I Read Every Pop Girl's Grammy Submission... Some Are Delusional

Summary

The presenter argues that 2026 was a more creatively interesting year for pop than expected, but doubts the Grammys will fully reward that creativity. They criticize the expansion of Album of the Year to eight nominees, saying it may split votes among pop artists and make the results less predictable.

Predictions for the major categories

• Album of the Year: Expert predictions discussed include Olivia Rodrigo, Olivia Dean, Rosalía, RAYE, Bruno Mars, Madonna, Taylor Swift, and Noah Kahan, with Phoebe Bridgers close behind. The presenter’s personal picks are Rodrigo and Rosalía. They praise Rodrigo’s album as a cohesive work, but think Dean could have an advantage because her accessible, Grammy-friendly style and hit songs may appeal across voting groups. Rosalía’s Lux is their strongest choice for artistic ambition and production, though they note that a non-English album could face an obstacle. They see RAYE as a credible contender, while doubting Taylor Swift and Madonna are likely winners in this category.
• Record of the Year: The presenter favors Olivia Dean’s “Man I Need” and RAYE’s “Where’s My Husband?” for their lasting appeal and strong musical production. They also acknowledge that Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” could contend because of its commercial success.
• Song of the Year: They see Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” as a serious contender because of its reach and audience response, despite considering it an unexpected pick. They question Olivia Rodrigo’s chances with “The Cure” and think Swift’s submission of “I Knew You Were Trouble” rather than “The Fate of Ophelia” may have been a mistake.
• Best New Artist: The presenter thinks Ella Langley is well positioned after a successful year, but personally hopes Slayyyter wins. They criticize some predicted contenders as poor fits and say they would be alarmed by a nomination for KATSEYE.

Review of artists’ submissions

The presenter goes through pop artists’ entries and assesses their prospects. They think Swift could be competitive in Pop Vocal Album, and that her collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter may have a chance in the duo/group category. They feel Ariana Grande’s Petal was overlooked amid attention to her personal life and believe the Grammys have undervalued her, though they are unsure her submissions will earn major nominations.

They see Rodrigo as having a strong shot in album categories and potentially in rock categories, but doubt “The Cure” will place in the top song awards. They also question why “Drop Dead” was not submitted for Record of the Year. Charli XCX’s best prospects, in their view, are in alternative categories and for the Wuthering Heights soundtrack; her singles may lack the chart impact to compete in the biggest song categories. Madonna is more likely to succeed in dance categories than in Album of the Year.

The presenter says Doja Cat’s album received little promotion and that she seemed more energized performing older material. They praise RAYE’s songwriting and would like to see her recognized as a songwriter. Olivia Dean’s collaboration with Sam Fender is also described as a plausible contender. By contrast, the presenter dismisses several submissions—including those from Demi Lovato, Madison Beer, Gracie Abrams, and Bebe Rexha—as unlikely to earn major nominations.

Personal favorites and broader view of pop

The presenter’s personal Album of the Year choice is Kim Petras’s Detour, with Jay Stephens’s Audacity, Rodrigo’s album, Phoebe Bridgers’s Lost Weekend, and Rosalía’s Lux also among their favorites. They argue that major pop stars have played it safe, while less-established artists have taken more creative risks.

They single out Petras’s “Brutalist” as their Song of the Year: a dance-pop track that, in their interpretation, explores the psychological experience of being transgender and bodily reconstruction. Their other personal song picks include Hilary Duff’s “Mature,” Rodrigo’s “Drop Dead,” and Rosalía’s “Reliquia.” For Record of the Year, they highlight songs by FLO, Eli, Olivia Dean, Charli XCX, and Tinashe.

Grammy performances

In response to audience questions, the presenter recalls performances by Britney Spears, Beyoncé, Pink, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Kesha, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, and Chappell Roan, as well as Amy Winehouse’s Grammy win. They value performances that capture a cultural moment and criticize the ceremony for padding its broadcast with unnecessary material.

Looking ahead, they expect major contenders such as Rodrigo, Rosalía, RAYE, and Bruno Mars to perform, while noting that Swift rarely performs at award shows.

Presenter: Swiftologist Other contributors: None identified.