The 12 months in music already belonged to Put up Malone nicely earlier than he scored the longest-running No. 1 tune of the 12 months (thus far) with the lead single off his upcoming album, the Morgan Wallen-assisted “I Had Some Assist.” In an unlikely coincidence, he had been summoned by the musical gods of latest music — Beyoncé and Taylor Swift — to seem on each of their current albums, which have been launched three weeks aside in March and April.
You may name Malone the luckiest artist on the planet, however getting the decision from Bey and Tay solely proves he’s acquired the particular sauce that might flip into potential Grammy gold for the rapper/singer/songwriter/guitarist/rising nation star who has 10 profession nominations with no wins.
THR breaks down how Malone, who holds the file for many diamond-certified songs in music historical past, might lastly be victorious on the Grammys.
A TAYLOR-MADE WIN
Due to his starry collaborations and F-1 Trillion, his first nation album that’s dropping Aug. 16, Malone might simply be the highest contender on the 2025 Grammys with nominations going into the double digits. 4 of them may very well be for “Fortnight” alone, the lead single and No. 1 hit from Swift’s The Tortured Poets Division that includes Malone. Swift most certainly will submit the tune for key awards, and it might earn nominations for file of the 12 months, tune of the 12 months (Malone co-wrote it), greatest music video and greatest pop duo/group efficiency. Within the latter class, “Fortnight” is without doubt one of the frontrunners.
THE BEYONCÉ EFFECT
Although Malone’s look on Beyoncé’s “Levii’s Denims” wasn’t launched as a single, it nonetheless reached No. 16 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 and is one in all Cowboy Carter‘s greatest and most streamed tracks. Since Queen Bey has a very good variety of company on her venture, she has choices in the case of Grammy submissions. For collaborations, her primary precedence can be “II Most Needed,” her epic duet with Miley Cyrus, which she might undergo greatest nation duo/efficiency or greatest pop/duo efficiency. As soon as she decides that, she might discover a house for “Levii’s Denims” with Malone — and it might give him one other shot at a Grammy.
And who is aware of, possibly the icon will lastly shock us along with her particular model of elevated visuals, enabling her to additionally submit for greatest music video, which might end in one other nom, or win, for Malone.
COUNTRY BOY
Then there are the nominations Malone might earn for his personal album and its singles. F-1 Trillion‘s August launch date makes it eligible for album of the 12 months and greatest nation album. The album’s 18 songs — that includes high-profile nation music stars — can be eligible for a number of awards.
The apparent alternative can be “I Had Some Assist,” which not solely topped the all-genre Sizzling 100 chart however led the Sizzling Nation Songs chart for seven weeks. The tune, that includes Wallen, might rating noms like file of the 12 months, tune of the 12 months, greatest nation tune, greatest nation duo/group efficiency and greatest music video.
However right here’s why Crew Malone ought to think about different songs. On the Grammys, bro-country sorts can obtain a lukewarm reception, and Wallen stays ice chilly with the Recording Academy. Regardless of being a record-breaking, chart-topping streaming juggernaut, Malone has missed out on Grammy noms since he launched his über-successful 2018 debut. And when his hit “Final Night time” — the second longest-running No. 1 tune in Billboard historical past — picked up a nom earlier this 12 months, it was in greatest nation tune, which didn’t embrace Wallen as a result of he didn’t write on it. It’s like voters have been giving the tune the one Grammy nom that might exclude him.
Malone has different nice prospects for key nation awards. He’s launched singles that includes Luke Combs and Blake Shelton, acts who haven’t received Grammys but however have earned a number of profession nominations. My best choice can be “California Sober,” that includes Chris Stapleton, a Grammy darling who has received 10 honors and infrequently loses nation awards. One other sturdy contender: “Have the Coronary heart” with Dolly Parton, whose 54 noms makes her the second-most-nominated feminine act in historical past behind Beyoncé’s 88 nods. Parton has received 10 Grammys.
Malone’s album additionally options Hank Williams Jr., Tim McGraw, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson and Brad Paisley. No matter what he submits, he’s in good standing with the nation group, a bunch that isn’t all the time welcoming to outsiders. On the Grammys, for instance, the nation committee wouldn’t enable Beyoncé to submit “Daddy Classes” from Lemonade and categorised Kacey Musgraves’ Star-Crossed and Brandi Carlile’s “Proper on Time” as pop. Beyoncé, Musgraves and Carlile have made it clear they weren’t happy with the rejection of their submissions within the class.
However Malone won’t have that drawback, with nation radio being extraordinarily supportive. His solely subject is likely to be having an excessive amount of in competition, and he might discover himself competing towards himself in classes like file and tune of the 12 months. Not a foul Grammy drawback to have.
This story first appeared within the Aug. 14 subject of The Hollywood Reporter journal. Click on right here to subscribe.