Billie Eilish has never been one to shy away from her feelings. In fact, she doubles down on them.

Since her debut EP, 2017's Don't Smile At Me, the pop star has held listeners' hands as she guides them through the darkest pages of her diary. The EP found a teenage Eilish navigating heartbreak while her blockbuster debut album, WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? — which swept the General Field Categories (Album Of The Year, Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best New Artist) at the 2020 GRAMMYs — was a chilling and raw look into her depression-fueled nightmares. And 2021's Happier Than Ever had her confronting misogyny and the weight of fame.

She could have easily succumbed to the pop star pressures for her third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, out today (May 17). Instead, she reverts to her sonic safe space: creating intimate melodies with her brother and day-one collaborator, FINNEAS. Only this time, the lyrics are more mature and the production is more ambitious.

"This whole process has felt like I'm coming back to the girl that I was. I've been grieving her," Eilish told Rolling Stone about how HIT ME HARD AND SOFT revisited elements of WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? "I've been looking for her in everything, and it's almost like she got drowned by the world and the media. I don't remember when she went away."

Here are five takeaways from Billie Eilish's new album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, where Old Billie is resuscitated and comforted by New Billie. 

Heartbreaking Ballads Are Her Sweet Spot

Tenderness remains at Eilish's core, and it's beautifully highlighted on HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. Despite her love for eccentric electro-pop beats, ballads have always been the singer's strong suit. After she first displayed that in her debut single, 2015's "ocean eyes," Eilish won two GRAMMYs and an Oscar for her delicate Barbie soundtrack standout, "What Was I Made For?" — and the magic of her melancholic balladry returned on the new album.

HIT ME's album opener, "SKINNY," mimics the self-reflection of Happier Than Ever's "Getting Older" opener, where she painfully sings about Hollywood's body image standards. "People say I look happy just because I got skinny/ But the old me is still me and maybe the real me/ And I think she's pretty," she muses. 

"WILDFLOWER" cuts in the album's center like a knife to the chest. Eilish's comparisons to a lover's ex-girlfriend are devastating over a bare piano melody — the simplest production on the LP: "You say no one knows you so well/ But every time you touch me, I just wonder how she felt."

HIT ME Isn't Afraid To Get A Little Weird

What makes Eilish so intriguing is her effortless balance between misery and mischief. On lead single "LUNCH," the singer/songwriter taps into the playful attitude of WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? smash "bad guy."

Over an upbeat and kooky production, she lets her carnal fantasies about devouring a woman run wild. The fantasies continue on "THE DINER," with Eilish stepping into the stalker mindset that may be inspired by her own life (she was granted a five-year restraining order against an alleged stalker last year). "I came in through the kitchen lookin' for something to eat/ I left a calling card so they would know that it was me," she winks on the chorus.

She Lays The "Whisper Singing" Criticism To Rest

Eilish's subdued voice has been chided as much as it's been lauded. She first gave naysayers the middle finger on Happier Than Ever's title track, nearly screaming in the song's latter half. On her latest album, she showcases her range even further, from bold belts to delicate falsettos.

The gauzy synths and vocal yearning of "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" is the perfect summer anthem, soundtracking the feeling of kissing your lover as the salty Los Angeles breeze runs through your hair. On the second half of "THE GREATEST," she unleashes a wail-filled fury. 

"HIT ME HARD AND SOFT was really the first time that I was aware of the things that I could do, the ways I could play with my voice, and actually did that," she recently told NPR Music. "That's one thing I feel very proud of with this album — my bravery, vocally."

Her Vulnerability Hasn't Waned

Eilish is quite the paradox, as her superpower is her emotional fragility. Her music has doubled as confessionals since the beginning of her career, and that relatable vulnerability threads HIT ME together. Despite its lighthearted nature, "LUNCH" marks the first time the singer has discussed her sexuality in a song.

"That song was actually part of what helped me become who I am, to be real," Eilish told  Rolling Stone of "LUNCH." "I wrote some of it before even doing anything with a girl, and then wrote the rest after. I've been in love with girls for my whole life, but I just didn't understand — until, last year, I realized I wanted my face in a vagina. I was never planning on talking about my sexuality ever, in a million years. It's really frustrating to me that it came up."

Then there's "SKINNY," which is a raw insight into how much social media's discussions of her body and fame affected her. "When I step off the stage, I'm a bird in a cage/ I'm a dog in a dog pound," she sings. "BLUE," the album's closer, finds Eilish accepting her state of post-breakup sorrow: "I'd like to mean it when I say I'm over you, but that's still not true."

FINNEAS Has Unlocked A New Production Level

FINNEAS — Eilish's brother, producer and confidant — has grown as much as his younger sister since they first began creating music together. He continues to challenge himself both lyrically and sonically to excitedly push Eilish to her creative limits. He explores a myriad of sounds on the album, with many playing like a two-for-one genre special. Named after Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away heroine, the glittery melody and thumping bassline on "CHIHIRO" transport you into an anime video game. 

