6 First-Time Grammy Nominees We're Excited About!

Rejoice, music lovers -- the Recording Academy has officially announced their 2026 Grammy nominations! 

While the list features many returning nominees, 2026 is filled with talented individuals who are receiving a nomination for the very first time. From a Louisiana girl who rose to fame thanks to TikTok dances to an animated girl group, a diverse range of talent is being recognized. Here are 6 artists receiving a nomination for the very first time!

1. Addison Rae 

Addison Rae has received a nomination in the Best New Artist category.

The Louisiana native rose to fame in 2019 thanks to TikTok. Her uplifting dances and bubbly personality captured the hearts of millions and she became a household name. She would also go on to become a member of the Hype House, a rented mansion where famous TikTokers all lived together and filmed content that generated thousands of views. 

Through her TikTok clout, she gained a friendship with Kourtney Kardashian and starred in a remake of She’s All That. However, it was her music that would take her far. She released her debut single in 2021, "Obsessed", and a few years later in 2025, she released her debut album Addison, and it’s with this album that she has earned her Grammy nomination. She’s living proof that posting yourself online can really change your life for the better. 

2. Tate McRae 

Tate McRae has had a successful year. She just wrapped up her sold out Miss Possessive Tour and now has the 2026 Grammys to look forward to. She has been nominated for Best Dance Pop Recording for her song "Just Keep Watching", which she recorded for the F1 movie. 

Like Addison Rae, Tate McRae also got her start to fame by posting videos online. Years before she had millions of streams on Spotify, she was a competitive dancer and would share her talents on her YouTube channel. It was there where she would also post videos singing songs she wrote. She released her single, "You Broke Me First", in 2020, which became an international hit, and she’s been working nonstop ever since. Her efforts have clearly paid off. 

3. Timothée Chalamet 

Yep, that's right -- Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet is now a Grammy nominee! While Chalamet is known for his major acting skills, he can now add "singer" to his resume. The Call Me By Your Name star is being nominated in the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Category for his performance as Bob Dylan in the film A Complete Unknown. 

Chalamet has been acting since childhood. One of his earliest works was on "Law and Order" when he was 13 years old. He would go on to become a serious and successful actor, known for his charm and passion. While his main focus has been in the film industry, we wonder if this nomination will have him considering a singing career as well...! 

4. Sombr

Shane Michael Boose, best known as Sombr, is also being nominated for his first Grammy. The 20-year-old has been nominated in the Best New Artist category. While it may appear that Sombr’s success happened in an instant, as both his singles "Undressed" and "Back to Friends" made it into the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 2025 -- the same year he released his debut studio album I Barely Know You -- he has said that his road to success has felt long.

In an instagram post where he acknowledges his Grammy nomination and thanks his fans, he said that he has loved music since he was a child. He also said that he wasn’t sure if he was ever going to make it as a singer. If his younger self could see him now, he would be beyond proud. 

5. Ketanji Brown Jackson

The Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson has been nominated for a grammy. The Supreme Court justice is being recognized for her memoir, Lovely One, in the category of Best Audio Book Narration, Storytelling Recording. 

Jackson has had a remarkable career. She is the very first Black woman to ever be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States. She also excelled academically throughout her life, graduating from Harvard University twice, first with her Bachelor's Degree and then with her Law Degree. Her memoir highlights her road to success and the challenges she faced along the way. She also talks about how she balances being a wife and mother while having one of the most demanding jobs on earth. It’s a story worthy of a Grammy nomination. 

6. Huntr/x 

While scrolling on TikTok or shopping at your closest grocery store, you may have heard "Golden", the upbeat tone that features the lyrics, "We’re goin’ up, up, up / it’s our moment..." If you wonder who the voices behind this catchy song are, they’re Huntr/x, a fictional girl group from Netflix's musical urban fantasy film KPop Demon Hunters! 

"Golden" has earned three nominations: Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, and Best Song Written for Visual Media. While Huntr/x is a fictional band, the very real and talented artists, Rei Ama, EJAE, and Audrey Nuna, provide the characters with their singing voices. It is always refreshing to see how alive music and art in all realms can make us feel!

Tune in to the 2026 Grammy Awards on February 1, 2026, on CBS!