When Chappell Roan won a local talent contest in 2012, the then-teenager made a determined declaration: "I want to win a GRAMMY... and I'm going to do whatever it takes to get it."

Thirteen years later at the 2025 GRAMMYs, Roan found herself walking on stage to accept her first GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist. Emerging as a symbol of steadfast perseverance in music, the now 26-year-old singer has been applauded not only for her talent, but her incredible tenacity — all of which helped manifest her dream.

In 2024, Roan's popularity rose rapidly and endlessly, from viral online performances to record-breaking festival appearances. But her whirlwind stardom was no fluke; she's had her eye on a career in music since those early talent contest days.

Following a more conventional singer/songwriter journey, Roan promoted herself on YouTube, signed and lost a record deal, and juggled various odd jobs in Los Angeles. Her perseverance paved the way for her debut album, 2023's The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, and the single "Good Luck, Babe!" that would help catapult her to mainstream fame — and the coveted honor of Best New Artist.

Her victory connects directly to her insurmountable ambition. In an interview with GRAMMY.com right after her Coachella debut in April 2024, Roan shared the main question driving her creative process: "Throughout the year, I'm like, 'What can I get away with?'"

It's a profound, fitting question that accentuates Roan's authenticity and rebellious innovation. By dedicating herself to escaping the standard, she's made pop fun again — boisterous, colorful and happily campy. "I just want to push it to see how far can I go — with the most controversial outfits or things to rile people up," Roan added. "I'm not really afraid to do that."

Marked by her fearless, fun-loving originality, Roan's journey is nothing short of a pop revolution. Her concerts create space for queer people to dress up, dance, scream, and most importantly, to be free. It's this community-oriented approach and care that has led Roan to superstardom. And though her fame has already been a decade in the making, her glittery celebration of music, love and queerness shows no signs of stopping.

Below, look back on Chappell Roan's self-made rise to fame, and how it all led to her first GRAMMY win.

Born in the small town of Willard, Missouri, Roan found interest in music at a young age, playing piano at age 12 and taking vocal lessons. From winning her middle school talent show (twice) to auditioning for "America's Got Talent," the singer's talent and ambition were evident early on.

Around 2013, she began posting covers on her YouTube channel under her birth name, Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, along with performing around Missouri. Growing up in a conservative, religious town, she found music therapeutic: "I was so desperate to feel understood," she said in an interview with The Guardian.

In 2014, she continued developing her musical skills at a summer camp, and according to what her camp director told Rolling Stone, the 16-year-old "arrived with Lennon-McCartney-level songwriting skills." There, Roan's creativity and love for music only continued to balloon.

After practicing songwriting all summer, Roan published her first original song, "Die Young," on YouTube — and though she now looks back and calls it "the corniest song on Earth," the track helped kick off her musical career.

"Die Young" ended up attracting the eyes of music executives, who flew her out to New York for meetings and showcases. She earned her high school diploma a year early, dropping out and opting for online university classes in order to focus on her music; in 2015, she signed a record deal with Atlantic Records at just 17 years old.

In the same year Roan graduated high school, her grandfather Dennis K. Chappell passed away from brain cancer. Deciding to honor him with her stage name, Roan combined his last name with the word "Roan," plucked from his favorite song, Curly Fletcher's cowboy track "The Strawberry Roan" — and thus, Chappell Roan was born.

While other 18-year-olds were frolicking at prom or touring universities, Roan was releasing her first major label single. The dark pop track "Good Hurt" showcased her strength as a songwriter, and its lovelorn angst drew early comparisons to Lorde and Lana Del Rey.

About a month later, Roan dropped her first full EP with Atlantic: School Nights, a moody, five-song collection about longing and self-doubt. The 17-minute alternative record opens with "Die Young," a callback to her discovery on YouTube and early exhibit of talent.

She started booking her very first opening gigs that same year, accompanying rising Australian star Vance Joy on his Lay It On Me Tour. Less than a year later, she joined Declan McKenna on tour, an experience that inspired her to rethink her own performances.

