The past few Grammy ceremonies have been quite historic for Beyoncé. At the 2021 ceremony, she became the most-awarded woman in Grammy history; at the 2023 show, she became the most-awarded person, regardless of gender; and in 2025, she became the first Black artist to win best country album and the first Black woman to win album of the year as a lead artist since Lauryn Hill in 1999.
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Will she make history once again with a 100th career nomination this year?
Best R&B Solo Performance
Bey certainly has a strong shot at pulling it off with “Morning Dew (Donk),” which is the leading contender for best R&B solo performance this year. A years-old leaked demo that found new life on TikTok and later became the lead single for Queen Bey’s 20th anniversary re-release of her sophomore studio album B’Day, “Morning Dew” is one of the year’s biggest R&B hits, reaching No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping two radio charts.
From 1959-1968 and 2012-2026, this category combined female and male artists and honored both collaborative and solo performances. During that time, Beyoncé became the most-nominated (four, alongside Ledisi) and most-awarded (two) female artist in the category’s history. During the active years of the best female R&B vocal performance category (1968-2011), Beyoncé won twice from five nominations.
Three other female artists are sure bets for a nod here: Tems (“What You Need”), Jill Scott (“Pressha”) and Kehlani (“Out the Window”). Kehlani is the defending champion in this category; she took home the gold for “Folded” last year, and her name will likely appear across the R&B field come Nov. 16, thanks to her acclaimed self-titled set. “Out the Window” is her entry here, and the powerhouse ballad is practically catnip for this category.
Scott’s Adult R&B Airplay-topping “Pressha” will ride the momentum of her To Whom This May Concern LP, and the neo-soul icon earned several nominations in the now-retired categories of best female R&B vocal performance (five) and best urban/alternative performance (two wins). A two-time Grammy winner, Tems made her debut in the R&B field with her best R&B song nod for “Burning” at the 2025 ceremony. Already a leading rap field contender this year, thanks to her featured turn on Dave’s “Raindance,” Tems will likely show up in this category for “What You Need,” which hit No. 29 on the Hot 100 and topped a pair of radio charts.
Say those four ladies are locked — who gets the fifth slot? Kehlani’s “Folded” edged out Leon Thomas’ “Mutt (Live from NPR’s Tiny Desk)” in this category last year, and Thomas could very well return with “Just How You Are.” Coco Jones earned back-to-back nods here in 2024 (“ICU”) and 2025 (“Here We Go”), and she won the first time. She could reap a third bid for “Love Me Through” this year, though it lacked the commercial success of “ICU” or “Here We Go.” Victoria Monét was also nominated here in 2024, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her make the final lineup this year with “Let Me,” which spent three weeks atop Adult R&B Airplay. Daniel Caesar is a four-time nominee and previous winner here, so don’t count out his “Who Knows,” either.
Bruno Mars has won both times he’s been nominated here, whether as a soloist (“That’s What I Like” in 2018) or as a part of Silk Sonic (“Leave the Door Open” in 2022). Both of those songs were Hot 100 No. 1 hits — but this year, he’s competing with the Romantic deep cut “Why You Wanna Fight?” Jhené Aiko is also a two-time nominee in this category. PJ Morton, an R&B Grammy fave, picked up a nod here for “First Began” in 2019. He could return with “Protect My Heart” this year. Chris Brown has been nominated here for each of the past three years, and he could coast through with “Obvious” this time around.
Several Grammy-approved artists are seeking their first nominations in this particular category. Tank earned a nomination for best male R&B vocal performance in 2008, and he could make his debut in the current iteration of the category with “Yes.” Notably, Tank’s been quite present this year, between his hit R&B Money podcast, supporting Usher & Chris Brown’s R&B Tour, and his starring turn in Hulu’s Reasonable Doubt — and, later this year, in Netflix’s The Gospel of Christmas. In fact, “Yes” helped the star break a tie with Charlie Wilson to become the male artist with the most chart-toppers in Adult R&B Airplay history. Both Masego (“Heaven”) and Rapsody (“Apple Juice”) could surprise here, as could Durand Bernarr with the vocal tour de force that is “Am I Okay?!”