The first half of "L'AMOUR DE MA VIE" is deceptively simple with its plucking acoustic guitar strings, but soon finds itself under the glare of a disco ball with Eilish's vocals funneled through a vocoder. "BITTERSUITE" is arguably the best reflection of Finneas' experimentation: it starts out with Daft Punk-esque synths before dragging itself across a grim, bass-heavy floor. Then, it crawls into cheeky elevator music territory before ending with an alien-like taunt.

HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is begging to be played live, as seen with fans' raucous reactions after the singer's listening parties at Brooklyn's Barclays Center and Los Angeles' Kia Forum. Fortunately for fans in North America, Australia and Europe, it won't be long before she brings the album to life — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE TOUR  kicks off on Sept. 29 in Québec, Canada.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

At the 2026 Grammys, winning artists took to the stage with much more than gratitude on their minds. Grammy winners such as Lady Gaga and Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree Cher supported rising artists, particularly women in the music industry. Kendrick Lamar deflected from his own victories to pay tribute to Luther Vandross, namesake of his Record-Of-The-Year-winning tune, and the hip-hop community at large.

In particular, many artists reacted to the ongoing campaign of deportations and anti-immigrant violence happening across the U.S. Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish and Olivia Dean all spoke movingly in support of immigrants, while many other artists wore "ICE OUT" pins.

Below, revisit some of the most moving acceptance speeches from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch all the 2026 Grammys acceptance speeches in full.

Kendrick Lamar Makes Rap History & Shouts Out The Hip-Hop Community

After dominating the 2025 Grammys with "Not Like Us," Kendrick Lamar took home five Grammys this year and became the rapper with the most Grammy wins ever. After winning three Grammys earlier in the day during the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, the Los Angeles artist won the first Grammy Award of the telecast for Best Rap Album for GNX. With this Grammy win, he topped JAY-Z's 25 wins to snatch the record for most Grammys won by a rapper.

"Every time I tell you this: Hip-hop is gonna always be right here," Lamar said in his Grammy acceptance speech, dedicating his win to the hip-hop movement. "We gonna be in these suits, we gonna be looking good, we gonna be having our folks with us, we're gonna be having the culture with us."

Kendrick also shouted out Clipse, with whom he won Best Rap Performance earlier in the day for their track "Chains & Whips." He would return to the stage once more before the end of the night to take home the Grammy for Record of the Year for his song "luther" with SZA, bringing his career total to 27 Grammy wins.

Bad Bunny Stands Up For Immigrants

Of the many statements made in support of immigrants at the 2026 Grammys, few felt more powerful and resonant than Bad Bunny's, who twice spoke on the issue on the Grammy stage. Accepting the Grammy for Best Música Urbana Album for DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, the Puerto Rican superstar front-loaded his acceptance speech with a rebuke of the dehumanizing rhetoric faced by immigrants, especially Latin Americans such as himself.

"Before I say thanks to God, I'm gonna say: ICE out," he declared. "We're not savage, we're not animals, we're not aliens. We are humans and we are Americans."

Later that night, after winning the Grammy for Album of the Year, a visibly shocked and overwhelmed Bad Bunny returned to the stage to deliver another Grammy acceptance speech, though this time mostly in Spanish. It was an appropriate move considering the history-making album is the first non-English-language album to ever win the Grammy for Album Of The Year. But given his stunned reaction, Bad Bunny may have just been too emotional to so quickly translate most of his thoughts. But in a fitting move, he dedicated his Grammy win to "all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams."

Olivia Dean Tearfully Takes Best New Artist

"I never imagined I'd be up here, let alone nominated," Olivia Dean said as she tearfully accepted the Grammy for Best New Artist. Having just performed her U.K. chart-topping single "Man I Need" on the Grammy stage, the British singer used her platform to speak out in support of immigrants, including her own grandmother, who immigrated to the U.K. from Guyana as part of the Windrush generation.

"I'm up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant," Dean said. "I'm a product of bravery, and I think those people deserve to be celebrated."

Lady Gaga Supports Women In Music

As well-known as she is for awards-show spectacles – Remember the meat dress? – Lady Gaga kept things (mostly) low-key and earnest. Following a dynamic performance of "Abracadabra," she returned to the stage to accept the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album for MAYHEM.

Thanking her fiancé, Michael Polansky, and her collaborators, including Cirkut, who won the Grammy for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical winner, and Gessaffelstein, the latter of whom won the Grammy for Best Remixed Recording for his remix of "Abracadabra," Lady Gaga offered some encouraging words for women in the music industry.

"When you're in the studio with a bunch of guys, it can be hard," she said. "Always listen to yourself and always fight for your ideas, fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer."

"Abracadabra" also won the Grammy for Best Dance Pop Recording, bringing her total career Grammy wins to 16.

Lola Young Swears She Didn't Expect Grammy Win

Though Lola Young certainly had stiff competition in the Best Pop Solo Performance Category, including veterans such as Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, nobody was more shocked at her Grammy win in than Young herself. The singer, also nominated for Best New Artist, had just wrapped an emotional piano rendition of her track "Messy" earlier in the evening, one of her first live performances in four months following a health scare.

"I don't have any speech prepared," a visibly shocked Young said. "I don't know what to say. Thank you so much!" Utterly overwhelmed and searching for words, Young dropped a few less-than-TV-appropriate words before thanking her friends and mother and fleeing the stage while in a state of pure ecstasy.

