61st Annual Grammy Awards
The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys hosted. During her opening monologue, Keys brought out Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, each of whom spoke about the impact that music had on their lives.
The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, which ran from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018. Nominations were announced on December 7, 2018.
Dolly Parton was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two days prior on February 8, 2019.
Kendrick Lamar received the most nominations, with eight. Childish Gambino and Kacey Musgraves tied for the most wins of the night with four each. Childish Gambino did not attend the ceremony and became the first major award winner to be absent since Amy Winehouse in 2008. "This Is America" producer Ludwig Göransson and recording engineer Riley Mackin accepted the Record of the Year Grammy on Gambino's behalf.
Nominations announcement
Nominations were to be announced on December 5, 2018, but were delayed to Friday, December 7, 2018 following the death and state funeral of former President George H.W. Bush.Performers
Presenters
- Devin McCourty and Julian Edelman – presented Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
- Nina Dobrev – introduced Kacey Musgraves
- Alicia Keys and John Mayer – presented Song of the Year
- Anna Kendrick – introduced Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, and Dolly Parton
- Alicia Keys – introduced Shawn Mendes and Miley Cyrus
- Kane Brown, Meghan Trainor, Luke Combs – presented Best Country Album
- Dan + Shay – presented Best Rap Song
- Alicia Keys – introduced Post Malone and Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Raif-Henok Emmanuel Kendrick – introduced Diana Ross
- Alicia Keys – introduced Lady Gaga
- Eve and Swizz Beatz – introduced Travis Scott, James Blake, and Philip Bailey
- Alicia Keys and Smokey Robinson – introduced Jennifer Lopez, Smokey Robinson, and Ne-Yo
- BTS – presented Best R&B Album
- Kelsea Ballerini – introduced Brandi Carlile
- Leon Bridges and Charlie Wilson – introduced Chloe x Halle
- Chloe x Halle – presented Best Rap Album
- Wilmer Valderrama – introduced St. Vincent and Dua Lipa
- Alessia Cara and Bob Newhart – presented Best New Artist
- Jimmy Jam – introduced outgoing President of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow
- Neil Portnow – introduced in memoriam montage
- Alicia Keys – announced Producer of the Year, Non-Classical and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
- Alicia Keys – presented Record of the Year and Album of the Year
Premiere ceremony
Listed in no particular order.Nominations and winners
Winners are highlighted in '''Bold'''General
Record of the Year">Grammy Award for Record of the Year">Record of the Year
- "This Is America" – Childish Gambino
- *Donald Glover & Ludwig Göransson, producers; Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, Riley Mackin & Shaan Singh, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
- "I Like It" – Cardi B, Bad Bunny & J Balvin
- * Invincible, J. White Did It, Craig Kallman & Tainy, producers; Leslie Brathwaite, Kuk Harrell, Evan LaRay & Simone Torres, engineers/mixers; Colin Leonard, mastering engineer
- "The Joke" – Brandi Carlile
- *Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Tom Elmhirst & Eddie Spear, engineers/mixers; Pete Lyman, mastering engineer
- "God's Plan" – Drake
- *Boi-1Da, Cardo & Young Exclusive, producers; Noel Cadastre, Noel "Gadget" Campbell & Noah Shebib, engineers/mixers; Chris Athens, mastering engineer
- "Shallow" – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
- *Lady Gaga & Benjamin Rice, producers; Brandon Bost & Tom Elmhirst, engineers/mixers; Randy Merrill, mastering engineer
- "All the Stars" – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- *Al Shux & Sounwave, producers; Sam Ricci & Matt Schaeffer, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
- "Rockstar" – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
- *Louis Bell & Tank God, producers; Louis Bell, Lorenzo Cardona, Manny Marroquin & Ethan Stevens, engineers/mixers; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
- "[The Middle (Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey (duo)|Grey song)|The Middle]" – Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey
- *Grey, Monsters & Strangerz & Zedd, producers; Grey, Tom Morris, Ryan Shanahan & Zedd, engineers/mixers; Mike Marsh, mastering engineer
Album of the Year">Grammy Award for Album of the Year">Album of the Year
- Golden Hour – Kacey Musgraves
- * Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, producers; Craig Alvin & Shawn Everett, engineers/mixers; Ian Fitchuk, Kacey Musgraves & Daniel Tashian, songwriters; Greg Calbi & Steve Fallone, mastering engineersInvasion of Privacy – Cardi B
- * Leslie Brathwaite & Evan LaRay, engineers/mixers; Belcalis Almanzar & Jorden Thorpe, songwriters; Colin Leonard, mastering engineerBy the Way, I Forgive You – Brandi Carlile
- * Dave Cobb & Shooter Jennings, producers; Dave Cobb & Eddie Spear, engineers/mixers; Brandi Carlile, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters; Pete Lyman, mastering engineerScorpion – Drake
- * Noel Cadastre, Noel "Gadget" Campbell & Noah Shebib, engineers/mixers; Aubrey Graham & Noah Shebib, songwriters; Chris Athens, mastering engineerH.E.R. – H.E.R.
