Nominees: DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS – Bad Bunny, Swag – Justin Bieber, Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter, Let God Sort Em Out – Clipse, Pusha T, and Malice, Mayhem – Lady Gaga, GNX – Kendrick Lamar, Mutt – Leon Thomas, Chromakopia – Tyler, the Creator

Who Should Win: The past year was exceptional for the music industry with new music, but the star among these albums is Bad Bunny’s “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS.” It was extraordinary in every measure – blending reggaeton, house and salsa, Bad Bunny combines his cultural roots with his family story in the most beautiful form. It explores the complex nature of Puerto Rico’s political status and history of gentrification. Although all of the albums nominated are incredibly beautiful pieces of work, Bad Bunny’s album was outstanding in the way that it has become a significant cultural moment for both Bad Bunny and his culture.

Who Won: Becoming the first Spanish-speaking album to win, Bad Bunny’s album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” took home album of the year. This album is a love letter to Puerto Rico and Hispanic people and culture, with Bad Bunny beginning his acceptance speech in Spanish saying “Puerto Rico, believe me when I tell you we are much bigger than [this],” before transitioning to English to say “I want to dedicate this award to all the people who had to leave their homeland, their country, to follow their dreams.” In current political times, the win for him is overdue, imminent and necessary.

Nominees: “DtMF” – Bad Bunny, “Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter, “Anxiety” – Doechii, “Wildflower” – Billie Eilish, “Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga, “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar with SZA, “The Subway” – Chappell Roan, “Apt.” – Rosé, Bruno Mars

Who Should Win: This year, it seemed every time the radio was turned on, one song was playing: “luther” by Kendrick Lamar featuring SZA. The record was an immediate hit of 2025, dominating music platforms everywhere after being released on Lamar’s sixth album “GNX.” An homage to the soulful R&B singer Luther Vandross, the song samples from the 1982 song, “If This World Were Mine,” a cover by Vandross and Cheryl Lynn, blending classic soul, with modern hip-hop and R&B, a new combination for Lamar who primarily utilizes rap in his music. The record stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks, making it a phenomenon in the music industry. The song is calm and soothing while being upbeat and catchy; it’s a hit that is easy to play on repeat. Although all of the songs nominated in this category are worthy, “luther” is the obvious choice.

Who Won: Kendrick Lamar is one of the most respected and talented artists of this current generation, and it was inevitable that he would win in this category. In the same night, Lamar surpassed fellow hip-hop artist Jay-Z as the most awarded rapper in Grammy Awards history, making this win his 27th. Despite being a new mix of genres for Lamar, this collaboration with SZA was a callback to their cultures and classic soul. This category honors the singers, producers and engineers on the track, making this a win for the artists themselves but also for the original song by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn. Lamar and SZA are truly one of a kind artists, and this renowned track was destined to win from the very beginning.

Nominees: “DtMF” – Bad Bunny, “Manchild” – Sabrina Carpenter, “Anxiety” – Doechii, “Wildflower” – Billie Eilish, “Abracadabra” – Lady Gaga, “Luther” – Kendrick Lamar with SZA, “The Subway” – Chappell Roan, “Apt.” – Rosé, Bruno Mars

Who Should Win: There is no question that Latin artist Bad Bunny will absolutely sweep the Grammy awards this year. With the release of his album “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” in January, his lead single “DtMF” is the obvious choice here. The song is a gorgeous interpretation of the complex emotions when missing loved ones, or advocating for the preservation of Puerto Rican culture. Lyrics such as, “Debí tirar más fotos de cuando te tuve / Debí darte más besos y abrazos las veces que pude / Ey, ojalá que los míos nunca se muden,” (“I should’ve taken more pictures when I had you / I should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could / Ay, I hope my people never move away”) capture universal emotions — it is hard to imagine any of the other nominations winning in this category. Winning this award would not only be a win for Bad Bunny, but for his fans and the people of Puerto Rico.

Who Won: This win was very surprising, yet very well deserved. Making this Billie Eilish’s 10th Grammy award and third in this category, this award focuses on the writing of the tracks, rather than what goes into composing it, and Eilish’s “Wildflower” was one of the most beautifully written songs amongst the nominees. The song is incredibly emotional and captures Eilish’s vulnerability in a way that is so personal, yet listeners can relate. Eilish, alongside her brother and co-songwriter Finneas, have always made lyrically beautiful songs, and “Wildflower” is just another example of that. In the years since Eilish’s debut, she has shown her authenticity in the music industry, and this win is one of many to come as she continues to grow as an artist.

Nominees: Olivia Dean, Katseye. The Marías, Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, Alex Warren, Lola Young

Who Should Win: Every nominee in this category is extraordinary and has had incredible runs in the music industry this year; however, the winner is clear. Olivia Dean has had an exceptional year as an artist with the release of her sophomore studio album and the announcement of her tour “Olivia Dean: The Art of Loving Live.” The British singer-songwriter’s themes of self love and discovery paired with her soulful voice and music style have made her stand out among all of the nominees. Rising to fame with her impact on multiple social media platforms such as Tik Tok with the popularity of her song “Man I Need,” Dean is a force to be reckoned with and deserves to be recognized — there is no doubt that she will win the award.

Who Won: After debuting in 2018, Olivia Dean has finally received her flowers as an artist. Making her the first Brit to win since Dua Lipa in 2019, Dean has always been the frontrunner in this category. Her music is classic and timeless yet utilizes themes that speak of relationships and love, both internally and romantically, making her an incredibly unique artist. Her album “The Art of Loving,” was a gorgeous album both compositionally and lyrically, with songs such as “A Couple of Minutes” and “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” going viral on social media. She connects with listeners of any stage of life, making her stand out in an industry that is increasingly becoming too cohesive. “I’m up here as a granddaughter of an immigrant. I’m a product of bravery and I think those people ought to be celebrated,” Dean said in her acceptance speech. “We’re nothing without each other.” This win has culminated from the years of Dean’s work, and this is only the beginning of her rise to fame.