Just like everything that’s been going on this past year, the Grammys will certainly look different when they air Sunday evening.
Award shows during the COVID-19 pandemic have been a bummer. While it’s good that these celebrities are not gathering and they’re instead doing it on Zoom, it’s just not the same as a regular awards show.
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The Grammys are going to be socially distanced, but there will be live performances, many of them apparently taking place outside. It will probably feel like a mini music festival, and hopefully a sign that things are starting to go back to normal.
So, before music’s biggest night, let’s break down some of the categories, examine the nominees and predict who should win a Grammy, and ultimately, who will win.
Album of the Year
Chilombo, Jhené Aiko
Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition), Black Pumas
Everyday Life, Coldplay
Djesse Vol. 3, Jacob Collier
Women in Music Pt. III, Haim
Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa
Hollywood’s Bleeding, Post Malone
folklore, Taylor Swift
The night is going to come down to many face-to-face showdowns between Dua Lipa and Taylor Swift. Swift is looking for her third Album of the Year win, while Lipa is looking to cement herself as pop’s newest star.
There is a chance that Lipa and Swift could split the pop vote, which would make way for a clear win for Haim, the trio of sisters who put out one of the best albums in 2020. Given how obsessed the Grammys were last year with Billie Eilish and rewarding new talent, we have a feeling Lipa is going to edge out Swift on this one.
Who should win: Haim
Who will win: Dua Lipa
Record of the Year
”Black Parade,” Beyoncé
“Colors,” Black Pumas
”Rockstar,” DaBaby featuring Roddy Ricch
”Say So,” Doja Cat
”everything i wanted,” Billie Eilish
”Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
”Circles,” Post Malone
”Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé
This is one category that Swift isn’t nominated in, so it feels like it could be a clean win for Dua Lipa, who had one of the best pop songs of last year with “Don’t Start Now.” Doja Cat, Billie Eilish or Post Malone could be a surprise spoiler, but if anyone should beat Lipa, it should be Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé. You couldn’t scroll on TikTok for more than 30 seconds without hearing “Savage.”
Who should win: Megan Thee Stallion and Beyoncé
Who will win: Dua Lipa
Song of the Year
“Black Parade,” Beyoncé
”The Box,” Roddy Ricch
”cardigan,” Taylor Swift
”Circles,” Post Malone
”Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
”everything i wanted,” Billie Eilish
”I Can’t Breathe,” H.E.R.
”If the World Was Ending,” JP Saxe featuring Julia Michaels
Song of the Year is a songwriters award, so it’s about the lyrics and less about the production and sound of the song.
Again, this will likely come down to Taylor Swift vs. Dua Lipa. While you cannot deny that “Don’t Start Now” is an instant earworm, the writing on “cardigan,” as well as the entire album “folklore,” is some of Swift’s most honest and best work.
Who should win: Taylor Swift
Who will win: Taylor Swift
Best New Artist
Ingrid Andress
Phoebe Bridgers
Noah Cyrus
Chika
D Smoke
Doja Cat
Kaytranada
Megan Thee Stallion
Best New Artist never makes any sense because more than half the time, the nominees are on their second album until the Grammys finally take notice. It was the case with Lizzo last year and Phoebe Bridgers this year.
This really isn’t much of a contest. While Bridgers would make a fine winner, this award belongs to Megan Thee Stallion; 2020 was her year, and she deserves it.
Who should win: Megan Thee Stallion
Who will win: Megan Thee Stallion
Best Pop Solo Performance
”Yummy,” Justin Bieber
”Say So,” Doja Cat
”everything i wanted,” Billie Eilish
”Don’t Start Now,” Dua Lipa
”Watermelon Sugar,” Harry Styles
”cardigan,” Taylor Swift
The inclusion of Justin Bieber on this nomination list continues to confuse, but regardless, he doesn’t have a chance of winning. This will come down to Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa again. While “cardigan” is a great song, it’s not the most “pop” out of the bunch, and there’s no denying that “Don’t Start Now” was one of the best pop songs of 2020.