- * Darhyl "Hey DJ" Camper Jr., David "Swagg R'Celious" Harris, H.E.R., Walter Jones & Jeff Robinson, producers; Miki Tsutsumi, engineer/mixer; Darhyl Camper Jr. & H.E.R., songwriters; Dave Kutch, mastering engineerBeerbongs & Bentleys – Post Malone
- * Louis Bell & Post Malone, producers; Louis Bell & Manny Marroquin, engineers/mixers; Louis Bell & Austin Post, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineerDirty Computer – Janelle Monáe
- * Chuck Lightning, Janelle Monáe Robinson & Nate "Rocket" Wonder, producers; Mick Guzauski, Janelle Monáe Robinson & Nate "Rocket" Wonder, engineers/mixers; Nathaniel Irvin III, Charles Joseph II, Taylor Parks & Janelle Monáe Robinson, songwriters; Chris Gehringer, mastering engineerBlack Panther: The Album, Music From and Inspired By –
- * Kendrick Lamar, featured artist; Kendrick Duckworth & Sounwave, producers; Matt Schaeffer, engineer/mixer; Kendrick Duckworth & Mark Spears, songwriters; Mike Bozzi, mastering engineer
Song of the Year">Grammy Award for Song of the Year">Song of the Year
- "This Is America"
- *Donald Glover, Ludwig Göransson & Jeffrey Lamar Williams, songwriters
- "All the Stars"
- *Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Al Shuckburgh, Mark Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters
- "Boo'd Up"
- *Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters
- "God's Plan"
- *Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters
- "In My Blood"
- *Teddy Geiger, Scott Harris, Shawn Mendes & Geoffrey Warburton, songwriters
- "The Joke"
- *Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters
- "The Middle"
- *Sarah Aarons, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Marcus Lomax, Kyle Trewartha, Michael Trewartha & Anton Zaslavski, songwriters
- "Shallow"
- *Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters
Best New Artist">Grammy Award for Best New Artist">Best New Artist
Pop
;Best Pop Solo Performance"Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?)" – Lady Gaga- "Colors" – Beck
- "Havana" – Camila Cabello
- "God Is a Woman" – Ariana Grande
- "Better Now" – Post Malone
- "Fall in Line" – Christina Aguilera featuring Demi Lovato
- "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" – Backstreet Boys
- "'S Wonderful" – Tony Bennett & Diana Krall
- "Girls Like You" – Maroon 5 featuring Cardi B
- "Say Something" – Justin Timberlake featuring Chris Stapleton
- "The Middle" – Zedd, Maren Morris and Grey
;Best Pop Vocal AlbumSweetener – Ariana GrandeCamila – Camila CabelloMeaning of Life – Kelly ClarksonShawn Mendes – Shawn MendesBeautiful Trauma – P!nkReputation – Taylor Swift
Dance/Electronic Music
;Best Dance Recording- "Electricity" – Silk City & Dua Lipa featuring Diplo & Mark Ronson
- *Jarami, Alex Metric, Riton & Silk City, producers; Josh Gudwin, mixer
- "[Northern Soul music|Soul (Above & Beyond song)|Northern Soul]" – Above & Beyond featuring Richard Bedford
- *Above & Beyond & Andrew Bayer, producers; Above & Beyond, mixers
- "Ultimatum" – Disclosure featuring Fatoumata Diawara
- *Guy Lawrence & Howard Lawrence, producers; Guy Lawrence, mixer
- "Losing It" – Fisher
- *Paul Nicholas Fisher, producer; Kevin Grainger, mixer
- "Ghost Voices" – Virtual Self
- *Porter Robinson, producer; Porter Robinson, mixer
- Woman Worldwide – Justice
- Singularity – Jon Hopkins
- Treehouse – Sofi Tukker
- Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides – SOPHIE
- Lune Rouge – TOKiMONSTA
Contemporary Instrumental Music
;Best Contemporary Instrumental AlbumSteve Gadd Band – Steve Gadd BandThe Emancipation Procrastination – Christian Scott aTunde AdjuahModern Lore – Julian LageLaid Black – Marcus MillerProtocol IV – Simon PhillipsRock
;Best Rock Performance"When Bad Does Good" – Chris Cornell- "Four Out of Five" – Arctic Monkeys
- "Made an America" – Fever 333
- "Highway Tune" – Greta Van Fleet
- "Uncomfortable" – Halestorm
- "Condemned to the Gallows" – Between the Buried and Me
- "Honeycomb" – Deafheaven
- "Betrayer" – Trivium
- "On My Teeth" – Underoath
- *Jack Antonoff & Annie Clark, songwriters
- "Black Smoke Rising"
- *Jacob Thomas Kiszka, Joshua Michael Kiszka, Samuel Francis Kiszka, & Daniel Robert Wagner, songwriters
- "Jumpsuit"
- *Tyler Joseph, songwriter
- "Mantra"
- *Jordan Fish, Matthew Kean, Lee Malia, Matthew Nicholls, & Oliver Sykes, songwriters
- "Rats"
- *Tom Dalgety & A Ghoul Writer, songwriters
- From the Fires – Greta Van Fleet
- Rainier Fog – Alice in Chains
- Mania – Fall Out Boy
- Prequelle – Ghost
- Pacific Daydream – Weezer
Alternative
;Best Alternative Music Album- Colors – Beck
- Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino – Arctic Monkeys
- Utopia – Björk
- American Utopia – David Byrne
- Masseduction – St. Vincent
R&B
;Best R&B Performance"Best Part" – H.E.R. featuring Daniel Caesar- "Long as I Live" – Toni Braxton
- "Summer" – The Carters
- "Y O Y" – Lalah Hathaway
- "First Began" – PJ Morton
- "Don't Fall Apart on Me Tonight" – Bettye LaVette
- "Honest" – MAJOR.
