From breaking records to making history, K-pop superstars BLACKPINK have taken over the world since their 2016 debut. Along the way, all four members have established themselves as stars in their own right — and on Dec. 6, ROSÉ fully introduced herself with rosie.

Across 12 tracks, ROSÉ creates an introspective masterpiece for her debut studio album, which expands upon her 2021 single album, R. As she did with R, the singer/songwriter led the entirety of rosie's creative direction and writing, further delving into ruminations on staying true to herself.

As a result, rosie is a fully realized version of R, embracing her earnest offerings of vulnerability that almost feels antithetical to BLACKPINK's signature, untouchable aura. She surrenders herself to a wholeheartedly honest version of ROSÉ, introducing fans new and old to the truest form of her as an artist.

Below, take a look at four ways ROSÉ's first full-length album helped her establish her own sound and style.

In line with the lacquered perfectionism characteristic to K-pop, many of BLACKPINK's hit songs (like "Boombayah" and "As If It's Your Last") have catchy, palatable choruses that are meant to make people dance, but often didn't have much depth lyrically. ROSÉ took the opposite approach with rosie, and the album not only feels much more vulnerable than her BLACKPINK beginnings — it's perhaps one of the most introspective works to ever come out of K-pop.

From flawless outfits to expertly placed makeup, K-pop stars are rarely captured without their armor. Yet, ROSÉ doesn't want to hide behind these walls. She's disillusioned by them entirely, instead opting to defy genre safeguards to allow her music to be as candid as possible. 

ROSÉ confesses raunchier things K-pop artists aren't typically given space to talk about, from missing having someone in her bed on "two years," to being unafraid to tell an ex they "f—ed up" on "not the same." And at 27, she perfectly encapsulates the ups and downs of being in your twenties: confronting loneliness ("number one girl"), being let down in relationships ("call it the end"), and giving the wrong people too many chances ("not the same").

After years of maintaining a veneer of perfection, ROSÉ shows that she's more than the infallible star she's portrayed. It makes the name rosie feel all the more fitting, as she's reintroducing fans to who she really is — a girl who just wants to be heard.

Much of rosie operates like a sonic version of a facepalm. ROSÉ is screaming at her past self, while also taking accountability for her own mistakes.

"Shame on me, should've known better/ I let you play me, whatever!" she asserts on "gameboy." Elsewhere, she reflects on how long she accepted the situationship hell she was in ("call it the end") and confesses to losing herself in her mind after ignoring red flags ("3 am"). 

As a whole, rosie shows ROSÉ's innate ability to inundate her lyricism with the highs and lows of the real, stupid and pathetic stuff you do for love. And while she dabbled in that level of honesty on her co-written BLACKPINK tracks "Yeah Yeah Yeah" and "Hard to Love," rosie helped her dig even deeper.

A large part of BLACKPINK's discography was driven by upbeat, anthemic songs, more meant to entice a crowd than challenge any of the members sonically. Throughout rosie, it's clear ROSÉ's vision was to wring out a quieter version of her K-pop persona. There's no brass-filled, punchy production behind a catchy chorus; instead, she opts for intimate tracks with soft synths ("toxic till the end") and piano-driven melodies ("call it the end"). 

Of course, she still offers some uptempo moments. The glitchy beat of breezy "drinks or coffee" deftly swaps her woe with confidence, flickering between love and lust. And ROSÉ is at her most electric on the Bruno Mars-featuring "APT," a windows-down, radio-booming pop earworm propelled by persistent hi-hats and an addicting bassline. 

Whether she's earnestly telling a story through or showing off her musical range, ROSÉ proves that she's an artist who refuses to be put in a box — and that her poppier beginnings don't define her.

While the bulk of rosie's narrative centers around a romantic relationship (which has had fans in a speculative frenzy about her love life), ROSÉ also explores her relationship with herself. The album's introspective nature is one of its most compelling aspects, as it suggests that she isn't afraid to grow — even if it hurts.

She fearlessly admits her need for validation on "number one girl" ("Tell me I'm that new thing/ Tell me that I'm relevant") and "3 am" ("Say I'm not like anyone else"). But she also shows that, as a result, she's learned some lessons the hard way on tracks like "too bad for us" ("If love burns too bright, it burns out in a minute"). 

Through it all, ROSÉ uses rosie to confront the pains of the past, but ultimately move forward to a healthier, brighter future. And as she reclaims her narrative personally, she also puts a revelatory foot forward professionally; rosie hints that this is just the beginning of a beautifully vulnerable solo career.

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 three new performers at the 2026 Grammys: Lady Gaga, ROSÉ, and Tyler, The Creator.

Lady Gaga, a 14-time Grammy winner, is nominated for seven Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys: Record Of The Year ("Abracadabra"), Album Of The Year (MAYHEM), Song Of The Year ("Abracadabra"), Best Pop Solo Performance ("Disease"), Best Pop Vocal Album (MAYHEM), Best Dance Pop Recording ("Abracadabra"), and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album (Harlequin).

First-time nominee ROSÉ is nominated for three Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys: Record Of The Year ("APT.), Song Of The Year ("APT.") and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance ("APT.").