Who should win: Dua Lipa
Who will win: Dua Lipa
Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
”Un Dia (One Day),” J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny and Tainy
”Intentions,” Justin Bieber featuring Quavo
”Dynamite,” BTS
”Rain on Me,” Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
”exile,” Taylor Swift featuring Bon Iver
This might be the only Grammy that Taylor Swift picks up this year. The Grammys love Bon Iver (remember when he beat Nicki Minaj for Best New Artist?) and Taylor deserves at least one Grammy for “folklore.” However, the best pop song out of this bunch is undoubtedly “Rain On Me,” and it’s been a minute since Lady Gaga has won a Grammy. Gaga and Ariana Grande’s vocals deserve!
Who should win: Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande
Who will win: Taylor Swift and Bon Iver
Best Pop Vocal Album
Changes, Justin Bieber
Chromatica, Lady Gaga
Future Nostalgia, Dua Lipa
Fine Line, Harry Styles
folklore, Taylor Swift
This night belongs to Dua Lipa and there is no way she is going to lose this one. However, it would be exciting to see Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift swoop in with the steal, right? The transition of “Chromatica II” to “911″ on Gaga’s album deserves its own Grammy award.
Who should win: Lady Gaga
Who will win: Dua Lipa
Best Rock Performance
”The Steps,” Haim
”Stay High,” Brittany Howard
”Not,” Big Thief
“Shameika,” Fiona Apple
”Kyoto,” Phoebe Bridgers
”Daylight,” Grace Potter
The Best Rock Performance category with all women nominated? No, this isn’t a fever dream, it’s progress and it’s awesome.
Fiona Apple’s “Shameika” may be the most critically acclaimed, but it’s not the most “rock” from her album “Fetch the Bolt Cutters.” If we’re going by “rock,” then the award should go to Haim. It’d be a shame if they didn’t win a single Grammy for their amazing album that came out last year, and Apple has a chance at winning a Grammy in other categories.
Who should win: Haim
Who will win: Haim
Best Alternative Music Album
Fetch the Bolt Cutters, Fiona Apple
Hyperspace, Beck
Punisher, Phoebe Bridgers
Jaime, Brittany Howard
The Slow Rush, Tame Impala
This is Fiona Apple’s award to lose. Critics everywhere agreed that Apple’s “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” was the best album of the year, and it’s honestly a travesty that she didn’t get a nomination for Album of the Year. The other albums up for this award are also incredible, but give Apple the Grammy so she can smash it!
Who should win: Fiona Apple
Who will win: Fiona Apple
Best R&B Performance
”Lightning & Thunder,” Jhené Aiko featuring John Legend
”Black Parade,” Beyoncé
”All I Need,” Jacob Collier featuring Mahalia and Ty Dolla $ign
“Goat Head,” Brittany Howard
”See Me,” Emily King
Brittany Howard deserves everything. Her first solo record away from her band, Alabama Shakes, is wonderful. She seriously has one of the best voices in music right now. At the same time, this award is going to Beyoncé. She will go on to slay yet again.
Who should win: Brittany Howard
Who will win: Beyoncé
Best Rap Performance
”Deep Reverence,” Big Sean featuring Nipsey Hussle
”BOP,” DaBaby
”Whats Poppin,” Jack Harlow
”The Bigger Picture,” Lil Baby
”Savage,” Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé
“Dior,” Pop Smoke
Give Megan Thee Stallion all the awards!
Who should win: Megan Thee Stallion
Who will win: Megan Thee Stallion
Best Country Song
”Bluebird,” Miranda Lambert
”The Bones,” Maren Morris
”Crowded Table,” the Highwomen
”More Hearts Than Mine,” Ingrid Andress
”Some People Do,” Old Dominion
Honestly, this award could go to Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris or the Highwomen. If the Highwomen win, that will mean that Morris wins because she’s a member of the super group, so her odds are looking pretty good. Since Morris’ “The Bones” was a hit, it may go to her.
Who should win: The Highwomen
Who will win: Maren Morris
Best Country Album
Nightfall, Little Big Town
Wildcard, Miranda Lambert
Never Will, Ashley McBryde
Lady Like, Ingrid Andress
Your Life Is Like a Record, Brandy Clark
These are all great country albums, but Miranda Lambert deserves to win with this one. Lambert’s albums are all really great, really, but with “Wildcard,” we finally got to see Lambert living her best life in her post-divorced world. Give the current queen of country her due.
Who should win: Miranda Lambert
Who will win: Miranda Lambert
Do you agree with our picks? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t forget to watch the Grammys on Sunday evening.
