2025 Grammy Predictions - Grammy Week Recap

This post is a recap of my predictions for the Grammys.  In addition to the winner, I ranked each in order by likelihood of winning in my opinion (note that this is not the order that I think they will finish in; rather, this is the order of who I think is most likely to win, which would most likely not match the final vote tallies, which are never released).  For more information about each award, check out the corresponding podcast episode.  I'll give the caveat that I was torn between a few for several awards, so it's entirely possible that the overall percentage of awards that I get right is not high; that said, I expect several that I get wrong will include ones where the winner was one I thought was possible.

 

 

General Field

Record of the Year

1. “Espresso”, Sabrina Carpenter
2. “Now and Then”, The Beatles
3. “Texas Hold ‘Em”, Beyonce
4. “Birds of a Feather”, Billie Eilish
5. “Not Like Us”, Kendrick Lamar
6. “Good Luck, Babe!”, Chappell Roan
7. “Fortnight”, Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
8. “360”, Charli XCX

Album of the Year

1. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan
2. The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift
3. Cowboy Carter, Beyonce
4. Hit Me Hard and Soft, Billie Eilish
5. Brat, Charli XCX
6. Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter
7. Djesse Vol. 4, Jacob Collier
8. New Blue Sun, Andre 3000

Song of the Year

1. “Birds of a Feather”, Billie Eilish
2. “Fortnight”, Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
3. “Texas Hold ‘Em”, Beyonce
4. “Good Luck, Babe!”, Chappell Roan
5. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, Shaboozey
6. “Die with a Smile”, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
7. “Not Like Us”, Kendrick Lamar
8. “Please Please Please”, Sabrina Carpenter

Best New Artist

1. Chappell Roan
2. Sabrina Carpenter
3. Teddy Swims
4. Shaboozey
5. Benson Boone
6. Raye
7. Doechii
8. Khruangbin

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical

1. Dan Nigro
2. Ian Fitchuk
3. Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II
4. Mustard
5. Alissia

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

1. Amy Allen
2. Raye
3. Jessi Alexander
4. Edgar Barrera
5. Jessie Jo Dillon

 

Pop & Dance/Electronic

Best Pop Solo Performance

1. “Espresso”, Sabrina Carpenter
2. “Birds of a Feather”, Billie Eilish
3. “Good Luck, Babe!”, Chappell Roan
4. “Bodyguard”, Beyonce
5. “Apple”, Charli XCX

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

1. “Die with a Smile”, Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
2. “Levii’s Jeans”, Beyonce feat. Post Malone
3. “Guess”, Charli XCX & Billie Eilish
4. “Us”, Gracie Abrams feat. Taylor Swift
5. “The Boy Is Mine”, Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica

Best Pop Vocal Album

1. Eternal Sunshine, Ariana Grande
2. Hit Me Hard and Soft, Billie Eilish
3. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan
4. The Tortured Poets Department, Taylor Swift
5. Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter

Best Dance/Electronic Recording

1. “Witchy”, Kaytranada & Childish Gambino
2. “Leavemealone”, Fred Again & Baby Keem
3. “Neverender”, Justice & Tame Impala
4. “She’s Gone, Dance On”, Disclosure
5. “Loved”, Four Tet

Best Dance Pop Recording

1. “Yes, And?”, Ariana Grande
2. “Von Dutch”, Charli XCX
3. “Got Me Started”, Troye Sivan
4. “L’Amour de Ma Vie” (Over Now Extended Edit), Billie Eilish
5. “Make You Mine”, Madison Beer

Best Dance/Electronic Album

1. Brat, Charli XCX
2. Hyperdrama, Justice
3. Timeless, Kaytranada
4. Three, Four Tet
5. Telos, Zedd

Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical

1. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (remix), Shaboozey & David Guetta
2. “Von Dutch”, Charli XCX & A. G. Cook feat. Addison Rae
3. “Alter Ego” (Kaytranada remix), Doechii feat. JT
4. “Espresso” (Mark Ronson x FnZ Working Late remix), Sabrina Carpenter
5. “Jah Sees Them” (Amapiano remix), Julian Marley & Antaeus

