Beyoncé’s awards run has rewritten Grammy history in recent years, and with nominations due to be revealed on Nov. 16, the big question is straightforward: will she notch her 100th career Grammy nomination? That milestone would be more than a personal landmark — it would reshape narratives around legacy, genre boundaries and industry recognition going into next year’s awards.
Best R&B Solo Performance
The field for this artist-focused category mixes established stars and newer voices, and it once again highlights how R&B now spans mainstream radio hits, intimate balladry and alt-soul experiments. Historically this slot has favored strong vocal statements and radio traction; this cycle features several contenders with both.
Top names to watch: Kehlani (defending champion), Tems, Jill Scott, and Beyoncé. Kehlani’s ballad from her acclaimed self-titled album remains a likely repeat presence. Tems has pushed deeper into R&B after recent cross-genre success, while Jill Scott’s Adult R&B airplay momentum gives her a credible shot.
Beyond the favorites, a handful of artists could grab the final nomination spot: Victoria Monét (strong airplay run), Coco Jones (recent wins and previous nominations), Daniel Caesar (veteran contender) and Leon Thomas, who could return with a live standout. Bruno Mars and PJ Morton remain perennial risks; both have a history of converting nominations into wins here.
- Our forecast: “Morning Dew (DONK)” (Beyoncé); “What You Need” (Tems); “Out the Window” (Kehlani); “Pressha” (Jill Scott); “Obvious” (Chris Brown).
Best R&B Collaboration or Duo/Group Performance (new)
This newly created category aims to spotlight contemporary duets, group efforts and cross-artist pairings — a return to recognizing collaborative R&B in a form more suited to today’s streaming-era pairings. Because it’s a fresh category in practice, predicting its lineup is less straightforward.
Feature-heavy artists are well positioned. Leon Thomas, who appears across many high-profile features this year, could plausibly land two nominations. Duos and groups with strong singles — FLO, GENA (Liv.e & Karriem Riggins) and established pairings like Ravyn Lenae & Doechii — all look competitive. High-profile veteran collaborations (Anderson .Paak with Mariah Carey; Erykah Badu with Steve Lacy & The Alchemist) may sway voters who prize both artistry and name recognition.
Look for industry favorites — Mariah the Scientist, Masego, PJ Morton and The War and Treaty — to push for recognition as well, especially where critical acclaim aligns with strong production credits.
- Our forecast: “Sweet Nuthins” (Kehlani & Leon Thomas); “Fallin” (Chris Brown & Leon Thomas); “To B Honest” (Jill Scott & JID); “Cry Ugly” (FLO); “Babygirl” (Ravyn Lenae & Doechii).
Best Traditional R&B Performance
This category rewards classic-sounding R&B recordings — songs that lean into traditional arrangements and vocal approaches rather than contemporary production. The season’s frontrunners combine legacy appeal with radio performance.
Jill Scott’s warm, soulful “Beautiful People” looks like a strong frontrunner; Kenyon Dixon and the veteran RAYE (on a duet with Al Green) are also leading contenders. Al Green’s involvement gives that entry extra weight among voters who respect heritage artists.
Other plausible nominees include The Womack Sisters, Durand Bernarr, Lalah Hathaway (a past winner), Leon Thomas and PJ Morton. Younger acts such as FLO, October London and Masego could break in if their singles maintain airplay and industry buzz.
- Our forecast: “Beautiful People” (Jill Scott); “Can’t Let Go” (Lalah Hathaway); “Goodbye Henry.” (RAYE & Al Green); “I Found Myself” (Durand Bernarr); “Listened to You” (PJ Morton).
Best R&B Song (songwriters)
Best R&B Song honors the craft behind tracks — the songwriters and composition rather than the performance alone. This year’s crop is less dominated by crossover smashes and more by critically acclaimed R&B cuts.
Tems, Jill Scott and Kehlani all have strong songwriting entries likely to attract attention. Victoria Monét, Leon Thomas and Summer Walker could also appear here depending on how voters weigh lyrical depth against commercial reach. Longstanding nominees like Muni Long and Durand Bernarr remain in the conversation for songwriting recognition.
Keep an eye on rising songwriters too: Jai’Len Josey’s collaboration with heavyweight hitmakers and Momo Boyd’s rhythmic airplay success both position them as candidates for a first major songwriting nod.
- Our forecast: “What You Need” (Tems); “Pressha” (Jill Scott); “Out the Window” (Kehlani); “My Life” (Durand Bernarr); “Let Me” (Victoria Monét).
Why this matters: a 100th nomination for Beyoncé would be a cultural marker — cementing a multi-decade career that spans pop, country, R&B and beyond. For the R&B categories specifically, the ballot this year reflects the genre’s breadth: legacy artists sharing space with hybrid, feature-driven modern work. When nominations drop on Nov. 16, they’ll offer a snapshot of how the Recording Academy is balancing tradition, collaboration and contemporary relevance as the awards evolve.
