2021 GRAMMYs Predictions in 30 Major Categories

The Recording Academy organizes the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards on a quarantine-friendly and partly virtual event on Sunday, March 14. Trevor Noah hosts the show — officially known as the 63rd GRAMMYs Award. Beyoncé leads the race with nine nominations. Taylor Swift, Roddy Ricch, and Dua Lipa hold six nominations each.

The Grammy Week 2021 starts-off on Monday, March 8, with the GRAMMY In The Schools Fest, “a four-day virtual event celebrating music and music education and featuring performances by students and professionals.”

Before the Grammy’s air, we’ll have a chance to look behind the scenes with Grammy Live. The Premiere Ceremony, hosted by Jhené Aiko, will take place Sunday, March 14, at 3 p.m. ET, streaming live internationally via GRAMMY.com and YouTube.

The virtual Walk Down The Red Carpet will start at 7:30 p.m., giving the audience a chance to gaze at the music’s brightest stars in real-time while the hosts take us behind the scenes. Streaming via GRAMMY.com and Facebook Live. You can learn more about The 63rd GRAMMY Awards telecast on the official Awards webpage.

Hereafter, you’ll find my ultimate predictions for the 2021 Grammys. Out of the complete list of nominees in 84 categories, I selected the initial 30 to cast my vote regarding potential winners. Hence the following account includes nominations under General Field, Pop, Dance/Electronic Music, Contemporary Instrumental Music, Rock, Alternative, R&B, Rap, Country, and New Age.

2021 Grammy Awards Final Predictions

GENERAL FIELD

1. Record Of The Year

BLACK PARADE

Beyoncé

COLORS

Black Pumas

ROCKSTAR

DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch

SAY SO

Doja Cat

EVERYTHING I WANTED

Billie Eilish

DON’T START NOW [predicted to win]

Dua Lipa

CIRCLES

Post Malone

SAVAGE

Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

2. Album Of The Year

CHILOMBO

Jhené Aiko

BLACK PUMAS (DELUXE EDITION)

Black Pumas

EVERYDAY LIFE

Coldplay

DJESSE VOL.3

Jacob Collier

WOMEN IN MUSIC PT. III

HAIM

FUTURE NOSTALGIA

Dua Lipa

HOLLYWOOD’S BLEEDING

Post Malone

FOLKLORE [predicted to win]

Taylor Swift

3. Song Of The Year

BLACK PARADE

Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)

THE BOX

Larrance Dopson, Samuel Gloade, Rodrick Moore, Adarius Moragne, Eric Sloan & Khirye Anthony Tyler, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)

CARDIGAN [predicted to win]

Aaron Dessner & Taylor Swift, songwriters (Taylor Swift)

CIRCLES

Louis Bell, Adam Feeney, Kaan Gunesberk, Austin Post & Billy Walsh, songwriters (Post Malone)

DON’T START NOW

Caroline Ailin, Ian Kirkpatrick, Dua Lipa & Emily Warren, songwriters (Dua Lipa)

EVERYTHING I WANTED

Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters (Billie Eilish)

I CAN’T BREATHE

Dernst Emile II, H.E.R. & Tiara Thomas, songwriters (H.E.R.)

IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING

Julia Michaels & JP Saxe, songwriters (JP Saxe Featuring Julia Michaels)

4. Best New Artist

INGRID ANDRESS

PHOEBE BRIDGERS [predicted to win]

CHIKA

NOAH CYRUS

D SMOKE

DOJA CAT

KAYTRANADA

MEGAN THEE STALLION

POP

5. Best Pop Solo Performance

YUMMY

Justin Bieber

SAY SO

Doja Cat

EVERYTHING I WANTED

Billie Eilish

DON’T START NOW

Dua Lipa

WATERMELON SUGAR [predicted to win]

Harry Styles

CARDIGAN

Taylor Swift

6. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

UN DIA (ONE DAY)

J Balvin, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny & Tainy

INTENTIONS

Justin Bieber Featuring Quavo

DYNAMITE

BTS

RAIN ON ME

Lady Gaga with Ariana Grande

EXILE

Taylor Swift Featuring Bon Iver [predicted to win]

7. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album

BLUE UMBRELLA [predicted to win]

(Burt Bacharach &) Daniel Tashian

TRUE LOVE: A CELEBRATION OF COLE PORTER

Harry Connick, Jr.

