The biggest night of the year is almost upon us. On Saturday, the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles will fill with the greatest musical stars of the past year for the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The Daily Illini Arts & Entertainment staff is eagerly anticipating which bops will make it big, and if last year showed anything, we will be completely and totally right.
Whether we truly nail it this time or are hopelessly wrong, we hope you enjoy coming along with us as we predict the winners of music’s biggest night. Maybe Lady Gaga will surprise us again with another music video during the commercials — we can dream.
Album of the Year — Annisyn
Prediction: “DeBí TiRaR MáS FOToS,” Bad Bunny
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No one is more deserving of Album of the Year than Bad Bunny. Recently named the Best Artist of the 21st Century at the Latin Billboard Awards and set to perform at the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show, the Puerto Rican rapper and singer has had a massive year. His seventh studio album further solidifies the 31-year-old’s status as a legend, each song presenting his love for his home while demonstrating his musical greatness.
“DeBí TiRaR MáS FOToS” is a whole-hearted embrace of Latin music; blending traditional genres like salsa, plena and jíbara with Latin trap and house music. The album is complex, with numerous songs that comment on the colonization and gentrification of Puerto Rico, and Bad Bunny doesn’t shy away from these themes. The music and the message of the 17-track album masterfully convey both the beauty of the island and everything it’s gone through, acting as a means of both political and personal liberation.
Another Grammy win for Bad Bunny would confirm what fans already know: He’s one of the best to do it.
Record of the Year — Olivia
Prediction: “luther” — Kendrick Lamar, SZA
Released in late 2024, “luther” pairs Kendrick Lamar and SZA on one of the most defining records of 2025. Named after soul legend Luther Vandross, the track samples his 1982 rendition of “If This World Were Mine,” immediately tying the song to a lineage of classic R&B.
The song blends contemporary hip-hop and R&B with a softer finish, different from Lamar’s typical music style. The production feels clean and warm, with subtle percussion beats that carry the track while Lamar and SZA’s vocals float over them. But what makes “luther” stand out isn’t just its sound — it’s the way the song bridges generations.
After winning this award last year for his controversial song “Not Like Us,” Lamar is surely positioned to secure another win.
Song of the Year — Felicity
Prediction: “Abracadabra” — Lady Gaga
Punching her way back into her early 2000s club classics-style, Lady Gaga looks sure to secure Song of the Year with “Abracadabra.” Very few artists can claim to have characterized an entire decade, and Gaga is one of them. “Abracadabra” is joyfully nostalgic and reminiscent of her earlier albums like “The Fame” and “Artpop.”
Gaga has established her vocal and songwriting abilities since her career launched in 2008, and this track underscores her strong foundation and builds upon her ability to expertly layer synth and rhythm to create an addictive dance beat. “Abracadabra’s” unique rhythm and lyric repetition deliver a song that will absolutely get stuck in your head — not that this will cause any complaints.
Best New Artist — Maaike
Prediction: Olivia Dean
In a category filled with a wild mix of TikTok stars, potential industry plants and even a former Nickelodeon actor, Olivia Dean looks best positioned to win big this time around. Her smooth R&B and soul-inspired music has exploded across platforms, with the upbeat “Man I Need” earning over 650 million streams on Spotify alone. Her music is perfect for everything from dancing around while cleaning your house to selecting a soundtrack for a first date, making it a hit among all age groups.
While her talent and vocal skills are indisputable, Dean also undoubtedly fits most neatly into the winning slot. We may wish for the Grammys to surprise us with something new — maybe by selecting the more contemporary sounds of Leon Thomas III, or the eclectic and dominant force that is KATSEYE — but, if the Recording Academy has taught us anything, it’s that it likes to stick with the comfort of the familiar. If Dean or one of the TikTokers takes home the title, it will be well deserved, just not something new.
Best Pop Solo Performance — Olivia
Prediction: “Manchild” — Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter might just pull out another win. After taking home the Grammy in this category last year for her hit single, “Espresso,” her return to song-of-the-summer territory comes as no surprise. “Manchild” continues Carpenter’s streak of producing clever, playful pop that’s also replayable.
Released June 5, “Manchild” was the lead single from her most recent album, “Man’s Best Friend.” Its absurdly chaotic music video, which features the dance trend that quickly became viral on social media, amplified the song’s success. Together, its commercial success and pop impact make “Manchild” a strong contender for this category.
Pop Vocal Album — Maaike
Prediction: “Mayhem,” Lady Gaga
When “Mayhem’s” lead single, “Abracadabra,” was aired during a commercial break at the Grammy Awards last year, we knew this album would be just as iconic as all the rest.
Nearing the end of her second decade as a mainstream artist, Gaga has absolutely done it again. “Mayhem” boasts hit after hit, giving us something fresh in every tune, all while still keeping that signature Gaga touch. In terms of vocals, Gaga’s work has aged like fine wine. While Carpenter could very well take home the award for the second year running, it’ll be hard to beat one of the most influential pop icons of our century.
Best Rap Album — Annisyn
Prediction: “CHROMAKOPIA,” Tyler, the Creator
“CHROMAKOPIA,” sees Tyler, the Creator at his most sensitive, most expressive and most apprehensive — and with nine studio albums, that’s not an easy feat.
The album shifts from the conversational tone of songs like “Hey Jane” to the in-your-face abruptness of “Rah Tah Tah.” Punchy beats are met with shifting synths and pounding baselines, making each song wildly different from the next. The album is amplified by artists like Doechii, Sexxy Red and Lil Wayne, cementing songs like “Sticky” and “Balloon” as fan favorites.
But it’s not the features that make this album significant as it is, it’s the depth — how even lyrics buried under unsettling rhythms and jolting harmonies have meaning. Over a year after its release, I haven’t forgotten the soaring 14-song album, and I reckon the Recording Academy hasn’t forgotten either.
Best Country Solo Performance — Felicity
Prediction: “Bad As I Used To Be (From F1 The Movie)” — Chris Stapleton
After taking the cake for the 2025 Best Country Solo Performance, Chris Stapleton is poised to accept laurels yet again. “Bad As I Used To Be (From F1 The Movie)” is one of those songs made for a movie that you just can’t stop listening to after leaving the theater. Its driving beat and grooving bass line make the track the perfect pick for the fast-paced film and for Best Country Solo Performance.
Stapleton rasps his way through the song, only adding further to the raw grit displayed in the instrumentals. A haunting harmonica adds a very traditional American folk and blues sound to the track, making audiences want to take another listen. One standout from the song was the expertly placed instrumental sections.
Usually, long instrumental intros can turn the listener away, but the song builds suspense and intrigue right off the bat. This energy increases throughout the song and explodes during electrifying instrumental solos. The guitarist scrubs away at the melodic notes over a strong baseline, giving Stapleton the fuel to finish off the song with just as much energy, if not more, than when the first notes were played.