 

Rock, Metal & Alternative

Best Rock Performance

1. “Now and Then”, The Beatles
2. “Beautiful People (Stay High)”, The Black Keys
3. “Dark Matter”, Pearl Jam
4. “The American Dream Is Killing Me”, Green Day
5. “Broken Man”, St. Vincent
6. “Gift Horse”, Idles

Best Metal Performance

1. “Mea Culpa (Ah! Ca ira!)”, Gojira, Marina Viotti & Victor Le Masne
2. “Screaming Suicide”, Metallica
3. “Suffocate”, Knocked Loose feat. Poppy
4. “Crown of Horns”, Judas Priest
5. “Cellar Door”, Spiritbox

Best Rock Song

1. “Dark Matter”, Pearl Jam
2. “Broken Man”, St. Vincent
3. “Beautiful People (Stay High)”, The Black Keys
4. “Dilemma”, Green Day
5. “Gift Horse”, Idles

Best Rock Album

1. Saviors, Green Day
2. Dark Matter, Pearl Jam
3. Hackney Diamonds, The Rolling Stones
4. Tangk, Idles
5. No Name, Jack White
6. Romance, Fontaines D.C.
7. Happiness Bastards, The Black Crowes

Best Alternative Music Performance

1. “Flea”, St. Vincent
2. “Neon Pill”, Cage the Elephant
3. “Starburster”, Fontaines D.C.
4. “Song of the Lake”, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
5. “Bye Bye”, Kim Gordon

Best Alternative Music Album

1. All Born Screaming, St. Vincent
2. Wild God, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
3. What Now, Brittany Howard
4. The Collective, Kim Gordon
5. Charm, Clairo

 

R&B, Rap & Spoken Word Poetry

Best R&B Performance

1. “Saturn”, SZA
2. “Made for Me (Live on BET)”, Muni Long
3. “Here We Go (Uh Oh)”, Coco Jones
4. “Residuals”, Chris Brown
5. “Guidance”, Jhene Aiko

Best Traditional R&B Performance

1. “No Lie”, Lalah Hathaway feat. Michael McDonald
2. “Make Me Forget”, Muni Long
3. “That’s You”, Lucky Daye
4. “Can I Have This Groove”, Kenyon Dixon
5. “Wet”, Marsha Ambrosius

Best R&B Song

1. “Saturn”, SZA
2. “Ruined Me”, Muni Long
3. “Burning”, Tems
4. “After Hours”, Kehlani
5. “Here We Go (Uh Oh)”, Coco Jones

Best Progressive R&B Album

1. Bando Stone & the New World, Childish Gambino
2. Why Lawd?, NxWorries (Anderson .Paak & Knxwledge)
3. Crash, Kehlani
4. En Route, Durant Bernarr
5. So Glad to Know You, AverySunshine

Best R&B Album

1. Coming Home, Usher
2. Vantablack, Lalah Hathaway
3. Revenge, Muni Long
4. Algorithm, Lucky Daye
5. 11:11 (Deluxe), Chris Brown

Best Rap Performance

1. “Not Like Us”, Kendrick Lamar
2. “Houdini”, Eminem
3. “Like That”, Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
4. “Nissan Altima”, Doechii
5. “When the Sun Shines Again”, Common & Pete Rock feat. Posdnuos
6. “Yeah Glo!”, Glorilla
7. “Enough (Miami)”, Cardi B

Best Melodic Rap Performance

1. “We Still Don’t Trust You”, Future, Metro Boomin & The Weekned
2. “Speghettii”, Beyonce feat. Linda Martell & Shaboozey
3. “3:AM”, Rapsody feat. Erykah Badu
4. “Big Mama”, Latto
5. “Kehlani”, Jordan Adetunji & Kehlani