AMERICAN STANDARD

James Taylor

UNFOLLOW THE RULES

Rufus Wainwright

JUDY

Renée Zellweger

8. Best Pop Vocal Album

CHANGES

Justin Bieber

CHROMATICA

Lady Gaga

FUTURE NOSTALGIA

Dua Lipa

FINE LINE

Harry Styles

FOLKLORE [predicted to win]

Taylor Swift

DANCE/ELECTRONIC MUSIC

9. Best Dance Recording

ON MY MIND [predicted to win]

Diplo & SIDEPIECE

MY HIGH

Disclosure Featuring Aminé & Slowthai

THE DIFFERENCE

Flume Featuring Toro y Moi

BOTH OF US

Jayda G

10. Best Dance/Electronic Album

KICK I

Arca

PLANET’S MAD

Baauer

ENERGY

Disclosure

BUBBA [predicted to win]

Kaytranada

GOOD FAITH

Madeon

CONTEMPORARY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

11. Best Contemporary Instrumental Album

AXIOM

Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah

CHRONOLOGY OF A DREAM: LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD

Jon Batiste

TAKE THE STAIRS

Black Violin

AMERICANA

Grégoire Maret, Romain Collin & Bill Frisell

LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL [predicted to win]

Snarky Puppy

ROCK

12. Best Rock Performance

SHAMEIKA [predicted to win]

Fiona Apple

NOT

Big Thief

KYOTO

Phoebe Bridgers

THE STEPS

HAIM

STAY HIGH

Brittany Howard

DAYLIGHT

Grace Potter

13. Best Metal Performance

BUM-RUSH

Body Count

UNDERNEATH

Code Orange

THE IN-BETWEEN

In This Moment

BLOOD MONEY [predicted to win]

Poppy

EXECUTIONER’S TAX (SWING OF THE AXE) — LIVE

Power Trip

14. Best Rock Song

KYOTO

Phoebe Bridgers, Morgan Nagler & Marshall Vore, songwriters (Phoebe Bridgers)

LOST IN YESTERDAY

Kevin Parker, songwriter (Tame Impala)

NOT

Adrianne Lenker, songwriter (Big Thief)

SHAMEIKA [predicted to win]

Fiona Apple, songwriter (Fiona Apple)

STAY HIGH

Brittany Howard, songwriter (Brittany Howard)

15. Best Rock Album

A HERO’S DEATH

Fontaines D.C.

KIWANUKA

Michael Kiwanuka

DAYLIGHT

Grace Potter

SOUND & FURY [predicted to win]

Sturgill Simpson

THE NEW ABNORMAL

The Strokes

ALTERNATIVE

16. Best Alternative Music Album

FETCH THE BOLT CUTTERS

Fiona Apple

HYPERSPACE

Beck

PUNISHER [predicted to win]

Phoebe Bridgers

JAIME

Brittany Howard

THE SLOW RUSH

Tame Impala

R&B

17. Best R&B Performance

LIGHTNING & THUNDER [predicted to win]

Jhené Aiko Featuring John Legend

BLACK PARADE

Beyoncé

ALL I NEED

Jacob Collier Featuring Mahalia & Ty Dolla $ign

GOAT HEAD

Brittany Howard

SEE ME

Emily King

18. Best Traditional R&B Performance

SIT ON DOWN

The Baylor Project Featuring Jean Baylor & Marcus Baylor

WONDER WHAT SHE THINKS OF ME [predicted to win]

Chloe X Halle

LET ME GO

Mykal Kilgore

ANYTHING FOR YOU

Ledisi

DISTANCE

Yebba

19. Best R&B Song

BETTER THAN I IMAGINED

Robert Glasper, Meshell Ndegeocello & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Robert Glasper Featuring H.E.R. & Meshell Ndegeocello)

BLACK PARADE [predicted to win]

Denisia Andrews, Beyoncé, Stephen Bray, Shawn Carter, Brittany Coney, Derek James Dixie, Akil King, Kim “Kaydence” Krysiuk & Rickie “Caso” Tice, songwriters (Beyoncé)

COLLIDE

Sam Barsh, Stacey Barthe, Sonyae Elise, Olu Fann, Akil King, Josh Lopez, Kaveh Rastegar & Benedetto Rotondi, songwriters (Tiana Major9 & EARTHGANG)

DO IT

Chloe Bailey, Halle Bailey, Anton Kuhl, Victoria Monét, Scott Storch & Vincent Van Den Ende, songwriters (Chloe X Halle)

SLOW DOWN

Nasri Atweh, Badriia Bourelly, Skip Marley, Ryan Williamson & Gabriella Wilson, songwriters (Skip Marley & H.E.R.)

