61st Annual Grammy Awards


The 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony was held on February 10, 2019, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Singer-songwriter Alicia Keys hosted. During her opening monologue, Keys brought out Lady Gaga, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jennifer Lopez, and former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama, each of whom spoke about the impact that music had on their lives.
The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, which ran from October 1, 2017, to September 30, 2018. Nominations were announced on December 7, 2018.
Dolly Parton was honored as the MusiCares Person of the Year two days prior on February 8, 2019.
Kendrick Lamar received the most nominations, with eight. Childish Gambino and Kacey Musgraves tied for the most wins of the night with four each. Childish Gambino did not attend the ceremony and became the first major award winner to be absent since Amy Winehouse in 2008. "This Is America" producer Ludwig Göransson and recording engineer Riley Mackin accepted the Record of the Year Grammy on Gambino's behalf.

Nominations announcement

Nominations were to be announced on December 5, 2018, but were delayed to Friday, December 7, 2018 following the death and state funeral of former President George H.W. Bush.

Performers

ArtistSong
Camila Cabello
J Balvin
Ricky Martin
Young Thug
Arturo Sandoval
"Havana"
"Pégate"
"Mi Gente"
Shawn Mendes
Miley Cyrus
"In My Blood"
Kacey Musgraves"Rainbow"
Janelle Monáe"Make Me Feel"
"Django Jane"
"Pynk"
Post Malone
Red Hot Chili Peppers
"Stay"
"Rockstar"
"Dark Necessities"
Kacey Musgraves
Katy Perry
Dolly Parton
Miley Cyrus
Maren Morris
Little Big Town
Tribute to Dolly Parton
"Here You Come Again"
"Jolene"
"After the Gold Rush"
"Red Shoes"
"9 to 5"
H.E.R."Hard Place"
Cardi B
Chloe Flower
"Money"
Alicia Keys"Maple Leaf Rag"
"Killing Me Softly with His Song"
"Lucid Dreams"
"Unforgettable"
"Clocks"
"Use Somebody"
"Boo'd Up"
"In My Feelings"
"Doo Wop (That Thing)"
"Empire State of Mind"
Dan + Shay"Tequila"
Diana Ross"The Best Years of My Life"
"Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)"
Lady Gaga
Mark Ronson
Andrew Wyatt
Anthony Rossomando
"Shallow"
Travis Scott
James Blake
Philip Bailey
"Stop Trying to Be God"
"No Bystanders"
Jennifer Lopez
Smokey Robinson
Alicia Keys
Ne-Yo
Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration
"Dancing in the Street"
"Please Mr. Postman"
"Money (That's What I Want)"
"Do You Love Me"
"ABC"
"My Girl"
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"
"War"
"Square Biz"
"Another Star"
Brandi Carlile"The Joke"
Chloe x HalleTribute to Donny Hathaway
"Where Is the Love"
St. Vincent
Dua Lipa
"Masseduction"
"One Kiss"
Fantasia
Andra Day
Yolanda Adams
Tribute to Aretha Franklin
"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman"

Presenters

Premiere ceremony

Listed in no particular order.

Nominations and winners

Winners are highlighted in '''Bold'''

General

Record of the Year">Grammy Award for Record of the Year">Record of the Year

Album of the Year">Grammy Award for Album of the Year">Album of the Year

Song of the Year">Grammy Award for Song of the Year">Song of the Year

Best New Artist">Grammy Award for Best New Artist">Best New Artist

Pop

;Best Pop Solo Performance"Joanne (Where Do You Think You're Goin'?)" – Lady Gaga
;Best Pop Duo/Group Performance"Shallow" – Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper
;Best Traditional Pop Vocal AlbumMy Way – Willie NelsonLove Is Here to Stay – Tony Bennett & Diana KrallNat King Cole & Me – Gregory PorterStandards (Deluxe) – SealThe Music...The Mem'ries...The Magic! – Barbra Streisand
;Best Pop Vocal Album
Sweetener – Ariana GrandeCamila – Camila CabelloMeaning of Life – Kelly ClarksonShawn Mendes – Shawn MendesBeautiful Trauma – P!nkReputation – Taylor Swift