Best Rap Song

1. “Not Like Us”, Kendrick Lamar
2. “Carnival”, Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign feat. Rich the Kid & Playboi Carti
3. “Like That”, Future & Metro Boomin feat. Kendrick Lamar
4. “Asteroids”, Rapsody feat. Hit-Boy
5. “Yeah Glo!”, Glorilla

Best Rap Album

1. The Death of Slim Shady (Coup De Grace), Eminem
2. We Don’t Trust You, Future & Metro Boomin
3. The Auditorium, Vol. 1, Common & Pete Rock
4. Alligator Bites Never Heal, Doechii
5. Might Delete Later, J. Cole

Best Spoken Word Poetry Album

1. Good M.U.S.I.C. Universe Sonic Sinema Episode 1: In the Beginning Was the Word, Malik Yusef
2. Concrete & Whiskey Act II Part 1: A Bourbon 30 Series, Omari Hardwick
3. The Heart, The Mind, The Soul, Tank and the Bangas
4. Civil Writes: The South Got Something to Say, Queen Sheba
5. The Seven Number Ones, Mad Skillz

 

Jazz, Traditional Pop, Contemporary Instrumental & Musical Theater

Best Alternative Jazz Album

1. New Blue Sun, Andre 3000
2. Night Reign, Arooj Aftab
3. No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, Meshell Ndegeocello
4. Code Derivation, Robert Glasper
5. Foreverland, Keyon Harold

Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

1. Visions, Norah Jones
2. Good Together, Lake Street Dive
3. Impossible Dream, Aaron Lazar
4. Christmas Wish, Gregory Porter
5. A Fleur De Peau, Cyrille Aimee

 

Country & American Roots

Best Country Solo Performance

1. “It Takes a Woman”, Chris Stapleton
2. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, Shaboozey
3. “I Am Not Okay”, Jelly Roll
4. “16 Carriages”, Beyonce
5. “The Architect”, Kacey Musgraves

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

1. “I Had Some Help”, Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
2. “Break Mine”, Brothers Osborne
3. “Bigger Houses”, Dan + Shay
4. “II Most Wanted”, Beyonce & Miley Cyrus
5. “Cowboys Cry Too”, Kelsea Ballerini & Noah Kahan

Best Country Song

1. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, Shaboozey
2. “Texas Hold ‘Em”, Beyonce
3. “I Had Some Help”, Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen
4. “The Architect”, Kasey Musgraves
5. “I Am Not Okay”, Jelly Roll

Best Country Album

1. Higher, Chris Stapleton
2. Cowboy Carter, Beyonce
3. Whirlwind, Laney Wilson
4. F-1 Trillion, Post Malone
5. Deeper Well, Kacey Musgraves

Best American Roots Performance

1. “Nothing in Rambling”, The Fabulous Thunderbirds feat. Bonnie Raitt, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal & Mick Fleetwood
2. “The Ballad of Sally Anne”, Rhiannon Giddens
3. “Lighthouse”, Sierra Ferrell
4. “Blame It on Eve”, Shemekia Copeland

Best Americana Performance

1. “Ya Ya”, Beyonce
2. “Don’t Do Me Good”, Madi Diaz feat. Kacey Musgraves
3. “American Dreaming”, Sierra Ferrell
4. “Runaway Train”, Sarah Jarosz
5. “Empty Trainload of Sky”, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
6. “Subtitles”, Madison Cunningham

Best American Roots Song

1. “American Dreaming”, Sierra Ferrell
2. “All My Friends”, Aoife O’Donovan
3. “All in Good Time”, Iron & Wine feat. Fiona Apple
4. “Ahead of the Game”, Mark Knopfler
5. “Blame It on Eve”, Shemekia Copeland

Best Americana Album

1. Trail of Flowers, Sierra Ferrell
2. $10 Cowboy, Charley Crockett
3. Tigers Blood, Waxahatchee
4. Polaroid Lovers, Sara Jarosz
5. The Other Side, T Bone Burnett
6. No One Gets Out Alive, Maggie Rose

