From BTS to Queen, these 10 music icons (shockingly) haven't won a Grammy to date
It’s not the Grammys without a handful of winners and their fellow artists who were left without their well-deserved gramophones.
Many fans were heartbroken after BTS didn’t win their first Grammy after being nominated for two consecutive years. While some expressed their displeasure towards The Recording Academy, others voiced their support for the talented septet.
Broken fangirl hearts aside, a musician is not defined by the number of awards they receive. It’s about creating timeless music that defines a generation. So, without further ado, here are 10 iconic artists who never received a Grammy.
Katy Perry
Katy Perry might’ve been the genius behind iconic hits like Roar, Last Friday Night, I Kissed A Girl, California Gurls, or The One That Got Away, but she has yet to receive her first Grammy. The singer-songwriter has received five Billboard Music Awards, four Guinness World Records, five number-one singles in her 2010 album Teenage Dream, and 13 Grammy nominations.
Despite this, Perry is not upset about not winning a Grammy since she always “goes by numbers—and they never lie.”
Queen
British rock band Queen has been a commanding presence in pop culture (music and style-wise) for the past four decades, yet they’ve never received their first Grammy.
The band is one of the best-selling stadium groups in the world with fist-bumping hits like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, and Another One Bites The Dust. It’s hard to jam to Queen’s music without singing at the top of your lungs.
Nicki Minaj
“Young money, Nicki Minaj.” Yup, even baddie rapper Nicki Minaj hasn’t received a Grammy despite the number of chart-topping tracks in her discography. The gangsta rapper has been known among critics as the “Queen of Rap,” and has been praised for her use of witty lyrics and versatile flow. Minaj has been nominated for 10 Grammy Awards since 2011.
Journey
American rock band Journey may not ring a bell to teens, but they’ve probably heard their iconic songs Open Arms and Don’t Stop Believin. With their chart-topping and critically-acclaimed hits, the band has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus—and her signature raspy voice—is a popular icon for millennials and Gen-Zs, thanks to her role as Hannah Montana. But this talented female has made a name as a singer producing music in various genres like rock, pop-rock, pop, country pop, hip hop, and more.
While Cyrus has only received one Grammy nomination, her hit songs Party in the USA, 7 Things, Can’t Be Tamed, Malibu, We Can’t Stop, and Wrecking Ball have made it to the Billboard Top 10.
ABBA
One of the biggest music acts of all time, Swedish pop group ABBA has been a well-respected name since the 1970s. The group, composed of Benny Andersson, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog, and Bjorn Ulvaeus, is behind chart-topping hits Dancing Queen and Mamma Mia. Their songs have created such a cultural impact that their discography has been adapted into the popular musical Mamma Mia! and the 2008 film of the same name.
Sadly, the group has never been nominated for a Grammy throughout its career. Dancing Queen, though, has been included in the Grammys Hall of Fame for its cultural impact.
Bob Marley
Can you believe that Bob Marley didn’t receive a Grammy? The Jamaican singer-songwriter is known as one of the pioneers of reggae, thanks to his signature identity and voice.
Marley has been a highly-respected name in music and pop culture, and his style has been referenced in many reggae-inspired songs. Even if he hasn’t received his gramophone, the singer received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.
Diana Ross
Diana Ross has been one of the figures of the Motown era as the lead singer of the 1960s all-female vocal group The Supremes. Known for her powerful voice and show-stopping performance skills, Ross was declared the “most successful female music artist in history” by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1993.
Ross might not be familiar to many Gen-Zs, but you might recognize her iconic songs Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, Endless Love, and I’m Still Waiting.
BTS
Last and certainly not the least, BTS has made a name for themselves in the music scene for their hard-hitting discography and timely social commentary. The K-pop group, composed of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, has been dubbed the “Next Generation Leaders” by TIME. Despite their worldwide success, the group said it’s their role to “spread Korean culture as its representatives.”