"He would jump off the speakers, and throw balloons in the crowd, and have so much fun every night," she told Vulture of McKenna. "I was like, 'I want to do that. I don't want to do what I'm doing. This is too serious. How do I have fun on stage? How do I make this a party?"

Life changed dramatically for Roan when she moved to Los Angeles in 2018. While she had occasionally flown to New York City or Los Angeles for work, her official Los Angeles move allowed her the freedom she had been craving — not just as an artist, but as a young woman learning about her lesbian identity and sexuality.

Out of the Midwest and on the West Coast, Roan felt like she could be her truest self. "I feel allowed to be who I want to be here," she told Rolling Stone. "That changed everything."

The blissful single "Pink Pony Club" blossomed from her new life experiences, which she worked on closely with producer Daniel Nigro, whom she met through her former manager Nick Bobetsky. While the pair instantly clicked upon their first session, their creative direction was not encouraged by Atlantic Records, according to Nigro.

"We were starting to make fun music," Nigro told Rolling Stone. "We had 'Pink Pony Club' and then we had made 'Naked in Manhattan' … And I remember they were like, 'She can't be both — she has to be pop music, or it has to be this sad, singer/songwriter pensive music. It can't be both things.' And I remember getting so mad because I know her personality, and it is both! Not only can she be both, but she sounds great being both."

From the very start of their partnership, Nigro's long-term support of Roan's alternative creativity helped her truly find her footing (and, eventually, helped him win Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical at the 2025 GRAMMYs thanks to his work with both Roan and Olivia Rodrigo). Nigro's commitment to Roan's musical style encouraged her to believe in herself, and in turn, allowed her to shape her artist identity fully and honestly.

"Because he believed in bringing that part of myself to life," Roan told the New York Times, "I started to believe in it, too."

In April and May 2020, Roan released three singles that fully represented her artistic identity: "Pink Pony Club," "Love Me Anyway" and "California." Inspired by her new but profound love of Los Angeles and her journey to self-acceptance, the depth of these tracks indicated Roan's compelling shift in creative direction.

However, Atlantic Records didn't see the promise of the unique style she'd honed, and decided to drop Roan that August. And in the same week, Roan's long-term relationship ended abruptly.

But the challenges Roan only fueled her motivation. She took on miscellaneous work to stay afloat in Los Angeles, shapeshifting into a barista, a production assistant, a nanny — all while still working hard as an independent artist, who was concurrently learning how to navigate her bipolar disorder diagnosis. "Being an independent artist was really special because I proved to myself that I could do all these hard things that I had never done," Roan told GRAMMY.com last year.

In 2022, she dropped her first independent release, "Naked in Manhattan," later followed by "Femininomenon" and "Casual." This power trio of singles made their way onto her future debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess — which would soon send her into the pop stratosphere.

With her fame continuing to bubble, Roan's major touring schedule in 2022 pivotally propped her onto massive stages in front of new fans. Roan opened for her superstar friend Olivia Rodrigo's SOUR Tour, on which she performed in arenas for the first time ever and held her own as an artist to watch.

About a year later, she finally embarked on her debut headline tour in February 2023. The Naked in North America Tour entertained as a 20-date trek throughout spring, spotlighting "the celebratory aspect of queerness" by featuring local drag queens as her opening acts — a trend she has continued with her subsequent tours.

During this time, Roan also signed with Island Records, thanks to her promising creativity and close companionship with Nigro. The added support from Island as well as the exposure from opening for Rodrigo (and a brief stint touring with FLETCHER) helped promote Roan to wider, pop-loving audiences.

After wrapping her first-ever headline tour, she dropped her wonderfully campy debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess in the fall of 2023. Though it didn't reach mainstream audiences immediately, the polished pop record was critically acclaimed for its depth and dynamism. Pitchfork praised her "​​powerful and versatile voice; NME commended her "irresistible songwriting" and its humor; and Paste magazine said Roan "fill[s] a void in the pop landscape left behind by [Lady] Gaga's distance."

With the album continuing to garner buzz and acclaim, Roan's touring schedule also indicated how quickly her stardom was rising. The first leg of The Midwest Princess Tour not only saw her play bigger venues in North America, but also headline her first shows in Australia and Europe. And by the time she announced a second leg for 2024, it was strikingly clear she was on her way to superstardom.

