With a career-defining 11 nominations, Queen Bey leads the pack in Grammy history, but Taylor Swift, Adele, and other top contenders are hot on her heels.
Beyoncé continues to etch her name in Grammy history, once again proving she is a force to be reckoned with. The 43-year-old superstar, already crowned as the artist with the most Grammy wins in history after collecting her 32nd gramophone in 2023, made even more history when the 2025 Grammy nominations were revealed on November 8.
Leading the 2025 race with an astounding 11 nominations, Beyoncé now holds the record for the most Grammy nominations ever, surpassing the previous tie she shared with her husband, Jay-Z. Additionally, she has set another milestone by becoming the most-nominated woman in a single year, breaking Lauryn Hill’s 1999 record of 10 nominations.
However, despite these impressive achievements, there is still one Grammy she’s yet to conquer: Album of the Year. While her album Cowboy Carter earned her a coveted fifth nomination for the prestigious category, Beyoncé faces tough competition from an array of other musical heavyweights.
Once again, Taylor Swift is in the running with her highly anticipated album The Tortured Poets Department, following her historic win in 2024 as the first artist to take home Album of the Year four times with Midnights. Alongside Swift, Beyoncé must also contend with former Album of the Year winner Adele, who has her eye on the top prize, and Billie Eilish, whose album Hit Me Hard and Soft earned her seven nominations this year.
Adding to the fierce competition are rising stars like Sabrina Carpenter, with her album Short n’ Sweet, and Chappell Roan, whose The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess has already earned six nominations. Both Carpenter and Roan are also nominated for Best New Artist, a category they are expected to dominate.
While Beyoncé’s nominations stretch across a wide variety of genres, including an unexpected entry in the country music category for Cowboy Carter, the Album of the Year battle will undoubtedly be one of the most closely watched at the 2025 Grammys. As Beyoncé ventures into the country world with tracks like “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “II Most Wanted” (a collaboration with Miley Cyrus), her unexpected crossover appeal may work in her favor—if the country contingent shows support when it counts.
Despite not having the Album of the Year trophy yet, Beyoncé’s influence across genres, from pop to country, remains unparalleled. The Cowboy Carter album, though snubbed at the CMA Awards, has earned the Queen nods for Best Country Album, Best Country Song, and even Best Americana Performance for “YA YA,” showing just how versatile she truly is.
With a record-breaking year under her belt and a history of delivering groundbreaking music, Beyoncé will undoubtedly have the Grammy spotlight on her once again. But with powerhouse names like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and the rising Chappell Roan, 2025 could be a year where competition reigns supreme, and Beyoncé’s wait for Album of the Year continues.
The 2025 Grammy Awards will take place on February 2, where the world will eagerly watch to see if Beyoncé will finally claim the one Grammy that has eluded her for so long. Regardless of the outcome, Queen Bey’s influence and presence in the music industry remain unchallenged.
