Grammy nominations snubs and surprises: The Weeknd whiffs while Doechii’s high on ‘Anxiety’

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The Recording Academy seems to be successfully connecting with a new generation of music fans – younger, more diverse, and with more current tastes. This shift helped them avoid some of the major nomination mistakes they were known for in the past, as seen in the 2026 Grammy nominations. However, as always, there are still some surprising omissions and plenty of discussion about who made the list. Here are a few of the most notable ones.

SNUB: The Weeknd waits again

Following a surprising and conciliatory performance by The Weeknd at February’s Grammy Awards, it appeared Abel Tesfaye was willing to return to the event after a four-year absence. He had been upset that his hugely popular 2019 song “Blinding Lights,” from the album “After Hours” released in 2020, didn’t receive any nominations, and he criticized the Grammys for its unclear voting process.

Even the Recording Academy’s president, Harvey Mason Jr., acknowledged the organization made a mistake. He jokingly said he had some ‘interesting reading’ over breakfast, referring to the criticism. However, he added that criticism is acceptable, and he genuinely listened to and understood the strong feelings expressed.

Toronto’s unfortunate losing streak in Los Angeles seems set to continue, as The Weeknd didn’t receive any Grammy nominations this year. It’s becoming a familiar disappointment for the Canadian artist, much like a Dodgers fan watching their hopeful pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, leave the game – another dashed hope.

SURPRISE: Country’s category divorce

After Beyoncé’s success blending country with other genres on “Cowboy Carter,” the Recording Academy divided the Country Album categories into Traditional and Contemporary. This change aimed to recognize the genre’s growing popularity and its influence on pop music, while still providing awards for classic country sounds. However, the split proved confusing. Artists like Margo Price and Charley Crockett, known for more traditional styles, were placed in the Traditional category, while Tyler Childers, who blends storytelling with bluegrass, ended up in the Contemporary category. The intention was to reward both innovation and established forms, but the final decisions seemed to be based more on overall feel than specific criteria.

SURPRISE: Three rap albums in contention

Last month marked a first for hip-hop: no rap songs appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, a streak not seen since 1990. This raises questions about whether the genre’s commercial popularity is fading. However, the Grammys suggest a different story, with nominations for three critically acclaimed rap albums by established artists – Kendrick Lamar, Clipse, and Tyler, the Creator – all of whom continue to create innovative and challenging music later in their careers.

It might seem strange to those who’ve followed it for a long time, but rap is starting to resemble jazz in how it’s viewed by the music industry. Like jazz, it’s now widely praised by critics, incredibly complex, and consistently recognized at the Grammys. However, similar to jazz, its mainstream popularity – beyond a handful of huge artists – seems to be fading on the radio and streaming charts.

It’s interesting that Tyler, the Creator is nominated for Alternative Music Album with “Don’t Tap the Glass.” He previously criticized the Academy for limiting him to hip-hop categories, so he’s likely pleased with this more open-minded recognition, especially considering he’s nominated alongside artists like The Cure, Wet Leg, Hayley Williams, and Bon Iver.

SNUB: An “Ordinary” letdown

Alex Warren’s song “Ordinary” was a viral sensation this year, becoming incredibly popular online and surprisingly resonating with mainstream audiences. It gained traction thanks to his existing fanbase and a sound reminiscent of contemporary worship music. While the song’s success suggests a shift in American culture, it was a surprise that “Ordinary” wasn’t nominated for Song or Record of the Year, though Warren was nominated for Best New Artist.

SURPRISE: “Golden” earns its medal

The song “Golden” from “KPop: Demon Hunters” was a huge hit last year, instantly recognizable and incredibly catchy. However, the Grammys face a tricky question: should Huntr/x, the group behind it, be considered for the New Artist award? Given that the song is so closely tied to the animated movie, it seems more fitting to recognize the creators – EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI, and Mark Sonnenblick – with awards for songwriting and performance, rather than acknowledging the overall ‘record’ itself. Nominations for Song, Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Song Written For Visual Media would be a fitting way to celebrate their talent and the song’s success.

SURPRISE: A high “Anxiety” Doechii nod

Doechii’s song became popular online, inspiring many memes. These jokes center around the hopeful start of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” being quickly followed by a feeling of frustration and the urge to break things when Doechii sings about dealing with ‘Anxiety.’

Okay, so maybe it sounds a little strong, but Doechii deserved that Grammy for Rap Album – “Alligator Bites Never Heal” is a genuine masterpiece. The Academy clearly adores her, but I was still pretty shocked to see “Anxiety” get so much love. It’s a cool track, originally just a demo inspired by Gotye and Kimbra’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” and it blew up on TikTok a few years ago, but it divided a lot of rap heads. Honestly, once the Grammys latch onto an artist, they really don’t want to let go, and it seems like they’re giving ‘Anxiety’ all the accolades now!

SNUB: Another Anton-Off Night

Jack Antonoff, a frequent Grammy nominee, was surprisingly overlooked again for Producer of the Year, despite working on highly-rated albums by Sabrina Carpenter and Lamar. This follows a similar snub last year, even though he produced critically acclaimed albums for both Carpenter and Taylor Swift. Despite not being nominated, Antonoff remains a dominant force in pop music production, much like Shohei Ohtani is in baseball – his influence is undeniable even when he doesn’t win.

SURPRISE: Shred envy

Metal and hard rock had a fantastic year, dominating album sales and streaming numbers, and the Grammy nominations for Best Metal Performance reflect that with exciting picks like Sleep Token, Ghost, Spiritbox, and Turnstile. It was great to also see the Grammys acknowledge veteran prog-metal band Dream Theater alongside these newer artists – they won in 2022 and clearly have a dedicated following within the Recording Academy. Go celebrate with your local music store employee!

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2025-11-07 20:01