As the 2021 Grammys start to kick off on Sunday, several artists are waiting to find out if they’ll make history for their work …
As the 2021 Grammys start to kick off on Sunday, several artists are waiting to find out if they’ll make history for their work this year. Taylor Swift, for example, could become the first woman to win the show’s top prize, album of the year, three times. Her first surprise album of 2020 — the folky, alternative adventure “ folklore “ — is competing for the top honor, an award she first won in 2010 for „Fearless,“ her breakthrough that helped establish her as a bona fide pop star even though she sang country music. She won again in 2016 for „1989,“ her first full-length pop album that dominated the charts with a bounty of hits. Stevie Wonder, Frank Sinatra and Paul Simon are some of the male performers who have won album of the year three times. Producers or engineers have also won the award three times, including Phil Ramone, Ryan Tedder, David Foster, Bob Ludwig, Serban Ghenea and others. The only person to win the prize four times is mastering engineer Tom Coyne, who died in 2017. Beyoncé, meanwhile, has never won album of the year throughout her career — she’s not up for the honor this year because she didn’t release a project during the eligibility period. However, that doesn’t mean the singer isn’t poised to make Grammy’s history this year. With 24 wins and nine nominations this year, she could surpass Alison Krauss’ 27 wins and become the most decorated woman in Grammys history. Beyoncé’s „Black Parade“ scored nominations like record and song of the year as well as best R&B song and best R&B performance, while her guest appearance on Megan Thee Stallion’s „Savage“ earned bids for record of the year, best rap performance and best rap song. Beyoncé holds the record for most Grammy nominations for a female act, with 79. She and Paul McCartney tie for second place among all Grammy nominees, only behind Quincy Jones and Jay-Z, who have earned 80 nods each. The royal family of music could walk away with a number of wins for their home. Jay-Z co-wrote „Black Parade“ and „Savage,“ earning him nominations for song of the year, best R&B song and best rap song.