Billie Eilish Gets Serious During Song Of The Year Speech

Winning the Grammy for Song of the Year for "WILDFLOWER," her 10th Grammy, didn't seem to weigh heavily on Billie Eilish's mind as she took the stage to accept the award. Flanked by her brother and creative partner FINNEAS, both wearing "ICE OUT" pins, as were many of the other attendees, the pop star weighed in on the current anti-immigration policies being carried out in the U.S.

"No one is illegal on stolen land," Eilish said. "It's just really hard to know what to say and what to do right now … I feel really hopeful in this room, and I feel like we just need to keep fighting and speaking up and protesting, and our voices really do matter, and the people matter."

The more serious tone of the speech contrasted with Eilish's previous wins, but it felt more than appropriate given the current climate.

Cher's Audacious Return To The Grammy Stage

Cher is always a class act. With dozens of hits across a decades-spanning career, she earned the Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award deservedly. Her acceptance speech on the Grammy stage quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the night.

First, she gave a stirring speech reflecting on her storied yet tumultuous time in show business. "I was famous at 19 and had a top-rated show in my 20s, actually, but it didn't occur to me how rough my career was going to be," she said. "I was either a loser or winning an Oscar. I'm sure a lot of you in the audience know what I'm talking about."

Cher also reflected on her stint in the "elephant graveyard" of Las Vegas in the '80s and her pioneering use of AutoTune on her Grammy-winning hit single "Believe." She closed out her speech by encouraging the audience: "Never give up on your dream, no matter what happens. Live it, be it, and if it's not happening now, it will happen soon."

Then things got a little bit … whacky. Apparently unclear that she would be presenting the Grammy for Record of the Year, the singer nearly walked off the stage before the crowd and host Trevor Noah coaxed her back. Then she mistakenly declared the late Luther Vandross the winner, in reference to the winning song, "luther" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA. Oh Cher, don't you ever change!

Jelly Roll Goes Full Country Music

Jelly Roll had already won two Grammys earlier in the day for collaborations with Brandon Lake and Shaboozey, but it wasn't until the evening that he got to ascend the Grammy stage solo. Winning the Grammy for Best Contemporary Country Album for Beautifully Broken, he made his acceptance speech into a sort of country song in its own right, thanking his wife, referencing his Christian faith, and describing the troubles that led him to turn to music.

"I didn't think I had a chance, y'all," he said. "There were days that I thought the darkest things. I was a horrible human … There was a moment in my life that all I had was a Bible this big and a radio the same size and a six-by-eight-foot cell. And I believed that those two things could change my life."

The singer wrapped his speech by once again invoking religion: "Jesus is for everybody. Jesus is not owned by one political party. Jesus is not owned by no music label."

"luther" Wins Record of the Year

Cher may have been a bit off when she confidently misread that the Grammy for Record of the Year was going to "Luther Vandross." But the actual winners, Kendrick Lamar and SZA, made it clear that their chart-topping tune "luther" was a spiritual victory for the legendary R&B star who inspired the song, which prominently samples Vandross' and Cheryl Lynn's 1982 cover of "If This World Were Mine."

"First and foremost, let's give a shout-out to the late, great Luther Vandross," co-producer Sounwave began. "It was very, very, very important to keep the integrity of his record."

Lamar echoed the sentiment. "It's one of my favorite artists of all time, and they granted us the privilege to do our version of it. When we got that clearance, I promise you we damn near all dropped a tear.

"Being able to put our vocals on it, it proves that we were somewhat worthy to be just as great as them individuals," he continued. "They granted us that. They said, 'No cursing,' though."

Finally, SZA struck a note of hopefulness at the end of the speeches. "I know that right now is a scary time. I know the algorithms tell us that it's so scary, and all is lost," she said. "We can go on. We need each other. We need to trust each other and trust ourselves, trust your heart. We're not governed by the government, we're governed by God."

This Grammy win for "luther" puts Lamar in elite territory as a back-to-back Record Of The Year Grammy winner, joining fellow winners like Billie Eilish, U2, and the late Roberta Flack, the latter of whom was tributed in the annual In Memoriam celebration led by Ms. Lauryn Hill earlier in the ceremony.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

The Grammys have undeniably always been Music's Biggest Night, but there's an argument its one of fashion's biggest nights, too. Over the years, the Grammys have offered fans an endless display of eye-catching and boundary-pushing fashion, in between celebrating music, and the 2026 Grammys were no exception.

The sartorial parade began, of course, on the Grammy red carpet, where Grammy nominees, presenters, and more of the music industry's brightest stars celebrated the year in musical excellence. But with plenty of outfit changes, over-the-top performances and surprise appearances during the show, the can't-miss looks continued throughout the entire evening — all the way up until host Trevor Noah bid the millions watching at home a good night.

Below, check out some of the most unforgettable and talked-about looks from the 2026 Grammys, from Chappell Roan's spicy Mugler moment to Bad Bunny's history-making haute couture.

Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan, last year's Best New Artist winner, turned heads on the Grammy red carpet with a custom Mugler ensemble involving nipple rings, pastie prosthetics, and a plethora of medieval-inspired temporary tattoos. (The entire look was directly inspired by Mugler's Jeu de Paume couture collection from spring/summer 1998.)

