Lyrics have a unique way of validating and soundtracking our real-world experiences. Perhaps this year, a celebratory drink called for Shaboozey's "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" on repeat. Or maybe you professed your love with a playlist containing Billie Eilish's "BIRDS OF A FEATHER," and Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars' "Die with a Smile."

It's those small but significant moments that showcase the power of songwriting — and what makes GRAMMY's Song Of The Year award so necessary. In the 2025 SOTY nominee list, you'll find the above hits, plus Taylor Swift's "Fortnight" (feat. Post Malone), Chappell Roan's "Good Luck, Babe," Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us," Sabrina Carpenter's "Please Please Please" and Beyoncé's "TEXAS HOLD ‘EM."

Ahead of the 2025 GRAMMYs, take a deeper look into all the tracks that made the nominee list for Song Of The Year. Be sure to check out the full 2025 GRAMMYs nominations list ahead of Music's Biggest Night on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.

Shaboozey — "A Bar Song (Tipsy)"

Songwriters: Sean Cook, Jerrel Jones, Joe Kent, Nevin Sastry, Chibueze Collins Obinna & Mark Williams

Before this year, Shaboozey was just another rising artist ready to make a name for himself. With the April release of "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," he blossomed into the most prolific country musician of 2024, coinciding with his 10th anniversary in the music industry.

By July, the J-Kwon interpolation simultaneously hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 and the Hot Country Songs charts, making him the first Black man to conquer a feat. On Oct. 29, it broke the record for the longest-running No. 1 hit, previously set by "Old Town Road (feat. Billy Ray Cyrus)" by Lil Nas X.

Billie Eilish — "BIRDS OF A FEATHER"

Songwriters: Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell

Most know Billie Eilish for her "sad girl" anthems, scaling topics of body dysmorphia, cruel exes and the relentless dissection of her life under the public eye. But on "BIRDS OF A FEATHER," a single from 2024's HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, the 22-year-old songbird unveils a softer, sweeter side of herself over a twinkling synth. The track details an unwavering connection.

"I don't know what I'm cryin' for/ I don't think I could love you more," she muses in the song's pre-chorus. "Might not be long, but baby, I/ Don't wanna say goodbye."

As Finneas O'Connell, Eilish's brother and longtime collaborator, explained on their American Express "Story of My Song" segment, "There's a lot of songs about dying for somebody and loving them until they die, and I thought it was really fun to lean in."

Songwriters: Dernst Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars & Andrew Watt

Put two musical legends together, and you get a masterpiece. For Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars, that piece of artwork is "Die with a Smile," a grandiose ballad about not taking your relationships for granted. It's reminiscent of the sultry duets of the 1960s, such as Sonny & Cher's "I Got You Babe" or Frank & Nancy Sinatra's "Somethin' Stupid."

The unexpected collaboration unfolded while Gaga finished her upcoming album in Malibu. "After a long day, he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on [...] We stayed up all night and finished writing and recording the song," Gaga said in a press release.

As Gaga mentions in her announcement post, the song is a treat for Little Monsters "while you wait for LG7." But if the rest of the project is anything like "Die with a Smile," it's already looking like a hit.

Taylor Swift — "Fortnight" Feat. Post Malone

Songwriters: Jack Antonoff, Austin Post & Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has become increasingly transparent in her artistry through whimsical lyrical metaphors and cinematic music videos. "Fortnight," the opening track of The Tortured Poets Department, is no exception as Swift likens a crumbling relationship to the failure of the American dream. In its sepia-toned visual, she's an asylum escapee taking the "Forget Him" pill, washing away their million-paged saga.

"'Fortnight' is a song that exhibits a lot of the common themes that run throughout this album. One of which being fatalism — longing, pining away, lost dreams," Swift told Amazon Music. "And 'I love you, it's ruining my life,' these are very hyperbolic, dramatic things to say. But it's that kind of album."

Swift first announced Tortured Poets during her acceptance speech for Best Pop Vocal Album (Midnights) at the 2024 GRAMMYs. At the 67th GRAMMY Awards, Swift will again vie for a chance to win Song Of The Year — her eighth nomination in the Category.

Songwriters: Daniel Nigro, Kayleigh Rose Amstutz & Justin Tranter

Chappell Roan might have written "Good Luck, Babe!" in three minutes, but this breakthrough single has left the impact of a lifetime as the singer's debut on the Billboard Hot 100.