Dance/Electronic Music

;Best Dance Recording
;Best Dance/Electronic Album

Contemporary Instrumental Music

;Best Contemporary Instrumental AlbumSteve Gadd Band – Steve Gadd BandThe Emancipation Procrastination – Christian Scott aTunde AdjuahModern Lore – Julian LageLaid Black – Marcus MillerProtocol IV – Simon Phillips

Rock

;Best Rock Performance"When Bad Does Good" – Chris Cornell
;Best Metal Performance"Electric Messiah" – High on Fire
;Best Rock Song"Masseduction"
;Best Rock Album

Alternative

;Best Alternative Music Album

R&B

;Best R&B Performance"Best Part" – H.E.R. featuring Daniel Caesar
;Best Traditional R&B Performance"Bet Ain't Worth the Hand" – Leon Bridges"How Deep Is Your Love" – PJ Morton featuring Yebba
;Best R&B Song"Boo'd Up"
;Best Urban Contemporary AlbumEverything Is Love – The CartersThe Kids Are Alright – Chloe x HalleChris Dave and the Drumhedz – Chris Dave and the DrumhedzWar & Leisure – MiguelVentriloquism – Meshell Ndegeocello
;Best R&B Album
H.E.R. – H.E.R.Sex & Cigarettes – Toni BraxtonGood Thing – Leon BridgesHonestly – Lalah HathawayGumbo Unplugged – PJ Morton

Rap

;Best Rap Performance"King's Dead" – Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake"Bubblin" –
;Best Rap/Sung Performance"This Is America" – Childish Gambino

;Best Rap Song"God's Plan"
;Best Rap AlbumInvasion of Privacy – Cardi BSwimming – Mac MillerVictory Lap – Nipsey HussleDaytona – Pusha TAstroworld – Travis Scott

Country

;Best Country Solo Performance"Butterflies" – Kacey Musgraves
;Best Country Duo/Group Performance"Tequila" – Dan + Shay
;Best Country Song"Space Cowboy"
;Best Country AlbumGolden Hour – Kacey MusgravesUnapologetically – Kelsea BalleriniPort Saint Joe – Brothers OsborneGirl Going Nowhere – Ashley McBrydeFrom a Room: Volume 2 – Chris Stapleton

New Age

;Best New Age AlbumOpium Moon – Opium MoonHiraeth – Lisa Gerrard & David KuckhermannBeloved – Snatam KaurMolecules of Motion – Steve RoachMoku Maluhia: Peaceful Island – Jim Kimo West

Jazz

;Best Improvised Jazz Solo"Don't Fence Me In" – John Daversa, soloist
;Best Jazz Vocal AlbumThe Window – Cécile McLorin SalvantMy Mood Is You – Freddy ColeThe Questions – Kurt EllingThe Subject Tonight Is Love – Kate McGarry with Keith Ganz & Gary VersaceIf You Really Want – Raul Midón with Metropole Orkest conducted by Vince Mendoza
;Best Jazz Instrumental Album
Emanon – The Wayne Shorter QuartetDiamond Cut – Tia FullerLive in Europe – Fred Hersch TrioSeymour Reads the Constitution! – Brad Mehldau TrioStill Dreaming – Joshua Redman, Ron Miles, Scott Colley & Brian Blade
;Best Large Jazz Ensemble AlbumAmerican Dreamers: Voices of Hope, Music of Freedom – John Daversa Big Band featuring DACA ArtistsAll About That Basie – Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty BarnhartPresence – Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big BandAll Can Work – John Hollenbeck Large EnsembleBarefoot Dances and Other Visions – Jim McNeely & The Frankfurt Radio Big Band
;Best Latin Jazz Album
Back to the Sunset – Dafnis Prieto Big BandHeart of Brazil – Eddie DanielsWest Side Story Reimagined – Bobby Sanabria Multiverse Big BandCinque – Elio VillafrancaYo Soy La Tradición – Miguel Zenón featuring Spektral Quartet

Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music

;Best Gospel Performance/Song"Never Alone" – Tori Kelly featuring Kirk Franklin
;Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song"You Say" – Lauren Daigle
;Best Gospel AlbumHiding Place – Tori KellyOne Nation Under God – Jekalyn CarrMake Room – Jonathan McReynoldsThe Other Side – The Walls GroupA Great Work – Brian Courtney Wilson
;Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
Look Up Child – Lauren DaigleHallelujah Here Below – Elevation WorshipLiving With a Fire – Jesus CultureSurrounded – Michael W. SmithSurvivor: Live from Harding Prison – Zach Williams
;Best Roots Gospel AlbumUnexpected – Jason CrabbClear Skies – Ernie Haase & Signature SoundFavorites: Revisited by Request – The IsaacsStill Standing – The MartinsLove Love Love – Gordon Mote

Latin

;Best Latin Pop AlbumSincera – Claudia BrantPrometo – Pablo AlboránMusas (Un Homenaje al Folclore Latinoamericano en Manos de Los Macorinos), Vol 2 – Natalia Lafourcade2:00 AM – Raquel SofíaVives – Carlos Vives
;Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album
Aztlán – ZoéClaroscura – AterciopeladosCOASTCITY – COASTCITYEncanto Tropical – Monsieur PerinéGourmet – Orishas
;Best Regional Mexican Music Album (Including Tejano)¡México Por Siempre! – Luis MiguelPrimero Soy Mexicana – Ángela AguilarMitad y Mitad – Calibre 50Totalmente Juan Gabriel Vol. II – Aida CuevasCruzando Borders – Los TexmaniacsLeyendas de Mi Pueblo – Mariachi Sol de Mexico de José Hernández
;Best Tropical Latin Album
Anniversary – Spanish Harlem OrchestraPa' Mi Gente – Charlie AponteLegado – Formell y Los Van VanOrquesta Akokán – Orquesta AkokánPonle Actitud – Felipe Peláez

American Roots Music

;Best American Roots Performance"The Joke" – Brandi Carlile
;Best American Roots Song"The Joke"
;Best Americana AlbumBy the Way, I Forgive You – Brandi CarlileThings Have Changed – Bettye LaVetteThe Tree of Forgiveness – John PrineThe Lonely, the Lonesome & the Gone – Lee Ann WomackOne Drop of Truth – The Wood Brothers
;Best Bluegrass Album
The Travelin' McCourys – The Travelin' McCourysPortraits in Fiddles – Mike BarnettSister Sadie II – Sister SadieRivers and Roads – The Special ConsensusNorth of Despair – Wood & Wire
;Best Traditional Blues AlbumThe Blues Is Alive and Well – Buddy GuySomething Smells Funky 'Round Here – Elvin Bishop's Big Fun TrioBenton County Relic – Cedric BurnsideNo Mercy in This Land – Ben Harper and Charlie MusselwhiteDon't You Feel My Leg – Maria Muldaur
;Best Contemporary Blues Album
Please Don't Be Dead – Fantastic NegritoHere in Babylon – Teresa James & the Rhythm TrampsCry No More – Danielle NicoleOut of the Blues – Boz ScaggsVictor Wainwright and the Train – Victor Wainwright and the Train
;Best Folk AlbumAll Ashore – Punch BrothersWhistle Down the Wind – Joan BaezBlack Cowboys – Dom FlemonsRifles & Rosary Beads – Mary GauthierWeed Garden – Iron & Wine
;Best Regional Roots Music Album
No 'Ane'i – Kalani Pe'aKreole Rock and Soul – Sean ArdoinSpyboy – Cha WaAloha from Na Hoa – Na HoaMewasinsational: Cree Round Dance Songs – Young Spirit

Reggae

;Best Reggae Album44/876 – Sting & ShaggyAs the World Turns – Black UhuruReggae Forever – EtanaRebellion Rises – Ziggy MarleyA Matter of Time – Protoje

World Music

;Best World Music AlbumFreedom – Soweto Gospel ChoirDeran – BombinoFenfo – Fatoumata DiawaraBlack Times – Seun Kuti & Egypt 80The Lost Songs of World War II – Yiddish Glory

