When COVID-19 doesn’t kill, a broken heart can
The call from the nursing home came on Saturday morning: “Your mom is at end of life. You may now come and have an in-room visit.”
I got in my car and started the sevenhour drive to her nursing home in a suburb of Chicago. Fate would have it that 1-70 was down to one lane with construction. Traffic came to a screeching halt. I sat there in my car not moving for what seemed to be an eternity, reflecting on my 94-year-old mom’s life and how COVID-19 prevented me from seeing her for the previous eight months.
In my mom’s nursing home unit, she is the only person still alive. Her seven friends died after the start of the mandatory shutdown of in-person visits. None died from COVID-19. They just slowly died over the past eight months.
My sisters and brother live in Chicago and were allowed to do “window visits.” It was heartbreaking. My mom has macular degeneration, is hard of hearing and has a bit of dementia. The aide would social-distance her wheelchair 10 feet from the window. My siblings would shout through the screen: “Mom, it’s your kids — Barb, Diane and Jack.”
I would be on Facetime on my sister’s iphone at least 10 feet from my mom looking through a screened-in window. Our mom would say, “I can’t see you, where are you? When are you coming to see me? I miss you.” I would cry after each call.
On that Saturday, I arrived late; mom was already asleep. Sunday morning we were handed N95 masks, gowns and gloves. The four of us entered her room.
“Mom, it’s Debbie, your favorite youngest daughter!”
“Mom, it’s Barb, your favorite middle daughter!”
“Mom, it’s Diane, your favorite oldest daughter!”
for his guest appearance on Dababy’s international hit “Rock Star,” helping him become the show’s overall top nominee.
Folks love folklore
Taylor Swift’s last two albums, “Lover” and “reputation,” didn’t earn nominations for album of the year. Things will change this year.
“Folklore” is likely to compete for the top prize, and gives the singer a chance to be the first act to win album of the year three times after doing so with “1989” and “Fearless.”
Swift will likely earn a song of the year nod for “Cardigan” and could even compete in other genre categories outside of pop since her album has sounds from folk to alternative, though those genre committees may block her from competing in their categories.
Weeknd at Harry’s
Leading pop it boy Harry Styles will become the first One Direction member to compete at the Grammys, thanks to the success of his second solo album and the smash hit, “Watermelon Sugar.”
Styles is expected to earn nominations like album of the year and best pop vocal album for “Fine Line,” while his No. 1 hit will earn nods for record of the year, song of the year and best pop solo performance.
The Weeknd, the owner of three Grammys, will score nominations for album of the year with “After Hours” as well as song and record of the year for “Blinding Lights,” which is spending its 39th week in the Top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and its 35th week at No. 1 on the R&B charts. The Weeknd could compete with Roddy Ricch for the top nominee title since he will also vie for pop and R&B awards, and maybe even best music video.
Other top album nominees
Others who may score nominations for album of the year are Fiona Apple’s “Fetch the Bolt Cutters,” Tame Impala’s “The Slow Rush” and Luke Combs’ “What You See Is What You Get.” Since there are eight slots, Lady Gaga’s
“Chromatica” and “Future Nostalgia” by Dua Lipa – who won two Grammys in 2019 including best new artist – could join the club of nominees.
Grande’s Grammys
While Ariana Grande’s “Positions” album and single will compete at the 2022 Grammys, she could earn nominations for her collaborations with Lady Gaga (“Rain on Me”) and Justin Bieber (“Stuck With U”). The duets will likely compete for best pop duo/group performance but could even earn nominations for record or song of the year.
Saying no to “say so”?
Though she’s a controversial figure in music, it’s hard to deny rapper-singer Doja Cat’s successful year. She topped the charts with “Say So,” launched another platinum success with “Like That” and has been the go-to performer to guest star on songs, appearing on tracks this year by The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne, City Girls, AnneMarie, Chloe x Halle and more. She’s also earned multiple nominations at all the major music awards show, including the BET Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, American Music Awards and Billboard Music Awards.
“Say So” will likely earn a nomination for best pop solo performance and help Doja Cat pick up a best new artist bid, but nominations for song and record of the year may be tricky. If “Say So” is nominated in the top categories, it would give a nomination to Dr. Luke, who co-wrote and produced the song and has been in a yearslong legal battle with Kesha, who accused him of sexual assault during their partnership. Dr. Luke has vigorously denied the allegations and he was last nominated at the 2014 Grammys. Dr. Luke’s return to the top of the charts this year would make him a candidate for non-classical producer of the year, though the academy may block that from happening.
K-pop kings
BTS, who finally launched their first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this year after years of Top 40 successes, could finally earn their first Grammy nomination this year.
The seven-member group’s hit “Dynamite” could snag a nomination for best pop duo/group performance, and their latest album could compete for best global music album.