20. Best Progressive R&B Album

CHILOMBO [predicted to win]

Jhené Aiko

UNGODLY HOUR

Chloe X Halle

FREE NATIONALS

Free Nationals

F*** YO FEELINGS

Robert Glasper

IT IS WHAT IT IS

Thundercat

21. Best R&B Album

HAPPY 2 BE HERE

Ant Clemons

TAKE TIME

Giveon

TO FEEL LOVE/D

Luke James

BIGGER LOVE [predicted to win]

John Legend

ALL RISE

Gregory Porter

RAP

22. Best Rap Performance

DEEP REVERENCE

Big Sean Featuring Nipsey Hussle

BOP

DaBaby

WHATS POPPIN

Jack Harlow

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Lil Baby

SAVAGE [predicted to win]

Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé

DIOR

Pop Smoke

23. Best Melodic Rap Performance

ROCKSTAR

DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch

LAUGH NOW CRY LATER

Drake Featuring Lil Durk

LOCKDOWN

Anderson Paak

THE BOX [predicted to win]

Roddy Ricch

HIGHEST IN THE ROOM

Travis Scott

24. Best Rap Song

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Dominique Jones, Noah Pettigrew & Rai’shaun Williams, songwriters (Lil Baby)

THE BOX

Larrance Dopson, Samuel Gloade, Rodrick Moore, Adarius Moragne, Eric Sloan & Khirye Anthony Tyler, songwriters (Roddy Ricch)

LAUGH NOW CRY LATER

Durk Banks, Rogét Chahayed, Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Ron LaTour & Ryan Martinez, songwriters (Drake Featuring Lil Durk)

ROCKSTAR

Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, Ross Joseph Portaro IV & Rodrick Moore, songwriters (DaBaby Featuring Roddy Ricch)

SAVAGE [predicted to win]

Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Session Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White, songwriters (Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Beyoncé)

25. Best Rap Album

BLACK HABITS

D SMOKE

ALFREDO

Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

A WRITTEN TESTIMONY

Jay Electronica

KING’S DISEASE [predicted to win]

Nas

THE ALLEGORY

Royce 5’9"

COUNTRY

26. Best Country Solo Performance

Stick That In Your Country Song

Eric Church

WHO YOU THOUGHT I WAS

Brandy Clark

WHEN MY AMY PRAYS

Vince Gill

BLACK LIKE ME [predicted to win]

Mickey Guyton

BLUEBIRD

Miranda Lambert

27. Best Country Duo/Group Performance

ALL NIGHT

Brothers Osborne

10,000 HOURS [predicted to win]

Dan + Shay & Justin Bieber

OCEAN

Lady A

SUGAR COAT

Little Big Town

SOME PEOPLE DO

Old Dominion

28. Best Country Song

BLUEBIRD

Luke Dick, Natalie Hemby & Miranda Lambert, songwriters (Miranda Lambert)

THE BONES [predicted to win]

Maren Morris, Jimmy Robbins & Laura Veltz, songwriters (Maren Morris)

CROWDED TABLE

Brandi Carlile, Natalie Hemby & Lori McKenna, songwriters (The Highwomen)

MORE HEARTS THAN MINE

Ingrid Andress, Sam Ellis & Derrick Southerland, songwriters (Ingrid Andress)

SOME PEOPLE DO

Jesse Frasure, Shane McAnally, Matthew Ramsey & Thomas Rhett, songwriters (Old Dominion)

29. Best Country Album

LADY LIKE

Ingrid Andress

YOUR LIFE IS A RECORD

Brandy Clark

WILDCARD [predicted to win]

Miranda Lambert

NIGHTFALL

Little Big Town

NEVER WILL

Ashley McBryde

NEW AGE

30. Best New Age Album

SONGS FROM THE BARDO

Laurie Anderson, Tenzin Choegyal & Jesse Paris Smith

PERIPHERY [predicted to win]

Priya Darshini

FORM//LESS

Superposition

MORE GUITAR STORIES

Jim “Kimo” West

MEDITATIONS

Cory Wong & Jon Batiste

Final Thoughts

The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences created the Grammy Awards in 1958 to honor and celebrate musical diversity. Nowadays, the Grammys are considered the Oscars of music. Hence, they are crucial to the winners’ careers, both for the prestige and the ceremony's media reputation, which has worldwide coverage.

________________________

Thanks for reading this article. Please feel free to come back at any time and pick up another thread from my Vocal book of content, by clicking HERE. Small tips and big hearts are highly appreciated. Till next time, cheers.

-Rui

Originally published at https://rocknheavy.net.