRAMMY Camp — Jazz Session receive their first GRAMMY nominations. Jazzmeia Horn is nominated for Best Jazz Vocal Album, Alex Han for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album and Pascal Le Boeuf for Best Instrumental Composition. The GRAMMY Museum program is designed for outstanding high school jazz musicians.

37. CeCe Winans

CeCe Winans lands two nominations for Best Gospel Album for Let Them Fall In Love and Best Gospel Performance/Song for "Never Have To Be Alone." These are Winans' first nominations in seven years. The gospel great is a 10-time GRAMMY winner.

38. Reba McEntire

Reba McEntire's Sing It Now: Songs Of Faith & Hope is among the nominees for Best Roots Gospel Album. This marks her first nod in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Field. She has 13 previous Country Field nominations and one prior Music Video/Film Field nod.

39. Shakira

Shakira's El Dorado is among the nominees for Best Latin Pop Album. Shakira won in that category 17 years ago for Shakira — MTV Unplugged. She is vying to become the first female artist to win twice in this category.

40. Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell is nominated for Best American Roots Performance for "Arkansas Farmboy." This gives the late music legend a 50-year span of GRAMMY nominations. He received six nominations (including four awards) for 1967 for his classic hits "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and "Gentle On My Mind." Campbell received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy in 2012.

Glen Campbell: Lifetime Achievement Award Acceptance

41. Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit

Jason Isbell And The 400 Unit's The Nashville Sound is nominated for Best Americana Album. Isbell won in this category two years ago for his previous album, Something More Than Free. Isbell is vying to become the second two-time winner in this category, following Levon Helm.

42. The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are nominated for Best Traditional Blues Album for Blue & Lonesome. They won Best Rock Album 23 years ago for Voodoo Lounge. They are vying to become the first artist to win in both of these categories.

43. Yusuf/Cat Stevens

Yusuf/Cat Stevens lands his first GRAMMY nomination, more than 50 years after he released his first album. He is nominated for Best Folk Album for The Laughing Apple.

44. Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley

Damian "Jr. Gong" Marley is among the nominees for Best Reggae Album for Stony Hill. With two prior category wins, he's looking to join his brother Stephen Marley as a three-time Best Reggae Album winner. Another brother, Ziggy Marley, has the most wins in the category with seven.

45. Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is nominated in two categories with different albums. Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration is nominated for Best World Music Album. Songs Of Peace & Love For Kids & Parents Around The World is nominated for Best Children's Album.

46. Lisa Loeb

Lisa Loeb is nominated for Best Children's Album for Feel What U Feel. It's her second GRAMMY nomination. She was nominated 23 years ago for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Stay (I Missed You)," a chart-topping hit with her group, Nine Stories.

47. Carrie Fisher

The late Carrie Fisher scores her second GRAMMY nomination for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling) for The Princess Diarist. The Star Wars actress was nominated in the same category eight years ago for Wishful Drinking.

48. Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) earns his first GRAMMY nomination alongside actor Mark Ruffalo for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling) for the audio version of his book, Our Revolution: A Future To Believe In. Sanders is the fourth politician to be nominated in this category this decade, following fellow Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter (the 2015 winner).

49. Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen receives his 50th GRAMMY nomination for Born To Run, which is among the nominees for Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Storytelling). The audiobook shares its title with Springsteen's classic 1975 album, which was voted into the GRAMMY Hall Of Fame in 2003.

50. Sarah Silverman

Sarah Silverman is nominated for Best Comedy Album for A Speck Of Dust. She is vying to become the fifth female comic to win in this category, following Elaine May (who won for a collaboration with Mike Nichols), Lily Tomlin, Whoopi Goldberg, and Kathy Griffin.

51. Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are nominated for Best Musical Theater Album as composers/lyricists and co-producers of Dear Evan Hansen. They're also nominated for Best Song Written for Visual Media for "City Of Stars" from La La Land (which they co-wrote with Justin Hurwitz). They previously won a Tony Award for Dear Evan Hansen and an Academy Award for "City Of Stars."

52. Hello, Dolly!

The New Broadway Cast Recording of Hello, Dolly!, starring Bette Midler, is nominated for Best Musical Theater Album. It's the third time a cast album from this durable show has been nominated. An album from the original production, starring Carol Channing, was nominated for 1964. An album from a previous revival, also starring Channing, was nominated for 1995.

