SZA leads Grammy nominees
Female artists outpace males in leading award categories
LOS ANGELES — Killing her ex? That’s a bad idea. Writing “Kill Bill” and releasing her critically acclaimed sophomore album “SOS” earlier this year? That was a great one. SZA is the lead contender for the 66th Grammy Awards, with nine nominations announced Friday.
“Kill Bill,” her revenge anthem cloaked in an R&B ballad, earned the singer nods for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best R&B Performance. “SOS” is also up for Album of the Year and Best Progressive R&B Album. The 2024 ceremony will mark the second time SZA has been nominated for record, album, and song of the year in the same year.
And just like at the box office, “Barbie” will be seen — and heard — at the Grammys. Music from the hit film’s soundtrack earned 11 nominations, including nabbing four of the five slots in the visual media song category.
If there is an overall trend in the 2024 nominations, it’s that female acts outperformed their male counterparts. The majority of leading nominees are women and include names like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Miley Cyrus and Olivia Rodrigo. The only man nominated for Record of the Year or Album of the Year is Jon Batiste.
“Seeing the women nominees this year, and the number of them, was not a surprise but it was something that made me happy,” the Recording Academy CEO and president Harvey Mason Jr. told The Associated Press. He believes that representation can inspire the next generation of creators.
SZA leads the charge, also picking up nominations for Best Traditional R&B Performance (“Love Language”), Best R&B Song (“Snooze”), Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Low”), and Best Pop Duo/group Performance (“Ghost in the Machine”).