The nominations for the 2019 Grammy Awards are out, and the anticipation for next year’s awards ceremony is already more heightened than ever.  This year’s Grammys will bring more diversity than it has ever seen before, including more female nominations, people of different races and colors, and a greater pool of nominees from all over the world.  The show will be hosted by James Corden and will take place on Feb. 10 of the coming year. 

The nominations have brought tough competitions among famous artists like Kendrick Lamar and Drake, who have been the most nominated artists so far with eight and seven nominations, respectively.  Furthermore, the category Record of the Year includes nominees like Cardi B’s I Like It, Childish Gambino’s This Is America, Drake’s God’s Plan, Post Malone’s Rockstar, Kendrick’s All the Stars, and Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga’s Shallow.  This category is just one of the many examples of the many big-name artists who have been chosen for this year’s awards.  In addition, nominations for Album of the Year have been revealed, including albums like Invasion of Privacy by Cardi B, Scorpion by Drake, and Beerbongs and Bentleys by Post Malone.  Three new artists have also been nominated: Brandi Carlile, H.E.R., and Janelle Monáe. 

 “While all of these artists are great, I want Cardi B to win,” said sophomore Hope Lane. 

Another category, Song of the Year, features similar artists, but selects winners differently, as the winner is chosen based on music composition and other special features in song writing.  Furthermore, Record of the Year includes nominations like In My Blood by Shawn Mendes and Boo’d Up by Ella Mai. 

“The songs nominated demonstrate deep and meaningful writing,” said sophomore Remi Haas. “I love Shawn Mendes and this song so much, I hope he wins.” 

Another major category is Best New Artist, and the nominees have already been announced, including Dua Lipa, Bebe Rexha, Chloe x Halle, H.E.R., Luke Combs, Greta van Fleet, Margo Price, and Jorja Smith.  While these artists each have their own music style and genre, the potential that these musicians have shown is being proved worthy for this grand award. 

It seems, however, that the show has also sparked some controversy as of late.  For instance, many people took to social media and have called out the Grammys for “shutting out” artists like Taylor Swift, whose newest album Reputation received only one nomination.  While there has not been an official statement released yet by the event, the ceremony has already raised questions about the fairness in its system and tactics in determining the nominees and, eventually, the winners.

Despite such controversies, the awards ceremony made sure to acknowledge the late passing of Mac Miller, who has been nominated for Best Rap Album, and rapper XXXTentacion, who will be honored in the Memoriam section of the show, though he is ineligible to be nominated for Best New Artist.

Aside from this year’s major categories, many special events and performances are coming along for next year’s Grammy Awards.  Overall, with only a few disappointments, the 2019 Grammy Awards will feature almost every known artist of the past year, and it is without a question that many people will be looking forward to this grand event.