The cathartic indie rock track wishes a hopeless flame well after denying their queer identity: "When you wake up next to him in the middle of the night/ With your head in your hands, you're nothing more than this wife/ And when you think about me, all of those years ago/ You're standing face to face with, 'I told you so.'"

"I think throughout the year, I'm like, "What can I get away with?" Because right now it's pretty tame for what it is like to be a gay artist," Roan told GRAMMY.com in March. "But I just want to push it to see how far can I go — with the most controversial outfits or things to rile people up. I'm not really afraid to do that."

Songwriters: Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been throwing shots at each other for the past decade, but it wasn't until Drake's claims of being the best of the "Big Three" rappers (including him, Lamar and J. Cole) in 2023 that the battle climaxed. 

The next six months saw back-and-forth diss tracks, such as Lamar's "Euphoria" and "Meet the Grahams." In a sweeping moment in May, Lamar reigned superior with "Not Like Us," poking fun at Drake's OVO brand alongside accusations of pedophilia and disingenuous relationship with other artists.

Upon its release, "Not Like Us" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and might be Lamar's first gramophone in the Song Of The Year category. 

Sabrina Carpenter — "Please Please Please"

Songwriters: Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter

If "Espresso" hadn't already catapulted Sabrina Carpenter as one of the biggest stars of 2024, "Please Please Please" solidifies her status as one of the music industry's key players.

In typical Sabrina fashion, this '70s-inspired tune features witty and playful lyricism, with the Short n' Sweet singer begging her new lover to stay faithful and true: "And please, please, please/ Don't bring me to tears when I just did my makeup so nice/ Heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another/ I beg you, don't embarrass me, motherf—."

The single, co-written with Jack Antonoff, also marks Sabrina's first No. 1 track on the Billboard Hot 100, sitting comfortably above "Espresso's" No. 2 placement.

Beyoncé — "TEXAS HOLD ‘EM"

Songwriters: Brian Bates, Beyoncé, Elizabeth Lowell Boland, Megan Bülow, Nate Ferraro & Raphael Saadiq

After more than two decades as a solo artist, Beyoncé's latest era has been defined by risk-taking experimentation. The first installment of her trilogy project, RENAISSANCE, revived house. Her latest addition, COWBOY CARTER, invites listeners to throw on their Western boots in her first full-length venture into country music, led by "TEXAS HOLD 'EM."

Aside from its addictive twangy instrumentation and chant-worthy lyrics ("This ain't Texas, ain't no hold 'em"), the COWBOY CARTER lead confirms Beyoncé's artistic range while simultaneously encouraging much-needed conversations about the diversity of the country genre. An ambitious venture, indeed, but one that paid off, making Queen Bey the first Black woman to top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and earning her a spot on this year's Song Of The Year nominee list.

The Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing will honor legendary producer, engineer, mixer, and five-time GRAMMY winner Jimmy Douglass at its annual GRAMMY Week Celebration, which is set to take place Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, days ahead of the 2025 GRAMMYs. The celebration, an official GRAMMY Week 2025 event, will be held at The Preserve LA in East Hollywood and will salute Douglass’ extraordinary contributions to the music industry and his enduring impact on modern sound.

In addition to honoring Douglass, the event will also celebrate the year-round work of the Producers & Engineers Wing and its members, who work together to advise the Recording Academy on technical best practices, advocate for the rights of music creators, and shape the future of the recording field.

GRAMMY Week 2025 culminates with the 2025 GRAMMYs, officially known as the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards, which take place live on Sunday, Feb. 2, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The 2025 GRAMMYs will broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and stream live and on-demand on Paramount+ at 8-11:30 p.m. ET/5-8:30 p.m. PT. Prior to the telecast, the 2025 GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony will be held at the Peacock Theater at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET and will be streamed live on live.GRAMMY.com and the Recording Academy's YouTube channel.

Learn more about Jimmy Douglass below:

Known as "The Senator," Douglass is a five-time GRAMMY winner and 11-time GRAMMY nominee whose prolific career began in the early '70s at Atlantic Records studios in New York City. Starting as a part-time tape duplicator while still in high school, he quickly rose through the ranks, learning from legendary figures like Tom Dowd, Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler, and Ahmet Ertegun. He went on to work with major Atlantic Recording artists such as Aretha Franklin, Hall & Oates, Roberta Flack, Donny Hathaway, Foreigner, Led Zeppelin, and AC/DC, among many others. By the 1980s, Douglass expanded his repertoire by taking on production roles; he engineered and produced established artists including The Rolling Stones, Slave, Odyssey, Roxy Music and Gang of Four.

