Grammys Record of the Year predictions: Likely nominees include Doja Cat, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and more

The Grammy for Record of the Year, most recently won by Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” celebrates great musicianship and craft, honoring not only the artist but the producers and engineers of a song. This year eight songs (two fewer than last year) will be lucky enough to manage nominations in the category, moving one step closer to a possible win. Let’s take a look at the main contenders.

Just like in Song of the Year, there are three locks. Taylor Swift is this year’s biggest artist, so “Anti-Hero” is on track for an easy nomination here. The song might also challenge for the win, as it’s one of Swift’s biggest hits. It spent eight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100, received acclaim for its production and has been one of the longest-lasting hits of the year. Another lock is Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers,” which is arguably the year’s biggest pop hit. While Cyrus has yet to be fully embraced by the academy, it’s going to be impossible for them to ignore this massive hit. Finally, SZA’s “Kill Bill” is not only one of the year’s biggest successes, but also the main single off of her blockbuster album, “SOS.”

That leaves us with five spots, and oh boy there’s competition for those. There’s a good chance Doja Cat takes one of those with “Paint The Town Red,” which became an instant smash and is arguably her biggest hit to date. The track broke streaming records while simultaneously being a radio hit, and it sat at the top of the Hot 100 for three weeks. It also helps that the song was peaking around voting time, so there was likely no fatigue for it and academy members would certainly have been aware of it. If she achieves the nom, Doja Cat will have received four consecutive Record of the Year nominations, an unprecedented feat in Grammy history.

Another song that’s likely in is Billie Eilish’s “What Was I Made For?” She’s a Grammy darling with two previous wins in this category (“Bad Guy” and “Everything I Wanted”), and this “Barbie” hit is pure Grammy bait. It’s an emotional ballad, and its association with the biggest movie of the year will surely help it too. You might also want to bet on another “Barbie” song: Dua Lipa’s infectious “Dance the Night,” which has been yet another top-10 hit for the Brit star. To round out the major pop contenders, there’s Olivia Rodrigo’s “Vampire,” a big comeback hit for the young singer-songwriter following the success of her previous album “Sour.”

Country music has dominated the music industry this year, so the genre could be present in this lineup. The best bets are four songs. First, Luke Combs’s “Fast Car,” which has shown incredible longevity on the charts. It’s a cover of a Grammy-winning classic too, which could further help it. There’s also “I Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan and past Album of the Year winner Kacey Musgraves. While the song hasn’t taken off on radio, it’s a huge streaming hit and well placed on the ballot (it’s listed high up on the alphabetical list under Zach Bryan’s last name).

Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” was a 16-week number-one hit, breaking the record for the most weeks on top by a lone artist. Wallen is, admittedly, not the most Grammy-appealing artist, but the song might be too big not to include. Finally, keep an eye out for Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile’s “Dear Insecurity” as this year’s potential Americana pick, continuing the streak after Carlile’s “Right On Time” and “You and Me on the Rock” and Black Pumas’ “Colors” over the last three years.

Among other contenders, Jon Batiste proved he is a force to be reckoned with at the Grammys, so his sonically powerful “Worship” is for sure a possibility. Batiste is also crossing over with a more pop-leaning sound, which could win over more voters than the last time he was nominated for Record of the Year for “Freedom.” Metro Boomin, The Weeknd, and 21 Savage’s “Creepin’” was one of the year’s biggest hits, so it’s possible its crossover appeal translates into a nomination for Record of the Year. It might be a bit forgotten by now, but Metro’s been campaigning, covering Billboard’s special Grammy issue. Last but certainly not least, you shouldn’t count out Foo Fighters, who’ve had a big year with their most acclaimed album, “But Here We Are.” The lead single, “Rescued,” could very well be a return to the big four for the rock legends.

My Predictions: Brandy Clark and Brandi Carlile (“Dear Insecurity”), Luke Combs (“Fast Car”), Miley Cyrus (“Flowers”), Doja Cat (“Paint the Town Red”), Billie Eilish (“What Was I Made For?”), Olivia Rodrigo (“Vampire”), Taylor Swift (“Anti Hero”), SZA (“Kill Bill”)

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