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One of the biggest surprises when it comes to the list of the nominees for the biggest prize at the upcoming 2022 Grammy Awards is the fact that the big four fields now contain 10 spots instead of eight, which is itself up from five just a few years prior. That news was broken just moments before the Recording Academy CEO began naming the artists, albums and songs that will compete for gold in January, and it means that more acts are up for the major honors than ever before.
A rule change enacted for the forthcoming ceremony also expands the list of nominated musicians, as all songwriters, producers and featured artists credited on any title named a potential winner for Album of the Year are now nominated. Who is up for that top prize has been altered several times by the Recording Academy throughout the past few years, and now the field is incredibly busy.
While the artists who fronted the 10 projects nominated received most of the attention in the media during nomination day, there are quite a few acts that are also in the running for Album of the Year, thanks to the fact that they’re either a featured artist or a credited behind-the-scenes talent.
As featured artists, names like Jaden Smith, Chance The Rapper, Tori Kelly, Migos member Quavo, Ariana Grande, rapper Eve, Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Jay-Z, late hip-hop talent Pop Smoke, Burna Boy, The Weeknd, DJ Khaled and even troubled alternative artist Marilyn Manson are all nominated for Album of the Year. Famed novelist Zadie Smith is eligible for the prize as well as a credited act on Jon Batiste’s We Are, bringing her to the biggest night in music for the first time. As producers and songwriters, popular musicians like Taylor Swift, St. Vincent, Skrillex, Mayer Hawthorne and Gesaffelstein are also up for the prize.
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Some titles, like Doja Cat’s Planet Her, Justin Bieber’s Justice and Kanye West’s Donda are responsible for bringing more featured artists to the fray than others. These albums credit many acts as singing along, while others, such as Billie Eilish’s Happier Than Ever and Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, don’t name a single other artist as a featured performer, though there are producers, songwriters and mixers and engineers included.
The following 10 full-lengths are currently competing for Album of the Year: Jon Batiste’s We Are, Love For Sale Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga, Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe) Justin Bieber, Planet Her (Deluxe) Doja Cat, Happier Than Ever Billie Eilish, Back Of My Mind H.E.R., Montero by Lil Nas X, Sour Olivia Rodrigo, Evermore Taylor Swift and Donda Kanye West. The winner will be announced on January 31, 2022.