- "Made for Love" – Charlie Wilson featuring Lalah Hathaway
- * Larrance Dopson, Joelle James, Ella Mai & Dijon McFarlane, songwriters
- "Come Through and Chill"
- * Jermaine Cole, Miguel Pimentel & Salaam Remi, songwriters
- "Feels Like Summer"
- * Donald Glover & Ludwig Göransson, songwriters
- "Focus"
- * Darhyl Camper Jr., H.E.R. & Justin Love, songwriters
- "Long as I Live"
- * Paul Boutin, Toni Braxton & Antonio Dixon, songwriters
;Best R&B AlbumH.E.R. – H.E.R.Sex & Cigarettes – Toni BraxtonGood Thing – Leon BridgesHonestly – Lalah HathawayGumbo Unplugged – PJ Morton
Rap
;Best Rap Performance"King's Dead" – Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake"Bubblin" –- "Be Careful" – Cardi B
- "Nice for What" – Drake
- "Sicko Mode" – Travis Scott, Drake & Swae Lee
- "Like I Do" – Christina Aguilera featuring Goldlink
- "Pretty Little Fears" – 6lack featuring J. Cole
- "All the Stars" – Kendrick Lamar & SZA
- "Rockstar" – Post Malone featuring 21 Savage
;Best Rap Song"God's Plan"
- * Aubrey Graham, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Ron LaTour, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib, songwriters
- "King's Dead"
- * Kendrick Duckworth, Samuel Gloade, James Litherland, Johnny McKinzie, Axel Morgan, Mark Spears, Travis Walton, Nayvadius Wilburn & Michael Williams II, songwriters
- "Lucky You"
- * R. Fraser, G. Lucas, M. Mathers, M. Samuels & J. Sweet, songwriters
- "Sicko Mode"
- * Khalif Brown, Rogét Chahayed, BryTavious Chambers, Mike Dean, Mirsad Dervic, Kevin Gomringer, Tim Gomringer, Aubrey Graham, Chauncey Hollis, Jacques Webster, Ozan Yildirim & Cydel Young, songwriters
- "Win"
- * K. Duckworth, A. Hernandez, J. McKinzie, M. Samuels & C. Thompson, songwriters
Country
;Best Country Solo Performance"Butterflies" – Kacey Musgraves- "Wouldn't It Be Great?" – Loretta Lynn
- "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" – Maren Morris
- "Millionaire" – Chris Stapleton
- "Parallel Line" – Keith Urban
- "Shoot Me Straight" – Brothers Osborne
- "When Someone Stops Loving You" – Little Big Town
- "Dear Hate" – Maren Morris featuring Vince Gill
- "Meant to Be" – Bebe Rexha & Florida Georgia Line
- * Luke Laird, Shane McAnally & Kacey Musgraves, songwriters
- "Break Up in the End"
- * Jessie Jo Dillon, Chase McGill & Jon Nite, songwriters
- "Dear Hate"
- * Tom Douglas, David Hodges & Maren Morris, songwriters
- "I Lived It"
- * Rhett Akins, Ross Copperman, Ashley Gorley & Ben Hayslip, songwriters
- "Tequila"
- * Nicolle Galyon, Jordan Reynolds & Dan Smyers, songwriters
- "When Someone Stops Loving You"
- * Hillary Lindsey, Chase McGill & Lori McKenna, songwriters
New Age
;Best New Age AlbumOpium Moon – Opium MoonHiraeth – Lisa Gerrard & David KuckhermannBeloved – Snatam KaurMolecules of Motion – Steve RoachMoku Maluhia: Peaceful Island – Jim Kimo WestJazz
;Best Improvised Jazz Solo"Don't Fence Me In" – John Daversa, soloist- "Some of That Sunshine" – Regina Carter, soloist
- "We See" – Fred Hersch, soloists
- "De-Dah" – Brad Mehldau, soloist
- "Cadenas" – Miguel Zenón, soloist
;Best Jazz Instrumental AlbumEmanon – The Wayne Shorter QuartetDiamond Cut – Tia FullerLive in Europe – Fred Hersch TrioSeymour Reads the Constitution! – Brad Mehldau TrioStill Dreaming – Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade
;Best Large Jazz Ensemble AlbumAmerican Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom – John Daversa Big Band featuring DACA ArtistsAll About That Basie – Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty BarnhartPresence – Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big BandAll Can Work – John Hollenbeck Large EnsembleBarefoot Dances and Other Visions – Jim McNeely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band
;Best Latin Jazz AlbumBack to the Sunset – Dafnis Prieto Big BandHeart of Brazil – Eddie DanielsWest Side Story Reimagined – Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big BandCinque – Elio VillafrancaYo Soy La Tradición – Miguel Zenón featuring Spektral Quartet
Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music
;Best Gospel Performance/Song"Never Alone" – Tori Kelly featuring Kirk Franklin- * Kirk Franklin & Victoria Kelly, songwriters
- "You Will Win" – Jekalyn Carr
- * Allen Carr & Jekalyn Carr, songwriters
