Houston-area stars may steal show during this year’s Grammys
Two Houston-born superstars have a lot to be thankful for this week.
Beyoncé and Megan Thee Stallion are among the nominees for the 2021 Grammys, with each earning mentions in several major categories. H-Townvicious, indeed.
Beyoncé received nine nominations, including record and song of the year for “Black Parade.” She released the charity single on Juneteenth, less than a month after George Floyd, who grewup in Third Ward, was killed by a white Minneapolis police officer who pinned him to the ground with his knee.
Proceeds fromthe song went to Bey GOOD’s Black Business Impact Fund, which helps blackowned small businesses in need.
Megan Thee Stallion’s “Savage Remix” featuring Beyoncé earned nods for record of the year, rap performance and rap song. Megan is also up for best new artist.
Megan was a surprise guest during the virtual nominations announcement and read a list of several nominees.
“Being nominated for a Grammy is something I’ve always dreamed about, and it really is a true honor. I’m so grateful for all
the love, support and recognition I have received over the last fewmonths,” Megan said in a statement. “More than anything Iwould like to thank my Hotties, who have helped make any of this possible. I love you all.”
She took to Twitter to celebrate, asking fans to drop their Cash App in the comments and surprising some of them with money.
Beyoncé’s “Black Parade” is also up for R&B performance and song. The joyous “Brown Skin Girl” is up for best music video, and her “Black is King” opus is nominated for best music film.
With a total of 79 career nominations, Beyoncé is the most-nominated woman in Grammy history. She’s tied with Paul McCartney as the second most-nominated artist of all time. Only husband Jay-Z and Quincy Jones have more at 80 each.
Competing with Queen B in themusic film category is “That Little Ol’ Band from Texas,” a Netflix documentary about Houston trio ZZ Top.
Katy’s Renée Zellweger, who won an Oscar for her transformative portrayal of Judy Garland, could add Grammy gold to her mantle. Her recording of the film’s soundtrack is nominated for traditional pop vocal album.
Houston’s Robert Glasper is up for R&B song and progressive R&B album, formerly called urban contemporary album. Travis Scott’s “Highest in the Room” will compete for melodic rap performance, formerly dubbed rap/sung performance.
Christian rapper Lecrae, who is from Houston, earned a nomination for contemporary Christian music performance/song for “Sunday Morning” featuring Fort Worth’s Kirk Franklin. He’ll compete with fellow Houstonian Tauren Wells, a worship leader at Lakewood Church, also nominated for Christian music album.
Texas as a whole fared well, with Austin’s Black Pumas earning nominations for record and album of the year. Post Malone, who grew up in Grapevine, is up for record, album and song of the year. Also in the mix are Texas acts Mickey Guyton, Miranda Lambert, Norah Jones and Ruthie Foster.
Guyton, whose “Black Like Me” is up for country solo performance, is the first Black female solo artist to earn a Grammy nomination in a country category.
Non-Texans who earned nominations in the major categories include Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, Phoebe Bridgers, Haim, Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Doja Cat and Jhené Aiko.
Earlier this year, the Recording Academy launched the Music Collective, “dedicated to progressing the Recording Academy’s mission to achieve equitable representation across its membership and the music industry.”
For a complete list of nominations, go to www.grammys.com.
The Grammys will air 7 p.m. Jan. 31on CBS. Comedian Trevor Noah will host.