Breakout star up for 8 Grammies

US singer Lizzo – seen here performing during the 2019 MTV Video

Music Awards in August – earned eight Grammy nominations to lead the field packed with newcomers, including bold pop iconoclast Billie Eilish and overnight sensation Lil

Nas X, for music’s biggest honours.

The magnetic 31-yearold Lizzo debuted in 2013, but truly burst onto the scene this year with her third studio album Cuz I Love You, which scored a nomination for tAlbum of the Year category for the Grammys, which will take place on January 26.

Eilish also nabbed a shot at best album for When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? to bring her nomination count to six, as the genre-bending meme king Lil Nas X rode the fame of his viral smash Old Town Road to also snag six chances at gold.

The newbies will square up against some superstar challengers.

Ariana Grande – whose album thank u, next missed last year’s Grammy deadline – bagged five nominations this year.

Beyonce earned four nods on the strength of her Netflix concert film about her dazzling 2018 Coachella performance and the album accompanying this year’s Lion King film remake.

The R&B prodigy

H.E.R., who won two Grammys last year, also got five nominations, including Album of the Year.

Taylor Swift was again largely snubbed from the major categories for her new album Lover, except for Song of the Year for her title track.

She is up for just three awards this year, the two others coming in the pop categories.

Along with the leaders, the nominee list includes veteran acts such as Lana Del Rey and Bon Iver.

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