- "Won't He Do It" – Koryn Hawthorne
- * Koryn Hawthorne
- "Cycles" – Jonathan McReynolds featuring DOE
- * Jonathan McReynolds & Will Reagan, songwriters
- "A Great Work" – Brian Courtney Wilson
- * Aaron W. Lindsey, Alvin Richardson & Brian Courtney Wilson, songwriters
- * Lauren Daigle, Jason Ingram & Paul Mabury, songwriters
- "Reckless Love" – Cory Asbury
- * Cory Asbury, Caleb Culver & Ran Jackson, songwriters
- "Joy." – For King & Country
- * Ben Glover, Matt Hales, Stephen Blake Kanicka, Seth Mosley, Joel Smallbone, Luke Smallbone & Tedd Tjornhom, songwriters
- "Grace Got You" – MercyMe featuring John Reuben
- * David Garcia, Ben Glover, MercyMe, Solomon Olds & John Reuben, songwriters
- "Known" – Tauren Wells
- * Ethan Hulse, Jordan Sapp & Tauren Wells, songwriters
;Best Contemporary Christian Music AlbumLook Up Child – Lauren DaigleHallelujah Here Below – Elevation WorshipLiving With a Fire – Jesus CultureSurrounded – Michael W. SmithSurvivor: Live from Harding Prison – Zach Williams
;Best Roots Gospel AlbumUnexpected – Jason CrabbClear Skies – Ernie Haase & Signature SoundFavorites: Revisited by Request – The IsaacsStill Standing – The MartinsLove Love Love – Gordon Mote
Latin
;Best Latin Pop AlbumSincera – Claudia BrantPrometo – Pablo AlboránMusas (Un Homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos de Los Macorinos), Vol 2 – Natalia Lafourcade2:00 AM – Raquel SofíaVives – Carlos Vives;Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative AlbumAztlán – ZoéClaroscura – AterciopeladosCOASTCITY – COASTCITYEncanto Tropical – Monsieur PerinéGourmet – Orishas
;Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)¡México Por Siempre! – Luis MiguelPrimero Soy Mexicana – Ángela AguilarMitad y Mitad – Calibre 50Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II – Aida CuevasCruzando Borders – Los TexmaniacsLeyendas de Mi Pueblo – Mariachi Sol de Mexico de José Hernández
;Best Tropical Latin AlbumAnniversary – Spanish Harlem OrchestraPa' Mi Gente – Charlie AponteLegado – Formell y Los Van VanOrquesta Akokán – Orquesta AkokánPonle Actitud – Felipe Peláez
American Roots Music
;Best American Roots Performance"The Joke" – Brandi Carlile- "Kick Rocks" – Sean Ardoin
- "St. James Infirmary Blues" – Jon Batiste
- "All on My Mind" – Anderson East
- "Last Man Standing" – Willie Nelson
- * Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth & Tim Hanseroth, songwriters
- "All the Trouble"
- * Waylon Payne, Lee Ann Womack & Adam Wright, songwriters
- "Build a Bridge"
- * Jeff Tweedy, songwriter
- "Knockin' on Your Screen Door"
- * Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters
- "Summer's End"
- * Pat McLaughlin & John Prine, songwriters
;Best Bluegrass AlbumThe Travelin' McCourys – The Travelin' McCourysPortraits in Fiddles – Mike BarnettSister Sadie II – Sister SadieRivers and Roads – The Special ConsensusNorth of Despair – Wood & Wire
;Best Traditional Blues AlbumThe Blues Is Alive and Well – Buddy GuySomething Smells Funky 'Round Here – Elvin Bishop's Big Fun TrioBenton County Relic – Cedric BurnsideNo Mercy in This Land – Ben Harper and Charlie MusselwhiteDon't You Feel My Leg – Maria Muldaur
;Best Contemporary Blues AlbumPlease Don't Be Dead – Fantastic NegritoHere in Babylon – Teresa James & the Rhythm TrampsCry No More – Danielle NicoleOut of the Blues – Boz ScaggsVictor Wainwright and the Train – Victor Wainwright and the Train
;Best Folk AlbumAll Ashore – Punch BrothersWhistle Down the Wind – Joan BaezBlack Cowboys – Dom FlemonsRifles & Rosary Beads – Mary GauthierWeed Garden – Iron & Wine
;Best Regional Roots Music AlbumNo 'Ane'i – Kalani Pe'aKreole Rock and Soul – Sean ArdoinSpyboy – Cha WaAloha from Na Hoa – Na HoaMewasinsational: Cree Round Dance Songs – Young Spirit
Reggae
;Best Reggae Album44/876 – Sting & ShaggyAs the World Turns – Black UhuruReggae Forever – EtanaRebellion Rises – Ziggy MarleyA Matter of Time – ProtojeWorld Music
;Best World Music AlbumFreedom – Soweto Gospel ChoirDeran – BombinoFenfo – Fatoumata DiawaraBlack Times – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80The Lost Songs of World War II – Yiddish GloryChildren's
;Best Children's AlbumAll the Sounds – Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz CatsBuilding Blocks – Tim KubartFalu's Bazaar – FaluGiants of Science – The Pop UpsThe Nation of Imagine – FRANK & DEANESpoken Word