53. Justin Hurwitz

Composer Justin Hurwitz's four nominations stemming from the hit film La La Land mark his second try for GRAMMY gold. He was up for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media for his work on Whiplash two years ago. Hurwitz worked with director Damien Chazelle on both films.

54. Game Of Thrones: Season 7

Game Of Thrones: Season 7 is nominated for Best Score Soundtrack For Visual Media. It's vying to become the first TV soundtrack to win in this category since Mission: Impossible won 50 years ago. Ramin Djawadi is the composer of Game Of Thrones. Lalo Schifrin did the honors on Mission: Impossible.

55. Common, Diane Warren

Common and Diane Warren are nominated for Best Song Written For Visual Media for their collaboration, "Stand Up For Something," from Marshall. Both songwriters are past winners in the category. Common won two years ago for co-writing "Glory" from Selma. Warren won 21 years ago for writing "Because You Loved Me" from Up Close & Personal.

56. Taylor Swift, Best Song Written For Visual Media

Taylor Swift, another nominee for Best Song Written For Visual Media, is also a past winner in that category. Swift, nominated this year for co-writing "I Don't Wanna Live Forever (Fifty Shades Darker)," won five years ago for co-writing "Safe And Sound" from The Hunger Games.

57. Calvin Harris

Calvin Harris receives his first Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nomination. Harris won his first GRAMMY five years ago for "We Found Love," his smash collaboration with Rihanna. They shared the award for Best Short Form Music Video.

58. Greg Kurstin

Greg Kurstin, last year's winner for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, is nominated in that category again this year. He's vying to become the first producer to win it two years in a row since Babyface won it three years running from 1995 through 1997.

Greg Kurstin wins Producer Of The Year GRAMMY

59. Producer Of The Year, Classical

The Producer Of The Year, Classical category comprises five producers with previous nods in the category. Morten Lindberg, who now has 24 total GRAMMY nominations, is seeking his first win. Blanton Alspaugh, Manfred Eicher, David Frost, and Judith Sherman have each won the category previously.

60. Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar: Best Music Video

Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar are each vying for their second award in the Best Music Video category. Jay-Z, who is nominated for "The Story Of O.J.," won four years ago for "Suit & Tie," a collaboration with Justin Timberlake. Lamar, nominated for "HUMBLE.," won two years ago for "Bad Blood," a collaboration with Taylor Swift. To date, just four artists have won twice in this category: Peter Gabriel, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, and Johnny Cash.

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28, 2018, airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

(Paul Grein is a veteran music journalist and historian whose work appears regularly at Yahoo.com and Hitsdailydouble.com.)

(GRAMMY.com staff members Renée Fabian, Brian Haack, Nate Hertweck, Tim McPhate, and Philip Merrill contributed to this article.)

60th GRAMMY Awards Song Of The Year nominees

Song Of The Year nominees, 60th GRAMMY Awards
Photos: WireImage.com

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2018 GRAMMYs Poll: Who Will Win Song Of The Year?

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Bruno Mars, Daddy Yankee, Jay-Z, Julia Michaels, Justin Bieber, Logic, Luis Fonsi, and more are officially the songwriters nominated for Song Of The Year at the 60th GRAMMYs — who will GRAMMY voters choose?
Philip Merrill
GRAMMYs
Jan 23, 2018 - 1:10 pm

The Song Of The Year category at the 60th GRAMMY Awards represents a diverse range of genres, from pop to hip-hop and R&B. Not to mention, these songs all have great stories behind them, from the summer hit of 2017 to Bruno Mars' fourth nomination in the category.

Song Of The Year Nominees | 60th GRAMMY Awards

The nominees include "Despacito," performed and co-written by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber, was also created by the talents of songwriters Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, Erika Ender and Marty James Garton. "4:44," performed and written by Jay-Z was co-written by producer No I.D. Julia Michaels' collaborators on "Issues" were Benny Blanco, Mikkel Storleer Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, and Justin Drew Tranter.

"1-800-273-8255," performed by Logic featuring Alessia Cara and Khalid was co-written by the performers along with Arjun Ivatury. In addition to Mars, who performed and co-wrote the nominated track, other songwriters nominated for "That's What I Like" are Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Philip Lawrence, Ray Charles McCullough II, Jeremy Reeves, Ray Romulus, and Jonathan Yip.

Which song do you think GRAMMY voters will choose to win Song Of The Year? Cast your vote now!

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Who will GRAMMY voters choose for Song Of The Year for the 60th GRAMMYs?

