LGBTQ+ Music Artists Nominated at the 2023 Grammy Awards
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The 2023 Grammy nominations have been announced! Among the selection of praised artists are some prominent LGBTQ+ figures, working to break the mold and using their platform to promote diversity. Here are some of the musicians nominated for next year’s award show that identify as LGBTQ+.
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Brandi Carlile: Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Rock Performance, Best Rock Song, Best Americana Performance, Best American Roots Song, Best Americana Album.
Brandi Carlile’s groundbreaking contributions to music this year have resulted in her tying with Adele in the number of nominations she has received – and becoming one of the most nominated artists of the entire ceremony. An out-and-proud lesbian rock star, Carlile’s genre-bending music has resonated with millions – particularly with the release of her most recent record ‘In These Silent Days’. Brandi Carlile is competing against the likes of Beyoncé, Harry Styles and Lizzo, but with seven nominations under her belt, hopefully she’ll come away with some trophies.
Kim Petras and Sam Smith: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
After making history as the first trans and non-binary artists to top the Billboard 100 earlier this year, Sam Smith and Kim Petras break further boundaries by being Grammy nominated for their huge hit ‘Unholy’. Up for winning Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Petras and Smith are against the likes of Camila Cabello & Ed Sheeran and Coldplay & BTS. The competition is tough, but with the ever-soaring success of Unholy, it’s not unlikely!
Steve Lacy: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance.
Receiving his first nominations in major categories, Steve Lacy is on the receiving end of three nominations this year. The openly bisexual singer’s track Bad Habit peaked at number one on the US Billboard 100 and became a chart in multiple other countries. Standing alongside many other prestigious artists in these major categories, a win for Steve Lacy would be indicative of his gradual but certain rise to stardom.
Brothers Osborne: Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
This follows the release of the duo’s track Midnight Rider’s Prayer, they have been nominated for a Grammy alongside Carly Pearce & Ashley McBryde and Luke Combs & Miranda Lambert. The country duo, consisting of T.J and John Osborne, rose to fame in the 2010s, with a history of Grammy nominations. This nomination marks the first since T.J Osborne came out as gay in 2021, becoming the first openly gay musician signed to a major country music label.
Perfume Genius: Best Alternative Music Performance.
Perfume Genius, otherwise known as Michael Hadreas, has received his first Grammy nomination following his collaboration with indie-rock band The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s. Their song ‘Spitting Off the Edge of the World’ is in competition with Florence and the Machine’s ‘King’ and Artic Monkey’s ‘There’d Better Be a Mirrorball’, making the outcome of this particular award difficult to predict. With an underrated catalogue of music tackling the unique struggles of being gay, Perfume Genius is well-deserving of this momentous accolade.
Lady Gaga: Best Song Written for Visual Media, Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
The multi-Grammy award winning pop star adds another nomination to her list, this time for her contributions to the Top Gun: Maverick soundtrack. Gaga’s track ‘Hold My Hand’ quickly gained popularity on streaming services, especially after using it as the closing track on her recent Chromatica Tour. The track is in competition with the hugely popular Encato soundtrack, as well as the soundtracks for Elvis, Stranger Things and West Side Story. Winning these awards would take Lady Gaga’s Grammy total up to 15.
Randy Rainbow: Best Comedy Album.
American comedian and singer Randy Rainbow received his first Grammy nomination for his track ‘A Little Brains, a Little Talent’. In the unique category, the openly gay comedy performer is up against a number of comedians hoping to take home the prestigious award, including Patton Oswalt and Jimmy Gaffigan.
Omar Apollo: Best New Artist.
Up-and-coming R&B artist Omar Apollo joins the likes of Måneskin and Wet Leg in the Best New Artist category in this year’s awards. Openly gay, Apollo has cited his inspirations as Prince, Neil Young and Paul Simon, presenting his own debut studio album Ivory last year to favorable reviews. With just one album in his discography, it’s indicative of Omar Apollo’s potential that he is already on the receiving end of a Grammy nomination.
Anitta: Best New Artist.
Another upcoming artist already impressing audiences is Brazilian bisexual pop singer Anitta. The performer recently rose to worldwide fame with the release of her single Envolver, which shot to the top of the Global Spotify Charts and resulted in her being the first Brazilian artist to win the Best Latin award at the MTV Video Music Awards. Anitta joins an incredible list of diverse new artists, offering innovative talent to the 2022 music scene.
The full list of Grammy nominated artists for the 2023 awards can be accessed here.
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