Children's

;Best Children's AlbumAll the Sounds – Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz CatsBuilding Blocks – Tim KubartFalu's Bazaar – FaluGiants of Science – The Pop UpsThe Nation of Imagine – FRANK & DEANE

Spoken Word

;[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album|Best Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio (song)|Audio Books & Storytelling)]Faith: A Journey for All – Jimmy CarterAccessory to War – Courtney B. VanceCalypso – David SedarisCreative Quest – QuestloveThe Last Black Unicorn – Tiffany Haddish

Comedy

;Best Comedy AlbumEquanimity & The Bird Revelation – Dave ChappelleAnnihilation – Patton OswaltNoble Ape – Jim GaffiganStandup for Drummers – Fred ArmisenTamborine – Chris Rock

Musical Theater

;Best Musical Theater AlbumThe Band's Visit – Etai Benson, Adam Kantor, Katrina Lenk & Ari'el Stachel, principal soloists; Dean Sharenow & David Yazbek, producers; David Yazbek, composer & lyricist Carousel – Renée Fleming, Alexander Gemignani, Joshua Henry, Lindsay Mendez & Jessie Mueller, principal soloists; Steven Epstein, producer Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert – Sara Bareilles, Alice Cooper, Ben Daniels, Victor Dixon, Erik Grönwall, Jin Ha, John Legend, Norm Lewis & Jason Tam, principal soloists; Andrew Lloyd Webber & Harvey Mason Jr., producers My Fair Lady – Lauren Ambrose, Norbert Leo Butz & Harry Hadden-Paton, principal soloists; Van Dean, David Lai, & Ted Sperling, producers Once on This Island – Phillip Boykin, Merle Dandridge, Quentin Earl Darrington, Hailey Kilgore, Kenita R. Miller, Alex Newell, Isaac Powell & Lea Salonga, principal soloists; Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty & Elliot Scheiner, producers

Music for Visual Media

;Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual MediaThe Greatest Showman – Hugh Jackman
;Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Black Panther – Ludwig Göransson, composerBlade Runner 2049 – Benjamin Wallfisch & Hans Zimmer, composersCoco – Michael Giacchino, composerThe Shape of Water – Alexandre Desplat, composerStar Wars: The Last Jedi – John Williams, composer
;Best Song Written for Visual Media"Shallow"

Composing

;Best Instrumental Composition"Blut und Boden (Blood and Soil)"

Arranging

;Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella"Stars and Stripes Forever"
;Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals"Spiderman Theme"

Packaging

;Best Recording PackageMasseduction
  • * Willo Perron, art director Be the Cowboy
  • * Mary Banas, art director
  • Love Yourself: Tear
  • * Doohee Lee, art director The Offering
  • * Qing-Yang Xiao, art director Well Kept Thing
  • * Adam Moore, art director
;Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition PackageSqueeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic

Historical

;Best Historical AlbumVoices of Mississippi: Artists and Musicians Documented by William Ferris
  • * William Ferris, April Ledbetter & Steven Lance Ledbetter, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineer Any Other Way
  • * Rob Bowman, Douglas McGowan, Rob Sevier & Ken Shipley, compilation producers; Jeff Lipton & Maria Rice, mastering engineer At the Louisiana Hayride Tonight...
  • * Martin Hawkins, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer Battleground Korea: Songs and Sounds of America's Forgotten War
  • * Hugo Keesing, compilation producer; Christian Zwarg, mastering engineer A Rhapsody in Blue: The Extraordinary Life of Oscar Levant
  • * Robert Russ, compilation producer; Andreas K. Meyer & Rebekah Wineman, mastering engineers

Production, Non-Classical

;Best Engineered Album, Non-ClassicalColors
;Producer of the Year, Non-ClassicalPharrell Williams
;Best Remixed Recording"Walking Away"

Production, Immersive Audio

;Best Immersive Audio AlbumEye in the Sky: 35th Anniversary Edition
  • * Alan Parsons, surround mix engineer; Dave Donnelly, PJ Olsson & Alan Parsons, surround mastering engineers; Alan Parsons, surround producer Folketoner
  • * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer Seven Words from the Cross
  • * Daniel Shores, surround mix engineer; Daniel Shores, surround mastering engineer; Dan Merceruio, surround producer Sommerro: Ujamaa & the Iceberg
  • * Morten Lindberg, surround mix engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround mastering engineer; Morten Lindberg, surround producer Symbol
  • * Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround mix engineers; Darcy Proper, surround mastering engineer; Prashant Mistry & Ronald Prent, surround producers

