Louder: Your ultimate Grammy guide
Plus: Hank Azaria and Michael Shannon, Greenland’s biggest band and more
Louder
January 31, 2026

The Grammys are upon us yet again, and the NYT pop music team is here to guide you through all the notable nominees and major story lines before we go live Sunday afternoon. (Don’t forget, the preshow starts at 3:30 p.m. Eastern, and nearly all of the awards are handed out there. We’ll understand if you choose to join us closer to the 8 p.m. prime-time broadcast.) Ben Sisario set the stakes, Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli made predictions, Amanda Webster compiled great photography of the main players, Lindsay Zoladz introduced the best new artists and Niela Orr put a spotlight on one of them (Leon Thomas, who has six nominations).

And Melena Ryzik sat down with two decorated actors — Hank Azaria and Michael Shannon — who have been paying tribute to their heroes: Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe. The two chatted for the first time about their approaches to singing these frontmen’s songs onstage and how they got into all of this in the first place.

A man in sunglasses, a brown top and green pants and hat sits with his hands clasped.

Myles Loftin for The New York Times

R&B May Have a Major Grammys Night. Leon Thomas Is Ready.

The 32-year-old performer has spent years coming up as a singer and songwriter. On Sunday, he’ll compete for two top awards, album of the year and best new artist.

By Niela Orr

A close-up of a woman smiling while resting her hands on the sides of her face.

Damien Maloney for The New York Times

Meet the Grammys’ Best New Artist Nominees

Prepare for the awards on Sunday with a primer on one of the four biggest categories, featuring Olivia Dean, Sombr, Addison Rae and more.

By Lindsay Zoladz

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Popcast

Bad Bunny vs. Kendrick Lamar vs. Lady Gaga! Who Should Win at the Grammys.

The 2026 awards, airing Sunday on CBS, propose a few different ideas about the state of contemporary pop. Here’s who we prefer among the nominees.

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50 MIN LISTEN

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The New York Times

A Closer Look at the Grammys’ Top Nominees

Superstars like Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga are returning to the awards, while newcomers including Olivia Dean and Addison Rae will be celebrating their first nominations.

Fans Are So Obsessed With ‘KPop Demon Hunters,’ They Are Learning Korean

Across the country, Americans who love K-pop and K-dramas are flocking to Korean language classes.

By Amy Qin

Lauryn Hill sings into a microphone onstage, waring a large red hat and a boxy jacket.

Lauryn Hill Will Lead Grammy Tribute to Roberta Flack and D’Angelo

The artist, who dominated the awards in 1999, will return to the Grammy stage to honor an inspiration and a collaborator.

By Ben Sisario

8 Songs We’re Talking About This Week

J. Cole addressed the Kendrick-Drake feud, and Bruce Springsteen whipped up an instant response to the chaos in Minneapolis.

By Jon Pareles

A man in a white tank top plays an electric guitar and sings into a microphone on the "Saturday Night Live" stage.

Geese Gives ‘Saturday Night Live’ Viewers Something to Talk About

The buzzy Brooklyn band brought its off-kilter aesthetic to network TV this weekend, with performances that were both confounding and audacious.

By Lindsay Zoladz

Five men stand close together against a natural backdrop.

Abel Berthelsen

Greenland’s Biggest Band Is Thrust Into an Uneasy Spotlight

With President Trump threatening to seize the territory, curious listeners have discovered its poppy rock group Nanook.

By Christian Kriticos

In a film scene, an older couple wearing light coats sit in seats on what looks like an upscale bus.

How Did a 2017 Song Get a 2026 Oscar Nomination?

“Sweet Dreams of Joy,” from the documentary “Viva Verdi!,” was indeed eligible under academy rules even if it was recorded nearly 10 years ago. Here’s how.

By Esther Zuckerman

OBITUARY

A man with a construction hat covering his dreads sits at his large drum set.

Markus Cuff/Corbis, via Getty Images

Sly Dunbar, Whose Drumming Brought Complex Beats to Reggae, Dies at 73

As one half of the famed rhythm duo Sly and Robbie, he played with some of the biggest names in music, including Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger.

By Clay Risen

NEWS

Wynton Marsalis, wearing a blue suit, plays a trumpet with one hand while next to other brass musicians.

Wynton Marsalis, Founder of Jazz at Lincoln Center, to Step Down

After 40 years with the organization, the trumpeter and impresario will end his role as managing and artistic director in July 2027.

By Robin Pogrebin

Bruce Springsteen standing outside and smiling slightly.

Springsteen Releases ‘Streets of Minneapolis,’ a Song Protesting ICE

The lyrics criticize President Trump and include references to Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were fatally shot by federal agents this month.

By Michaela Towfighi

Ye standing outside in a black T-shirt and black sunglasses.

Ye Apologizes for Antisemitic Behavior, Again

The artist formerly known as Kanye West, who first apologized in 2023 before taking it back, said a four-month manic episode in 2025 had led him to embrace swastikas and Hitler.

By Derrick Bryson Taylor and Ellen Barry

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