Best Bluegrass Album

1. Songs of Love and Life, The Del McCoury Band
2. Live Vol. 1, Billy Strings
3. Dan Tyminski: Live from the Ryman, Dan Tyminski
4. No Fear, Sister Sadie
5. Earl Jam, Tony Trischka
6. I Built a World, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes

Best Traditional Blues Album

1. Hill Country Love, Cedric Burnside
2. Swingin’ Live at the Church in Tulsa, The Taj Mahal Sextet
3. Sam’s Place, Little Feat
4. One Guitar Woman, Sue Foley
5. Struck Down, The Fabulous Thunderbirds

Best Contemporary Blues Album

1. Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, Joe Bonamassa
2. Friendlytown, Steve Cropper & The Midnight Hour
3. Blame It On Eve, Shemekia Copeland
4. Mileage, Ruthie Foster
5. The Fury, Antonio Vergara

Best Folk Album

1. Bright Future, Adrianne Lenker
2. All My Friends, Aoife O’Donovan
3. Weird Faith, Madi Diaz
4. Woodland, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
5. American Patchwork Quartet, American Patchwork Quartet

 

Gospel & Contemporary Christian

Best Gospel Performance/Song

1. “One Hallelujah”, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Erica Campbell & Israel Houghton feat. Jonathan McReynolds & Jekalyn Carr
2. “Hold On (Live)”, Ricky Dillard
3. “Holy Hands”, DOE
4. “Yesterday”, Melvin Crispell III
5. “Church Doors”, Yolanda Adams

Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song

1. “In the Room”, Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore feat. Tasha Cobbs Leonard
2. “That’s My King”, CeCe Winans
3. “Holy Forever (Live)”, Bethel Music & Jenn Johnson feat. CeCe Winans
4. “Praise”, Elevation Worship feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore
5. “In the Name of Jesus”, JWLKRS Worship & Maverick City Music feat. Chandler Moore
6. “Firm Foundation (He Won’t)”, Honor & Glory feat. Disciple

Best Gospel Album

1. Father’s Day, Kirk Franklin
2. More Than This, CeCe Winans
3. Choirmaster II (Live), Ricky Dillard
4. Still Karen, Karen Clark Sheard
5. Covered Vol. 1, Melvin Crispell III

Best Contemporary Christian Music Album

1. The Maverick Way Complete, Maverick City Music, Naomi Raine & Chandler Moore
2. When Wind Meets Fire, Elevation Worship
3. Coat of Many Colors, Brandon Lake
4. Heart of a Human, DOE
5. Child of God, Forrest Frank

Best Roots Gospel Album

1. Church, Cory Henry
2. Loving You, The Nelons
3. The Gospel Sessions, Vol 2, Authentic Unlimited
4. Rhapsody, The Harlem Gospel Travelers
5. The Gospel According to Mark, Mark D. Conklin

 

Latin, Global, African, Reggae & New Age, Ambient or Chant

Best Latin Pop Album

1. Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran, Shakira
2. Orquideas, Kali Uchis
3. Garcia, Kany Garcia
4. El Viaje, Luis Fonsi
5. Funk Generation, Anitta

Best Musica Urbana Album

1. Nadi Sabe Lo Que Va a Pasar Manana, Bad Bunny
2. Rayo, J Balvin
3. Las Letras Ya No Importan, Residente
4. Ferxxocalipsis, Feid
5. Att., Young Miko

Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album

1. Autopoietica, Mon Laferte
2. Grasa, Nathy Peluso
3. Quien Trae las Cornetas?, Rawayana
4. Compita del Destino, El David Aguilar
5. Pa’ Tu Cuerpa, Cimafunk

Best Musica Mexicana Album (including Tejano)

1. Exodo, Peso Pluma
2. Diamantes, Chiquis
3. Boca Chueca, Vol. 1, Carin Leon
4. De Lejitos, Jessi Uribe

Best Tropical Latin Album

1. Muevense, Marc Anthony
2. Alma, Corazon y Salsa (Live at Gran Teatro Nacional), Tony Succar & Mimy Succar
3. Radio Guira, Juan Luis Guerra
4. Vacilon Santiaguero, Kiki Valera
5. Bailar, Sheila E.