The two-time Grammy winner Tyler, The Creator is nominated for six Grammy Awards at the 2026 Grammys: Album Of The Year (CHROMAKOPIA), Best Alternative Music Album (DON'T TAP THE GLASS), Best Rap Performance ("Darling, I"), Best Rap Song ("Sticky"), Best Rap Album (CHROMAKOPIA), and Best Album Cover (CHROMAKOPIA).

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.

Let the GRAMMYS season begin! The 2026 GRAMMYs nominations have arrived, honoring some of the year's most exciting artists and releases.

Across 12 Fields and 95 Categories, there are several first-time nominees — including ROSÉ, Tate McRae, YUNGBLUD, PinkPantheress, and even actor Timothée Chalamet — and artists who are celebrating their first nominations for different awards. And with two new Categories added for the 2026 GRAMMYS, this year's nominations list also includes inaugural nominees for Best Album Cover and Best Traditional Country Album.

Kendrick Lamar is this year’s most nominated artist with nine nominations. He's followed by Cirkut, Jack Antonoff and Lady Gaga, who each earned seven nods; Bad Bunny, Leon Thomas, Sabrina Carpenter, and Serban Ghenea, with six nominations each; and Andrew Watt, Clipse, Pusha T & Malice, Doechii, Sounwave, SZA, Turnstile, and Tyler, The Creator, who each earned five.

Below, check out some of the other interesting firsts and major feats to come out of the 2026 GRAMMYS nominations — and some of the history-making moments that could happen on Music's Biggest Night.

Notable Firsts

While Album Of The Year is always one of the night's most anticipated Categories, it's especially thrilling this year, as there are a number of ways GRAMMYS history could be made (more on that later). The nominations themselves are historic; for the first time ever, three albums are nominated simultaneously in Album Of The Year and Best Rap Album: Clipse, Pusha T & Malice's Let God Sort Em Out; Kendrick Lamar's GNX; and Tyler, The Creator's CHROMAKOPIA.

Lamar's Album Of The Year nomination lands him another first, as he's the first solo artist to receive Album Of The Year nods for five consecutive studio albums.

Also nominated for Album Of The Year is Bad Bunny's DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS, which helped the reggaeton star add to his GRAMMYS legacy. Along with the AOTY nomination, “DtMF” earned Record Of The Year and Song Of The Year nods, marking only the second time in GRAMMYS history that an all-Spanish-language album and all-Spanish-language songs are nominated in those Categories. He is also the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated in all three Categories simultaneously.

K-pop joins the history-making fun thanks to ROSÉ and KPop Demon Hunters. ROSÉ's hit collaboration with Bruno Mars, "APT.," and HUNTR/X's chart-topping KPop Demon Hunters smash, "Golden," are the first songs by K-pop artists to be nominated for Song Of The Year, with "APT." also becoming the first song by a K-pop artist to be nominated for Record Of The Year. Both songs are also up for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, marking another milestone: the first time two songs by K-pop artists have been nominated in that Category in the same year.

The inaugural Best Traditional Country Album Category spawned an interesting GRAMMY moment for Willie Nelson, who is nominated for his tribute to Rodney Crowell, Oh What A Beautiful World. With his son Lukas Nelson also receiving a nomination in the Category for American Romance, it's the first time Willie is nominated alongside one of his seven children.

Over in the Rock, Metal & Alternative Music Field, Paramore's Hayley Williams received her first nods as a solo artist for her own work, with four nominations this year: Best Rock Performance ("Mirtazapine"), Best Rock Song ("Glum"), Best Alternative Music Performance ("Parachute"), and Best Alternative Music Album ("Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party"). (She previously received one solo nomination as a featured performer on B.o.B's "Airplanes, Pt. II" at the 2011 GRAMMYS, and has won three GRAMMYS for her work with Paramore.)

Perhaps the most surprising first of the 2026 GRAMMYS nominations goes to none other than the Dalai Llama himself. Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama earned a nomination for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording, marking the first time a Dalai Llama has received a GRAMMYS nomination.

Potential History-Making Moments

In addition to all of the first-time feats among the 2026 GRAMMYS nominations, there are a number of wins that could land in the GRAMMYS history books, too.

With his nine nominations Kendrick Lamar could become the rapper with the most wins at the 2026 GRAMMYS. As of press time, he has 22 wins, ranking third among rappers behind Jay-Z (25) and Kanye West (24), meaning he needs four wins to take the top spot.

If Lamar were to win Record Of The Year or Song Of The Year, it would be his second year in a row winning in those Categories, as he took home golden gramophones for both for "Not Like Us" at the 2025 GRAMMYS. If he were to win Album Of The Year for GNX, it would add another milestone to his GRAMMY resume: he'd become the first solo male rapper to win in the Category.

Bad Bunny could also make history if DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS is crowned Album Of The Year, as it would be the first all-Spanish-language album to win the coveted Category.

Notably, no matter who wins Album Of The Year, it will be their first victory in the Category. While Bad Bunny, Justin Bieber, Sabrina Carpenter, Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, and Tyler, The Creator have all previously received Album Of The Year nominations, none of them have won; Clipse, Pusha T & Malice and Leon Thomas are first-time nominees in the Category.

With so many exciting firsts and possible big moments, the 2026 GRAMMYS are undoubtedly going to be a ceremony to remember. Be sure to tune in on Feb. 1, 2026 when the 68th GRAMMY Awards air live on CBS and Paramount+!

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.