;[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album|Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio (song)|Audio Books & Storytelling)]Faith: A Journey for All – Jimmy CarterAccessory to War – Courtney B. VanceCalypso – David SedarisCreative Quest – QuestloveThe Last Black Unicorn – Tiffany HaddishComedy
;Best Comedy AlbumEquanimity & The Bird Revelation – Dave ChappelleAnnihilation – Patton OswaltNoble Ape – Jim GaffiganStandup for Drummers – Fred ArmisenTamborine – Chris RockMusical Theater
;Best Musical Theater AlbumThe Band's Visit – Etai Benson, Adam Kantor, Katrina Lenk & Ari'el Stachel, principal soloists; Dean Sharenow & David Yazbek, producers; David Yazbek, composer & lyricist Carousel – Renée Fleming, Alexander Gemignani, Joshua Henry, Lindsay Mendez & Jessie Mueller, principal soloists; Steven Epstein, producer Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert – Sara Bareilles, Alice Cooper, Ben Daniels, Victor Dixon, Erik Grönwall, Jin Ha, John Legend, Norm Lewis & Jason Tam, principal soloists; Andrew Lloyd Webber & Harvey Mason Jr., producers My Fair Lady – Lauren Ambrose, Norbert Leo Butz & Harry Hadden-Paton, principal soloists; Van Dean, David Lai, & Ted Sperling, producers Once on This Island – Phillip Boykin, Merle Dandridge, Quentin Earl Darrington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, Alex Newell, Isaac Powell & Lea Salonga, principal soloists; Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty & Elliot Scheiner, producersMusic for Visual Media
;Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual MediaThe Greatest Showman – Hugh Jackman- *
;Best Song Written for Visual Media"Shallow"
- * Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt, songwriters
- "All the Stars"
- * Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Alexander William Shuckburgh, Mark Anthony Spears & Anthony Tiffith, songwriters
- "Mystery of Love"
- * Sufjan Stevens, songwriter
- "Remember Me"
- * Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez, songwriters
- "This Is Me"
- * Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, songwriters
Composing
;Best Instrumental Composition"Blut und Boden (Blood and Soil)"- * Terence Blanchard, composer
- "Chrysalis"
- * Jeremy Kittel, composer
- "[Avengers: Infinity War (The Temptations song)|War (soundtrack)|Infinity War]"
- * Alan Silvestri, composer
- "Mine Mission"
- * John Powell & John Williams, composers
- "The Shape of Water"
- * Alexandre Desplat, composer
Arranging
;Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella"Stars and Stripes Forever"- * John Daversa, arranger
- "Batman Theme "
- * Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers
- "Change the World"
- * Mark Kibble, arranger
- "Madrid Finale"
- * John Powell, arranger
- "The Shape of Water"
- * Alexandre Desplat, arranger
- * Mark Kibble, Randy Waldman & Justin Wilson, arrangers
- "It Was a Very Good Year"
- * Matt Rollings & Kristin Wilkinson, arrangers
- "Jolene"
- * Dan Pugach & Nicole Zuraitis, arrangers
- "Mona Lisa"
- * Vince Mendoza, arranger
- "Niña"
- * Gonzalo Grau, arranger
Packaging
;Best Recording PackageMasseduction- * Willo Perron, art director Be the Cowboy
- * Mary Banas, art director
- Love Yourself: Tear
- * Doohee Lee, art director The Offering
- * Qing-Yang Xiao, art director Well Kept Thing
- * Adam Moore, art director
- * Meghan Foley, Annie Stoll & Al Yankovic, art directors Appetite for Destruction
- * Arian Buhler, Charles Dooher, Jeff Fura, Scott Sandler & Matt Taylor, art directors I'll Be Your Girl
- * Carson Ellis, Jeri Heiden & Glen Nakasako, art directors Pacific Northwest '73–'74: The Complete Recordings
- * Lisa Glines, Doran Tyson & Roy Henry Vickers, art directors Too Many Bad Habits
- * Sarah Dodds & Shauna Dodds, art directors
Historical
;Best Historical AlbumVoices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris- * William Ferris, April Ledbetter & Steven Lance Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer Any Other Way
- * Rob Bowman, Douglas McGowan, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineer At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight...