While the risqué outfit set the internet positively ablaze, Roan — who was nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance for her 2025 single "The Subway" and presented this year's Grammy Award for Best New Artist to Olivia Dean — shrugged off the online pearl-clutching with a laugh.

"Giggling because I don't even think this is THAT outrageous of an outfit. The look's actually so awesome and weird," Roan wrote in an Instagram post after the Grammys.

"I recommend just exercising your free will it's really fun and silly :D," the Midwest Princess continued. "Thank you for having me @grammys and those who voted for me!!"

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Carpenter was nothing short of a vision when she arrived at the 2026 Grammys wearing a romantic custom gown by Valentino.

Honoring the late Italian fashion icon, who died in January at 93, the superstar's dress featured a dainty, sheer capelet for the sleeves, a sparkling bodice made of crystalline, beaded flowers, and a cascading, ruffled skirt.

Nominated for six Grammys — including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album —  for her 2025 album Man's Best Friend, Carpenter lit up the Grammy stage early in the telecast with a maximalist production number of her No. 1 single "Manchild," which also earned nods for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, and Best Music Video. For the high-energy, airport-themed number, Carpenter changed into a corseted pilot's uniform, complete with matching white go-go boots and an old-fashioned airline captain's hat.

KATSEYE

KATSEYE expertly resurrected the immortal tradition of girl groups rocking matching looks on the Grammys red carpet. The sextet looked all sorts of angelic in their coordinated white and silver gowns by Ludovic de Saint Sernin, complete with studded silver detailing and ample use of both halter necklines and lace.

Of course, during the telecast, the first-time Grammy nominees changed into more choreography-friendly outfits to perform their addictive single "Gnarly" — a high-octane highlight from the Best New Artist medley that also featured performances from fellow Best New Artist Grammy nominees The Marías, Addison Rae, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, Lola Young, sombr, and eventual winner Olivia Dean.

KATSEYE weren't the only group sporting a matching aesthetic at the show. British girl group FLO, who earned their first Grammy nomination this year in the Best Progressive R&B Album Category, served up regal shades of royal blue on the red carpet just days after paying tribute to Mariah Carey with a cover of "Dreamlover" at the 2026 MusiCares Person of the Year benefit gala. The sisters of HAIM, meanwhile, opted for a trio of strappy black-and-silver dresses by Louis Vuitton. Plus, on the menswear side of the aisle, Pharrell Williams matched with Clipse in peachy velvet suits before hitting the Grammy stage to perform their 2025 collaboration "So Far Ahead," off the Grammy-nominated Let God Sort Em Out.

Teyana Taylor

Fresh off her win at the 2026 Golden Globes, Teyana Taylor wore an ab-baring gown by Tom Ford at the 2026 Grammys.

The budding multi-hyphenate, who earned her first Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album for her 2025 album Escape Room, wowed in an asymmetrical look made of metallic chain mail. Continuing the red carpet theme of daring, nearly-naked fashion, the dress featured an innovative strapless design that had to be seen to be believed.

Perhaps the most striking detail, though, is that Taylor reportedly styled herself for the evening, pairing the sculptural gown with a plunging gold necklace from Tiffany & Co., bronzed makeup, and a matching manicure.

Heidi Klum

Heidi Klum's dress at the 2026 Grammys was both a high-fashion moment and a technological marvel. Dreamed up by Berlin-based designer Marina Hoermanseder, the skin-toned leather look brought new meaning to "nude illusion," with the dress sculpted to a mold of the supermodel's body.

"She did a little mold, and then everything is done by leather. She makes it wet, it gets molded, then she dries it. Then it gets lacquered, sprayed and voila!" Klum explained on the Grammy red carpet while dishing on "Red Eye," her new collab with Diplo created for the upcoming season of "Germany's Next Topmodel."

"I always go for, like, a showstopper kind of an outfit, you know? I'm never someone who's like, 'This looks nice,'" the longtime "Project Runway" host concluded. "I always like something special."

Following the ceremony, Hoermanseder gave followers a behind-the-scenes peek at the process of making Klum's body-baring gown via an insightful Instagram carousel. The fashion designer showed off every step of the painstaking process — from creating the very first sketches and computer models to stretching and drying the leather by hand before matching its color precisely to Klum's skin.

Bad Bunny

Hours before Bad Bunny's triumphant night at the Grammys ended with his historic win for Album of the Year, it started with the perfect Schiaparelli tuxedo.

Inspired by a gender-bending design from the French maison's Couture runway show in 2023 and featuring a laced-up, corset-style back and subtle measuring tape lapel, Benito's dapper tux made its own mark on fashion history as Schiaparelli's very first Haute Couture custom menswear look to ever grace a red carpet.

Following the 2026 Grammys, Schiaparelli took to social media to celebrate Bad Bunny's trio of big wins for Album of the Year, Best Música Urbana Album, and Best Global Music Performance. They also gleefully pointed out the fact that the past three Album of the Year Grammy winners have all accepted their Grammys while wearing custom Schiaparelli Haute Couture — including Beyoncé in 2025 for COWBOY CARTER and Taylor Swift in 2024 for Midnights. Talk about a high fashion hat trick!

