Grammy Snubs and Surprises: Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish Shut Out, Sabrina Carpenter Wins Pop Album and More

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Before diving into our Grammys 2025 edition of Snubs and Surprises, let me address a potential query: Why do we refer to Beyoncé’s Album of the Year win as a “surprise” when we accurately predicted it? Well, even though we correctly called it, we were incredibly anxious about it. Now that it has happened, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief. At least one wrong has been righted in this tumultuous world, so let’s savor this moment of perceived justice while we have it. Now, onwards!

As a passionate moviegoer, I find myself reflecting on the surprising snub at this year’s Grammy Awards – the absence of wins for Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, two of the most adored pop artists globally. It’s a night where they should have been celebrated, but it seems that the Recording Academy voters decided to let other talents shine this time around, perhaps giving them an overdue recognition after their numerous past victories.

While I had envisioned Billie potentially taking home ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Pop Solo Performance’ for her hit “Birds of a Feather,” the fact that it continues to resonate with people worldwide may serve as a comforting reminder of her immense talent. As for Taylor, with the biggest tour in history under her belt, I suspect she finds solace in that achievement alone this year.

Perhaps next year will bring new opportunities for both artists to reclaim their spots in the limelight as nominal underdogs, ready to capture the hearts of Grammy voters once more.

Unexpected Turn: Beyoncé Wins Album of the Year as Anticipated Yet UnforeseenIn the buildup to the album of the year announcement, we had a hint of anticipation, but remember we also predicted “Lemonade” in the past? The Recording Academy must have been on edge, knowing they’d need to do some explaining if things didn’t pan out. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t rather avoid Monday morning Grammy explanations more than Harvey Mason Jr., especially when he was feeling incredibly happy at 8:45 p.m. PT on Sunday night? There were moments during the Premiere Ceremony pre-telecast where it seemed like Beyoncé might not take home the big prize, as she only won one Grammy from her multiple nominations. However, as the climactic album of the year segment approached, fans started to worry that her country album of the year win earlier in the telecast might be a consolation prize for missing out on something bigger. Fortunately, those fears were unfounded, and while Beyoncé didn’t sweep every category she was nominated in this year (she won only three out of 11), she claimed the award that truly mattered to her, Jay-Z, and their legion of fans.

UNEXPECTED TURN: Kendrick Lamar clinches both Record and Song of the Year, two categories seldom dominated by hip-hop. Typically, nominees for these awards have significant overlap, and voters often choose to distribute recognition among their favorites. Therefore, although we had predicted “Not Like Us” for Record of the Year, we anticipated that the 13,000 members of the Recording Academy would split their votes between Billie Eilish and Finneas for “Birds of a Feather.” Some even speculated that Eilish could win both awards given her recent Grammy success. Moreover, the limited number of past hip-hop winners in these top categories raised doubts about a Lamar sweep. Only once before has a rap recording won Record of the Year (Childish Gambino’s “This Is America”). In this case, we were left to ponder: Should we focus on the Recording Academy’s growing diversity… or should we consider tradition, where the more conservative choices have historically prevailed? It would not have been surprising if Eilish had won either award… but even she might be relieved that Kendrick Lamar took them both.

SHOCK: Sabrina Carpenter Outpaces the Pack in the Congested Pop Album Category Most pundits predicted that Billie Eilish or Chappell Roan would take this category. If someone had to bet on an underdog, it could have been Carpenter, who has gained significant popularity in the pop realm but might not have appealed to some traditional Academy members as a serious contender. However, the Grammy voters seem to have taken a liking to Carpenter’s playful style just as much as many others, which propelled her ahead of the competition in this category. It could also be seen as a victory for the sheer number of hits she produced: “Espresso” was nominated for Record of the Year, while “Please Please Please” was up for Song of the Year. Voting for “Short ‘n Sweet” as an album essentially meant voting for both. Furthermore, with Roan winning in the BNA category, this could be interpreted as a nod to say: We appreciate you, we really value you, just as much as your labelmate.

In a somewhat mild snub, Chappell Roan was crowned Best New Artist, but it feels like there should have been more recognition given the exceptional talent she showcases. Despite this moderate oversight, we can spare Roan the sorrow of sackcloth and ashes since she did secure the top award. However, one might wonder if her brilliance could not have found a home in other categories too. Whether you admire her for pushing queer representation in mainstream pop or simply appreciate her extraordinary vocal skills and innovative approach to songwriting, there’s no denying that Roan has left an indelible mark on the music industry. The Recording Academy may have overlooked her this year, but it seems 2021 should have been a grander stage for such a remarkable talent, even in a competitive field. While being a Grammy poster girl could be seen as a burden, perhaps a more reserved yet warm embrace from the Academy will suffice for Roan and her free-spirited fanbase.

It wasn’t entirely unexpected that Sierra Ferrell took home four awards last night, considering the massive support she’s garnered from fans of folk, Americana, and country music. What was surprising, however, was learning that she received more awards than any other artist except Lamar, who won five. This delightful surprise is a testament to the growing recognition Ferrell has been receiving, even among those who don’t typically listen to string-band music, thanks to endorsements from stars like Zach Bryan and Post Malone. For those of us who have long advocated for her talent, this multiple win is a wonderful shock.

AMAZING: It’s no secret that Chris Brown and Dave Chappelle keep receiving Grammy accolades regardless of their controversial pasts. This contradicts the notion that cancel culture has a strong grip on the entertainment industry. The fact that Chappelle remains a favorite at the Grammys is not entirely shocking, but it’s still somewhat surprising to see Brown maintaining his success given his past troubles. It seems like neither of them need to embark on a redemption journey in the eyes of the Grammy Academy.

UNEXPECTED HAPPENINGS: Advocacy for DEI and trans rights made some significant strides, primarily in the artistic community, although neither were nominated for Grammy awards directly. Despite the general atmosphere of unity during the Grammys, aimed at raising funds for fire relief, a few artists dared to address deeper social and political issues. The use of the term “DEI” has often been met with apprehension or dismissed as “woke,” but when Alicia Keys confidently declared that “DEI is not a threat, it’s a gift,” it was a more impactful statement than any award announcement.

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2025-02-03 09:48