For a show that's never been shy about celebrating itself, Saturday Night Live was bound to lean hard into its 50th season. But the results were as mixed as ever.
Beyoncé, who led all artists with 11 nominations, won the Grammy for album of the year. Kendrick Lamar won record and song of the year, and Chappell Roan won best new artist.
For NPR Music's hip-hop and R&B editor, no list could capture an accurate picture of the year, yet there's still value in calling out the albums that felt unignorable.
You can't always know that it's a great year for new music while it's happening, but there was a sense from the very start of 2024 that we were in for a ride.
Stephen Thompson on the biggest surprises, trends and questions to be found in the Grammy nominations, plus the most interesting stories to be found beyond the major categories.
With 11 nominations for Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé now has more than any artist in Grammy history. Her competition this year includes Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter and Post Malone.
Summer feels infinite, but also rushed in its impermanence. Roséwave bottles that infinity with a soundtrack that spans generations and genres of music.
The songs we love from the first half of the year span a wide emotional and musical range, from wild percussive romps to raw pleas for empathy to Beyoncé's command to leave it all on the dance floor.
The songs we love from the first half of the year span a wide emotional and musical range, from wild percussive romps to raw pleas for empathy to Beyoncé's command to leave it all on the dance floor.
The songs we love from the first half of the year span a wide emotional and musical range, from wild percussive romps to raw pleas for empathy to Beyoncé's command to leave it all on the dance floor.
A cold and methodical ranking of Saturday Night Live performances by Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Young Thug, Arcade Fire, Saweetie, LCD Soundsystem, Camila Cabello and more.
A cold and methodical ranking of Saturday Night Live performances by Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Young Thug, Arcade Fire, Saweetie, LCD Soundsystem, Camila Cabello and more.
