As the curtain falls on Grammy voting today, the music world is buzzing with anticipation. But here's where it gets controversial: with a lineup of nominees that spans genres, styles, and even continents, predicting the winners feels like reading tea leaves. Among the 12 races we’re closely watching, a few stand out not just for their artistic merit, but for the records they could shatter and the debates they’re sure to spark.
Let’s start with the presumed front-runners, each a powerhouse in its own right. First up is “APT.”, a collaborative effort by Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park, Theron Thomas, and Henry Walter. Then there’s “Golden”, crafted by EJAE, Park Hong Jun, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seo, and Mark Sonnenblick. Rounding out the trio is “Luther”, a star-studded collaboration featuring Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Solána Rowe, Mark Anthony Spears, and Kamasi Washington.
And this is the part most people miss: lurking in the shadows are equally deserving nominees like “Abracadabra” (Lady Gaga, Henry Walter, Andrew Watt), “Anxiety” (Jaylah Hickmon), “DtMF” (Marco Daniel Borrero, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Bad Bunny, Tainy, Tyler Spry, Roberto José Rosado Torres), “Manchild” (Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff, Sabrina Carpenter), and “Wildflower” (Billie Eilish, Finneas O’Connell). Each of these tracks brings something unique to the table, from raw emotion to genre-bending innovation.
Here’s where it gets even more intriguing. If “APT.” takes home the trophy, Bruno Mars and Christopher Brody Brown will make history as the first three-time winners in this category, following their wins for “That’s What I Like” and “Leave the Door Open.” But wait—there’s a twist: Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell could achieve the same feat if “Wildflower” wins, having already snagged victories for “bad guy” and “What Was I Made For?.”
Controversy alert: If either “Luther” or “APT.” wins, it’ll set a new record for the most credited writers on a winning song. “Luther” boasts 10 writers, while “APT.” has nine, surpassing the current record held by “That’s What I Like” with eight. And if “Luther” clinches it, Kendrick Lamar will become just the second songwriter to win back-to-back years, following D’Mile’s wins for “I Can’t Breathe” (2021) and “Leave the Door Open” (2022).
Now, let’s talk “Golden”. This K-pop sensation is gunning to be the first of its kind to win in this category—a monumental feat. It’s also aiming to be the second film song to win in three years, following “What Was I Made For?” from Barbie, which also snagged an Oscar. But here’s the kicker: while “Luther” is undeniably stunning, “Golden” has that irresistible earworm quality that might just tip the scales in its favor when voters are filling out their ballots.
Predicted winner: “Golden”. But with such a stacked field, anything could happen. What do you think? Is “Golden” a shoo-in, or do you see another track taking the crown? Let’s debate in the comments!
