The 2024 Grammy Awards: A Preview of Music's Biggest Night
The Grammy Awards are set to return in 2024, honoring the best in music over the past year. As the music industry's biggest night, the Grammys celebrate the most popular songs, albums, and artists across numerous genres. With nominations announced in November 2023, speculation is already heating up over who could take home the golden gramophone next year.
A Look Back at the 2023 Grammys
Before gazing into the future, let's recap some of the key moments from the most recent Grammy Awards ceremony in 2023. Some historic firsts that marked last year's show included:
- Beyoncé becoming the most awarded artist in Grammys history, thanks to her four wins that brought her total to 32 over her career. She surpassed the previous record holder, Hungarian-British conductor Georg Solti.
- Jon Batiste winning Album of the Year forWe Are, marking the first time in over a decade that a Black artist won the night's top prize. His soulful record beat out big names like Justin Bieber, Doja Cat and Billie Eilish.
- Silk Sonic, the R&B duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak, sweeping all four categories in which they were nominated. Their smash hit "Leave the Door Open" earned them Record and Song of the Year.
- Olivia Rodrigo earning Best New Artist, capping off her meteoric rise as one of the year's biggest breakout pop stars. At just 19 years old, she became the night's youngest winner in that category.
- Foo Fighters taking home three awards, all in rock categories, about a week after the tragic passing of their drummer Taylor Hawkins. It was a bittersweet moment as the band honored his memory.
Now let's look ahead to the upcoming 2024 Grammys and who could continue making history next year.
Projecting the 2024 Grammy Nominees
Although the 2024 nominations won't be revealed until November 2023, buzz is already building around potential contenders based on the music released in the current eligibility period. Here are predictions for nominees in some of the top categories:
Record of the Year
This award goes to the artist and producers of a song for performance and recording excellence.
- Beyoncé – "Cuff It"
- Harry Styles – "As It Was"
- Lizzo – "About Damn Time"
- Doja Cat – "Vegas"
- Steve Lacy – "Bad Habit"
Album of the Year
For overall cohesive album production and performance.
- Beyoncé – Renaissance
- Kendrick Lamar – Morale & The Big Steppers
- Harry Styles – Harry's House
- Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
- Adele – 30
Song of the Year
Honoring songwriting exclusively for melody, lyrics, etc.
- Beyoncé – "Break My Soul"
- Taylor Swift – "Anti-Hero"
- Harry Styles – "As It Was"
- Lizzo – "About Damn Time"
- Adele – "Easy on Me"
Best New Artist
For breakout artists who newly emerged on the mainstream scene.
- Latto
- GAYLE
- Muni Long
- Wet Leg
- Steve Lacy
Of course, there are many other categories spanning genres like rap, R&B, rock, and pop. But the above "big four" general field categories tend to draw the most attention for crowning each year's most successful songs and albums.
Beyoncé looks poised to make history yet again in 2024, with her latest dance-music infused album Renaissance projected to earn nominations across the board. Meanwhile, Harry Styles and Lizzo appear set for nominations after their chart-topping hits "As It Was" and "About Damn Time" dominated 2022 playlists. And celebratory anthems like "Break My Soul" and "About Damn Time" seem well-positioned to compete for the lyrics and composition-focused Song of the Year category.
However, there are always surprises during Grammys season. The dark horses I'll be keeping an eye on are Steve Lacy, who rose to fame this year with his funky hit "Bad Habit," along with rapper Latto and singer Muni Long. Both women stood out in the R&B space and could potentially sneak into the Best New Artist category.
We'll have to wait for the 2023 nominations to get a clearer picture, but I expect it to be another landmark year celebrating diverse talent across the industry.
What to Expect from the 2024 Grammys Ceremony
Beyond the nominees and winners, the Grammys are always a must-watch spectacle thanks to the live performances, presenters, tributes, and viral moments. Here's what to possibly expect when Music's Biggest Night airs live on CBS in early 2024.
