Kendrick Lamar tops Grammy nominations list ahead of 68th awards ceremony

Rapper Kendrick Lamar has emerged as the most-nominated artist ahead of the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, scheduled to take place on Sunday in Los Angeles, further cementing his status as one of the most influential figures in contemporary music.

Lamar leads all contenders with nine nominations across major categories, positioning him as a front-runner on one of music’s biggest nights.

His closest challenger is Lady Gaga, who secured seven nominations, while Bad Bunny, pop star Sabrina Carpenter and R&B singer-songwriter Leon Thomas each earned six nods.

The nominations span a wide range of genres, reflecting the Recording Academy’s increasingly diverse recognition of global, pop, rap and alternative music.

Album of the Year Nominees

Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny

Swag – Justin Bieber

Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter

Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse (Pusha T & Malice)

Mayhem – Lady Gaga

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

Mutt – Leon Thomas

Chromakopia – Tyler, The Creator

Record of the Year

DtMF – Bad Bunny

Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter

Anxiety – Doechii

Wildflower – Billie Eilish

Abracadabra – Lady Gaga

luther – Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA

The Subway – Chappell Roan

APT. – Rosé and Bruno Mars

Song of the Year

Abracadabra – Lady Gaga

Anxiety – Doechii

APT. – Rosé & Bruno Mars

DtMF – Bad Bunny

Golden (from KPop Demon Hunters) – HUNTR/X

luther – Kendrick Lamar with SZA

Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter

Wildflower – Billie Eilish

Best New Artist

Olivia Dean

KATSEYE

The Marías

Addison Rae

sombr

Leon Thomas

Alex Warren

Lola Young

Pop Categories

Nominees in key pop performance categories include Justin Bieber (Daisies), Sabrina Carpenter (Manchild), Lady Gaga (Disease), Chappell Roan (The Subway), and Lola Young (Messy).

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Cynthia Erivo & Ariana Grande – Defying Gravity

HUNTR/X – Golden

KATSEYE – Gabriela

Rosé & Bruno Mars – APT.

SZA with Kendrick Lamar – 30 For 30

Best Pop Vocal Album

Swag – Justin Bieber

Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter

Something Beautiful – Miley Cyrus

Mayhem – Lady Gaga

I’ve Tried Everything but Therapy (Part 2) – Teddy Swims

Rap Categories

Best Rap Album

Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse

Glorious – GloRilla

God Does Like Ugly – JID

GNX – Kendrick Lamar

Chromakopia – Tyler, The Creator

Best Rap Performance

Cardi B – Outside

Clipse feat. Kendrick Lamar & Pharrell Williams – Chains & Whips

Doechii – Anxiety

Kendrick Lamar feat. Lefty Gunplay – tv off

Tyler, The Creator feat. Teezo Touchdown – Darling, I

Music Video and Global Music

Best Music Video

Manchild – Sabrina Carpenter

So Be It – Clipse

Anxiety – Doechii

Love – OK Go

Young Lion – Sade

Best Global Music Album

Sounds of Kumbha – Siddhant Bhatia

No Sign of Weakness – Burna Boy

Éclairer le monde – Light the World – Youssou N’Dour

Mind Explosion (50th Anniversary Tour Live) – Shakti

Chapter III: We Return to Light – Anoushka Shankar

Caetano e Bethania Ao Vivo – Caetano Veloso & Maria Bethânia

With Kendrick Lamar dominating the nominations and strong showings from global and pop stars, expectations are high for a competitive and star-studded Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday night.