Production, Classical

;Best Engineered Album, ClassicalShostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11
  • * Shawn Murphy & Nick Squire, engineers; Tim Martyn, mastering engineer Bates: The evolution of Steve Jobs
  • * Mark Donahue & Dirk Sobotka, engineers; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
  • * Mark Donahue, engineer; Mark Donahue, mastering engineer John Williams at the Movies
  • * Keith O. Johnson & Sean Royce Martin, engineers; Keith O. Johnson, mastering engineer Liquid Melancholy: Clarinet Music of James M. Stephenson
  • * Bill Maylone & Mary Mazurek, engineers; Bill Maylone, mastering engineer Visions and Variations
  • * Tom Caulfield, engineer; Jesse Lewis, mastering engineer
;Producer of the Year, ClassicalBlanton Alspaugh
  • * Arnesen: Infinity – Choral Works
  • * Aspects of America
  • * Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes
  • * Gordon, R.: The House Without a Christmas Tree
  • * Haydn: The Creation
  • * Heggie: Great Scott
  • * Music of Fauré, Buide & Zemlinsky
  • * Paterson: Three Way – A Trio of One-Act Operas
  • * Vaughan Williams: Piano Concerto; Oboe Concerto; Serenade to Music; Flos Campi
  • David Frost
  • * Beethoven: Piano Sonatas, Volume 7
  • * Mirror in Mirror
  • * Mozart: Idomeneo
  • * Presentiment
  • * Strauss, R.: Der Rosenkavalier
  • Elizabeth Ostrow
  • * Bates: The evolution of Steve Jobs
  • * The Road Home
  • Judith Sherman
  • * Beethoven Unbound
  • * Black Manhattan Volume 3
  • * Bolcom: Piano Music
  • * Del Tredici: March to Tonality
  • * Love Comes in at the Eye
  • * Meltzer: Variations on a Summer Day & Piano Quartet
  • * Mendelssohn: Complete Works for Cello and Piano
  • * New Music for Violin and Piano
  • * Reich: Pulse/Quartet
  • Dirk Sobotka
  • * Beethoven: Symphony No. 3; Strauss: Horn Concerto No. 1
  • * Lippencott: Frontier Symphony
  • * Mahler: Symphony No. 8
  • * ''Music of the Americas''

Classical

;Best Orchestral PerformanceShostakovich: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 11
;Best Opera RecordingBates: The evolution of Steve Jobs
;Best Choral PerformanceMcLoskey: Zealot Canticles
  • * Donald Nally, conductor Chesnokov: Teach Me Thy Statutes
  • * Vladimir Gorbik, conductor Kastalsky: Memory Eternal
  • * Steven Fox, conductor Rachmaninov: The Bells
  • * Mariss Jansons, conductor; Peter Dijkstra, chorus master Seven Words from the Cross
  • * Matthew Guard, conductor
;Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble PerformanceAnderson, Laurie: Landfall – Laurie Anderson & Kronos QuartetBeethoven, Shostakovich & Bach – The Danish String QuartetBlueprinting – Aizuri QuartetStravinsky: The Rite of Spring Concerto for Two Pianos – Leif Ove Andsnes & Marc-André HamelinVisions and Variations – A Far Cry
;Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Kernis: Violin Concerto – James Ehnes
;Best Classical Solo Vocal AlbumSongs of Orpheus: Monteverdi, Caccini, d'India & Landi – Karim Sulayman
;Best Classical Compendium
Fuchs: Piano Concerto 'Spiritualist'; Poems of Life; Glacier; Rush
;Best Contemporary Classical CompositionKernis: Violin Concerto

Music Video/Film

;Best Music Video"This Is America" – Childish Gambino
  • * Hiro Murai, video directors; Ibra Ake, Jason Cole & Fam Rothstein, video producers
  • "Apeshit" – The Carters
  • * Ricky Saiz, video director; Mélodie Buchris, Natan Schottenfels & Erinn Williams, video producers
  • "I'm Not Racist" – Joyner Lucas
  • * Joyner Lucas & Ben Proulx, video directors; Joyner Lucas, video producer
  • "Pynk" – Janelle Monáe
  • * Emma Westenburg, video director; Justin Benoliel & Whitney Jackson, video producers
  • "Mumbo Jumbo" – Tierra Whack
  • * Marco Prestini, video director; Sara Nassim, video producer
;Best Music FilmQuincy – Quincy Jones

Special Merit Awards

[MusiCares Person of the Year]

Lifetime Achievement Award">Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award">Lifetime Achievement Award

Trustees Award">Grammy Trustees Award">Trustees Award

[Technical Grammy Award]

  • Saul Walker

Music Educator Award

  • Jeffery Redding

Grammy Hall of Fame inductions

TitleArtistRecord labelYear of releaseGenreFormat
Bernstein: Mass – A Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and DancersLeonard BernsteinColumbia Masterworks1971Musical theatreAlbum
"Coat of Many Colors"Dolly PartonRCA Victor1971CountrySingle
Ella Fitzgerald Sings the George and Ira Gershwin Song BookElla FitzgeraldVerve1959SoulAlbum
Francis Albert Sinatra & Antonio Carlos JobimFrank Sinatra and Antonio Carlos JobimReprise Records1967SwingAlbum
Full Moon FeverTom PettyMCA1989Rock MusicAlbum
"Hallelujah"Leonard CohenColumbia1984RockSingle
"Harper Valley P.T.A."Jeannie C. RileyPlantation1968SoulSingle
"I'm Walkin'"Fats DominoImperial Records1957R&B/SoulSingle
Jackson BrowneJackson BrowneAsylum1972Folk rockAlbum
Jaco PastoriusJaco PastoriusEpic1976Jazz fusionAlbum
"Ko-Ko"Charlie Parker's Ri Bop BoysSavoy1945JazzSingle
"La Bamba"El JarochoVictor1939FolkSingle
"Move On Up"Curtis MayfieldCurtom Records1972Progressive soulSingle
"Pata Pata"Miriam MakebaReprise1967R&BSingle
"Christmas Tree"Brenda LeeDecca1958ChristmasSingle
'Round About MidnightMiles DavisColumbia1957JazzAlbum
"Rumble"Link Wray & His Ray MenCadence1958Surf RockSingle
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"The PlattersMercury1958Doo-wopSingle
"St. Louis Bell"W.C. HandyColumbia1914JazzSingle
"Take Me Out to the Ball Game"Edward Meeker with the Edison OrchestraEdison1908Tin Pan AlleySingle
"Tenderly"Sarah VaughanMercury1947JazzSingle
"Tenor Madness"Sonny Rollins Quartet featuring John ColtranePrestige1956JazzSingle
"To Be Young, Gifted and Black"Nina SimoneRCA Victor1969BluesSingle
"Walk This Way"AerosmithColumbia1975RockSingle
"Wild Thing"The TroggsFontana/Atco1966Garage rockSingle

In Memoriam

Multiple nominations and awards

The following received multiple nominations:
Eight:
Seven:
Six:
Five:
Four:
Three:
Two:
The following received multiple awards:
Four:
Three:
Two:

Category changes

For the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, multiple category changes are being made;

Controversy

On February 4, 2019, reports surfaced that American singer-songwriter Ariana Grande would not be performing at or attending the Grammys, due to a dispute with producer Ken Ehrlich. On February 7, 2019, Grande made a public statement on the matter, alleging that Ehrlich stifled her creativity and tried to stipulate what song she could perform. She then later went on and alleged that Ehrlich "lied" and she could "pull together a performance over night."
On February 11, 2019, Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj backed up Grande and alleged Ehrilch "bullied" her. Minaj later said in a statement on Twitter: "I was bullied into staying quiet for 7 years out of fear. But I'll tell my fans the REAL on the next episode of #QueenRadio they deserve the truth."