In the early 1990s, Douglass refined his skills by working on jingles and post-production, a period that honed his ability to work efficiently while capturing the essence of each project. This foundation proved pivotal when he began a groundbreaking partnership with Timbaland in 1994, for whom he served the main engineer for more than a decade. Together, they collaborated on classic projects by Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Jay-Z, and others, shaping the sound of contemporary R&B and hip-hop.

In the 2000s, Douglass continued to innovate. He engineered and mixed more Timbaland-produced projects from artists including Snoop Dogg, Bjork and GRAMMY-winning albums for Justin Timberlake. Among the artists he also mixed are Rob Thomas, Sean Paul, Kanye West, Ludacris, Al Green, John Legend, and Duran Duran.

Renowned for bringing unconventional techniques into the studio and encouraging artists to transcend genre restrictions, he is credited with bringing a raw edge to sound and specifically bringing a heavy funk-bass sound into rock music.

Douglass remains at the forefront of the industry, leveraging his decades of experience to push creative boundaries while inspiring countless artists. His versatility and technical mastery have solidified his status as one of the most respected producers, engineers and mixers in the world.

"Our P&E Wing proudly celebrates GRAMMY Week each year with a special evening that unites producers, engineers and artistic professionals to honor a truly deserving creator," Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. said in a statement. "This year, we're thrilled to pay tribute to the extraordinary Jimmy Douglass, who has led groundbreaking creative and technical efforts in the recording industry, encouraging artists to transcend genre boundaries and contributing to iconic musical projects that will resonate for generations."

 "Throughout his illustrious career spanning more than four decades, Jimmy's visionary approach to producing, engineering and mixing has shaped some of music's most iconic recordings. Jimmy consistently pushes the boundaries of sound by bringing unconventional techniques into the studio while inspiring countless artists along the way," Maureen Droney, Vice President of the Recording Academy Producers & Engineers Wing, echoed the sentiment in a statement. "On behalf of the Producers & Engineers Wing, we are delighted to dedicate our 2025 event to Jimmy and his amazing career."

Since his debut in 2015, Declan McKenna has been a voice for his generation. The British singer/songwriter first gained attention at just 16, winning the Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Competition with "Brazil," a track that cut through with its sharp critique of FIFA's actions around the 2014 World Cup. This early success signaled McKenna's commitment to addressing social issues head-on, distinguishing that he was more than just a fresh face in indie pop — he was an artist on a mission.

Fast forward nearly a decade, and McKenna remains an evolving force in music, one who consistently refuses to play it safe. But for fans, what makes Declan unique goes beyond his activism; he's an artist with a distinctive style and a personality that's as engaging as his lyrics that touch on inequality, mental health and government corruption. This drive for social commentary hasn't faded; if anything, it's deepened with time, giving his music a resonance that goes beyond catchy hooks. 

On Oct. 25, the now 25-year-old McKenna doubled down on his mission — literally — with his first two releases as a fully independent artist, "Champagne" and "That's Life." And with a slew of major tour dates ahead, including his first-ever arena and stadium performances, McKenna is gearing up for perhaps the most pivotal moment of his career yet. 

As McKenna celebrates this new chapter, learn more about his artistry, advocacy and where he's headed to next.

McKenna has consistently infused his work with sharp social commentary, starting with his debut album, What Do You Think About the Car?, where he tackled issues like political disillusionment, mental health and the struggles of youth in modern society. Songs such as "Brazil," a critique of corruption in FIFA, and "Paracetamol," which highlights LGBTQIA+ issues, showcased his ability to address complex topics with raw honesty and indie-pop energy. His second album, Zeros, built on this foundation with a more dystopian, cosmic approach, addressing existential themes about humanity's future, societal decay and technological overload.

In between What Do You Think About the Car? and Zeros, McKenna released one of his most politically charged songs to date, "British Bombs," which, as he described to NME, addresses "the hypocrisy of the British arms trade and the weapons convention in London." He donated all proceeds from the song to help those affected by those issues, telling DIY, "I think it's important to be as engaged as possible and if there is something there that can help people then that's brilliant. Ultimately that's what it's all about and if I'm not attempting that then I don't think I'm doing it right."

On his third studio album, What Happened to the Beach? — which arrived in February — McKenna turns his attention to environmental concerns, presenting a powerful narrative on humanity's impact on the planet. The album brings the urgency of climate change to the forefront, marking his latest effort as both a continuation and evolution of his mission to merge thought-provoking messages with resonant rock melodies.