Harry Styles

Harry Styles served as the final presenter at the 2026 Grammys, returning to the Grammy stage to announce this year's winner for Album of the Year. And while the three-time Grammy winner didn't walk the Grammy red carpet, he still managed to make quite the sartorial statement by pairing a dazzling Dior blazer with — of all things — casual dark wash jeans.

"A truly great album can change the way you see everything. An artist can take you on a journey as you discover the world together. The best albums stay with you, and you can always return to them, just like old friends," Styles said, before listing off the eight albums nominated for Album of the Year and ultimately announcing Bad Bunny's DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS as the year's big winner.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

The nominees for Record Of The Year at the 2026 GRAMMYS reflect some of the biggest hits from the past year.

Pop darlings Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan were omnipresent in playlists all over the world, each with their own unique twist to the genre. The Mother Monster of pop, Lady Gaga, also made a triumphant, unexpected return. Meanwhile, Doechii and Kendrick Lamar (with SZA) brought forward the power of rap, while Bad Bunny and BLACKPINK's ROSÉ (with Bruno Mars) showed that cultural diversity only adds to the magic of music.

Coming from artists in the most different walks of life, these eight standout tracks make for a heady competition. Although only one will claim the golden gramophone Record Of The Year — which is awarded to the Artist and the Producer(s), Recording Engineer(s) and/or Mixer(s) and Mastering Engineer(s) — all of them were essential in shaping the music of 2025.

Learn more about the nominees below and read the full 2026 GRAMMYS nominations list ahead of Music's Biggest Night on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026.

Bad Bunny — "DtMF"

Scotty Dittrich, Hydra Hitz, La Paciencia, JULiA LEWiS, MAG & Tyler Spry, producers; Antonio Caraballo, Josh Gudwin, Roberto Rosado & Tyler Spry, engineers/mixers; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer

The title track off Bad Bunny's sixth studio album, "Debí Tirar Más Fotos," or "DtMF," marks one of his most vulnerable and mature offerings yet. Blending Puerto Rico's native plena music with video-game beats and a homemade feel, the now 31-year-old superstar reflects on some of the most important things in life.

"Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve/ Debí darte más beso' y abrazo' las vece' que pude" ("I should've taken more pictures when I had you/ I should've given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could"), he sings in the chorus, reminiscing about all the people who aren't in his life anymore. "Ya no estamo' pa' la movie' y las cadena/'Tamos pa' las cosa' que valgan la pena" ("We're no longer about the flashy stuff and chains/We're here for the things that are truly worth it"), he continues later on.

The bittersweet feelings of the single struck a chord with fans, who used it on over 100.000 TikTok compilation videos as a tribute to lost loved ones. Upon seeing the overwhelming response, Benito himself was moved and shared a teary-eyed reaction. Unsurprisingly, "DtMF" became one of his biggest hits — reaching No. 1 on four Latin charts and Billboard's Global 200 tally — marking 2025 with expertly crafted nostalgia and reaching far beyond his own regrets. The track is also nominated for Song Of The Year at the 2026 GRAMMYS.

Sabrina Carpenter — "Manchild"

Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter, producers; Jack Antonoff, Bryce Bordone, Jozef Caldwell, Serban Ghenea, Sean Hutchinson, Oli Jacobs, Michael Riddleberger & Laura Sisk, engineers/mixers; Ruairi O'Flaherty, mastering engineer

Following Sabrina Carpenter's skyrocketing 2024, which saw the delightful "Espresso" dominate summer playlists and Short n' Sweet earn her two GRAMMYS, she released "Manchild" as the lead single for her seventh LP, August's Man's Best Friend — and launched another round of irresistibly witty pop.

Through country-inspired synth-pop melodies, Carpenter pokes fun at immature men with her sharp quill: "Why so sexy if so dumb?/ And how survive the Earth so long?/ If I'm not there, it won't get done/ I choose to blame your mom." 

Upon releasing the track, the Pennsylvania native referred to "Manchild" as a soundtrack for "the very confusing and fun young adult years of life." She also perfectly described its playful allure: "It sounds like the song embodiment of a loving eye roll and it feels like a never ending road trip in the summer!"

Co-written and co-produced with pop maven Jack Antonoff, with additional songwriting by Amy Allen, "Manchild" marked Carpenter's first No. 1 debut on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It attests to the pop star's staying power and expertise in creating funny, addictive chronicles of women's lives. "Manchild" is also nominated in the Song Of The Year Category.

Doechii — "Anxiety"

Doechii, producer; Jayda Love, engineer/mixer; Nicolas De Porcel, mastering engineer

After winning Best Rap Album for Alligator Bites Never Heal at the 2025 GRAMMYS, Doechii landed an unexpected hit with "Anxiety." Originally uploaded to YouTube in 2019 as part of her COVEN MUSIC sessions, the track was first sampled by rapper Sleepy Hallow in 2023's "A N X I E T Y." Two years later, Doechii's original version resurfaced thanks to a viral TikTok trend.

