This Year’s V & VMAN Grammy Nominees: Doja Cat, Lil Nas X, Billie Eilish and More

Look back with V & VMAN at this year’s nominees’ cover stories.

Music’s biggest night will be taking place on April 3rd this year, the 64th Grammy Awards ceremony airing at 5 PM P.T/8 PM E.T at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas. The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah is returning as the host while there will be performances by BTS, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Brothers Osborne, and Lil Nas X with Jack Harlow. This year, pop stars dominate the categories, with Justin Bieber, Eilish, and Doja Cat named in several major categories like Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Below, look back with V in exploring the nominees’ past features

Lady Gaga

Photographed by Hedi Slimane

Lady Gaga is on the cover of V109. This year she is nominated for five Grammys for her collaborative album Love for Sale with Tony Bennett, including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Duo, Best Music Video, and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Justin Bieber

Photographed by Karl Lagerfeld

Shot by Karl Lagerfeld in 2015, Justin Bieber was featured in V93. Having previously won two Grammys, the Canadian singer is nominated for eight awards this year, including Justice which is nominated for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album. His hit single “Peaches,” featuring Daniel Caesar and Given, is nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best Music Video.

Doja Cat

Image by Steven Klein and Jason Ebeyer

Shape-shifting and boundary-breaking, V129 Covergirl Doja Cat’s album Planet Her has dominated the charts since its release last summer. Like Justin, Doja dominates several categories, nominated for eight awards, including Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal for Planet Her, while single ‘Kiss Me More’ featuring SZA is nominated for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Billie Eilish

Photographed by Hedi Slimane

Our most recent VGirl, Billie Eilish, is our current cover star for V135. For the 2022 Grammy, Eilish is nominated for seven awards, upping the tally of the six nominations that she received in 2020.  The nominations include Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Music Video, and Best Music Film.

Lil Nas X

Photographed by INEZ & VINOODH

The cover star for VMAN 47, Lil Nas X, is an artist filled with wonder and can never stop causing scandalous controversy, but that only seems to bring him closer to the top. Having dominated the last year after giving birth to his album Montero, the project is nominated for Album of the Year. Two singles also headline major categories – “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Music Video, and “Industry Baby” with Jack Harlow for Best Melodic Rap Performance.

Olivia Rodrigo

Photographed by INEZ & VINOODH

Covergirl for last fall issue V132, Rodrigo has proved that her explosive first album Sour is only a taste of what’s to come. Nominated in seven categories, the full list includes:

Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Pop Vocal Album, Best Music Video

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys
Photographed by INEZ & VINOODH

An industry veteran, the V104 cover star has been nominated for a Grammy 30 times and has won 15 awards. This year, she is nominated for Song of the year for “A Beautiful Noise” with fellow singer Brandi Carlile.

Taylor Swift

Photographed by INEZ & VINOODH

One of the many cover stars of V’s Thought Leaders issue, the singer-songwriter was direct with her support for President Biden’s campaign during the 2020 election. After winning Album of the Year in 2021 for Folklore, Swift is nominated for the category again for her ninth studio album Evermore.

 

FINNEAS

Photographed by DOMEN & VAN DE VELDE

Featured in a digital cover for VMAN last fall, FINNEAS and his sister Billie Eilish are sweeping the award ceremony once again. He is up for a solo Grammy nomination for Best New Artist and nominated for Record for the Year for Billie’s Happier Than Ever, Album of the Year for Happier Than Ever, and Justin Bieber’s Justice. 

C. Tangana

Photographed by Álvaro Beaumud Cortés

Breaking records last year with his album El Madrileño, the Spanish rapper talked to V Spain about his songwriting process and the talent emerging from Spain over the last couple of years. C. Tangana is nominated for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album for El Madrileño. 

The Kid LAROI

Photographed by Michelle Diaz

Featured in VMAN 47, the Australian sensation has had a busy year. LAROI is nominated for two awards for this year’s ceremony, Best New Artist and Album of the Year, for his contribution as a featured artist for Justin Beiber’s album Justice.

Kanye West

Photographed by Karl Lagerfeld

Kanye West for VMan 21 shot by Karl Lagerfeld. While removed from being a performer at this year’s show, Ye is still up for four awards, including Best Melodic Rap for “Hurricane,” Best Rap Song for “Jail,” and Album of the Year for Donda and Lil Nas X’s Montero as a producer.
Saweetie

Photographed by Kaleb Marshall

Having recently talked to V about her new partnership with Champion, Saweetie has shown that she is fully capable of thriving in competition as she’s matured in the industry. While waiting for her upcoming album Pretty Bitch Music to release, the rapper is nominated for two awards this year: Best New Artist and Best Rap Song for her collaboration with Doja Cat “Best Friend.”

Karol G

Photographed by César Balcázar

The reggaeton sensation talked to V in the fall of 2020, giving us details about her song ‘Tusa’ with Nicki Minaj and how she dealt with her first year during the pandemic. This year, Karol G is nominated for the Best Música Urbana Album award for her third album, KG0516.

Kali Uchis

Kali Uchis V MAGAZINE - MUSIC ISSUE V119
Photographed by Ryan Saradjola

Featured in V119, the Music Index Issue, Kali Uchis discussed garnering attention and critical acclaim as a Latin female artist. This year, she is nominated for Best Música Urbana Album for her first Spanish album Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞.

Halsey

Photographed by INEZ & VINOODH

Taking a new direction in her career with her latest album, If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, the V127 cover star had shown a great transition after becoming a mother and working with Nine Inch Nail members Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. If I Can’t Have Love, I want Power to be nominated for Best Alternative Music Album.
Andra Day

Photographed by Djeneba Aduayom

Star of Hulu’s The United States vs. Billie Holiday, Day featured as the eponymous character for V128. Day is nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media for her efforts for the film’s soundtrack.

Jennifer Hudson

Photographed by Terry Richardson

Starring as Aretha Franklin in the film Respect, the V88 cover star continues to dominate as a singer and actress. Nominated for two awards, Hudson is a nominee for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and Best Song Written For Visual Media.

Kacey Musgraves

Photographed by Blair Getz Mezibov

Country superstar and révolutionnaire, the V133 cover girl, is a trailblazer. Mixing her country sound with pop to make a unique sound that can only be recognized as her own, Musgraves is nominated for two awards for her song “camera roll”: Best Country Solo Performance and Best Country Song.

 

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