The 2015 Grammy nominations are in, and Sam Smith is having a very good day for someone who built an album around heartbreak.
Smith earned six nominations, including Album of the Year for In the Lonely Hour, Record of the Year and Song of the Year for “Stay With Me (Darkchild Version),” and Best New Artist. Beyoncé and Pharrell Williams also received six nominations each.
Iggy Azalea earned four nominations, including Record of the Year and Best New Artist, while newcomers including Hozier, Meghan Trainor, Sia and Brandy Clark found themselves represented in some of the ceremony’s biggest categories.
The Album of the Year race brings together Beck, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Pharrell Williams. It is a field containing acoustic reflection, carefully constructed pop, surprise releases and enough emotional vulnerability to make the Grammy stage considerably less comfortable than it looks on television.
Christian and gospel artists also received recognition across several categories. For King & Country, Lecrae, Erica Campbell, Crowder, Natalie Grant, Smokie Norful and The Martins are among the nominees representing faith-based music this year.
Here is a look at the nominees in several of the ceremony’s biggest categories.
Album of the Year
Morning Phase
Beck
Beyoncé
Beyoncé
x
Ed Sheeran
In the Lonely Hour
Sam Smith
Girl
Pharrell Williams
Record of the Year
The Record of the Year nominees include five songs that were nearly impossible to avoid this year. Whether listeners wanted heartbreak, empowerment, chandelier-swinging or an extended discussion of bass, radio had the appropriate selection ready.
“Fancy”
Iggy Azalea featuring Charli XCX
“Chandelier”
Sia
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”
Sam Smith
“Shake It Off”
Taylor Swift
“All About That Bass”
Meghan Trainor
Song of the Year
Unlike Record of the Year, which recognizes the recorded performance and production, Song of the Year honors the songwriters. This year’s field includes four enormous pop hits and Hozier’s dark, soulful breakthrough, “Take Me to Church.”
“All About That Bass”
Kevin Kadish and Meghan Trainor, songwriters
“Chandelier”
Sia Furler and Jesse Shatkin, songwriters
“Shake It Off”
Max Martin, Shellback and Taylor Swift, songwriters
“Stay With Me (Darkchild Version)”
James Napier, William Phillips and Sam Smith, songwriters
“Take Me to Church”
Andrew Hozier-Byrne, songwriter
Best New Artist
Best New Artist brings together British soul, Australian rap, American country songwriting, synth-driven rock and three sisters from California. The category may be called “new,” but several of these artists have been working long enough to know that overnight success usually requires quite a few nights.
Iggy Azalea
Bastille
Brandy Clark
Haim
Sam Smith
Best Gospel Album
Help
Erica Campbell
Amazing
Ricky Dillard & New G
Withholding Nothing
William McDowell
Forever Yours
Smokie Norful
Vintage Worship
Anita Wilson
Best Contemporary Christian Music Album
The contemporary Christian album category includes established artists and one sibling duo whose debut album title contains enough instructions to double as an ambitious weekend itinerary.
If We’re Honest
Francesca Battistelli
Run Wild. Live Free. Love Strong.
For King & Country
Hurricane
Natalie Grant
Welcome to the New
MercyMe
Royal Tailor
Royal Tailor
Best Roots Gospel Album
Forever Changed
T. Graham Brown
Shine for All the People
Mike Farris
Hymns
Gaither Vocal Band
A Cappella
The Martins
His Way of Loving Me
Tim Menzies
The 57th Annual Grammy Awards will be held Feb. 8 at Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS.