Stars Who’ve Surprisingly Never Won a Grammy

Many incredibly popular musicians – artists with countless hit songs, culturally impactful albums, and quickly sold-out concerts – surprisingly haven’t won a Grammy Award. Here’s a look at twenty highly successful artists and groups who, despite being nominated and achieving widespread recognition, have never won the prestigious trophy.

Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg has been a major figure in hip hop since the early 1990s, creating many well-known albums and hit songs, and collaborating with artists across various genres. Despite numerous nominations for his rap performances and collaborations, he hasn’t yet won a Grammy Award. His music ranges from classic West Coast hip hop to popular songs enjoyed worldwide, making him a prime example of an artist with huge commercial success and cultural influence who hasn’t received the industry’s highest honor.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry was a huge force on the radio for years, consistently releasing hit songs and best-selling albums. While she’s been nominated for many prestigious awards, including for Record and Album of the Year, she hasn’t yet won a Grammy. Her performances at the Super Bowl halftime show and on massive world tours prove she’s a major international pop star, but the coveted Grammy award continues to elude her.

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj changed the sound of popular rap with her incredibly fast rapping style and knack for creating catchy pop songs. Despite being nominated for many awards in both rap and pop, she hasn’t won one yet. You can see her impact in the success of her songs, how many times they’ve been streamed, and in the artists she’s inspired. Even though she’s had huge hits and collaborated with major artists, an award has remained elusive.

ABBA

ABBA created some of the most famous pop songs of all time, and people still listen to their albums constantly. Despite a recent resurgence in popularity, they hadn’t won a Grammy Award in a competitive category until now. Their incredible songwriting and vocal harmonies continue to inspire stage shows and popular compilation albums, but despite all their success and lasting impact, they hadn’t yet received the award.

Björk

Björk is known for her innovative music, which blends pop, electronic, and orchestral sounds, and consistently receives critical praise. While her albums are often nominated for awards, particularly for alternative music and music videos, she hasn’t yet won a competitive award. Nevertheless, her impact on the style and production of avant-pop music is significant and lasting.

Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes is famous for his complex lyrics, incredibly fast rapping style, and many popular songs that have been played on the radio for years. He’s been nominated for awards several times for his rap performances and collaborations, and has consistently remained well-known through hit songs and appearances on other artists’ tracks. Despite his success, he hasn’t yet won a Grammy Award.

Travis Scott

Travis Scott is a hugely popular artist, with his albums racking up massive streams and selling out arenas. He’s been recognized with several award nominations for both rap and more melodic music. He’s known for his innovative production and incredible concert experiences, which have influenced the current sound and style of hip hop. Despite all his success, he hasn’t won a Grammy yet.

Post Malone

Post Malone mixes hip hop, pop, and rock, which has led to many successful songs across different music charts. He’s been nominated for awards in several categories, including for his albums and individual songs. His concerts are always popular, and he consistently gets a huge number of streams. Despite his widespread success, he hasn’t yet won a Grammy Award.

Demi Lovato

As a big music fan, I’ve always been impressed by Demi Lovato’s voice – it really carries their pop songs and those incredible ballads they’re known for. They’ve gotten a lot of attention in the industry, with nominations for their pop performances and work in related areas. Plus, they’ve successfully branched out into acting and using their platform for good, all while consistently releasing popular songs. It’s a bit surprising, though, that despite all that success and those strong singles, they haven’t won a Grammy yet – I really thought they would!

Blake Shelton

I’ve always been a huge Blake Shelton fan! He’s just always on the radio, racking up hit after hit. And seeing him as a coach on that singing show for so long has been amazing – he clearly knows what he’s talking about! He’s been nominated for awards so many times, and his music consistently tops the charts. It’s a bit surprising, though, that he hasn’t won a Grammy yet – I really hope he does someday, because he absolutely deserves one.

Jennifer Lopez

Okay, so as a huge movie and music fan, I’ve always been impressed by Jennifer Lopez. She consistently drops hit songs and puts on incredible, show-stopping performances – seriously, she owns those award show stages and halftime shows! She’s been nominated for Grammys a bunch of times, both for her pop and dance tracks, but she hasn’t actually won one yet. It’s pretty wild when you think about it, considering she’s had consistent success in music, movies, and TV for years. You’d think that kind of career would’ve landed her a Grammy by now!

Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey’s albums always perform well when released and are praised for their songwriting and atmospheric sound. She’s been nominated for many awards in pop, alternative, and album categories, and her unique, cinematic style has clearly influenced a new generation of musicians and film soundtracks. Despite her success, she has yet to win a Grammy in a competitive category.

Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne played a key role in popularizing pop-punk music in the early 2000s, and she’s continued to have success with later releases. She’s received nominations for both pop and rock awards, and continues to gain new fans through touring and streaming, though a Grammy Award has yet to be achieved.

Queen

I’ve always been amazed by Queen. Their music – those huge, singalong stadium rockers and their really ambitious, almost operatic songs – still sounds incredible today. It’s incredible how people still buy and stream their classic albums, and they’re still filling arenas with a new singer carrying the torch! It’s a bit strange, though, that they never actually won a competitive Grammy. It just proves their impact isn’t about awards; it’s about how long their music has lasted and how many artists they’ve inspired.

Backstreet Boys

The Backstreet Boys are one of the most successful boy bands ever, selling tens of millions of albums worldwide with numerous hit songs. They’ve been nominated for Grammy Awards in pop categories and continue to tour and release new music, remaining popular today. However, they haven’t yet won a Grammy Award.

BTS

BTS has achieved global success, breaking down language barriers and setting new records for both live concerts and online streaming. They’ve been nominated for several awards in popular music categories and consistently have chart-topping releases with incredibly dedicated fans. However, despite their widespread popularity, they haven’t yet won a Grammy Award.

The Notorious B.I.G.

The Notorious B.I.G. is considered one of the most influential and important rappers of all time. His albums are still considered classics in hip hop, and his songs continue to be popular and inspire today’s artists. He’s received a lot of recognition after his death, including inductions into various halls of fame and appearances on greatest-of-all-time lists. However, he never won a Grammy Award during his lifetime.

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur’s music skillfully blended meaningful commentary with catchy melodies, solidifying his place as one of the most important artists in rap history. His songs continue to be popular today, appearing on greatest-of-all-time lists and getting streamed often. Plus, films, documentaries, and exhibitions have ensured his influence remains widely recognized, despite never winning a Grammy in a competitive category.

Sia

Sia is a hugely successful songwriter, creating hit songs for many popular artists, and also achieving success with her own music, including chart-topping singles and popular videos. She’s been nominated for both performance and songwriting awards, and her unique voice and writing style are often copied. Despite all her achievements, she hasn’t yet won a Grammy Award.

Selena Gomez

Selena Gomez is a successful pop singer with popular songs and collaborations that have been widely played on the radio and online. She’s been nominated for awards in both pop and Latin music, and also works as an actress and producer, building a large fanbase worldwide. While she’s achieved a lot, she’s still pursuing her first Grammy Award.

Diana Ross

Diana Ross is a hugely successful singer, known for both her early work with The Supremes and her later solo career. Despite numerous nominations for major awards, she hasn’t won a competitive one. Her music continues to be popular, selling and streaming well to this day. While she has received a Lifetime Achievement Award, this is an honorary recognition and not a traditional competitive win.

Bob Marley

Bob Marley’s albums are still incredibly popular around the world and played a huge part in making reggae music well-known. Though he received honors for his overall career, he never won a Grammy Award in a competitive category while he was alive. His music continues to be released and rediscovered, staying relevant on today’s charts and in playlists. It’s also frequently used in cultural and educational projects to showcase the worldwide impact of reggae.

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix is a legendary figure in rock music, and his albums are still highly regarded today. Despite his enormous impact, he never won a Grammy Award through the usual competitive process while he was alive. However, his work continues to be celebrated through re-releases and live recordings, and he did receive a Lifetime Achievement Award recognizing his lasting influence – though this wasn’t a competitive win.

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin was a hugely influential singer whose recordings – both in the studio and live – helped define blues rock and soul music. Although she didn’t win a Grammy Award while she was alive, her music continues to reach new audiences through re-releases and collections. She did receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her lasting impact on music, but never a win in a competitive category.

Aaliyah

Aaliyah blended R&B and pop in her music, shaping the sound of later artists. Though she was nominated for Grammys several times, she never won one. Interest in her music surged again after her passing, especially when her songs became widely available online. Even now, her music still appears on streaming charts when anniversaries or re-releases happen.

Ice Cube

Ice Cube’s music, both his solo albums and the soundtracks he’s created, played a huge role in developing the sound of West Coast rap. While he’s been nominated for Grammy Awards several times, he hasn’t yet won in a competitive category. He remains a familiar face in popular culture through his acting and producing work, and continues to draw audiences with legacy concert tours and celebrations of his classic albums.

