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Grammys 2022: Jon Batiste, HER and Justin Bieber lead nominations

Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X also among those with multiple nominations in top categories


The highly versatile, socially conscious pianist, singer and composer Jon Batiste has topped this year’s Grammy nominations, with 10 nods.

Batiste’s nominations straddle everything from the top prizes of record and album of the year, to inclusions across R&B, jazz, roots and classical categories. His score for animated film Soul, made with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails, is also nominated, as are the directors of his music video Freedom.

Over a decade on from his teen-pop breakthrough years, Justin Bieber demonstrates his ongoing star power and musical dexterity, nominated for album, record and song of the year in the top categories, and he also picks up nominations in four other pop and R&B categories. His music video director, Colin Tilley, also earns one for Bieber’s single Peaches.

Another versatile artist, the R&B singer-songwriter HER, is nominated for eight awards, including album and song of the year. She also picks up nominations in R&B and contemporary Christian categories, plus a nod for her contribution to the Judas and the Black Messiah soundtrack, Fight For You.

The vivacious and frequently viral rapper Doja Cat earns seven nominations, including in three of the four top categories: record, album and song of the year. Billie Eilish earns six nominations, including in those three top categories.

Olivia Rodrigo is likely to be the favourite for best new artist, after the huge success of her debut album Sour and its singles Drivers License and Good 4 U, which span piano balladry and pop-punk. The Californian star is nominated for six awards, and is the only artist to appear in the top four categories. The directors and producers of her Good 4 U video are also nominated.

Lil Nas X, the pop-rapper who triumphantly transcended one hit wonder status with his acclaimed album Montero, is also nominated for record, song and album of the year, plus two more awards.

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s duets album Love For Sale was popular with academy voters, earning the pair four nominations, plus nods for their engineers and music video directors. It is the feelgood success of the year, recorded following Bennett’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis – the 95-year-old singer found he could perform swathes of his repertoire despite loss of other memories.

Arlo Parks is the most notable British success, earning a nomination for best new artist, plus best alternative music album. The only other British artists in the top categories are Ed Sheeran, whose Bad Habits is nominated for song of the year, and pop band Glass Animals, nominated for best new artist.

Abba are nominated for their first ever Grammy for their comeback single after 40 years away, I Still Have Faith In You, nominated for record of the year.

Jay-Z is now the most nominated artist in Grammys history. His three nominations, including a songwriting nod for his work on Bieber’s Justice, bring him to 83 nominations overall (he has won 23).

Grammy nominations are now decided solely by voting membership, rather than involving “nomination committees” behind the scenes who were able to tweak – to some controversy – the final nominee lists.

The field in the “big four” categories have expanded from eight to 10 nominees. The academy chief executive, Harvey Mason Jr, said this was to help broaden stylistic diversity, acknowledge sheer amount of music being released, and “to embrace the spirit of inclusion”.

While there are no snubs on the scale of the Weeknd in 2021, who announced he was boycotting future ceremonies, the year’s most commercially successful country star, Morgan Wallen, receives no nominations. The shut-out will be due in part to him being filmed shouting a racist slur in February this year. Canadian rapper Drake submitted his hit album Certified Lover Boy for album of the year, but it wasn’t included.

The 2022 Grammy awards take place on 31 January.

2022 Grammy nominations: the major categories

Record of the year

Abba – I Still Have Faith in You
Jon Batiste – Freedom
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – I Get a Kick Out Of You
Justin Bieber – Peaches (featuring Daniel Caesar & Giveon)
Brandi Carlile – Right On Time
Doja Cat – Kiss Me More (feat SZA)
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Lil Nas X – Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
Olivia Rodrigo – Drivers License
Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open

Album of the year

Jon Batiste – We Are
Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga – Love for Sale
Justin Bieber – Justice
Doja Cat – Planet Her
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
HER – Back of My Mind
Lil Nas X – Montero
Olivia Rodrigo – Sour
Taylor Swift – Evermore
Kanye West – Donda

Song of the year

Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits
Alicia Keys & Brandi Carlile – A Beautiful Noise
Olivia Rodrigo – Drivers License
HER – Fight for You
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Doja Cat – Kiss Me More (feat SZA)
Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open
Lil Nas X – Montero (Call Me By Your Name)
Justin Bieber – Peaches (feat Daniel Caesar and Giveon)
Brandi Carlile – Right on Time

Best new artist

Arooj Aftab
Jimmie Allen
Baby Keem
Finneas
Glass Animals
Japanese Breakfast
The Kid Laroi
Arlo Parks
Olivia Rodrigo
Saweetie

Best pop solo performance

Justin Bieber – Anyone
Brandi Carlile – Right on Time
Billie Eilish –Happier Than Ever
Ariana Grande – Positions
Olivia Rodrigo – Drivers License

Best rock performance

AC/DC – Shot in the Dark
Black Pumas – Know You Better (Live From Capitol Studio A)
Chris Cornell – Nothing Compares 2 U
Deftones – Ohms
Foo Fighters – Making a Fire

Best metal performance

Deftones – Genesis
Dream Theater – The Alien
Gojira – Amazonia
Mastodon – Pushing the Tides
Rob Zombie – The Triumph of King Freak (A Crypt of Preservation and Superstition)

Best rap performance

Baby Keem – Family Ties (feat Kendrick Lamar)
Cardi B – Up
J Cole – My Life (feat 21 Savage & Morray)
Drake – Way 2 Sexy (feat Future & Young Thug)
Megan Thee Stallion – Thot Shit

Best R&B performance

Snoh Aalegra – Lost You
Justin Bieber – Peaches (feat Daniel Caesar & Giveon)
HER – Damage
Silk Sonic – Leave the Door Open
Jazmine Sullivan – Pick Up Your Feelings

Best country solo performance

Luke Combs – Forever After All
Mickey Guyton – Remember Her Name
Jason Isbell – All I Do Is Drive
Kacey Musgraves – Camera Roll
Chris Stapleton – You Should Probably Leave

Best global music performance

Arooj Aftab – Mohabbat
Angelique Kidjo & Burna Boy – Do Yourself
Femi Kuti – Pà Pá Pà
Yo-Yo Ma & Angelique Kidjo – Blewu
Wizkid – Essence (feat Tems)

Best dance/electronic recording

Afrojack & David Guetta – Hero
Ólafur Arnalds – Loom (feat Bonobo)
James Blake – Before
Bonobo & Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – Heartbreak
Caribou – You Can Do It
Rüfüs Du Sol – Alive
Tiësto – The Business