As the 2026 Grammys approach, the music industry is once again focused on the awards, and how they define an artist’s importance. But awards don’t always give a complete picture of an artist’s impact. Every year, awards season brings a critical look not only at who is currently being honored, but also at how the Recording Academy has shaped music history over time.
The history of the Grammy Awards is surprisingly incomplete. Despite current nominees receiving a lot of attention, many incredibly influential musicians – artists who truly defined their time – have never won a competitive Grammy. These artists have sold out stadiums, pioneered musical genres, and continue to inspire today’s biggest stars, but they’ve never been recognized with the industry’s top award.
With the Grammys nearing their conclusion, some notable snubs are hard to overlook. Here are 10 points to remember: awards don’t represent the whole picture, and a lasting impact doesn’t always require recognition with a trophy.
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg is a hip-hop legend with a career that has lasted for decades, but surprisingly, he’s never won a Grammy Award. He’s been nominated countless times and is known as one of the most nominated artists to never actually win one.
Diana Ross
Diana Ross has had an incredible career lasting over sixty years, and as of New Year’s Eve 2026, she’s still performing! She’s become a true icon whose music will be enjoyed for many years to come. Despite receiving more than a dozen Grammy nominations, she surprisingly never won one in a regular category. She did eventually receive a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, but a competitive win always eluded her during her peak years.
Bob Marley
Despite being a hugely influential artist, Bob Marley never won a Grammy Award while he was alive. The Grammy for Best Reggae Album wasn’t created until after most of his famous music had already been released. He did receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, but he never won an award based on competition during his career.
Queen
Queen is considered one of the greatest rock bands ever, famous for hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You.” Surprisingly, despite their massive success and enduring popularity, they never won a Grammy Award in a competitive category.
Jimi Hendrix
As a huge music fan, it always blows my mind that Jimi Hendrix, widely considered the best guitarist ever, only got one Grammy nomination. And it wasn’t even a win! It was for his incredible, experimental take on “The Star Spangled Banner,” and even though it was nominated after he passed away, he still didn’t take home the award. It’s a real shame, honestly.
The Beach Boys
Despite being nominated several times – including for some of the most famous songs of the 1960s – The Beach Boys surprisingly never won a competitive Grammy Award. They did, however, later receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, similar to many other artists on this list.
ABBA
As a huge music fan, I always think about ABBA – they absolutely ruled pop music in the 70s and 80s, creating some of the most iconic songs ever! It’s crazy to me that despite all their success and influence, they never actually won a Grammy while they were at the top of their game, and still haven’t won one in a competitive category. It’s a bit of a mystery, honestly!
Katy Perry
Katy Perry rose to fame as a major artist in the 2010s, releasing many popular and successful songs and albums. However, despite being nominated several times, she has never won a Grammy Award.
Björk
Despite being celebrated for decades as a truly innovative and influential musician, Björk has never won a Grammy, and the Academy seems to consistently overlook her work. She’s been nominated many times, but has never actually received the award.
Nicki Minaj
Before becoming known for online drama, Nicki Minaj was a hugely popular and successful rapper, considered one of the best of her generation. Despite many Grammy nominations, she hasn’t won, and it’s unlikely she ever will. As some might say, that’s just the way it is.
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2026-01-13 16:20