Best Global Music Performance

1. “Raat Ki Rani”, Arooj Aftab
2. “A Rock Somewhere”, Jacob Collier feat. Anoushka Shankar & Varijashree Venugopal
3. “Sunlight to My Soul”, Angelique Kidjo feat. Soweto Gospel Choir
4. “Kashira”, Masa Takumi feat. Ron Korb, Noshir Mody & Dale Edward Chung
5. “Rise”, Rocky Dawuni
6. “Bemba Colora”, Sheila E. feat. Gloria Estefan & Mimy Succar

Best African Music Performance

1. “Love Me JeJe”, Tems
2. “Sensational”, Chris Brown feat. Davido & Lojay
3. “Higher”, Burna Boy
4. “MMS”, Asake & Wizkid
5. “Tomorrow”, Yemi Alade

Best Global Music Album

1. Alkebulan II, Matt B feat. Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
2. Born in the Wild, Tems
3. Heis, Rema
4. Historias De Un Flamenco, Antonio Rey
5. Paisajes, Ciro Hurtado

Best Reggae Album

1. Bob Marley: One Love – Music Inspired By the Film (Deluxe), Various
2. Evolution – The Wailers
3. Never Gets Late Here, Shenseea
4. Take It Easy, Collie Buddz
5. Party With Me, Vybz Kartel

 

Children’s, Comedy, Audio Book Narration & Storytelling, Visual Media & Music Video/Film

Best Children’s Album

1. My Favorite Dream, John Legend
2. Creciendo, Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats
3. Brillo, Brillo!, Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
4. World Wide Playdate, Divinity Roxx and Divi Roxx Kids
5. Solid Rock Revival, Rock for Children

Best Comedy Album

1. The Dreamer, Dave Chappelle
2. Where Was I, Trevor Noah
3. Someday You’ll Die, Nikki Glaser
4. Armageddon, Ricky Gervais
5. The Prisoner, Jim Gaffigan

Best Audio Book, Narration & Storytelling

1. Last Sunday in Plains: A Centennial Celebration, Jimmy Carter
2. My Name Is Barbara, Barbara Streisand
3. Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones, Dolly Parton
4. All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words, Guy Oldfield
5. …And Your Ass Will Follow, George Clinton

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media

1. Twisters: The Album, Various
2. The Color Purple, Various
3. Deadpool & Wolverine, Various
4. Saltburn, Various
5. Maestro: Music by Leonard Bernstein, London Symphony Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin & Bradley Cooper

Best Song Written for Visual Media

1. “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” (from Twisters: The Album), Luke Combs
2. “It Never Went Away” (from American Symphony), Jon Batiste
3. “Better Place” (from Trolls Band Together), NSYNC & Justin Timberlake
4. “Love Will Survive” (from The Tattooist of Auschwitz), Barbra Streisand
5. “Can’t Catch Me Now” (from The Hunter Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes), Olivia Rodrigo

Best Music Video

1. “Not Like Us”, Kendrick Lamar
2. “Houdini”, Eminem
3. “360”, Charli XCX
4. “Fortnight”, Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone
5. “Tailor Swif”, ASAP Rocky

Best Music Film

1. American Symphony, Jon Batiste
2. The Greatest Night in Pop, Various
3. Kings From Queens, Run-DMC
4. June, June Carter Cash
5. Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, Steven Van Zandt

 

Production, Engineering, Composition & Arrangement

Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical

1. i/o, Peter Gabriel
2. Short n’ Sweet, Sabrina Carpenter
3. Algorithm, Lucky Daye
4. Deeper Well, Kacey Musgraves
5. Empathogen, Willow
6. Cyan Blue, Charlotte Day Wilson

 

Who do you think will win?  Any you are rooting for?  Let me know in the comments!