Here are some other titles to look out for: “Richest” (Muni Long); “Reclusive” (Elmiene); “Against Me” (Kelela); “Jezebel” (GIVĒON); “Nowhere Fast” (Lucky Daye); “Might Just” (Ella Mai); “No Jodeci” (Kenyon Dixon); “Butterflies” (Brent Faiyaz); “Fly” (Tone Stith)
Our Fearless Forecast
Our predictions are: “Morning Dew (DONK)” (Beyoncé), “What You Need” (Tems), “Out the Window” (Kehlani), “Pressha” (Jill Scott) and “Obvious” (Chris Brown).
Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance
This year, the Recording Academy added a new category recognizing “excellence in contemporary R&B performances for works by established duos or groups, as well as collaborative works between solo artists, duos and groups.” This category has a predecessor in best R&B performance by a duo or group with vocals, which was presented under different names between 1967 and 2011. Nonetheless, we’re all essentially going in blind here.
Two things to note: 1) this category is intended to honor more contemporary recordings, as traditional-leaning entries are eligible for best traditional R&B performance, and 2) artists can receive up to two nominations, provided at least one is with a different co-nominee.
Leon Thomas went on a monster feature run this year, and he has a plethora of entries: “Friends Again” (with Baby Rose); “All That Matters” (with 6LACK & AZ Chike); “Fallin” (with Chris Brown); “Miss U 2” (with Ty Dolla $ign); “Sweet Nuthins” (with Kehlani); “Move It Along” (with Sasha Keable); “Fool Me Once” (with GIVĒON) and “Fly U Out” (with Lucky Daye). If anyone can manage two nods here, it’s Thomas, and his strongest bets are probably “Sweet Nuthins” and “Fallin,” with “Fly U Out” a distant third.
In terms of established R&B groups, FLO has the strongest shot with “Cry Ugly,” though GENA (the duo of Liv.e and Karriem Riggins) could surprise with “Lead It Up.” Durand Bernarr could pop up here with “AYO!,” a standout collaboration with BJ the Chicago Kid, a seven-time Grammy nominee. Ravyn Lenae and Doechii have a formidable contender with “Babygirl,” as do Jill Scott and JID with “To B Honest.” Mariah the Scientist was shockingly snubbed for “Burning Blue” last year, and voters could rectify that with a nod for either her Fridayy (“Death Do Us Part”) or Summer Walker (“Robbed You”) duets.
Anderson .Paak, a nine-time Grammy winner, has two solid entries with “Play It Again” (with Mariah Carey) and “Can’t Get Enough” (with Alissia). And five-time-winner Erykah Badu could show up with either “To the Moon” (with Steve Lacy and The Alchemist) or “Witch Doctor” (with The Alchemist). There’s also Wale’s “Overthink,” which features critical darling Elmiene, as well as “Mess,” a collaboration between Grammy favorites PJ Morton and Keyon Harrold. It’s also worth keeping an eye on “Shouldn’t Have” (The War and Treaty) and “Move” (Tank and the Bangas & Lucky Daye).
Other titles to look out for include “Ain’t U Tired” (Jessie Reyez & Muni Long), “Boogie’s In My Soul” (Chaka Khan & Snoop Dogg), “47th St.” (Lalah Hathaway & J. Ivy), “OOWEE” (Camper, Jill Scott & Ty Dolla $ign), “Not Sorry” (Moonchild, Jill Scott & Rapsody), “Always” (Tiana Major9 & Yebba), “Company” (Ari Lennox & Buju Banton) and “I Think You’re Special” (Justin Bieber & Tems)
Our Fearless Forecast
Our predictions are: “Sweet Nuthins” (Kehlani & Leon Thomas), “Fallin” (Chris Brown & Leon Thomas), “2 B Honest” (Jill Scott & JID), “Cry Ugly” (FLO) and “Babygirl” (Ravyn Lenae & Doechii).
Best Traditional R&B Performance
Three artists currently lead the odds in this category: Jill Scott (“Beautiful People”), Kenyon Dixon (“I Choose You” and RAYE (“Goodbye Henry.,” with Al Green).
Scott is poised for a major Grammy night, and this category should be one of her easier battles. Dixon is a three-time nominee here, and “I’d Choose You” is a strong entry. And never mind the fact that RAYE has had the biggest year out of all of this category’s contenders; who, in their right mind, is counting out 11-time Grammy winner Al Green?
