Pop stars look at country nodding

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

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

This year is full of artists who don't traditionally release country music submitting to the genre — one of many interesting facts revealed in the 2025 Grammy voting, which wasn't made public but was exclusively retrieved by THRwhich breaks down what you need to know.

COMING TO THE COUNTRY

They dominated the country charts with their first country projects, so Beyoncé and Post Malone are on track to earn more country nominations. Along with Carpenter, others who have submitted to the genre – some through collaborations with country artists – include rapper-rocker MGK; pop singers Kesha, Gwen Stefani and Julia Michaels; Auto-Tune T-Pain Specialist; pop-rocker Avril Lavigne; Producer DJ Marshmello; singer-songwriter Noah Kahan; rock band NEEDTOBREATHE; R&B singer K. Michelle; and rapper Yung Gravy.

The Cyrus sisters may face off over a country duo/group performance: Miley may earn a nod for her guest appearance on Beyoncé's “II Most Wanted” — her second biggest hit Cowboy Carter – while Noah's appearance in Shaboozey's “My Fault” is in question.

I AM A ROCKSTAR

Megan Thee… rock star? Maybe so. The rapper submitted “Cobra (Rock Remix)” — featuring metal band Spiritbox, led by Courtney LaPlante — for best rock performance and best rock song. Childish Gambino presented two songs that have been accepted into 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 , rock categories are on the ballot.

STUDY THIS STRATEGY

Speaking of Megan Thee Stallion, when she delivered two of the biggest hits of 2020 with “Savage,” featuring Beyoncé, and Cardi B's rap duet “WAP,” she decided not to submit the latter track so as not to compete with herself . in key categories. His strategy worked and he won two Grammys for “Savage.” Others should take note. In the categories of best country song, best country group/duo performance and best music video, Jelly Roll has five songs up for grabs in each category, making it difficult to get a nomination as the votes could split. And he has four songs competing for record and song of the year. Parton is in similar shoes: She has four songs in the running for best pop duo/group performance.

FAMOUS FACES

Long live Matthew Perry: The Friends the icon could earn a posthumous Grammy nomination. Perry's memoirs, Friends, lovers and the great terrible thingwas submitted in the Best Audiobook, Narration, and Story Recording category. Michelle Williams is also in the running to narrate Britney Spears' memoir, The woman in mewhile others in the running 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 could battle it out in the performance category: they're both up for best alternative music performance. Chappelle, who has won five Grammys, is a possible nominee thanks to her appearance in Travis Scott's “Parasail,” and Cruz could compete with her poetic storytelling in Latin rapper Residente's “313,” which also earned her a nomination at the Latin Grammys.

THE POST MALONE SHOW

Here's why Post Malone could be the most nominated artist at the 2025 Grammys: The country music community has welcomed him with open arms, so he'll likely earn nominations in all four country categories; its country album and singles are big pop hits, so it has the top three categories locked in (album, song, record of the year); appeared in Taylor Swift's hit “Fortnight,” which is the song she submitted for major awards; and his guest appearance on Beyoncé's “Levii's Jeans” is also on the ballot. But while it might get the most acclaim, it won't win the most awards, mainly because it will be competing with itself in more categories.

MORGAN'S MOMENT

Morgan Wallen has dominated the pop charts for the past four years, but has never earned a Grammy nomination. That is expected to change this year, not because of Wallen's solo music, but because he appeared on Post Malone's megahit “I Had Some Help.” 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 submitted for the awards.

BOYS WHO BOYCOTT

Although they vowed never to submit to the Grammys after their awards show woes, Drake and The Weeknd continued to win awards thanks to others featuring their collaborations. The 2025 show may be no different. Drake could gain recognition for his songs with Sexyy Red and Gordo, while The Weeknd was featured for his appearance on Future and Metro Boomin's “We Still Don't Trust You” — words The Weeknd could use to express his feelings towards the Grammys.

EVERYONE, HELLO QUEEN BEY

Beyoncé made history at the 2017 Grammys when she Lemonade the 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, he's won a pair of dance Grammys and may add the country and American Roots genres to his resume this year. It could also help country music pioneer Linda Martell earn her first Grammy nomination. Martell, the first Black woman to perform solo on the Grand Ole Opry, is featured on Beyoncé's “Spaghetti,” which also features Shaboozey and was nominated for best melodic rap performance.

LET IT BE(ATLE)

The Beatles last competed at the Grammys in 1997, but they may return with their final song, “Now and Then,” released in November 2023. It's up for record of the year, best rock performance and best music video. and a short film about the song could earn a nod for best musical film. Ringo Starr may even find himself going head-to-head with his band for best rock performance since he debuted his song “Gonna Need Someone.”

WEIRD 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 finally released his own version in 2006 following the success of The Secrets of Brockback Mountain. Nearly 20 years later, the song may earn a Grammy nomination. Nelson's 2024 performance with openly gay country singer Orville Peck is in the ballot for best country duo/group performance and best music video.

HIP-NOT and R&BOOOOO

Breakthrough singer Tommy Richman cashed in on “Million Dollar Baby” when he tweeted that he is not a hip-hop artist. He later clarified his words, but turned heads when it was revealed that his team submitted the TikTok hit to the Grammys' rap categories. The decision should have been reversed, but it 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 for Best R&B Album and should have been moved to Best Progressive R&B Album, but was pushed to pop, where it will face heavyweights like Swift and Eilish. Is that when the Grammys decide to move something to another category? Make sense of it.

PARTY LIKE 1999

NSYNC teamed up for the The Trolls unite soundtrack, and they were able to earn their first nomination in over two decades with “Better Place,” which was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

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

BILLIE “ENGINEER” EILISH

Most singers don't make their own projects, but Victoria Monét made history by winning Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical) together with her co-engineers this year. Eilish might do the same since she's listed as an engineer on her third album, Hit me hard and soft. His debut album won the Engineering award in 2020, and the honor went to his co-writer/producer/brother Finneas. Justin Timberlake is also one of the few pop stars who can fit into the category as he has engineering credits on his latest album, Everything I thought I was.

ARIANA, THE ARRANGER

Vocal beast Ariana Grande may also earn a rare Grammy nomination for arranging her music and vocals. She is listed as arranger on “We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)” in the best arrangement, instruments and vocals category. Eilish and Finneas might also earn the arranger award for “Birds of a Feather.”

This story appears in the Oct. 30 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to sign up.