In addition to making statements in his music, McKenna has been an active advocate for social and environmental causes, including climate activism, LGBTQIA+ rights, and racial justice. As a passionate supporter of groups like Extinction Rebellion, he urges his fans to join climate strikes and raise awareness through social media — further showing his dedication to inspiring action.

McKenna's music is often likened to that of legends like Bob Dylan and David Bowie — the latter of whom is a major inspiration for the singer — thanks to his insightful lyricism and genre-defying sound. Despite the praise, McKenna remains grounded, focused on creating authentic, meaningful music. 

With anthemic tracks like "The Key to Life on Earth" and "Be an Astronaut," he brings a passion and energy to his live performances that is reminiscent of the rock icons that came before him. McKenna's ability to connect with audiences through his raw, emotionally charged performances has solidified his status as one of indie rock's most compelling young artists.

Declan McKenna's career has been marked by a bold evolution in sound, fusing elements of indie rock, glam rock and classic Britpop into a unique and instantly recognizable style. His early music leaned into indie pop with socially conscious themes, but as his career progressed, he embraced a more eclectic mix, drawing inspiration from icons like David Bowie, the Beatles, and modern psych-rock influences such as Tame Impala.

McKenna's sound has grown richer and more experimental, weaving in lush, futuristic textures and embracing everything from anthemic rock to subtle folk inflections. This sonic growth reflects McKenna's expanding ambition, offering listeners a journey through genres and tones that remain cohesive yet ever-evolving.

Though McKenna only released one song between the Zeros' September 2020 arrival and his first What Happened to the Beach? single, "Sympathy," in July 2023, he celebrated his first-ever Gold record in 2022 with "Brazil," which has since been certified 2x platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) thanks to a resurgence on TikTok.

TikTok also helped McKenna reach wider audiences in September 2023, when a fan-recorded clip of him singing ABBA's "Slipping Through My Fingers" on a 2021 Instagram Live went viral. The surge in popularity reignited interest in McKenna's catalog, prompting him to officially release the cover in December 2023. The track's release propelled it to the top of TikTok's Trending Songs chart and landed McKenna on Billboard's Alternative Streaming Songs chart, marking a moment of renewed visibility for the artist.

It was a perfectly timed occurrence for McKenna, as his third studio album, What Happened to the Beach?, arrived on Feb. 9, 2024. That release marked an important moment for the singer/songwriter, too, as it was his last in his contract with Columbia Records.

Eight months later, McKenna officially made his debut as an independent artist with two singles, "Champagne" and "That's Life" under his own label, Miniature Ponies. Though the label is a joint venture with ADA, a distribution company that's owned by Warner Music Group, as McKenna told Billboard, it's a fresh start for his career. "I've always spearheaded what I'm doing and who I've worked with creatively, but there's a different layer to it now where I don't have someone looking over my shoulder," he said. "It's a freeing thing."

McKenna fittingly became a fixture on the British and Irish music festival circuit after winning Glastonbury's Emerging Talent Competition, captivating audiences with his high-energy performances and engaging stage presence. After performing at the likes of Somersault Festival, Electric Picnic, The Great Escape Festival and Field day in 2015 and 2016, McKenna had an even bigger festival year in 2017, when he took the stage at Reading and Leeds Festival, Lollapalooza and even made a return to Glastonbury (where he’s since played two more times, in 2022 and 2024).

The budding star made his Coachella debut in 2018, the same year he invited a then-unknown Chappell Roan to open for him during his U.S. tour for What Do You Think About the Car?. In a 2023 interview with David magazine, Roan recalled watching McKenna on stage, perfectly encapsulating his awe-inspiring performances: "They had glitter on their face every night, and they threw balloons in the audiences and they were jumping off amps and speakers and everyone was screaming."

As he's continued to establish himself as a must-see act, he's embarked on several headlining tours and played more festivals around the world in the years since. But his next batch of tour dates are his biggest yet: in December, he'll head to Australia for a co-headlining tour alongside Two Door Cinema Club, and on May 27, 2025, he kicks off a 28-show trek opening for Imagine Dragons' European stadium tour — his biggest venues to date. With a whirlwind tour schedule, newly gained independence, and a passionate fan base behind him, McKenna's future looks brighter than ever.

This morning, 2025 GRAMMY nominations were announced, sparking a wave of excitement for music fans everywhere!

