Grammys boast fan favorites

The golden gramophone, signature of the Grammy awards, lies just within the fingertips of music’s biggest stars of 2019. In anticipation for the biggest night in music, heated debates on which nominees are likely to win and who actually deserves to win dominate the internet.

Nearly all debates are put aside, however, when it comes to 18-year-old superstar Billie Eilish. Since the debut of her song “Ocean Eyes” in 2016, she has gained millions of streams and followers, emerging with six nominations. There is no doubt that Eilish will capture awards in some of the biggest categories, possibly receiving Best New Artist and Album of the Year. 

Junior Ava Alvarado finds herself in awe of Eilish’s talent.

“She’s my age and incredibly successful. It’s not easy to be put into the spotlight at such a young age, but she’s handling it amazingly,” Alvarado said. 

Not only is Eilish predicted to win in the eyes of millions, but she is also deserving of it. The teen has worked tirelessly in ensuring that her fans are happy with the music she has created even when her own happiness is on the line. She has opened up about struggling with depression and anxiety in recent interviews, but despite that, she has been able to prevail and release her album “WHENWEALLFALLASLEEPWHEREDOWEGO.”

In the prestigious Album of the Year category, with artists such as Lana Del Rey, Vampire Weekend and Eilish up for it, the competition is fierce. While multiple albums made their mark this year, the esteemed award will likely fall into the hands of pop princess Ariana Grande for “Thank U Next.” Grande’s fifth studio album was well received globally with millions of copies sold; it became her fourth number-one album in the country, even breaking the record for largest streaming week for a pop album. With three hit singles and countless streams, it will be no surprise if Grande comes home with the award and rightfully so, after the trying years she has endured.  With the unfortunate bombing that had taken place at her 2016 Manchester concert, the passing of her rapper ex-boyfriend Mac Miller and breakup with comedian Pete Davidson after a brief engagement, she is worthy of the title. 

For Record of the Year, it will be a tough decision to make between Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road ft. Billy Ray Cyrus” and Lizzo’s “Truth Hurts.” Nas X’s hit country single was a viral sensation, breaking the record for longest consecutive run as number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with a record 17-week run. With the wide success of the record, the 20-year-old is expected to ride home with an award. On the other hand, music veteran Lizzo has been in the music industry for 10 years and has struggled to make a name for herself.

Lizzo’s breakout song “Truth Hurts” was released in 2017, which technically means it was beyond the boundaries of eligibility for the 2020 Grammys. Regardless, the Academy deemed it eligible because it gained success nearly two years after its initial release. This warranted some backlash from some, but the 31-year-old artist was quick to defend herself.

In a tweet regarding the backlash, Lizzo claimed that she has been working endlessly for 10 years, working through blood, sweat and tears. 

“My hard work paying off [is] a reminder to never give up! Thank you!” Lizzo tweeted. 

Lizzo’s hit continues to be an anthem for listeners, constantly played on radio stations and TV commercials worldwide, making it a strong contender. 

“Lover,” Taylor Swift’s latest release, was nominated for song of the year along with “Bad Guy” (Billie Eilish). The song “Always Remember Us This Way” from the hit film “A Star is Born” is alongside these nominations, but due to the popularity of Eilish’s “Bad Guy,” it will be the one to win in this category.

The Jonas Brothers comeback song “Sucker” is a shoo-in for Best Pop Duo/Group. The song was shortly released after the brothers announced that they would reunite after six years of being separated. The hit song reached number one on Billboard’s radio airplay, streaming and sales when it was released back in March.             

The Grammys will air on CBS at 8 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26.