Beyoncé Breaks Grammy Record, Surpassing Jay-Z with 99 Nominations

This milestone sets the stage for a highly competitive 2025 Grammy Awards, featuring prominent nominees like Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.

Beyoncé has officially made her mark in music history by achieving a remarkable milestone of 99 Grammy Award nominations, becoming the most-nominated artist of all time. This achievement pushes her ahead of her husband, Jay-Z, who was previously tied with her at 88 nominations. Beyoncé's latest album, Cowboy Carter, has garnered her a staggering 11 nominations this year alone, including prestigious categories such as best album, best country album, and song of the year for her track Texas Hold 'Em.

Beyoncé's enviable lead at the Grammys positions her at the forefront of this year's nominations, overshadowing other artists including Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, and Charli XCX, who each received seven nominations. The Beatles also marked their return with a nomination for record of the year, for Now And Then, a John Lennon track completed using AI assistance, making it 60 years since their historic nomination for best new artist.

As the most-honored artist in Grammy history with 32 wins, Beyoncé's success is somewhat bittersweet as she has yet to secure the coveted album of the year trophy, despite four nominations over the years. Jay-Z, during his acceptance speech for a lifetime achievement award earlier this year, criticized the Grammys for not acknowledging Beyoncé in this top category, stating, "The most Grammys; never won album of the year. That doesn't work."

This year's nominations have propelled Beyoncé into an elite position; her 11 nominations are unprecedented for a female artist in a single year. She faces tough competition for album of the year from Taylor Swift, who has won this honor four times. Swift's latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, is a compelling reflection of her tumultuous experiences while on a worldwide tour. Other contenders for this prestigious category include Charli XCX's album Brat and Billie Eilish's experimental effort, Hit Me Hard And Soft.

The 2025 Grammy landscape features not just established artists, but rising stars like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, both of whom received nominations in key categories. Carpenter's summery anthem Espresso is up for record of the year, while Roan’s Good Luck, Babe! may earn her the best new artist title.

In a year filled with surprises, additional nominations include Raye for songwriter of the year and the Rolling Stones for best rock album with Hackney Diamonds. Kendrick Lamar continues his string of success as his song Not Like Us is recognized in five categories. Meanwhile, former President Jimmy Carter has gained a nomination at the age of 100 for his audiobook, adding a unique twist to the roster of nominees.

While this year's nominations showcase a diverse set of talents, notable absences include Katy Perry and Dua Lipa, both of whom did not make the cut for their recent projects. Additionally, the omission of K-Pop artists highlights a continued gap in representation for this globally popular genre.

The Grammys have received a remarkable 20,309 eligible entries across 94 categories this year. With voter ballots set to be cast in January, the Recording Academy has made concerted efforts to diversify its membership, now comprising 13,000 voters after adding 2,000 new members. The Grammy Awards ceremony will take place on February 2, 2025, in Los Angeles, promising a night filled with anticipation and celebration of music.