Kendrick Lamar dominates Grammy nominations as K-pop enters the spotlight

Kendrick Lamar has emerged as the front-runner in the 2025 Grammy nominations with an impressive nine nods, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Album of the Year. Lamar’s track ‘Not Like Us’ from last year’s Grammys earned him five awards. Alongside Lamar, Lady Gaga, Jack Antonoff, and Cirkut each received seven nominations. Sabrina Carpenter follows with six. Notably, this year’s Grammy race sees K-pop making a breakthrough, with both KPop Demon Hunters and former Blackpink member Rosé earning nominations. KPop Demon Hunters’ ‘Golden’ and Rosé’s ‘APT’ are among the tracks nominated for Best Song, signaling a growing recognition of the genre at the prestigious awards. Other notable nominees in the Best Album category include Lady Gaga, Bad Bunny, and Sabrina Carpenter. Interestingly, Taylor Swift’s album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ was not eligible, as its release came after the close of the eligibility period. In an unexpected twist, actor Timothée Chalamet received his first Grammy nomination for his work on the soundtrack of the Oscar-nominated film ‘A Complete Unknown,’ where he portrayed Bob Dylan. The 68th Annual Grammy Awards will take place on February 1, 2026, in Los Angeles.