Right after the big announcement, nominated artists lit up social media with posts of joy and gratitude. The timeline quickly filled with celebration, from first-time Best New Artist nominees Shaboozey and Teddy Swims to shoutouts from hit-makers Alissia, Green Day, and St. Vincent. 

Dive into the social media celebration posts, and catch up on the full list of nominations on the road to the 2025 GRAMMYs on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+. 

Best New Artist nominees Shaboozey, Doechii, Sabrina Carpenter, Teddy Swims, and RAYE all shared their heartfelt sentiment after being nominated:

Best Global Music nominee Matt B, nominated with featured performers Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for the album ALKEBULAN II, jumped for joy at hearing news of the nomination.

Brazilian artist Anitta, nominated for Best Latin Pop Album for Funk Generation, felt inspired to get up and groove upon learning of her second career GRAMMY nomination. 

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Hawaiian artist Kalani Pe'a, nominated for Best Regional Roots Music Album for Kuini was moved to unbridled tears from deep gratitude: 

Several more artists took to social to share more reactions to their nominations, including Scott Hoying, Muni Long, Troye Sivan, Cimafunk, Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical nominee Alissia and more:

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The 2025 GRAMMY nominations are here! One of the first categories announced on Nov. 8 was Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, wth Jessi Alexander, Amy Allen, Edgar Barrera, Jessie Jo Dillon and RAYE each scoring a nomination to round out this year's crop of nominees.

Last year, Theron Thomas took home the golden gramophone for his work writing with the likes of Tyla, Chlöe, Lil Durk, Cordae, and more. Last year also marked the award for songwriting being moved to the General Field after being introduced as a new Category in 2023.

This year's nominees represent songwriting excellence across a wide array of genres, using their talents to pen acclaimed and fan-loved songs in the realms of pop, Latin, R&B, Afrobeats, and beyond. They've helped superstars like Beyoncé and Post Malone make their mark on country music, helped introduce a new generation of pop stars into the zeitgeist, and two nominees even pulled double duty by penning hits for their contemporaries on top of releasing their own albums.

Check out the nominees below and read the full 2025 GRAMMYs nominations list ahead of Music's Biggest Night on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025.

Jessi Alexander

Jessi Alexander began her career in Nashville as a country artist, releasing her major label debut, Honeysuckle Sweet, via Columbia Records in 2005. Since then, she's released two more solo albums — 2014's Down Home and 2020's Decatur County Red — independently while racking up hits as a songwriter.

In 2009, she wrote Miley Cyrus' watershed power ballad "The Climb" with collaborator Jon Mabe, and five years later earned dual nominations for Best Country Song at the 2014 GRAMMYs for penning Lee Brice's "I Drive Your Truck" and Blake Shelton's "Mine Would Be You" — both of which reached the Top 10 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and went No. 1 at country radio.

Throughout 2024, Alexander has been a trusted co-writer for many a country superstar, co-writing Dustin Lynch and Jelly Roll's hit duet "Chevrolet" and working with Luke Combs across multiple projects including his fifth album, Fathers & Sons ("Remember Him That Way," "All I Ever Do Is Leave"). She's also a co-writer on Combs' "Ain't No Love in Oklahoma," the seven-time GRAMMY nominee's contribution to Twisters: The Album that earned Alexander another GRAMMY nomination this year, for Best Song Written For Visual Media. 

What's more, Alexander crossed paths with fellow Songwriter Of The Year nominee Jessie Jo Dillon on Megan Moroney's sophomore album, Am I Okay? The two women wrote multiple tracks together on the studio set, including "No Caller ID," "Noah" and bonus cut "Bless Your Heart."

Amy Allen

Amy Allen's name has been synonymous with top-tier pop music for more than half a decade, ever since she started writing chart-topping hits with Halsey ("Without You"), Selena Gomez ("Back to You") and Harry Styles ("Adore You") at the end of the 2010s.

This year marks Allen's second nomination for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical. The small-town Maine native and Berkelee College of Music graduate was one of the inaugural nominees in the category in 2023 — the same year she took home her first GRAMMY when Styles' Harry's House won Album Of The Year. 

Allen's career as a go-to pop songwriter reached new heights in 2024. She's been a longtime collaborator of Sabrina Carpenter, and helped the doe-eyed pop chanteuse pen every track on her No. 1 (and now GRAMMY-nominated) album Short n' Sweet, including smash singles "Espresso," "Please Please Please" and "Taste." ("Amy is a once-in-a-lifetime writer and friend — it all comes to her very naturally and effortlessly," Carpenter recently gushed to Variety in a May profile of Allen. "She's super versatile: She can wear any hat and yet it still feels authentic. I've learned a lot from her and admire what an incredible collaborator she is.")

