Please, Don’t Stop the Music
Here’s a brief intro to some of the successful female musicians nominated for this year’s Grammy Awards, airing Feb 15.
The Grammys—shortened from the word “gramophone,” the first device known for recording and replaying sound—is arguably the most celebratory night in American music. For the 2016 Grammy Awards, women account for 48 of the 126 possible nominations in the top 25 categories, which include the general awards, plus the nominees for the Rock, Pop, Rap, R&B and Country categories. Though a 38 percent female representation seems low, it’s actually an increase in the number of female nominees from previous years, and is indicative of a changing tide in the music industry.
To celebrate these women, we compiled a list of some of the most notable female nominees worthy of some hard-earned time in the spotlight.
Taylor Swift
There is only one woman nominated for Record of the Year and, not shockingly, that woman is Taylor Swift for her song “Blank Space.” Swift’s name has risen to the top of the charts and headlines this year with the release of her fifth studio album, 1989, and her ensuing nationwide tour.
Listen to “Bad Blood,” “Blank Space” and “Wildest Dreams”
Brittany Howard
When the American rock band Alabama Shakes released its full-length debut album, Boys & Girls, in 2012, the band was almost immediately swept into the national spotlight. The New York Times credited the band’s rapid ascent to Brittany Howard’s “singular stage presence.” The group’s second album, Sound & Color, received a 2016 Grammy nomination for Album of the Year.
Listen to “Sound & Color” and “Don’t Wanna Fight”
Tori Kelly
In 2010, Tori Kelly went to Hollywood for the ninth cycle of American Idol, but she didn’t make it through to the top 24 artists. Six years later, Kelly has toured with Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith, been signed to Capitol Records and had an album debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. This year, she was nominated in the Grammys’ Best New Artist category.
Listen to “Should’ve Been Us,” “Hollow” and “Dear No One”
Nicki Minaj
Though some believe Nicki Minaj was snubbed because her album The Pinkprint wasn’t nominated for Album of the Year, she was, however, the only female artist nominated for Rap Album of the Year. In fact, she was the only woman nominated in the Rap category—period.
Listen to “Anaconda,” “Truffle Butter” and “Bed Of Lies”
Kacey Musgraves
Kacey Musgraves’ cover story in music-centric magazine Fader boldly proclaimed, “Kacey Musgraves is making country music good again.” Throughout the years, Musgraves has become known for her progressive country music style, bringing a new sound and a fun voice to one of music’s most popular genres. This year, her album Pageant Material was nominated for Best Country Album.
Listen to “Late to the Party,” “Follow Your Arrow,” “Merry Go ’Round” and “My House”
Photos courtesy of Amazon.com
Ruthie Foster Goes for Two
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