LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 05: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Taylor Swift attends the 65th GRAMMY … [+]
Taylor Swift finds herself once again as a frontrunner for the coveted Album of the Year Grammy. Her latest album Midnights, released in late 2022, has been nothing short of a commercial and critical sensation. It continues to sell and stream incredibly well, even after Swift dropped another full-length and scored multiple hits not featured on Midnights. While many are quick to predict another Album of the Year win for her, it’s essential not to jump the gun just yet.
Midnights is undoubtedly a strong contender for a nomination in the Album of the Year category. That said, a win is still far from guaranteed. Swift has already clinched the Album of the Year Grammy three times—a feat that ties her with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon in the all-time record books. The four acts are tied for the most wins in the history of the Grammys. Voters may hesitate to elevate her above such esteemed artists who have also achieved this milestone, especially considering she’s still so young.
Furthermore, Swift’s most recent Album of the Year triumph was only back in 2021 for her alternative set Folklore. Grammy voters might be wary of granting her the same honor once again in such a short time frame, even if Midnights is deserving of the trophy.
Recent Grammy ceremonies also reveals a penchant for surprises in the Album of the Year category. Predictors have missed the mark several times recently, leaving industry experts and fans astonished. In 2022, Jon Batiste’s We Are emerged as a very unexpected victor. The previous year, Harry Styles shocked the world with Harry’s House. With the current voting structure, there’s a strong possibility that another unexpected outcome could happen at the 2024 ceremony.
While Swift may be a frontrunner in many ways, she’s not the only star competing for the honor. Midnights shouldn’t completely overshadow the exceptional work of other artists in contention for the Album of the Year Grammy. Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts, SZA’s SOS, Foo Fighters’ But Here We Are and numerous other outstanding releases are all in the running and likely nominees. The fact that Swift is the biggest musical artist on the planet right now doesn’t automatically secure her victory in this fiercely competitive category.
When it comes to the Grammy Awards, nothing is ever certain. While Swift may be a favorite to secure a nomination and even another win, nothing is guaranteed until a the name of an album, song or artist is called out from on stage. For those betting on the future winners, Midnights is as safe a bet as they come at the moment…but picking Swift is still a gamble.