- * Martin Hawkins, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer Battleground Korea: Songs and Sounds of America's Forgotten War
- * Hugo Keesing, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer A Rhapsody in Blue: The Extraordinary Life of Oscar Levant
- * Robert Russ, compilation producer; Andreas K. Meyer & Rebekah Wineman, mastering engineers
Production, Non-Classical
;Best Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalColors- * Julian Burg, Şerban Ghenea, David "Elevator" Greenbaum, John Hanes, Beck Hansen, Greg Kurstin, Florian Lagatta, Cole M.G.N., Alex Pasco, Jesse Shatkin, Darrell Thorp & Cassidy Turbin, engineers; Chris Bellman, Tom Coyne, Emily Lazar & Randy Merrill, mastering engineers All the Things That I Did and All the Things That I Didn't Do
- * Ryan Freeland & Kenneth Pattengale, engineers; Kim Rosen, mastering engineer Earthtones
- * Robbie Lackritz, engineer; Philip Shaw Bova, mastering engineer Head Over Heels
- * Nathaniel Alford, Jason Evigan, Chris Galland, Tom Gardner, Patrick "P-Thugg" Gemayel, Şerban Ghenea, John Hanes, Tony Hoffer, Derek Keota, Ian Kirkpatrick, David Macklovitch, Amber Mark, Manny Marroquin, Vaughn Oliver, Chris "TEK" O'Ryan, Morgan Taylor Reid & Gian Stone, engineers; Chris Gehringer & Emerson Mancini, mastering engineers Voicenotes
- * Manny Marroquin & Charlie Puth, engineers; Dave Kutch, mastering engineer
- * "Apeshit"
- * Man of the Woods
- * No One Ever Really Dies
- * "Stir Fry"
- * Sweetener
- Boi-1da
- * "Be Careful"
- * "Diplomatic Immunity"
- * "Friends"
- * "God's Plan"
- * "Heard About Us"
- * "Lucky You"
- * "Mob Ties"
- * "No Limit"
- Larry Klein
- * "All These Things"
- * Anthem
- * The Book of Longing
- * "Can I Have It All"
- * Junk
- * "Look at What We've Done"
- * Meaning to Tell Ya
- Linda Perry
- * "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger"
- * Served Like a Girl
- * 28 Days in the Valley
- Kanye West
- *Daytona
- * Kids See Ghosts
- * K.T.S.E.
- * Nasir
- * Ye
- * Alex Crossan, remixer
- "Audio"
- * CID, remixer
- "How Long"
- * Maurizio Colella & Christian Hirt, remixers
- "Only Road"
- * Stefan Bossems & Claus Terhoeven, remixers
- "Stargazing"
- * Kaskade, remixer
Production, Immersive Audio
;Best Immersive Audio AlbumEye in the Sky: 35th Anniversary Edition- * Alan Parsons, surround mix engineer; Dave Donnelly, PJ Olsson & Alan Parsons, surround mastering engineers; Alan Parsons, surround producer Folketoner
- * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer Seven Words from the Cross
- * Daniel Shores, surround mix engineer; Daniel Shores, surround mastering engineer; Dan Merceruio, surround producer Sommerro: Ujamaa & the Iceberg
- * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer Symbol
- * Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround mix engineers; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround producers
Production, Classical
;Best Engineered Album, ClassicalShostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11- * Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer Bates: The evolution of Steve Jobs
- * Mark Donahue & Dirk Sobotka, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
- * Mark Donahue, engineer; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer John Williams at the Movies
- * Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer Liquid Melancholy: Clarinet Music of James M. Stephenson
- * Bill Maylone & Mary Mazurek, engineers; Bill Maylone, mastering engineer Visions and Variations
- * Tom Caulfield, engineer; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer
- * Arnesen: Infinity – Choral Works
- * Aspects of America
- * Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes
- * Gordon, R.: The House Without a Christmas Tree
- * Haydn: The Creation
- * Heggie: Great Scott
- * Music of Fauré, Buide & Zemlinsky
- * Paterson: Three Way – A Trio of One-Act Operas
- * Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto; Oboe Concerto; Serenade to Music; Flos Campi
- David Frost
- * Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Volume 7
- * Mirror in Mirror
- * Mozart: Idomeneo
- * Presentiment
- * Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier
- Elizabeth Ostrow
- * Bates: The evolution of Steve Jobs
- * The Road Home
- Judith Sherman
- * Beethoven Unbound
- * Black Manhattan Volume 3