Epic Performances
The Grammys stage routinely hosts next-level musical performances that you can't find anywhere else on live TV. I anticipate memorable performances from today's top hitmakers like Doja Cat, Lizzo, Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, and Lil Nas X. But the ceremony often also features unexpected genre-crossing collaborations, like Eilish teaming up with Khalid in 2020 or Brandi Carlile rocking out with the Highwomen in 2019. So we could see some exciting joint numbers from nominees across different categories.
Based on the nominations projections, I wouldn't be surprised if Beyoncé opens the show with a medley from her Renaissance club tracks. Other likely performers include Adele belting her soaring ballad "Easy on Me," and Styles charming the crowd with his pop hit "As It Was." Plus, Grammy producers frequently honor music legends with career-spanning sets - so icons like Mary J. Blige, Elton John, or Stevie Wonder could wind up with showstopping primetime tributes.
Standout Host
Recent Grammys have been hosted by powerhouse entertainers like Trevor Noah, Alicia Keys, and James Corden. For the 2024 show, I think it would be amazing to have a dynamite musician like Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, or Post Malone take the helm as host. Their authentic perspectives as artists could add fresh energy and laughs to the ceremony. The Recording Academy may also choose someone like Kevin Hart or Tiffany Haddish to provide mainstream comedy appeal. Whomever they choose, an entertaining host guiding the program always makes for a lively night.
Glamorous Red Carpet
Seeing music's biggest stars arrive in extravagant fashion is half the fun of tuning into award shows! There will undoubtedly be over-the-top couture gowns and daring statement looks at the 2024 Grammy red carpet. Beyoncé usually brings showstopping style, while Harry Styles and Lil Nas X often take gender-bending risks. Meanwhile, pop stars like Doja Cat, Dua Lipa, and Lady Gaga frequently shape the viral fashion moments fans obsess over.
I'm personally excited to see today's rising stars like Latto, GAYLE, and Steve Lacy make their red carpet debuts as potential Best New Artist nominees. Their Gen Z energy may usher in fresh fashion trends for the ceremony. One thing's for sure - the 2024 Grammys red carpet will be worth its own streaming and social media coverage!
Heartfelt Acceptance Speeches
Winning a Grammy represents one of music's highest career honors. So when artists get up on that podium, the acceptance speeches can create touching or shocking TV moments. If Beyoncé makes history again in 2024 with a potential win for Album or Record of the Year, I anticipate an iconic speech. Her words when becoming the winningest Grammy artist were already emotional and profound. Other nominees like Adele or Kendrick Lamar also tend to give gracious, powerful remarks that resonate if they emerge victorious. And you never know - a newcomer winning Best New Artist could captivate the audience with a raw, impromptu speech too!
Special Tributes
Sadly, the Grammys "In Memoriam" segment has expanded in recent years with the loss of legends like Kobe Bryant, David Bowie, and Virgil Abloh. I'm certain the 2024 show will feature moving tributes to any music icons we lose in 2023. The Grammys also has a history of honoring milestone anniversaries - we saw special performances for the 50th anniversary of hip hop in 2023, and the Beatles' British invasion 60 years prior in 2014. So any seminal albums or moments celebrating major anniversaries could be recognized in 2024 as well!
Viral Moments
Between show-stopping performances, surprise wins, and unscripted antics, the Grammys often breed viral buzzworthy moments. Who could forget Eilish's confused reactions going viral in 2020, or Jennifer Lopez shouting "Let's Get Loud" in 2021? With so much spontaneous energy on stage and in the crowd, the 2024 Grammys will undoubtedly produce some fun memes and GIFs that dominate social media. And with today's music stars being so savvy on camera, I wouldn't be surprised if someone intentionally creates a viral moment too! Either way, the 2024 show is sure to give pop culture some new meme material.
With all the excitement building towards Music's Biggest Night, it's easy to see why the Grammys consistently draw millions of viewers annually. What potential Grammy happenings are you most anticipating in 2024? Let me know in the comments!
And be sure to check back here as I'll be covering all the 2024 Grammy nominations and news in the coming months. It's going to be another historic year for music!