In addition to her meteoric partnership with Carpenter, Allen has also played a role in Tate McRae's career as a pop superstar on the rise, penning "run for the hills" as well as last year's breakout hit "greedy." 

Earlier this fall, Allen also released her own self-titled debut solo album, Amy Allen. Her additional nominations at the 2025 GRAMMY Awards include nods for Song Of The Year for "Please, Please, Please," Album Of The Year and Pop Vocal Album for Short n' Sweet, and Best Song Written For Visual Media for *NSYNC's "Better Place" from the animated feature Trolls Band Together.

Edgar Barrera

With this year's nod, Edgar Barrera scores his second consecutive nomination for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical after also being included in last year's pack of nominees. Also known under his moniker Edge, the songwriter remains a tectonic force in Latin music's ever-important place in the mainstream. As of 2023, Barrera has racked up 23 wins at the Latin GRAMMYs and once again leads this year's nominations with nine more nods at the upcoming Nov. 14 ceremony.

In the year since his first nomination in the Category, Barrera has penned Spanish-language hits for Shakira & Grupo Frontera ("(Entre Paréntesis)"), Camilo ("No Se Vale"), Karol G ("Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido"), Peso Pluma and Kenia Os ("Tommy & Pamela") and more. He's also contributed to multiple crossover duets on Carín León's 2024 album Boca Chueca, Vol. 1 with Kane Brown ("The One (Pero No Como Yo)") and Leon Bridges ("It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tú)," 

This summer, Barrera added R&B to his sizable resume by working with Khalid on the crooner's long-awaited third studio album. The song Barrera co-wrote, "Sincere," ultimately became the LP's title track, with Khalid telling Apple Music's Zane Lowe, "It was a very difficult process in naming this album, because I had to find one name that fully…summed up what I felt in this music.

"And when I thought of the music," Khalid continued, "I thought of it as my most vulnerable in a while… How do I view myself as an artist? What artist do I want to be? And that's what this album is: it's sincere."

Jessie Jo Dillon

Jessie Jo Dillon joins Edgar Barrera as the other songwriter in this year's pack to earn back-to-back nominations for Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical.

As the daughter of fellow songwriter Dean Dillon, the country progeny has music running through her veins. And much like how her father helped provide the soundtrack of '90s country through his work with George Strait, Toby Keith, Pam Tillis, and Kenny Chesney, the younger Dillon has had a hand in crafting the sound of modern country by penning tracks with Keith Urban ("Messed Up As Me"), Morgan Wallen ("Lies Lies Lies") and Kelsea Ballerini ("Sorry Mom").

This year, she also helped Megan Moroney land her first Top 10 album on the Billboard 200 with the singer's sophomore studio effort Am I Okay? — co-writing the title track and three other songs on the standard version and another on the recently released deluxe edition — and worked with her dad to co-write "Two Hearts," a bonus track on Post Malone's GRAMMY-nominated swerve into country, F-1 Trillion.

RAYE

It's a fairly safe assertion to say that RAYE was already enjoying a banner year before the 2025 GRAMMY nominations were revealed. The British soul singer broke out in 2023 with her debut solo album, My 21st Century Blues, with the independently released LP winning British Album Of The Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards. (RAYE also broke the record for most wins by an artist in a single year by taking home five other awards during the ceremony, including British Artist Of The Year and Song Of The Year for her viral single "Escapism."

However, the artist born Rachel Keen hasn't just focused on her own explosive career — in 2023, she collaborated with Hans Zimmer on sweeping single "Mother Nature" for the popular BBC nature series "Planet Earth 3," narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and translated her talent to the world of Afrobeats by co-writing NEIKED's "You're Hired" featuring Ayra Starr. 

More recently, RAYE has lent her sharp, emotional songcraft to high-profile projects by superstars like Beyoncé ("RIIVERDANCE") and Jennifer Lopez ("Dear Ben, Pt II"), as well as working with the likes of Halle ("Because I Love You") and Rita Ora ("Ask & You Shall Receive"). 

In addition to her nod for Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, RAYE is one of eight rising voices who make up this year's crop of Best New Artist nominees — thereby becoming the first artist in GRAMMYs history to be nominated in both categories. She also earned a third nomination this year for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, for her contributions to Lucky Daye's Algorithm.