Amid the second stretch of The Midwest Princess Tour, Roan made a splash with her NPR Tiny Desk concert. Debuting on March 21, 2024, the performance went viral thanks to her vocal ability and humor (and her fantastic drag look). Just two weeks later, Roan released "Good Luck, Babe!" as a one-off single on April 5, 2024 — and was unprepared for the song's swift ascent to popularity.

An enchanting representation of the honesty and humanity in her songwriting, the ever-so-catchy "Good Luck, Babe!" shone as the perfect follow-up to Roan's Tiny Desk performance. Within weeks, the popular track became Roan's first entry on the Billboard Hot 100. And within months, the global omnipresence of "Good Luck, Babe!" made it clear that the song had boosted her to the mainstream.

Despite not being on the track list for The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, "Good Luck, Babe!" and Roan's rapidly growing popularity helped the album climb all the way to No. 2 on the Billboard 200 by August. But that was just one of many signs that her true-to-herself approach had allowed her to emerge as one of pop's new queens.

Drawing Record-Breaking Crowds At Festivals

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Continuing to conquer stages, Roan's touring schedule soon included major festival appearances that further heightened her prominence. Filled with flamboyant fanfare, Roan's Coachella performance struck a chord with not just her Indio audience, but also thousands of people watching snippets of her set online. With "Good Luck, Babe!" taking off and the added virality of her Coachella performance, Roan was officially no longer an underground secret.

Coachella certainly kicked off her festival season with a colorful bang, but as she hit stage after stage at summer festivals, Roan proved she was becoming an unstoppable force. More than 40,000 people attended her daytime slot at May's Boston Calling. A week after drawing a similarly massive crowd at June's Governors Ball, her crowd at Bonnaroo was so massive that festival organizers moved her to a bigger stage. And come August, Roan's performance drew the "biggest daytime set" Lollapalooza had ever seen.

A week later at Outside Lands (where, of course, she had another huge audience), Roan yelled at the VIPs for not dancing along to her set: "You're not fun!" she shrieked. While the silly 10-second moment spread on social media rapidly, it was also a demonstration of Roan's honest, sometimes brash authenticity that's helped make her so exceedingly popular.

Winning Her First GRAMMY

Roan's whirlwind success culminated in perhaps her biggest achievement to date: six nominations for the 2025 GRAMMYs. In addition to The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess earning nominations for Album Of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Album and "Good Luck, Babe!" receiving nominations for Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, Roan also earned a nod for Best New Artist — which she would ultimately take home.

In her powerful speech, Roan thanked "all who listened to get me here today," along with her team and family. She reflected on the struggles she faced early in her career, urging labels to give more to rising artists.

"I told myself if I ever won a GRAMMY and I got to stand up here in front of the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels and the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage and health care, especially to developing artists," Roan declared, reading from a diary.

Representing a victory for all up-and-coming musicians who have stayed true to themselves in the face of adversity, Roan's first GRAMMY win both honors her decade-long journey to global success and recognizes her dedication to shaping the future with positive change. By continuously intertwining artistry and advocacy even throughout her catapult to fame, it became evident on the GRAMMY stage that Roan is leading a revolution — and that her triumph as Best New Artist is one of many milestones to come.

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 Recording Academy has announced the presenters for the 2026 Grammys, which take place Sunday, Feb. 1: Carole King, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx, Doechii, Harry Styles, Jeff Goldblum, KAROL G, Lainey Wilson, Marcello Hernández, Nikki Glaser, Q-Tip, Queen Latifah, and Teyana Taylor are confirmed to present. Plus, an additional surprise presenter will be revealed on Grammy night.