Noticing the renewed attention, the Florida-born artist re-recorded and officially released "Anxiety" as a single — and it soon became one of the year's most remarkable sleeper hits. Built on a sample of Gotye's 2011 GRAMMY-winning smash, "Somebody That I Used to Know" (which itself samples Luiz Bonfá's 1967 instrumental "Seville"), the track channels the slightly haunting instrumental into an ominous portrait of the titular feeling.

The re-release became Doechii's first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and was later added as a bonus track to the deluxe edition of Alligator Bites Never Heal. A full-circle moment, "Anxiety" showcases Doechii's multifaceted talents as a singer, rapper, songwriter, and cultural strategist. Her nomination for Record Of The Year is a testament to all of the above — as is the track’s simultaneous nomination in the Song Of The Year Category.

Billie Eilish — "WILDFLOWER"

FINNEAS, producer; Jon Castelli, FINNEAS & Aron Forbes, engineers/mixers; Dale Becker, mastering engineer

Like a gift that keeps on giving, Billie Eilish's 2024 LP HIT ME HARD AND SOFT continues to deliver hit after hit. Such is the case of "WILDFLOWER," the album's fourth single, which has slowly bloomed into her longest-charting song in Billboard's Hot 100 chart. With a 72-week run (and counting), it surpassed even Eilish's beloved, omnipresent ballad "BIRDS OF A FEATHER."

Co-written with her brother and longtime collaborator FINNEAS, "WILDFLOWER" is a delicate folk-pop track about consoling a heartbroken friend — only to fall for the very person who hurt them. It's a guilt-laced confession that doesn't downplay the emotional wreckage left behind, and depicts Eilish leaning into her mistakes with painful honesty.

"WILDFLOWER" is a prime example of why Billie Eilish is a one-of-a-kind artist. Delivered with her signature sensibility, it proves how she can turn even the most selfish feelings into deeply human moments. "WILDFLOWER" also received a nod in the Song Of The Year Category.

Lady Gaga — "Abracadabra"

Cirkut, Lady Gaga & Andrew Watt, producers; Bryce Bordone, Serban Ghenea & Paul LaMalfa, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer

2025 marked the year that Lady Gaga made a triumphant return to form. With the release of her sixth solo record, MAYHEM, the Mother Monster showed she is still one of pop's most interesting and inspiring figures, capable of reinventing herself throughout the decades.

A big part of her renewed success came from the dark club anthem "Abracadabra" — an irresistibly hypnotic track that fuses her "Bad Romance" and "Born This Way" eras into something even more thrilling. The single debuted in a commercial break during the 2025 GRAMMYS, where Gaga won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for the Bruno Mars duet "Die With A Smile."

In an interview with Elle magazine, Gaga explained that "Abracadabra" is about "facing the challenge of life and the challenge of the night and finding the magic in it all." Iterating a sample from Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Spellbound," the song's mix of pulsing synths, fervent vocals, and surreal imagery earned critical acclaim and plenty of fan buzz. It debuted at No. 8 on Spotify's daily global chart and climbed to No. 5 on the Billboard Global 200.

By leaning back into her signature maximalist absurdity — now sharpened by years of acting and artistic evolution — Gaga delivered one of her best singles in years, minted with a Record Of The Year nomination and simultaneous nod in the Song Of The Year Category.

Kendrick Lamar With SZA — "Luther"

Jack Antonoff, Bridgeway, M-Tech, roselilah, Sounwave & Kamasi Washington, producers; Jack Antonoff, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Hector Castro, Oli Jacobs, Jack Manning, Sean Matsukawa, Dani Perez, Tony Shepperd, Laura Sisk & Johnathan Turner, engineers/mixers; Ruairi O'Flaherty, mastering engineer

With "Luther," longtime friends (and collaborators) Kendrick Lamar and SZA reunite to deliver an instant classic. Sampling Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn's 1982 version of "If This World Were Mine," the track spans from classic soul to hip-hop and contemporary R&B, crafting an unforgettably tender ballad.

Released as the third single from Lamar's 2024 album GNX, "Luther" was co-produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington, and others. In its mix, orchestral strings and booming 808s dance in a dreamy lullaby of Lamar's introspective verses and SZA's emotionally resonant vocals — providing a stunning soundscape for the song's impassioned narrative.

"Luther" quickly became a commercial force, spending 13 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 — the longest for either artist, and the second longest No. 1 run for any hip-hop song in history, only behind Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road." The song is also nominated for Song Of The Year.

Chappell Roan — "The Subway"

Daniel Nigro, producer; Chris Kaysch, Mitch McCarthy & Daniel Nigro, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer

Chappell Roan's mercurial rise is a testament to how she can turn even the most ordinary experiences into cinematic reveries. "The Subway" is a perfect example of that skill, where a fleeting encounter with an ex-lover is transformed into a dazzling alt-pop piece.

"'Til I don't look for you on the staircase/ Or wish you thought that we were still soulmates/ But I'm still counting down all of the days/ 'Til you're just another girl on the subway," she sings, poignantly reviving the pain of running into your past on public transit.

However, Roan was initially hesitant to release a studio version for the track. In an interview on iHeart Radio's Las Culturistas, the star explained that "I've been banging my head against the wall with 'The Subway,' because … some songs just work live. Certain things work live, and they don't work in the studio." Roan seemingly figured it out, and "The Subway" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming her highest-charting single to date.

