Sabrina Carpenter is the first to admit that it's taken her a bit of time to find her way to the top of the music industry. She even likens herself to the tortoise in the fable "The Tortoise and the Hare" — even if she didn't want to believe the metaphor growing up.

"Something that my mom always said to me as a little girl that really annoyed me was that I am the tortoise… throughout my life, [I was] being told, 'Sabrina, you're the tortoise, just chill,'" Carpenter recalled while accepting the Variety Hitmakers Rising Artist Award in December 2023. "In moments of frustration and confusion it can feel like a letdown, but it turns out it's actually a very good thing."

It's been a very good thing for Carpenter, indeed. A decade since the release of her debut single, the singer/songwriter isn't just breaking through — she's one of pop's new reigning queens. Over the last year, Carpenter has nabbed her first No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100, made a stellar debut at Coachella, and performed on "Saturday Night Live," all the while racking up billions of streams on her music new and old. It's all built excitement for one of the most anticipated pop albums of the summer: Short n' Sweet.

As Carpenter unveils her new album, take a deep dive into her decade-long journey to pop stardom.

Growing up, Carpenter filled the sounds of her family home in Pennsylvania with covers of songs like Adele's "Set Fire To The Rain" and "Picture to Burn" by future Eras Tour companion Taylor Swift (more on that later). After submitting videos for a singing contest spearheaded by Miley Cyrus, Carpenter would get her first taste of success. Placing third, she caught the eye of Hollywood Records, who signed her following the competition.

Simultaneously, Carpenter also began pursuing acting, landing guest spots on series like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" in 2011 and joining "The Goodwin Games" in 2012. In 2014, she landed a lead role in the Disney Channel series "Girl Meets World," a spin-off of the beloved '90s series "Boy Meets World," which served as a breakthrough moment for the burgeoning star — and a catalyst for her music career.

Just before the show debuted, Carpenter released her debut single, "Can't Blame A Girl for Trying," the title track to her debut EP that arrived a month later. While the four-track EP was the typical output of a teenage Disney star — bubblegum pop sounds with digestible, family-friendly lyricism — it showed off her youthful timbre and offered themes that would become prevalent later in Carpenter's songwriting: love, heartache, and navigating life.

A year later, she released her debut album, Eyes Wide Open. A mix of pop with folk and country influences — a soundscape that remains on Short n' Sweet — Carpenter's debut showed maturity and growth following Can't Blame A Girl For Trying; songs like "Eyes Wide Open" and "We'll Be the Stars" showed a more introspective side, reflecting on the pressures of being in the spotlight and the journey of finding her identity. Eyes Wide Open also hinted that Carpenter was beginning to hone her songwriting skills, penning four of the 12 tracks.

It would be on her 2016 sophomore album, EVOLution, where Carpenter would find confidence as a songwriter, co-writing all but one song on the 10-track project. In turn, the lyrics reflected her growing sense of self and a new perspective on past themes, like embracing non-romantic forms of love in "All We Have is Love," being there for a struggling friend in "Shadows," and learning to assert boundaries in "Space."

EVOLution transitioned Carpenter out of the teen pop aesthetic into a more sophisticated sound, experimenting with dance-pop and techno sonics. Genre versatility would become a throughline of sorts for Carpenter, and EVOLution foreshadowed the multifaceted musicality that was to come.

After "Girl Meets World" came to an end at the beginning of 2017, Carpenter was ready for reinvention. Much like Britney Spears' Britney and Cyrus' Can't Be Tamed before her, as Carpenter grew into an adult, she felt like she needed to shed the Disney-fied image that has become a rite of passage for teen stars. Thus began the Singular era.

Released in 2018 and 2019, respectively, Singular: Act I and Singular: Act II featured songs that were more risqué and mature in nature. A far cry from her tamer work of the past, the R&B track "Hold Tight" is equal parts sultry and evocative with Carpenter singing, "Wanna keep you in, wanna keep you in right/ Wanna feel your skin, wanna feel it on mine."

As she noted in an interview with Billboard, Singular: Act I  was a natural progression for a girl now in her late teens — even if it was against the squeaky-clean image of her beginnings.

"I was known as a fictional character on television with lines that were written for her with an attitude that was portrayed in a way by other people. So for a lot of people, their first impression of me was as a 13-year-old girl [singing] the kinds of songs that she should be singing," she said. "Then, flash forward to 19, and people are asking why I am not singing about the same things that I did when I was 13, as if that's normal."

