Pop on top as Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa Lead Grammy Nods

Pop queen Beyonce led the Grammys pack on Tuesday with nine nominations as music prepares to honor its hitmakers in a year that saw the coronavirus epidemic inflict crippling blows on the industry, reports AFP.

Coming in second with six nods was Dua Lipa—who dropped a danceable club hit album just as the venues started to close in March—and pop shapeshifter Taylor Swift, whose famous pandemic surprise album seemed to carry her back to the Recording Academy of Good Graces.

Rapper Roddy Ricch—who won the trophy last year for his partnership with late artist Nipsey Hussle—also secured six Grammy Gold awards, including Song of the Year which recognizes songwriting, for his hit "The Box."

Beyonce's sweeping "Black Parade"—released in June in the midst of explosive national anti-racism demonstrations following another spate of Black American police killings—will contend for the Album and Song of the Year awards on January 31.

“Put your fists up in the air, show Black love,” sings Beyonce — the Grammy’s most nominated female artist ever with 79 — on the track.

The 39-year-old megastar boasts 24 Grammy wins to her name—but a famously lost 2017 Album of the Year to British ballader Adele, a divisive snub sometimes cited as an example of the Academy's diversity issues.

Swift, a longtime Grammy sweetheart whose work the Academy has pushed aside in recent years, packed a coveted Album of the Year nomination for "Folklore." The single "Cardigan" is up for Song of the Year.

In addition to Beyonce and Ricch, the rivals in this category include last year's great winner Billie Eilish and the warlike rapper Post Malone.

Bluesy rock singer and songwriter Brittany Howard—known for her leading vocals with the Alabama Shakes band—jumped into the spotlight on her own with five nominations after launching her first solo album, "Jaime."

– Black Lives Matter –

Justin Bieber snagged four nominations, including his first country nod for his work on the song “10,000 Hours” by Dan and Shay.

After sweeping the general categories at last year’s gala Eilish also picked up another four nominations, as did rapper DaBaby.

Following a banner year, Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion received her first Grammy nominations, posting four.

The remix of her wildly successful song "Savage" featuring Beyonce has won numerous awards including Album of the Year—a collaboration that helped Queen Bey snag the spotlight.

The Black Lives Matter movement seemed to attract the Academy's notice: in addition to Beyonce's Black Power Anthem, Lil Baby's "The Bigger Picture"—released during the summer protests—is nominated twice.

And H.E.R. — the soulful 23-year-old R&B performer with two Grammy wins under her belt — picked up a Song of the Year nod for her BLM-themed song “I Can’t Breathe.”

– Waiting for The Weeknd? –

Women-led acts featured a strong performance in the top categories and also earned main genre awards, including Best Country Album and Best Rock Performance.

The Californian indie singer Phoebe Bridgers has won four awards, including Best New Artist, and the reclusive Fiona Apple has won three awards in the rock and alternative categories.

The artist famously disdainful of the industry was shut out of the general field, however, despite releasing the critically acclaimed album “Fetch The Bolt Cutters” — the first record in nearly a decade to receive a perfect-10 rating from authoritative music publication Pitchfork.

While the 2021 slate appeared another step forward in the Grammys bid to improve diversity within its ranks and better reflect the charts, a number of notable snubs had social media chirping that much was still to be done.

Though widely tipped as a potential leader at this year’s awards, Canadian R&B singer The Weeknd did not receive a single nomination.

Harry Styles, formerly of One Direction, appeared poised to enter the top fields traditionally disdainful of boy bands — but was instead relegated to the pop categories.

Lady Gaga suffered the same fate, with “Chromatica,” her album released during the pandemic, bagging only two nominations.

And the K-pop phenomenon BTS received just one nomination, for best performance by a pop duo or group.

The nominations were rolled out by stars across the globe speaking via video chat. Trevor Noah is set to host the 63rd annual Grammys, the format of which remains unclear.

Other awards shows have been forced to go partially or fully virtual in light of pandemic restrictions on large gatherings.

The Academy’s interim president Harvey Mason Jr dedicated this year’s ceremony to the resiliency of the music industry as well as frontline workers combatting the infection’s spread.