The Pop Stars Eyeing Country Nods

Beyoncé and Post Malone aren’t the only pop stars gunning for country Grammy nominations. Add “It” girl Sabrina Carpenter to that list.

The “Espresso” hitmaker submitted her guitar-tinged track “Slim Pickens” to the best country song and best country solo performance categories. And though the Recording Academy’s country committee has rejected songs from outsiders in the past, they accepted the track, and it could help Carpenter continue her musical takeover when nominations are revealed Nov. 8.

This year is packed with artists who don’t traditionally release country music submitting to the genre — one of the many interesting facts revealed in the 2025 Grammy ballot, which isn’t made public but was exclusively retrieved by THR, which breaks down what you need to know.

COMING FOR COUNTRY

They dominated the country charts with their first country projects, so Beyoncé and Post Malone are on track to earn multiple country noms. Along with Carpenter, others who submitted to the genre — some thanks to collabs with country acts — include rocker-rapper MGK; pop singers Kesha, Gwen Stefani and Julia Michaels; Auto-Tune specialist T-Pain; pop-rocker Avril Lavigne; DJ-producer Marshmello; singer-songwriter Noah Kahan; rock band NEEDTOBREATHE; R&B singer K. Michelle; and rapper Yung Gravy.

The Cyrus sisters may have to duke it out for country duo/group performance: Miley could earn a nod for her guest appearance on Beyoncé’s “II Most Wanted” — the second-biggest hit from Cowboy Carter — while Noah’s appearance on Shaboozey’s “My Fault” is in contention.

I’M A ROCK STAR

Megan Thee … rock star? Maybe so. The rapper submitted “Cobra (Rock Remix)” — which features metal band Spiritbox, led by Courtney LaPlante — to best rock performance and best rock song. Childish Gambino submitted two songs that were accepted in rock — “Lithonia” and “Running Around” — while Lady Gaga, Norah Jones, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll and Dolly Parton, who released her first rock album last year, are on the ballot in rock categories. 

STUDY THIS STRATEGY

Speaking of Megan Thee Stallion, when she had two of 2020’s biggest hits with “Savage,” co-starring Beyoncé, and the Cardi B rap duet “WAP,” she decided not to submit the latter track so she wouldn’t compete with herself in key categories. Her strategy worked, and she won two Grammys for “Savage.” Others should take note. In the best country song, best country/duo group performance and best music video categories, Jelly Roll has five songs in contention in each category, making it challenging to land a nom since votes could split. And he has four songs competing for record and song of the year. Parton is in similar shoes: She has four tracks going for best pop duo/group performance.

FAMOUS FACES

Long live Matthew Perry: The Friends icon could earn a posthumous Grammy nomination. Perry’s memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, was submitted to the best audio book, narration and storytelling recording category. Michelle Williams also is on the ballot for narrating Britney Spears’ memoir, The Woman in Me, while others in contention include RuPaul, Jill Biden, George Takei, Nancy Pelosi, Liev Schreiber, Laura Linney, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rebel Wilson and Grammy winners Whoopi Goldberg, Jack Black, Jimmy Carter and Tiffany Haddish.

Dave Chappelle and Penélope Cruz may battle it out in a performance category: They are both on the ballot for best alternative music performance. Chappelle, who has won five Grammys, is a possible nominee thanks to his appearance on Travis Scott’s “Parasail,” and Cruz could compete via her poetic narration on Latin rapper Residente’s “313,” which also earned her a Latin Grammy nod.

THE POST MALONE SHOW 

Here’s why Post Malone may be the most nominated artist of the 2025 Grammys: The country music community has welcomed him with open arms, so he’ll likely earn noms in all four country categories; his country album and singles are major pop successes, so he’s got the top three categories on lock (album, song, record of the year); he’s featured on Taylor Swift’s hit “Fortnight,” which is the song she has submitted for major awards; and his guest appearance on Beyoncé’s “Levii’s Jeans” also is on the ballot. But while he may get the most nods, he won’t win the most awards — mainly because he’ll compete with himself in multiple categories.