- * Bolcom: Piano Music
- * Del Tredici: March to Tonality
- * Love Comes in at the Eye
- * Meltzer: Variations on a Summer Day & Piano Quartet
- * Mendelssohn: Complete Works for Cello and Piano
- * New Music for Violin and Piano
- * Reich: Pulse/Quartet
- Dirk Sobotka
- * Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
- * Lippencott: Frontier Symphony
- * Mahler: Symphony No. 8
- * ''Music of the Americas''
Classical
;Best Orchestral PerformanceShostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11- *Andris Nelsons, conductor Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
- *Manfred Honeck, conductor Nielsen: Symphony No. 3 & Symphony No. 4
- *Thomas Dausgaard, conductor Ruggles, Stucky & Harbison: Orchestral Works
- *David Alan Miller, conductor Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4
- *Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
- *Michael Christie, conductor; Sasha Cooke, Jessica E. Jones, Edward Parks, Garrett Sorenson & Wei Wu; Elizabeth Ostrow, producer Adams: Doctor Atomic
- *John Adams, conductor; Aubrey Allicock, Julia Bullock, Gerald Finley & Brindley Sherratt; Friedemann Engelbrecht, producer Lully: Alceste
- *Christophe Rousset, conductor; Edwin Crossley-Mercer, Emiliano Gonzalez Toro & Judith van Wanroij; Maximilien Ciup, producer Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier
- *Sebastian Weigle, conductor; Renée Fleming, Elīna Garanča, Günther Groissböck & Erin Morley; David Frost, producer Verdi: Rigoletto
- *Constantine Orbelian, conductor; Francesco Demuro, Dmitri Hvorostovsky & Nadine Sierra; Vilius Keras & Aleksandra Keriene, producers
- * Donald Nally, conductor Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes
- * Vladimir Gorbik, conductor Kastalsky: Memory Eternal
- * Steven Fox, conductor Rachmaninov: The Bells
- * Mariss Jansons, conductor; Peter Dijkstra, chorus master Seven Words from the Cross
- * Matthew Guard, conductor
;Best Classical Instrumental SoloKernis: Violin Concerto – James Ehnes
- * Ludovic Morlot, conductor Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 2 – Yuja Wang
- * Simon Rattle, conductor Biber: The Mystery Sonatas – Christina Day Martinson
- * Martin Pearlman, conductor Bruch: Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46; Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26
- * Joshua Bell Glass: Three Pieces in the Shape of a Square
- * Craig Morris
- *
- * JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Tim Handley, producerGold
- * The King's Singers; Nigel Short, producerThe John Adams Edition
- * Simon Rattle, conductor; Christoph Franke, producerJohn Williams at the Movies
- * Jerry Junkin, conductor; Donald J. McKinney, producerVaughan Williams: Piano Concerto; Oboe Concerto; Serenade to Music; Flos Campi
- * Peter Oundjian, conductor; Blanton Alspaugh, producer
- * Aaron Jay Kernis, composer Bates: The evolution of Steve Jobs
- * Mason Bates, composer; Mark Campbell, librettist Du Yun: Air Glow
- * Du Yun, composer Heggie: Great Scott
- * Jake Heggie, composer; Terrence McNally, librettist Mazzoli: Vespers for Violin
- * Missy Mazzoli, composer
Music Video/Film
;Best Music Video"This Is America" – Childish Gambino- * Hiro Murai, video directors; Ibra Ake, Jason Cole & Fam Rothstein, video producers
- "Apeshit" – The Carters
- * Ricky Saiz, video director; Mélodie Buchris, Natan Schottenfels & Erinn Williams, video producers
- "I'm Not Racist" – Joyner Lucas
- * Joyner Lucas & Ben Proulx, video directors; Joyner Lucas, video producer
- "Pynk" – Janelle Monáe
- * Emma Westenburg, video director; Justin Benoliel & Whitney Jackson, video producers
- "Mumbo Jumbo" – Tierra Whack
- * Marco Prestini, video director; Sara Nassim, video producer
- * Alan Hicks & Rashida Jones, video directors; Paula DuPré Pesmen, video producerLife in 12 Bars – Eric Clapton
- * Lili Fini Zanuck, video director; John Battsek, Scooter Weintraub, Larry Yelen & Lili Fini Zanuck, video producersWhitney –
- * Kevin Macdonald, video director; Jonathan Chinn, Simon Chinn & Lisa Erspamer, video producersItzhak – Itzhak Perlman
- * Alison Chernick, video director; Alison Chernick, video producerThe King –
- * Eugene Jarecki, video director; Christopher Frierson, Georgina Hill, David Kuhn & Christopher St. John, video producers
Special Merit Awards
[MusiCares Person of the Year]
