In a year where live musical performances grounded to a halt because of the pandemic, recorded music rose to the occasion. Here are our favorite 2021 Grammy nominations:
Fiona Apple
Best Rock Performance: "Shameika"
Best Rock Song: "Shameika"
Best Alternative Music Album: Fetch the Bolt Cutters
The singer-songwriter from New York was arrested for marijuana possession in Texas in 2012. Apple won a Grammy for "Criminal" in 1997. She has 11 total nominations.
Black Pumas
Record of the Year: "Colors"
Best American Roots Performance: "Colors"
Album of the Year: Black Pumas (Deluxe Edition)
Austin-based rock/soul band fronted by singer-guitarist Eric Burton earn a nom for their debut album.
Brandy Clark
Best Country Solo Performance: "Who You Thought I Was"
Best Country Album: Your Life is a Record
The country music singer-songwriter wrote and performed "Get High" in 2013. She has six previous Grammy noms.
Disclosure
Best Dance Recording: "My High"
UK electronic music brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence are joined by Anime and Slowthai on this track from their 2020 album Energy. Disclosure have six previous nominations.
D Smoke
Best Rap Album: Black Habits
SoCal rapper (nee Daniel Farris) earns Grammy nom for his conscious hip-hop debut album.
G Love
Best Contemorary Blues Album: The Juice
The Philadelphia bluesy rapper (nee Garrett Dutton) scores his first Grammy nom with his seventh album.
Grateful Dead
Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: Giants Stadium 1987, 1989, 1991
Five previously unreleased shows at the New Jersey stadium compiled on 14 CDs and a DVD. For Deadheads only. It's hard to believe but this is the Dead's first-ever Grammy nom.
Brittany Howard
Best Rock Performance: "Stay High"
Best Rock Song: "Stay High"
Best Alternative Music Album: Jaime
Best R&B Performance: "Goat Head"
Best American Roots Performance: "Short and Sweet"
The former Alabama Shakes lead singer is rewarded with five noms after going solo in 2019. Howard, who now has 16 total noms, won three Grammys in 2015 with the Shakes.
Marcus King
Best Americana Album: El Dorado
Southern-rock jammer out of South Carolina scores Grammy nom for his debut album. King also appears on G. Love's Grammy nominated album (see next page).
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