The full performers lineup at the 2026 Grammys includes:

• Current Best New Artist Grammy nominees Addison Rae, Alex Warren, KATSEYE, Leon Thomas, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, SOMBR, and The Marías, who are performing in a special Best New Artist segment

• Bruno Mars, who is currently nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Clipse and Pharrell Williams, who are currently nominated at the 2026 Grammys for their work on the former's Let God Sort Em Out

• Justin Bieber, who is currently nominated for four Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Lady Gaga, who is currently nominated for seven Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Ms. Lauryn Hill will perform in honor of D'Angelo and Roberta Flack in the annual In Memoriam tribute at the 2026 Grammys

• Post Malone, Andrew Watt, Chad Smith, Duff McKagan, and Slash will perform a special tribute to Ozzy Osbourne in the annual In Memoriam segment at the 2026 Grammys

• Reba McEntire joined by Brandy Clark and Lukas Nelson, who will pay tribute to those we've recently lost in the annual In Memoriam tribute at the 2026 Grammys

• ROSÉ, who is currently nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Sabrina Carpenter, who is currently nominated for six Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys

• Tyler, The Creator, who is currently nominated for six Grammy Awards

See the full list of performers and hosts at the 2026 Grammys to date (updating in real time).

The 2026 Grammys, hosted by Trevor Noah, will broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+^.

Hours ahead of the live telecast, the 2026 Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony, where the majority of the Grammy Awards of the day are awarded, will stream live from Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 1, at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on the Recording Academy's YouTube channel and on live.grammy.com.

Learn more about how to watch the 2026 Grammys.

The Grammy Awards are the only peer-recognized accolade in music and are voted on by the Recording Academy's voting membership body of music makers who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, and engineers.

Fulwell Entertainment is producing the 2026 Grammy Awards for the Recording Academy. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, Jesse Collins, and Trevor Noah are executive producers.

^Paramount+ Premium plan subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on-demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream live, but will have access to on-demand the day after the episodes airs.

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.

The 2026 GRAMMYs will air live on Sunday, Feb. 1. Watch highlights and exclusive content from the 2026 GRAMMYs all season long on live.GRAMMY.com.

It's almost time to find out who's making GRAMMY history next year. The 2026 GRAMMYs will take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Ahead of Music’s Biggest Night, the Recording Academy will announce the nominees at the 2026 GRAMMYs Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, via a livestream event starting at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET.  

The nominations livestream event will feature some of the biggest names in music today unveiling the nominees across all 95 GRAMMY Categories at the 2026 GRAMMYs, including Chappell Roan, Doechii, KAROL G, Lizzo, Mumford & Sons, Nicole Scherzinger, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Smith, and many more. See the full list of presenters below.

Below, learn everything you need to know about the 2026 GRAMMYs nominations, including the date, time and participating presenters of the nominations livestream.

The 2026 GRAMMY Awards nominations are proudly sponsored by City National Bank, Dove, and Vaseline.

When Are The 2026 GRAMMY Nominations Announced? 

Nominations for the 2026 GRAMMYs will be announced Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, starting at 8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET.  

An all-star lineup of past GRAMMY winners, GRAMMY nominees and special guests will join Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr. to announce the nominees across all 95 GRAMMY Categories at the 2026 GRAMMYs. 

The full lineup of nominees presenters includes:

• Angélique Kidjo

• Brandi Carlile

• CeCe Winans

• Chappell Roan

• David Foster

• Doechii

• Dr. Chelsey Green

• Gayle King of "CBS Mornings"

• Jon Batiste

• KAROL G

• Little Big Town

• Lizzo

• Masaki Koike

• Mumford & Sons

• Nicole Scherzinger

• Sabrina Carpenter

• Sam Smith

Video announcements of all GRAMMY Categories will be posted on live.GRAMMY.com and YouTube during the event, and the full list of 2026 GRAMMYs nominees will be published on GRAMMY.com immediately after the livestream. 

Stay tuned for the exclusive 2026 GRAMMYs Nominations Wrap-Up Show, where Emmy-Award-winning TV hosts and "Entertainment Tonight" correspondents Cassie DiLaura and Denny Directo will give music fans the inside scoop on all the biggest news and trends from the 2026 GRAMMYs nominations. 

^Here is the schedule for the 2026 GRAMMYs nominations livestream: 

Nominations Livestream Begins 

8 a.m. PT / 11 a.m. ET  

Full List Of Nominees Published On GRAMMY.com 

8:30 a.m. PT / 11:30 a.m. ET 

2026 GRAMMYs Nominations Wrap-Up Show 

Immediately following the nominations livestream 

^All times are approximate and are subject to change. 