One of the more notable Singular tracks is from Act I, "Sue Me." Sneakily disguised as a story about a romantic relationship, the song is Carpenter's response to being sued by her ex music managers: "That's my shape, I made the shadow/ That's my name, don't wear it out though/ Feelin' myself can't be illegal." Its tongue-in-cheek and snarky nature would inevitably embolden Carpenter to continue writing more confessional songs with attitude, whether she's responding to media scrutiny in "because i liked a boy" from 2022's emails i can't send, or warning a suitor to be careful in Short n' Sweet's "Please, Please, Please."

Singular: Act I and Act II further helped demonstrate different facets of Carpenter's musicality, with the former leaning into pop tendencies and the latter embracing an R&B flair. And as her final albums with Hollywood Records, she used Singular: Act I and Act II to indicate that she wasn't going to let any sort of previous perceptions hold her back. Their coming-of-age themes showcased Carpenter as an artist coming into her own — regardless of whether listeners wanted to keep her in the Disney box or not.

While the world was going through a period of change amid the COVID-19 pandemic, so was Carpenter. She signed with Universal Music Group's Island Records in 2021, and soon she would be able to fully introduce the world to who Sabrina Carpenter is as an artist.

As she noted herself to Variety earlier this year, her 2022 LP, emails i can't send, "marked the beginning of a really freeing and artistic time for me." Once again, she co-wrote every song on the album; this time, though, she only had one co-writer for each track, and even wrote two songs solo ("emails i can't send" and "how many things") — proving that she was more assured as a songwriter than ever.

As a result, Carpenter's knack for confessional songwriting is on full display. emails i can't send represents a reflective time capsule of sorts; one that brings the curiosity of her earlier work with the perspective and wisdom of a young adult. Her growing fame meant there was more attention on her personal life, and emails i can't send allowed her to reclaim her narrative and express her side of the story.

Carpenter's candidness struck a chord with listeners, and upon the release of emails i can't send in July 2022, it was clear Carpenter was on a new trajectory. The album debuted at No. 23 on the Billboard 200, which marked her highest entry on the chart to date (as of press time); the 2022 stretch of her Emails I Can't Send Tour sold out in less than a day. And once  "Nonsense" was released as a single that November, her place as a rapidly rising star was solidified.

"Nonsense" was initially written as a means to an end after Carpenter was writing a sad song and had writer's block. Now, the track is the epitome of Carpenter's lyricism, weaving together her wit and humor with an infectious hook. First gaining traction on TikTok because of its catchiness, it's become a beloved part of Carpenter's canon thanks to her inventive and bespoke outros during her live shows. It's since become a tradition for fans to check to see what outro she created for each performance, adding to the fan fervor.

Carpenter further satiated fans' taste for her cheeky lyricism in March 2023, when she released emails i can't send fwd:, the deluxe version of her album, which featured a new track called "Feather." She took the playful, flirting energy of "Nonsense" and infused "Feather" with buoyant, airy production that mimics the feeling of self-liberation after moving on from a relationship. Earning Carpenter her first pop radio No. 1, "Feather" proved that the singer's audacious style was taking hold — and it set the stage for an even bigger 2024.

After her own extensive — and very sold out — tour in support of Emails I Can't Send, Carpenter's rising star status was further confirmed by pop's current queen, Taylor Swift. The singer earned a coveted opening slot on Swift's monumental Eras Tour in Mexico, South America, Australia, and Asia.

Just after her last Eras Tour show in March 2024, Carpenter hinted that her own new era was beginning. "I'm starting to feel like I've outgrown the songs I'm singing," she admitted to Cosmopolitan, "which is always an exciting feeling because I think that means the next chapter is right around the corner."

That chapter began with "Espresso," which dropped a day before her debut Coachella performance. Doubling down on the playful, self-assured vibe of "Nonsense," the song immediately hinted that big things were coming for Carpenter, debuting at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it peaked at No. 3.

Upon announcing her sixth album, Short n' Sweet, Carpenter released "Please Please Please." Combining her now-signature playful, carefree lyricism with an airy, disco-tinged sound, "Please Please Please" didn't just present Carpenter as a confident superstar —  it became her first Hot 100-topping smash.

Carpenter has referred to Short n' Sweet as the "hot older sister" of emails i can't send. "It's my second 'big girl' album; it's a companion but it's not the same," she explained to Variety, to whom she also admitted she feels a "sense of separation" from her work prior to emails. "When it comes to having full creative control and being a full-fledged adult, I would consider this a sophomore album."

It's apt, then, that her Short n' Sweet collaborators — including songwriters Julia Michaels, Amy Allen and Steph Jones — are largely the same as the team from emails i can't send. "I've really honed in on the people that I love making music with," she told Rolling Stone in June.

Even more telling of the direction she's heading is her work with one of pop's hottest producers — and Swift's right-hand man — Jack Antonoff, for the first time. At a GRAMMY Museum event with Antonoff himself, Carpenter debuted the country-infused "Slim Pickins," presenting yet another pop style from Short n' Sweet. And as "Slim Pickins," "Espresso" and "Please Please Please" indicate, Carpenter's knack for infectious and edgy lyrics isn't just the throughline across Short n' Sweet — it's become the epitome of both her artistry and her stardom.

Just like her metaphorical friend the tortoise, Carpenter's long but steady journey has clearly paid off. As she's figured out who she is on her own terms, she's manifested the bonafide superstardom she's always imagined.

"I never had the plan B, and it wasn't even a thought in my mind that it wouldn't work out," she told Rolling Stone. "I just always knew it was about not if it would happen but when it would happen."

For Carpenter, every chapter of her artistry has built on the last; she's refused to rest on her laurels and continuously pursued new directions. She's creating work that wholeheartedly reflects her, and growing a loyal fan base because of it. Her next album might be named Short n' Sweet, but her time as a pop superstar will be anything but.

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.

Believe it or not, it's already that time of year again: the 2025 GRAMMY nominations have been revealed.

After a year that saw a pop renaissance and continued dominance by women across genres, the 2025 GRAMMY nominees followed suit. Beyoncé is this year's most-nominated artist, adding 11 more to her GRAMMY resumé (more on that later). Pop's newest reigning queens, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, solidified their thrones; they each celebrate six nominations, and are the only two artists nominated for Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Song Of The Year, and Best New Artist. 

In fact, six of the eight leading nominees are women. Female artists dominate both the Record Of The Year and Album Of The Year Categories, as well as over a dozen other Categories Best Pop Vocal Album, Best R&B Performance and Best Latin Pop Album.

But that's just one exciting aspect of this year's nominations. As you dive into the full 2025 GRAMMYs nominee list, take a look at some of the most notable feats and firsts from the 2025 GRAMMY nominations — and be sure to tune into Music's Biggest Night on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025!

Beyoncé Adds To Her GRAMMY Legacy

With 11 nominations, Beyoncé isn't just the most-nominated artist at the 2025 GRAMMYs — she's now the most-nominated artist in GRAMMY history. The 11 new nods bring her total to a whopping 99 nominations!

Queen Bey is already the artist with the most GRAMMY wins of all time with 32, a record she achieved upon her album RENAISSANCE winning Best Dance/Electronic Music Album at the 2023 GRAMMYs. 

Artists Are Nominated In Fields/Categories For The First Time

Along with a new GRAMMY record, Beyoncé also adds a new GRAMMY Field to her repertoire. She received her first nominations in the Country & American Roots Music Field, and five at that: Best Country Solo Performance ("16 CARRIAGES"), Best Country Duo/Group Performance ("II MOST WANTED" Featuring Miley Cyrus), Best Country Song ("TEXAS HOLD 'EM"), Best Country Album (COWBOY CARTER), and Best Americana Performance ("YA YA").

Post Malone also tallied the first Country & American Roots Music Field nominations of his career, earning nods for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Song for his Morgan Wallen duet, "I Had Some Help," and Best Country Album for F-1 Trillion.

One of Malone's many F-1 Trillion collaborators, Luke Combs, notched his first nomination in the Best Song Written For Visual Media Category for his chart-topping Twisters anthem "Ain't No Love In Oklahoma."

Meanwhile, R&B titans Alicia Keys and John Legend both celebrate nominations in new Categories as well. Keys is nominated in the Best Musical Theater Album Category for the first time (Hell's Kitchen), and Legend received his first nods for Best Children's Music Album (My Favorite Dream) and Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella ("Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Jacob Collier featuring Legend & Tori Kelly).

Charli xcx Continues Her Brat Summer

Pop's longtime cool girl Charli xcx also adds several new Categories to her GRAMMY nomination tally, but her reason to celebrate is a little bigger than that: they're her first nominations as a solo artist.

Charli xcx's previous two GRAMMY nominations came in 2015, and they were for her Iggy Azalea collaboration, "Fancy." Perhaps to fans' surprise, her own work had never received a nod — but brat changed that immensely.

One of the most-nominated artists with seven, Charli xcx earned her first nominations in the Album Of The Year (brat), Best Pop Solo Performance ("Apple"), Best Pop Dance Recording ("Von Dutch"), Best Dance/Electronic Album (brat), and Best Music Video ("360") Categories. She's also nominated in the same two Categories in which "Fancy" were 10 years ago: Record Of The Year ("360") and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ("Guess" Featuring Billie Eilish).

Album Of The Year Marks Notable Firsts

Three of Charli xcx's fellow Album Of The Year nominees reach milestones with their respective nominations. Taylor Swift received her seventh Album Of The Year nomination thanks to THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, becoming the first woman artist to receive seven nominations in the Category. 

Billie Eilish notches her third Album Of The Year nomination in a row with HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, making her the first artist to have their first three albums nominated in the Category.

Jack Antonoff also achieved a back-to-back AOTY feat, as it's the second year in a row that he has been nominated for his work with two separate artists in the Category. His latest Album Of The Year nods are for Swift's THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT and Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet. (Fittingly, Swift was one of the two artists last year too, as Antonoff was nominated for AOTY for his work on Midnights as well as Lana Del Rey's Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd.)

Veteran Acts Earn Nods For The First Time In A Long Time

Several artists and creators celebrate their first GRAMMY nominations this year, including big-name stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Doechii, Carin Léon, Chappell Roan, Shaboozey, and Morgan Wallen. What's more, 32 of those first-time nominees have two or more nominations.

But while the Recording Academy is always excited to honor new nominees — check back to GRAMMY.com in January for the annual Meet The First-Time GRAMMY Nominee series — one of the most interesting stories of the 2025 GRAMMYs centers on those who received nominations for the first time in over a decade.

Perhaps the most unexpected names to see on the list are the Beatles. The Fab Four are nominated for the first time in 28 years thanks to "Now And Then," what Paul McCartney has dubbed "the final Beatles record." The song earned nods for Record Of The Year and Best Rock Performance, which brings their career nominations count to 25; prior to the 2025 GRAMMYs, the Beatles have won seven GRAMMYs.

The longest time between nominations this year goes to the Black Crowes, who received their first nod in 34 years for Happiness Bastards, their first album in 14 years. They earned their first Best Rock Album nomination, as they'd only ever been nominated once previously, for Best New Artist in 1991.

Interestingly, the Rock, Metal & Alternative Music Field spawned a few long-awaited nominations for veteran acts. Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth fame scored the first nominations of her career with her second solo album, The Collective, which is up for Best Alternative Music Album, and its lead single, "BYE BYE" is up for Best Alternative Music Performance.

Pearl Jam celebrated their first nominations since 2011 with their 12th studio album, Dark Matter, which received a nod for Best Rock Album as well as Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance for its title track.

They're in company with their fellow '90s punk rock gods Green Day, who earned nods in all three Categories thanks to their latest album, Saviors. Marking Green Day's first nominations since 2014, Saviors is up for Best Rock Album, while singles "The American Dream Is Killing Me" and "Dilemma" are up for Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song, respectively.

Elsewhere, Usher earned his first nomination for his own work in 10 years with a Best R&B Album nod for Coming Home, and Eminem earned his first nod for Best Rap Album (a Category he's won six times) in 10 years with The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce).

Collaborations helped Erykah Badu, Michael McDonald and Monica snag their first nominations in more than a decade, too. Badu's team-up with Rapsody, "3:AM," earned a nod for Best Melodic Rap Performance, the singer's first nomination in the Category and first overall since 2009. McDonald tallied his first nomination since 2004 thanks to his Lalah Hathaway duet, "No Lie," which is nominated for Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Monica received her first nomination since 2011, which also marked a full-circle moment. Her collab with Ariana Grande and Brandy, "The Boy Is Mine," earned a nod for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance — 26 years after her duet with Brandy of the same name won a GRAMMY for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal.

Will any legends go home with more golden gramophones? Will Beyoncé further her victory lap? Will there be several first-time winners? Tune into CBS on Feb. 5, 2025 to find out!