The 60th GRAMMY Awards will take place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Jan. 28 airing live on CBS from 7:30–11 p.m. ET/4:30–8 p.m. PT.

 

60th GRAMMY Nominees By Region
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Kendrick Lamar To Jay-Z: 2018 GRAMMY Nominees By Region | L.A. To NYC

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From the West and Midwest to the South and Northeast, learn where 60 60th GRAMMY nominees were born in the United States
Tim McPhate
GRAMMYs
Jan 12, 2018 - 4:45 pm

As far as the 60th GRAMMY Awards go, the compass is pointing east this year with the milestone telecast taking place at the venerable Madison Square Garden in New York on Sunday, Jan. 28.

But it goes without saying, when it comes to the hundreds of music creators who can call themselves 60th GRAMMY nominees, all signs point to disparate locations on the map.

There is, among others, Lorde, who is from Auckland, New Zealand; Ed Sheeran from England; Chronixx from Kingston, Jamaica; Antonio Sánchez from Mexico City; Juanes from Colombia; Petra Müllejans from Düsseldorf, Germany; and Dmitri Hvorostovsky from Krasnoyarsk, Russia.

And then there's the United States, with nominees hailing from Southern California all the way to Bedford, N.H.

For a different slice of the 60th GRAMMY nominees, we broke up a select group of 60 nominees according to their U.S. birthplace by region: West, Midwest, South, and Northeast. In each region you'll find 15 nominees, offering you a taste of the directional sense of how these nominees got from point A — home — to point B — Music's Biggest Night.

West

60th GRAMMY Nominees, West Region

Out West, a variety of nominees were born in California, including Childish Gambino, Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Tyler, The Creator, Warryn Campbell, Tina Campbell, Beck, Julian Lage, and Kehlani. Representing Las Vegas is Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds. India.Arie and Ben Glover hail from Colorado while Raul Midón is from the Land of Enchantment, New Mexico. Rounding out the region is a pair of Northwest entries: Natalie Grant from Seattle and Wynne from Portland, Ore.

Midwest

60th GRAMMY Nominees, Midwest

In the Midwest, SZA was born in St. Louis, the Gateway to the West. Oklahoma and Kansas are represented by country and classical royalty in Reba McEntire and Joyce DiDonato, respectively. Illinois, the Prairie State, counts Chicago native Common and Decatur native Alison Krauss as two of its own. Julia Michaels, now a Southern California resident, was born in Davenport, Iowa. The state of Indiana spawned the likes of Offa Rex's Chris Funk, comedian Jim Gaffigan and Bruno Mars collaborator Philip Lawrence. Ohio represents hard rock in the Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl and jazz with pianist Fred Hersch. Actor/filmmaker Mark Ruffalo calls Kenosha, Wis., his home, while gospel great CeCe Winans came up through the heart of Motown in Detroit. Two legends round out the region: the inimitable Bob Dylan from Minnesota and the late great Glen Campbell from Arkansas, which was once dubbed the Land of Opportunity.

South

60th GRAMMY Nominees, South Region

Starting in the South, in Texas we find jazz singer Jazzmeia Horn, "American Idol" alum Kelly Clarkson and master singer/songwriter Rodney Crowell. R&B songstress Ledisi and jazz pianist John Beasley call Louisiana home. "Cover Me Up" singer/songwriter Jason Isbell hails from Green Hill, Ala. Killer Mike and Khalid, a pair of rappers, represent the Peach State. Gospel singer Le'Andria was born in Palatka, Fla. August Burns Red's Jake Luhrs' hometown is Greenville, S.C. There are two Virginia natives — Chris Eldridge and Pharrell Williams. "Stay" singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb is from Bethesda, Md. Rapsody represents the Tar Heel State. Rounding out the region are Baltimore rapper 6LACK and Washington, D.C., funnyman Dave Chappelle.

Northeast

60th GRAMMY Nominees, Northeast Region

Up in the Northeast region, there is Jay-Z from Brooklyn, N.Y. Other New Yorkers include Lady Gaga, Cardi B, Gillian Welch, and Lana Del Rey. Producer/songwriter Jack Antonoff and the Boss, Bruce Springsteen, call New Jersey home. Representing the Keystone State are jazzers Joey DeFrancesco and Christine McBride, pop queen Pink, rapper Lil Uzi Vert and comedian Kevin Hart. Rounding out the region are Seth McFarlane, from Kent, Conn.; composer Adam Schoenberg: Northampton, Mass.; and comedienne Sarah Silverman from Bedford, N.H.