Breaking out is hard to do. When artists explode on the scene to the extent of earning nominations across all Big Four Grammy Awards categories, it becomes especially noteworthy. Historically, this achievement has been marked by only 13 artists, with Finneas being the subject of some debate due to his unique nominations.
The Big Four categories, comprising Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best New Artist, are highly prestigious. They embrace music from all genres, making them the pinnacle of recognition within the entire recording industry. While Best New Artist is included among these, it is important to note the unique challenge for newcomers, as it can only happen within their debut year. Due to this, most artists sweeping these nominations typically find themselves also claiming the Best New Artist title.
The exceptions to this trend, like India Arie at the 2002 Grammy Awards, showcase how competitive the field can be. Arie received seven nominations, including Album of the Year, but left empty-handed—most of her nominations came against the much higher-profile Alicia Keys. Yet, Arie has since found Grammy success, securing several awards over the years.
More recently, artists such as Billie Eilish and Lizzo earned sweeping nominations at the 2020 Grammy Awards, both vying for the same prestigious titles. While Eilish triumphed and took home multiple Grammy awards, Lizzo walked away with three awards of her own, proving her recognition was far from diminished even after losing Best New Artist.
Finneas, who reached the Big Four nominations on his own merit, presents another layer to this narrative. Nominated as both artist and producer for various works—including collaborations with his sister Billie Eilish—his presence among the nominees highlights the multifaceted nature of the music industry. Despite having eight Grammy wins from previous nominations as a producer, Finneas only contended for Best New Artist, which emphasizes the unique criteria surrounding this category.
Among the historical figures who have achieved the Big Four nominations, few have left their mark like Bobbie Gentry, who triumphed at the 1968 Grammy Awards, collecting multiple wins for her hauntingly beautiful song "Ode to Billie Joe." The legacy of artists from every decade showcases how music evolves yet consistently rewards originality and talent.
Christopher Cross and Cyndi Lauper also demonstrated remarkable achievements, with Cross sweeping the awards in 1981 and Lauper shining brightly in 1985. Each artist’s story demonstrates differing levels of recognition, with some artists falling short on their first nominations yet achieving success later.
Moving forward through the decades, highlights include Amy Winehouse, Fun, and Sam Smith, who all found themselves propelled to great heights following their Grammy recognition. More recently, Billie Eilish, winning again and again for the genre-defining hits she released, has now become synonymous with Grammy success.
Looking forward, new stars are set to make their debut at the 2025 Grammy Awards. Both Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan will be part of the groundbreaking class hoping to become the newest members of this exclusive group of artists. Carpenter’s nominations have already created tremendous buzz around her, with industry insiders watching closely.
Adding to the excitement, Eminem has made headlines by confidently asserting Kendrick Lamar will sweep all his nominations at the upcoming ceremony. Speaking on SiriusXM Shade45, Eminem stated, "Kendrick is gonna sweep [the nominations]. He’s going to, and he should." Lamar, being recognized for his tremendous impact on the rap genre and featuring prominently on the Billboard charts, is also nominated twice within the best rap performance category, including his recent diss track aimed at Drake.
This overwhelming confidence from Eminem highlights the competitive nature of the Grammy Awards. With artists competing across various categories, these predictions add to the anticipation as the Grammy optimism continues for Kendrick Lamar.
Through the years, the Grammy Awards have unfolded traditions and celebrations, celebrating music’s greatest talents. The path to accolades offers artists not only validation but also opportunities to cultivate careers and forge unforgettable legacies. With new nominations set to take center stage, the stage is set for both seasoned artists and newcomers to strive for recognition amid tough competition.