Kesha

Kesha’s music, which includes upbeat dance-pop and heartfelt ballads, has been recognized with several Grammy nominations for both pop music and vocal performances, though she hasn’t won one yet. Her albums have spawned hit songs that have gone platinum and consistently attract large audiences on streaming platforms. Through touring and appearances on television, Kesha remains a prominent figure in the pop music scene.

Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding is known for popular songs that blend electronic and pop sounds, often reaching both mainstream and adult contemporary radio stations. While she’s been nominated for Grammy Awards, she hasn’t won one yet. Her music is frequently used in movies and TV shows, and she consistently releases new music – both on her own and with other artists – that continues to gain attention around the world.

Shawn Mendes

Shawn Mendes is a hugely successful artist with multiple platinum-selling hits and sold-out concerts in arenas around the world. While he’s been nominated for Grammy Awards for his pop music and performances, he hasn’t won one yet. His music is very popular on streaming services and platforms like YouTube and TikTok, and he’s broadened his fanbase through live albums and documentaries.

Jason Derulo

Jason Derulo is known for many popular songs that have been highly successful both in the US and around the world. While he’s been nominated for Grammys, he hasn’t won one yet. He stays relevant by working with a variety of producers and artists, and his music often gains new popularity thanks to viral dance challenges.

Avicii

Avicii was a hugely popular DJ and producer who successfully blended electronic dance music with pop, topping charts and headlining festivals worldwide. Though nominated for several Grammy Awards, he didn’t win one in a competitive category. After his death, many artists honored him through releases and performances. His estate continues to fund mental health programs as part of his lasting legacy.

Deadmau5

Deadmau5 is a highly influential artist in the genres of progressive and electro house, and his music has been nominated for several awards. Despite his success, he hasn’t yet won a Grammy. He’s known for his innovative and elaborate live shows, which have set a new standard for electronic music performances. He continues to create music through his record label, by working with other artists, and by composing soundtracks.

Halsey

Halsey is a successful artist with popular songs in both the pop and alternative music scenes, both as a solo performer and when working with other artists. While she’s been nominated for Grammy Awards several times for both her songs and albums, she hasn’t won yet. She often releases visually stunning albums with a strong central theme, which helps her albums sell well when they first come out. Beyond her music, Halsey has also built a strong brand through sponsorships and touring.

Camila Cabello

Camila Cabello has been nominated for awards for her own music and for songs she’s done with other artists. While she’s been recognized with nominations, she hasn’t yet won a Grammy in a competitive category. Her songs have been very successful, reaching the top of the charts in many countries. She also continues to appear in movies and TV shows, often around the time she releases new music.

Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik first found fame as part of a group before launching a successful solo career that mixes R&B and pop music. While he’s been recognized with Grammy nominations, he hasn’t yet won one. His music emphasizes careful studio production and working with producers who aren’t typically associated with mainstream pop. He regularly releases new music through both soundtrack appearances and individual singles in between full albums.

One Direction

One Direction quickly became a worldwide success, selling out stadiums and releasing incredibly popular albums. Though they were nominated for Grammys, they never actually won one. Even now, years after going their separate ways for solo projects, people still listen to their music constantly. They continue to attract large audiences with anniversary releases and updated versions of their classic songs.

*NSYNC

NSYNC released several albums that sold millions of copies and had a string of hit songs on the radio. Although they were nominated for Grammy Awards, they never actually won in a major category. Recently, their reunion performances and releases of older material have generated a lot of excitement online. The members’ individual music careers also continue to introduce the group’s music to new fans.

Spice Girls

The Spice Girls were a huge global success, leaving their mark on pop culture through movies, products, and concerts. While they were nominated for Grammys, they never won one in a competitive category. Even today, anniversary tours and re-releases of their albums often send their music back into the charts, and the solo careers of the group members keep fans interested in their work.

Jonas Brothers

The Jonas Brothers successfully made a comeback after a break, quickly regaining popularity with hit songs and large-scale concert tours. While they’ve been nominated for Grammys, they haven’t won one yet. Their music blends pop and rock with more mature sounds, making it popular on the radio. They’ve also used TV appearances and documentaries to promote their albums.

Oasis

Oasis was a huge force in the Britpop scene, selling millions of albums and creating iconic songs still played at sporting events and festivals today. While they were nominated for Grammys, they never actually won one. The band’s music remains popular thanks to re-releases, remastered albums, and tours by former members, consistently appearing on music charts.

Share which artists you were most surprised to see on this list in the comments.

2025-11-09 06:18