Who will walk up to the podium on February 12th next year at the Los Angeles' Staples Center to receive the coveted Grammys 2017 awards?
According to the Rolling Stone, Beyonce, with nine nominations is the top star who in all probability will walk up and collect the award. Close behind with eight nominations each are Drake, Rihanna and Kanye West hoping to upset the favorite.
The nominations clearly indicate a major departure from the normal as musicians seem to embrace novel forms of expression. This is what Neil Portnow, president and CEO of the Recording Academy, gathers from a reading of the nominations announced on Tuesday. Portnow told Rolling Stone, "People are perhaps feeling a little more freedom and liberation to follow their muse wherever that might take you."
Beyonce is the leader of the nominations pack with her 'Lemonade' giving her nine nominations, and featuring in all the three major categories of Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Adele, the British pop sensation, also secured nominations in all the three major categories.
The most sought after Album of the Year category is a five cornered contest with 'Lemonade,' Sturgill Simpson's 'A Sailor's Guide to Earth,' Justin Bieber's 'Purpose,' Drake's 'Views' and Adele's '25' vying for the top honor.
Beyonce's chances of winning the top honor could be diminished by the challenge posed by Adele and Justin Bieber, whose entries are considered in the 2017 awards despite them being released in 2015 as they were released after the cutoff for the 2016 awards were announced.
The Washington Post reports that while Beyonce and Adele are the two favorites, the dark horse could be Drake with 'Views.' Drake's eight nominations include rap/sung performance for "Hotline Bling" and record of the year and pop duo/group performance for 'Work' with Rihanna.
While Rihanna's eight nominations include urban contemporary album for "Anti," Kanye West's eight nominations include best rap song and rap/sung performance for 'Famous' and best rap album 'The Life Of Pablo.'
