Beyoncé Poised for Grammy Glory, But Can She Finally Win Album of the Year?
Beyoncé is at the forefront of the music world with her nine Grammy nominations and her new album “Renaissance”, she is within reach of becoming the most awarded artist in Grammy history. Yet, her history with the awards raises questions about whether she will finally win in the major categories.
With 88 nominations, Beyoncé is tied with her husband Jay-Z for the most nods by any artist. The chance for her to make Grammy history is within reach as she needs only three wins to match the record held by conductor Georg Solti.
This year, Beyoncé is once again nominated in all three top categories – album, record, and song of the year – making the potential for a crowning moment at the Grammy Awards all the more tantalizing.
Why is Beyoncé Considered an Underdog?
Despite being the winningest woman in Grammy history with 28 victories, Beyoncé has only won one award in the major, all-genre categories where she was the lead artist. As the Grammys approach, and with stars like Adele, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Kendrick Lamar, and Bad Bunny also in contention for the top prizes, the question on everyone’s mind is not how much she will win, but what if she loses again.
Grammys Relevance Hinges on Beyoncé’s Performance
The outcome of Beyoncé’s performance will greatly impact public perception of the Grammys’ relevance. A win could be seen as an overdue make-good, a specialty of the Grammys. However, a notable loss could call into question the Grammys’ efforts to address criticism that the awards often fail to recognize Black talent with top awards.
The Recording Academy, the institution behind the Grammys, has made efforts to attract a younger and more diverse voting pool resulting in a 19% increase in women voters and a 38% increase in members of “traditionally underrepresented communities” since 2019.
Despite these favorable numbers, Beyoncé has had a difficult track record in the album of the year category, the most coveted prize. She has lost to Taylor Swift, Beck, and Adele in the past.
Black Artists Abandoning the Grammys
Criticism of the Grammys and suspicions about the voting process have led some prominent Black artists to boycott the awards, including Drake, Frank Ocean, and the Weeknd. However, there are signs that the awards may be changing, with Jon Batiste winning album of the year in 2022 and a Black Lives Matter protest anthem by H.E.R. winning song of the year in 2021.
Summary
With her nine Grammy nominations, new album “Renaissance” and her track record, Beyoncé is poised to make Grammy history. However, her past experiences with the awards raises questions about whether she will finally win in the major categories. The outcome of her performance will greatly impact public perception of the Grammys’ relevance and its efforts to address criticism of failing to recognize Black talent with top awards.