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars — "APT."

Rogét Chahayed, Cirkut, Omer Fedi & Bruno Mars, producers; Serban Ghenea

No one expected a Korean drinking game to be the inspiration behind one of 2025's catchiest hits. But that's precisely what ROSÉ of K-pop girl group BLACKPINK did when she paired up with Bruno Mars on "APT.," the bubbly lead single of her debut solo album, rosie.

"'APT.' is actually my favorite Korean drinking game that I play with my friends back home," ROSÉ told The Korea Times. "It's so simple, puts a smile on your face, and breaks the ice at any party. One night in the studio, I taught my crew how to play the game. Everyone was fascinated, especially when I started the chant, so we played around with it, and I said we should make a song out of it ... and after Bruno joined the track, the rest became history!"

In that same spirit, "APT." is an infectious sing-along that will get any party going. The song interpolates Toni Basil's "Mickey," and blends pop-punk, new wave and indie rock into an irresistibly bright anthem. 

Attesting to its crossover potential, "APT." topped charts in over 50 countries, spent 12 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Global 200, and made ROSÉ the highest-charting female K-pop soloist in the U.S. Now, she's poised to make history again as the first K-pop artist nominated for Record Of The Year. "APT." is also nominated for Song Of The Year.

See the full list of winners and nominees from the 2026 Grammys.

Watch highlights and exclusive Grammys content from the 2026 Grammys all year long.

This year's Song Of The Year nominees capture the multitude of experiences we've had over the past 12 months, from celebration to nostalgia to heartbreak.

Lady Gaga and ROSÉ & Bruno Mars offered party-starting bangers with "Abracadabra" and "APT," and KPop Demon Hunter's record-breaking "Golden" landed at the top of everyone's summer playlists.

Sabrina Carpenter provided an anthem against emotionally unavailable men on her Man's Best Friend lead single, "Manchild," while Billie Eilish reflected on the complex dynamic of dating your friend's ex on "WILDFLOWER." On the other hand, Kendrick Lamar & SZA offered a sultry soundtrack to an epic romance with "luther."

Meanwhile, Bad Bunny and Doechii provided connective sentiments; where Bad Bunny's "DtMF" shares the regret of taking the past for granted, Doechii's "Anxiety" normalizes the stress we feel in a tense society.

With compelling melodies or relatable lyrics, each of these tracks remind us that we aren't alone in any of life's most pivotal moments — and that is exactly what Song Of The Year celebrates annually. Below, discover the eight nominees for the 2026 GRAMMYS and how they defined the past year.

Lady Gaga — "Abracadabra"

Lady Gaga, Henry Walter & Andrew Watt, songwriters

After Lady Gaga's The Fame and Born This Way created a touchstone for dark pop, Little Monsters soon saw a departure from the sound with her subsequent albums, including Joanne (Americana), Chromatica (house) and Love for Sale (jazz). With "Abracadabra," she made the anticipated homecoming to her roots.

The MAYHEM lead single is a true homage to her debut. Much like her earliest instrumentation, it boasts a bass-driven beat, decorated by pulsing synths. The song's hypnotic chorus — "Abracadabra, amor-ooh-na-na/ Abracadabra, morta-ooh-gaga" — is reminiscent of the iconic hook of "Bad Romance." And the music video revives her gothic surrealism with elaborate costumes and theatrical choreography.

Where much of the current musical climate borrows and fuses elements of country and rock, "Abracadabra" embodies Gaga's distinctive interpretation of pop's enduring appeal from 2009 to 2025. The track is also nominated in the Record Of The Year Category.

Doechii — "Anxiety"

Jaylah Hickmon, songwriter

In 2019, Doechii flipped Gotye & Kimbra's GRAMMY-winning single, "Somebody That I Used to Know," into a riveting expression of "Anxiety" on her YouTube channel. Following a viral resurface earlier this year, she dropped an official version, and it's become the anthem she never expected.

Over the iconic xylophone-led instrumental, Doechii confronts her paranoia and nerves: "Anxiety, keep on tryin' me/ I feel it quietly, tryna silence/ Anxiety, shake it off of me/ Somebody's watching me, it's my anxiety." She later challenges the source — the current political state — in its second verse, as she hums, "No limits, no borders/ What's in that new world order?/ Marco Polo/ Negro run from po-po." The track is also nominated for Record Of The Year.

Since the song's release, Doechii has continued to be outspoken about activism and her concern with society beyond her music. Along with denouncing ICE raids, transphobic attacks and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in her BET Awards speech, the GRAMMY-winning rapper launched Anxiety Is Watching Me, a resource hub designed to support individuals struggling with mental health issues.

ROSÉ & Bruno Mars — "APT."

Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Theron Thomas & Henry Walter, songwriters

Forget beer pong and kings cup. In her viral single, BLACKPINK's ROSÉ teams up with Bruno Mars to introduce you to a quintessential Korean drinking game: Apartment. The upbeat, indie rock-inspired track spotlights the classic chant — "Apteu, apteu," the duo cheers in the chorus — as they traverse the cheeky anticipation of a potential rendezvous.