We eyed The Womack Sisters as a surprise nominee for best R&B album, but the sister trio’s best shot is truthfully in this category with “If I Let You,” which currently sits just outside the top 10 of Adult Alternative Airplay (No. 11). Durnad Bernarr earned a bid here last year for “Here We Are,” and he could repeat with his stirring “I Found Myself.” Similarly, Lalah Hathaway, who was nominated last year and has won this category three times, is in contention with “Can’t Let Go.” Leon Thomas won here last year with “Vibes Don’t Lie,” and he could be back with “My Muse.” PJ Morton, a four-time nominee and two-time winner here, is also competing with “Listened to You.”
Bruno Mars is seeking his first bid in this category with “Dance with Me,” and the powerhouse duo of Elmiene and Raphael Saadiq could make the final lineup with “Light By the Window.” October London could also make an appearance with “Silent Treatment,” which topped Adult R&B Airplay. Masego also has a good chance of landing a nod for “Breathe.”
Coco Jones, who was nominated here in 2024 for “Simple” (with Babyface), submitted “Luvagirl.” Several female acts could be first-time nominees in this category, including Ravyn Lenae (“Never Let Me Go”), Jai’Len Josey (“I Believe”), FLO (“I Can’t Be High Around You Anymore”), Ari Lennox (“Under the Moon”) and Summer Walker (“1-800-Heartbreak,” solo version).
Here are some other titles to look out for: “Garden” (Alabama Shakes); “Pieces” (Leven Kali); “In Your Feelings” (Mariah Carey); “Valentine” (Erykah Badu & The Alchemist); “Whole World” (Tank and the Bangas & Ledisi); Eric Bellinger (“I Need Help”) and “100” (Ella Mai).
Our Fearless Forecast
Our predictions are: “Beautiful People” (Jill Scott), “Can’t Let Go” (Lalah Hathaway), “Goodbye Henry.” (RAYE & Al Green), “I Found Myself” (Durand Bernarr) and “Listened to You” (PJ Morton).
Best R&B Song
While best traditional R&B performance, best R&B solo performance and best R&B collaboration or duo/group performance honor the artist, best R&B song is presented to the songwriters.
Beyoncé did not enter “Morning Dew” in this category, so who’s closest to a lock? Once again, probably Tems (“What You Need”), Jill Scott (“Pressha”) and Kehlani (“Out the Window”). From there, things get a bit tricky. In recent years, this category has favored crossover R&B hits, but there aren’t too many of those this year.
Victoria Monét, a two-time nominee here, could return with “Let Me”; Leon Thomas and Summer Walker both lost to Kehlani in this category last year, but they could earn another shot at the gold with “My Muse” and “No,” respectively. Thomas could also pop up via “Fallin,” his Chris Brown collaboration. PJ Morton, a four-time nominee here, could also get in with “Mutual.”
Similar to his history in best R&B solo performance, Bruno Mars won both times he was nominated in this category, for “That’s What I Like” (2018) and “Leave the Door Open” (2022). This year, he entered “Dance With Me,” which didn’t make a fraction of the impact “Like” and “Leave” did. Masego, a best R&B album frontrunner for Fix Your Face, could also snag a nod for his emotional “Breathe.”
Muni Long (“Richest”) and Durand Bernarr (“My Life”), both previous nominees in this category, also have strong chances. Rapsody, who won best melodic rap performance alongside Erykah Badu in 2025, is entered here with “Apple Juice.” Considering the song’s nifty sample of the late D’Angelo’s “One Mo’ Gin,” it’s certainly worth keeping an eye on. There are also two songs from rising female artists worth flagging: Jai’Len Josey’s “Love Aint S—t” and Momo Boyd’s “Oops.” The former is the first link-up between Grammy-winning songwriters The-Dream and Tricky Stewart in almost a decade; the latter marked the Infinity Song member’s first top 15 hit on Rhythmic Airplay.
Other titles to look out for: “If I Let You” (The Womack Sisters), “Friends Again” (Baby Rose & Leon Thomas), “One Love” (Kem), “Lead It Up” (GENA), “Jezebel” (GIVĒON), “I Wish You Were Here” (Q Marsden), “Silent Treatment” (October London), “Ain’t U Tired” (Jessie Reyez & Muni Long), “Love Me Through” (Coco Jones), “Who Knows” (Daniel Caesar), “100” (Ella Mai), “Fly” (Tone Stith), “Bite the Bait” (Rochelle Jordan), “Don’t Say Goodbye” (The War and Treaty)
Our Fearless Forecast
Our predictions are: “What You Need” (Tems), “Pressha” (Jill Scott), “Out the Window” (Kehlani), “My Life” (Durand Bernarr) and “Let Me” (Victoria Monét).