How Can I Watch The 2026 GRAMMY Nominations? 

Watch the full 2026 GRAMMYs nominations livestream on live.GRAMMY.com or on the Recording Academy's YouTube channel.  

On live.GRAMMY.com, viewers can customize a multi-channel, interactive livestream, which will broadcast all the 2026 GRAMMY nominees in dedicated videos.  

Throughout the 2026 GRAMMYs season, including GRAMMY night, live.GRAMMY.com will offer GRAMMY performances, backstage moments, and exclusive interviews with GRAMMY winners and nominees, giving fans a behind-the-sceens look at Music's Biggest Night. 

When Are The 2026 GRAMMYs? 

The 2026 GRAMMYs take place Sunday, Feb. 1, at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and broadcasting live on the CBS Television Network and streaming live and on demand on Paramount+. 

What's New At The 2026 GRAMMYs? 

As announced in June, the 2026 GRAMMYs will introduce two new GRAMMY Categories: Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover. 

The new Best Album Cover Category recognizes excellence in cover art for albums of recordings in any genre of music and honors the art directors whose craft shapes a record's story and vision. The existing Best Country Album Category has been renamed Best Contemporary Country Album, and a brand-new Best Traditional Country Album GRAMMY Category has been added. This significant change recognizes the genre's rich diversity and honors both its roots and its ongoing evolution. See the full list of expansive updates set to debut at the 2026 GRAMMYs. 

These additions, which bring the total number of GRAMMY Categories to 95, continue the Recording Academy's mission to celebrate every corner of the music-making process — from vocalists and instrumentalists to the visual artists whose work defines how fans experience music today. 

In an exclusive interview with GRAMMY.com in June, Harvey Mason jr. expressed his excitement about the new changes going into effect at the 2026 GRAMMYs. 

"Each year during our Awards & Nominations review, our focus is on refining our rules, uncovering anything that is no longer working, and ensuring we are celebrating our creative community in the most meaningful way," he told GRAMMY.com. "I'm thrilled that many of this year's changes … allow us to honor even more creators. That's always a positive outcome for me. But even more importantly, these are much-needed updates that ensure those who are making significant contributions to the musical process are properly recognized and have the opportunity to be celebrated on Music's Biggest Night." 

Also new this year, GRAMMY U members were invited to submit music for GRAMMY consideration for the first time ever, expanding pathways for emerging artists and creators. 

Together, these updates reaffirm the Recording Academy's commitment to recognizing artistry in all its forms and ensuring that every creator — from songwriters and engineers to producers and art directors — has a place in Music's Biggest Night. 

How Are GRAMMY Nominees & GRAMMY Winners Determined? 

The GRAMMY Award is the only peer-recognized accolade in music and the highest achievement in the industry. Voting Members of the Recording Academy — active creators representing more than 22 genres and 13 creative disciplines — determine the GRAMMY nominees and GRAMMY winners through a secure two-round voting process: First Round Voting, which determines all the GRAMMY nominees for each GRAMMY Category each year, and Final Round Voting, which ultimately determines the GRAMMY winners across all Categories revealed on GRAMMY night.  

The annual GRAMMY voting process is built to ensure that all eligible artists, musicians and creators are fairly evaluated based on their artistic and technical merits and will help the wider music community determine the leading music of the year, as voted on by their peers. 

Join The Conversation & Share Your Favorite Memory

Download our 2026 GRAMMYs social media toolkit and use #GRAMMYs on all popular social media platforms to join the global conversation live on GRAMMY nominations day. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn to share your favorite GRAMMY nominations moments.

Save The Date: Tune in Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, to find out who will be nominated at the 2026 GRAMMYs. 

Learn more about the annual GRAMMY Awards process. Read our frequently asked GRAMMY questions (FAQ) section. View the official GRAMMY Awards Rules and Guidelines for the 2026 GRAMMYs. And visit the GRAMMY Award Update Center for a list of real-time changes to the GRAMMY Awards process.