Grammys set to get a taste of Lemonade

New York: Diva Beyonce lad nominations for the Grammy Awards with nods in nine categories, the Recording Academy announced on Tuesday. Beyonce was followed at eight nominations each by Drake, Rihanna and-after a change in Grammy rules to consider streaming-only releases-Kanye West.

Adele and Beyonce each won nominations in three of the four top Grammy categories setting the stage for a battle between the two singers to dominate music’s biggest awards. Adele and Beyonce were each nominated for Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the Grammys, which will be held on February 12.

Along with Adele’s blockbuster 25 and Beyonce’s Lemonade, nominees for Album of the Year were pop celebrity Justin Bieber’s Purpose, rapper Drake’s Views and-in the biggest surprise-alternative country singer Sturgill Simpson’s A Sailor’s Guide to Earth. Lemonade tackles themes of race and female identity.

Beyonce now has 62 Grammy nominations across her work as a solo artist and as part of Destiny’s Child making her the fourth most-nominated artist ever. She has won 20 trophies altogether although she has yet to clinch the album of the year prize having been beaten to the title by Beck in 2015 much to the disgust of West, who stormed the stage in protest.

Making Grammy history is Chicago-born musician Chance The Rapper, whose album Coloring Book is the first streaming-only record to be recognised by the Recording Academy. He achieves seven nominations, including best new artist, without ever releasing a physical album or digital download. If Adele wins, she will become only the second woman to receive the best album prize twice after Taylor Swift.

Notably absent from the shortlist is David Bowie, who was tipped to win for his critically-acclaimed Blackstar album. The record does make an appearance in the best alternative album category as does Radiohead’s A Moon Shaped Pool.

Beyonce leads Nominations:

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• Beyonce, Lemonade
• Adele, 25
• Justin Bieber, Purpose
• Drake, Views
• Sturgill Simpson, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth

RECORD OF THE YEAR

• Beyonce, Formation
• Adele, Hello
• Lukas Graham, 7 Years
• Rihanna featuring Drake, Work
• Twenty One Pilots, Stressed Out