MORGAN’S MOMENT

Morgan Wallen has dominated the pop charts for the past four years, but he’s never earned a Grammy nom. That should change this year — not because of Wallen’s solo music but because he’s featured on Post Malone’s megahit “I Had Some Help.” Bro-country types are usually ignored at the Grammys, but it will be hard to deny Wallen this year since “I Had Some Help” is the main song Malone has put forth for awards.

BOYS WHO BOYCOTT

Though they vowed to never submit to the Grammys after issues with the awards show, Drake and The Weeknd have continued to win awards thanks to others putting forth their collaborations. The 2025 show may not be different. Drake could earn nods for his songs with Sexyy Red and Gordo, while The Weeknd was submitted for his appearance on Future and Metro Boomin’s “We Still Don’t Trust You” — words The Weeknd might use to express his feelings toward the Grammys.

ALL HAIL QUEEN BEY

Beyoncé made history at the 2017 Grammys when her Lemonade album helped her become the first artist to be nominated in the rock, rap, R&B and pop fields in the same year. Since then, she’s won a pair of dance Grammys and could add the country and American Roots genres to her résumé this year. She also could help country music pioneer Linda Martell earn her first-ever Grammy nom. Martell, the first Black woman to perform solo at the Grand Ole Opry, is featured on Beyoncé’s “Spaghetti,” which also includes Shaboozey and was submitted for best melodic rap performance. 

LET IT BE(ATLE)

The Beatles last competed at the Grammys in 1997, but they could mark a comeback with their final song, “Now and Then,” released in November 2023. It’s on the ballot for record of the year, best rock performance and best music video, and a short movie about the song could earn a nod for best music film. Ringo Starr could even find himself going against his band for best rock performance since he submitted his song “Gonna Need Someone.”

QUEER COWBOYS

Willie Nelson had been playing a cover of Ned Sublette’s 1981 song “Cowboys Are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other” on tour for years, but he finally released his version in 2006 after the success of Brokeback Mountain. Nearly 20 years later, the song could earn a Grammy nomination. Nelson’s 2024 rendition with openly gay country singer Orville Peck is on the ballot for best country duo/group performance and best music video.

HIP-NOT and R&BOOOOO

Breakthrough singer Tommy Richman cashed out on “Million Dollar Baby” when he tweeted that he wasn’t a hip-hop artist. He later clarified his words but turned heads when it was revealed his team submitted the TikTok hit to the rap categories at the Grammys. The decision should have been overturned but wasn’t, and Black Twitter isn’t happy about it.

The Grammys should have had the same energy when it came to Tyla’s self-titled album. It was submitted to best R&B album, and it should have been moved to best progressive R&B album but was pushed to pop, where she’ll have to take on heavyweights like Swift and Eilish. This is when the Grammys decide to move something to another category? Make it make sense.

PARTY LIKE IT’S 1999

NSYNC banded together for the Trolls Band Together soundtrack, and they could earn their first nomination in over two decades with “Better Place,” which was submitted to best pop duo/group performance.

R&B singers Monica and Brandy — who won a Grammy for their epic 1998 duet “The Boy Is Mine” — jumped on the remix of Ariana Grande’s “The Boy Is Mine,” and the song is on this year’s ballot in two categories.

BILLIE ‘ENGINEER’ EILISH

Most singers don’t engineer their own projects, but Victoria Monét made history by winning best engineered album (non-classical) this year alongside her co-engineers. Eilish may do the same since she’s listed as an engineer on her third album, Hit Me Hard & Soft. Her debut album won the engineering award in 2020, and the honor went to her co-writer/producer/brother Finneas. Justin Timberlake also is one of the few pop stars who may place in the category since he has engineering credit on his latest album, Everything I Thought I Was.

ARIANA, THE ARRANGER 

Vocal beast Ariana Grande also could earn a rare Grammy nomination for arranging her music and vocals. She’s listed as an arranger on “We Can’t Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” in the best arrangement, instruments and vocals category. Eilish and Finneas also could earn nods for the prize as the arrangers of “Birds of a Feather.”

This story appeared in the Oct. 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.