For ROSÉ, one of the driving forces for the song was to share a slice of her upbringing: "Korean culture is, I would say, one of the most fun cultures out there. To be able to show that to the world, it's like a personal excitement for me," she revealed in her Paper Magazine cover.

While Bruno Mars' rock influence and a sample of Toni Basil's "Mickey" guide the song's production, ROSÉ's K-pop flair is found within its quippy, repetitive hook, reminiscent of PSY's "Gangnam Style." The track received a simultaneous nomination for Record Of The Year.

Bad Bunny — "DtMF"

Marco Daniel Borrero, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Hugo René Sención Sanabria, Tyler Thomas Spry & Roberto José Rosado Torres, songwriters

You've probably seen fans use Bad Bunny's "DtMF" to soundtrack heartfelt pictures from their past on TikTok. Maybe you saw someone recreate the single's lawn chair album art to immortalize a special moment. Or, you might have watched someone cry over the song's nostalgia-tinged grief: "I should've taken more pictures when I had you/ I should've given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could/ I hope my people never move away/ And if I get drunk today, I hope they help me out," he croons in Spanish.

At its core, "DtMF" is an expression of Bad Bunny's Puerto Rican heritage. As listeners score their own history with the track, its messaging blurs the line between individual and collective memory in our universal experiences of life. Much like the rest of its respective album, Debí Tirar Más Fotos, "DtMF"turns personal nostalgia into something equally sacred and communal. "DtMF" is also nominated for Record Of The Year.

HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI — "Golden" [From KPop Demon Hunters]

EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick, songwriters

In less than six months, KPop Demon Hunters has become Netflix's most-watched title of all time, rivaling the success of Disney juggernauts like Encanto and Frozen. With its infusion of traditional Korean culture and plurilingual soundtrack, it heralds a surge in the hallyu movement. Spearheading its impact is "Golden," an inspirational track about the fictional girl group HUNTR/X's determination to make their voices heard.

"I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin'/ Like I'm born to be/ We dreamin' hard, we came so far/ Now I believe/ We're going up, up, up, it's our moment/ You know together we're glowing/ Gonna be, gonna be golden," they sing.

But the grit of the trio isn't only present in the song's empowering lyricism. At its climax, EJAE reaches an impressive A5 as her character, Rumi, reveals her half-demon bloodline. It's a clear representation of the sacrifice the characters are willing to make to bring their dreams to fruition. This moment is everything "Golden" represents, an explosive hallelujah that turns struggle into triumph.

Kendrick Lamar & SZA — "luther"

Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Solána Rowe, Mark Anthony Spears & Kamasi Washington, songwriters

Mirroring the vocal musings of Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn, Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "If This World Were Mine"-sampled single, "luther," takes listeners on a melodic journey of intimacy, commitment and vulnerability.

"If this world was mine, I'd take your dreams and make 'em multiple/ If this world was mine, I'd take your enemies in front of God/ Introduce 'em to that light, hit them strictly with that fire," Lamar promises.

SZA's response is just as devoted: "If it was up to me/ I wouldn't give these nobodies no sympathy/ I'd take away the pain, I'd give you everything."

"Luther" underscores Lamar's versatility as a storyteller and producer. Juxtaposed next to the ferocity of his 2025 Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year winner, "Not Like Us," this collaboration showcases something much more tender, full of yearning and profoundly human in its portrayal of love. "Luther" is also nominated for Record Of The Year at this year’s GRAMMYS.

Sabrina Carpenter — "Manchild"

Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter, songwriters

In 2024, Sabrina Carpenter offered a warning to any potential suitor: "If you don't wanna cry to my music, don't make me hate you prolifically." Fast forward to a year later, and the Short n' Sweet songstress is waving her white flag to questionable men in the cathartically honest "Manchild."

"Manchild, why you always come a-running to me?/ F— my life, won't you let an innocent woman be?" She questions in the song's infectious, country-twanged chorus. "Never heard of self-care/ Half your brain just ain't there."

As the opening number to Carpenter's Man's Best Friend, "Manchild" sets the tone for her blasé mindset toward romance in the album's later tracks. Men will be men, as she contemplates on the bridge, but it doesn't have to stop her from pursuing having fun and achieving pleasure. The song is also nominated for Record Of The Year.

Billie Eilish — "WILDFLOWER"

Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell, songwriters

In the shadows of Billie Eilish's twinkling 2025 Song Of The Year and Record Of The Year nominee, "BIRDS OF A FEATHER," lives a more harrowing, introspective counterpart in "WILDFLOWER." In the moody song, Eilish navigates the guilt of dating a friend's ex while feeling haunted by the ghost of his former flame.

"I see her in the back of my mind all the time/ Like a fever, like I'm burning alive, like a sign/ Did I cross the line?" Eilish candidly admits. "Well, good things don't last/ And life moves so fast/ I'd never ask who was better/ 'Cause she couldn't be/ More different from me/ Happy and free in leather."

The track is a trademark of Eilish's signature sound, from her ethereal vocals to its soothing fusion of acoustic guitars and lo-fi beats. Its lyricism is arguably her most self-aware to date, as she acknowledges her own shortcomings in love and the ways her insecurity can even be self-destructive. "WILDFLOWER" is also nominated in the Record Of The Year Category.