Grammys Snubs: The Weeknd Shut Out, BTS and Harry Styles Missing From Major Categories
The Weeknd #TheWeeknd
The 63rd annual Grammy Awards may be celebrating the best in music come Jan. 31, but some artists were missing from the list of nominees unveiled Tuesday.
Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, Roddy Ricch, Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, Billie Eilish and Megan Thee Stallion are among the top nominees for the 2021 Grammys.
Though he was a big winner at the recent American Music Awards and announced to headline the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show, The Weeknd failed to receive a single Grammy nomination this year despite pundits expecting him to be a big nominee. The singer’s After Hours was snubbed from the album of the year category, as was his hit single “Blinding Lights” for record of the year. The Weeknd previously earned a nomination in this category for “Can’t Feel My Face” in 2016. After Hours also held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 chart for more than three weeks.
Harry Styles may have been nominated in the best pop vocal album category for his sophomore album Fine Line, but the former One Direction singer was shut out of all four major categories. Despite missing from the major categories, Styles managed to earn three noms including best pop vocal performance for his single “Watermelon Sugar” and best music video for “Adore You.” Meanwhile, Lady Gaga’s Chromatica and her Ariana Grande collaboration “Rain on Me” were also limited to the best pop album and performance categories but did not receive an album of the year nom. Fiona Apple’s Fetch the Bolt Cutters is nominated for best alternative music album, but was passed over for an album of the year nom.
K-Pop may be taking the music industry by storm, but BTS’ “Dynamite” did not receive any nominations in the major song categories, which proved rather surprising given the song marked the group’s first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100. However, “Dynamite” did receive a pop duo/group performance category nom.
Similarly, country music was also missing from the major categories. Singer Luke Combs’ sophomore album What You See Is What You Get won album of the year at both the CMA Awards and Academy of Country Music Awards but was passed over as a Grammy nominee. This year proved to be a milestone for the singer, as What You See Is What You Get marked the first country album to spend multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in five years. Also missing from the nominations lineup is Maren Morris’ “The Bones” for record and song of the year, as well as potential best new artist noms Gabby Barrett and Morgan Wallen.
Selena Gomez may have scored her first No. 1 on the Billboard 100 chart with “Lose You to Love Me,” but the ballad received no Grammys recognition.
Pop Smoke’s album Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon has spent two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, but the rapper failed to receive a posthumous best new artist nom. Mac Miller, who passed away in 2018, had the opportunity to earn his second Grammy nomination for posthumous album “Circles,” but was also missing from the nominees list.
Meanwhile, Travis Scott’s “Highest in the Room” did not receive recognition for record of the year. His previous release “Sicko Mode” was also passed over at the ceremony two years ago. Scott’s only nomination in the big four categories was four years ago when he was a featured artist on Justin Bieber’s Purpose.
The Chicks (formerly known as The Dixie Chicks) and Bob Dylan both returned with Grammy potential works this year with The Chicks’ Gaslighter and Dylan’s Rough and Rowdy Ways, but both acts were completely shut out from the nominations.