Lifetime Achievement Award">Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award">Lifetime Achievement Award
- Black Sabbath
- George Clinton & Parliament-Funkadelic
- Billy Eckstine
- Donny Hathaway
- Julio Iglesias
- Sam & Dave
- Dionne Warwick
Trustees Award">Grammy Trustees Award">Trustees Award
[Technical Grammy Award]
- Saul Walker
Music Educator Award
- Jeffery Redding
Grammy Hall of Fame inductions
In Memoriam
- James Ingram
- Roy Clark
- Harold Bradley
- Freddie Hart
- Kenny O'Dell
- Bonnie Guitar
- Nancy Wilson
- Charles Aznavour
- Morgana King
- Vic Damone
- Carol Channing
- Dennis Edwards
- Barbara Alston
- Joe Jackson
- James "Big Jim" Wright
- Ray Sawyer
- Jim Rodford
- Gary Burden
- Avicii
- Alan R. Pearlman
- Marty Balin
- Ed King
- John Perry Barlow
- Tony Joe White
- Otis Rush
- Jim Malloy
- Mac Miller
- Roy Hargrove
- Cecil Taylor
- Bill Watrous
- Geoff Emerick
- David Bianco
- Russ Solomon
- Montserrat Caballé
- Katherine Hoover
- James Mallinson
- Clarence Fountain
- Yvonne Staples
- Daryle Singletary
- Lari White
- Sanger D. Shafer
- Randy Scruggs
- María Dolores Pradera
- Lucho Gatica
- Wah Wah Watson
- D.J. Fontana
- Roger Clark
- Reggie Young
- Daryl Dragon
- Dave Rowland
- Galt MacDermot
- Michel Legrand
- Patrick Williams
- Arthur B. Rubinstein
- Dan Cleary
- Jeremy Geffen
- Billy Sammeth
- Angelica Cob-Baehler
- Norman Gimbel
- Don Grierson
- Russ Regan
- Roy Wunsch
- Howell Begle
- Charles Neville
- Henry Butler
- Aretha Franklin
Multiple nominations and awards
The following received multiple nominations:Eight:
Seven:
Six:
Five:
Four:
Three:
- Beck
- Toni Braxton
- Cardo
- The Carters
- John Daversa
- Alexandre Desplat
- Grey
- Phil Hanseroth
- Tim Hanseroth
- Lalah Hathaway
- Dave Kutch
- John Prine
- Jay Rock
- Mark Ronson
- Travis Scott
- Al Shux
- Chris Stapleton
- Zedd
- Christina Aguilera
- Blanton Alspaugh
- Arctic Monkeys
- Sean Ardoin
- Chris Athens
- Louis Bell
- Tony Bennett
- Big Hawk
- Brian Blade
- James Blake
- Leslie Brathwaite
- Leon Bridges
- Brothers Osborne
- Camila Cabello
- Noel Cadastre
- Noel "Gadget" Campbell
- Darhyl "Hey DJ" Camper
- Jekalyn Carr
- Chloe x Halle
- J. Cole
- Bradley Cooper
- Lauren Daigle
- DJ Mustard
- Mark Donahue
- Larrance Dopson
- Tom Elmhirst
- Tobias Forge
- David Frost
- Future
- Şerban Ghenea
- Ben Glover
- Ariana Grande
- John Hanes
- Fred Hersch
- Daveon Jackson
- Joelle James
- Shooter Jennings
- Jordan K. Johnson
- Stefan Johnson
- Tori Kelly
- Brock Korsan
- Diana Krall
- Evan LaRay
- Bettye LaVette
- Swae Lee
- Colin Leonard
- Morten Lindberg
- Dua Lipa
- Marcus Lomax
- Joyner Lucas
- Pete Lyman
- Ella Mai
- Chase McGill
- Pat McLaughlin
- Jonathan McReynolds
- Brad Mehldau
- Shawn Mendes
- Vince Mendoza
- Randy Merrill
- Miguel
- Janelle Monáe
- Willie Nelson
- Elizabeth Ostrow
- Benj Pasek
- Justin Paul
- John Powell
- Simon Rattle
- Bebe Rexha
- Anthony Rossomando
- St. Vincent
- Matt Schaeffer
- Dan Smyers
- Dirk Sobotka
- Eddie Spear
- Anthony Tiffith
- 21 Savage
- Randy Waldman
- John Williams
- Brian Courtney Wilson
- Lee Ann Womack
- Andrew Wyatt
- Miguel Zenón
- Chris Zwarg
Four:
Three:
Two:
Category changes
For the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, multiple category changes are being made;- In the General Field, the number of nominees in each category was increased from five to eight.
- In the category of Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, music supervisors will now be eligible.
- The award for Best Surround Sound Album was renamed Best Immersive Audio Album.
Controversy
On February 4, 2019, reports surfaced that American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande would not be performing at or attending the Grammys, due to a dispute with producer Ken Ehrlich. On February 7, 2019, Grande made a public statement on the matter, alleging that Ehrlich stifled her creativity and tried to stipulate what song she could perform. She then later went on and alleged that Ehrlich "lied" and she could "pull together a performance over night."On February 11, 2019, Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj backed up Grande and alleged Ehrilch "bullied" her. Minaj later said in a statement on Twitter: "I was bullied into staying quiet for 7 years out of fear. But I'll tell my fans the REAL on the next episode of #QueenRadio they deserve the truth."