EPISODE · Jan 17, 2026 · 1H 25M
Prediction: The Grammys are going to enrage a lot of people
from How We Heard It · host howweheardit
It seems like forever ago that awards shows were a time to honor excellence. Now they've become an excuse to hate watch, an opportunity to tear apart artists for what they wear, what they say and even how they look at each other. Coming off a particularly contentious 2025 around the world, the upcoming Grammy Awards will certainly tick off a lot of viewers. For starters, these days we just get mad at everybody all the time for everything anyway. What's more, there are raw nerves out there about any number of social and political issues - and musicians aren't known for being diplomats who keep their opinions to themselves. And on top of everything, last year's Grammys saw Beyonce finally win her first Album of the Year award - for a country album that many country fans refused to accept as "country." (There are still residual hurt feelings over that one.) Many of this year's top contenders, for Album of the Year and other major awards, have been linked to key social issues and are known for saying what's on their minds. Bad Bunny (set to perform at halftime of this year's Super Bowl) could win Album of the Year among other awards. It would be the first time a Spanish-language album won for best overall album ... and it should be noted the Puerto Rican performer was in the news in 2025 for canceling shows and/or avoiding performances in many cities because of expectations of ICE raids targeting concertgoers. This year's Grammys could also find Kendrick Lamar or Lady Gaga win their first Album of the Year Grammy. Lamar, an early and committed advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement, hasn't flinched from controversy in his career - including during his recent vicious rivalry with Drake. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga has been a career-long, unapologetically vocal, ally for the LGBTQ members of society ... and 2025 was a particularly tough one for trans Americans. Enter Wayne Bledsoe and Chuck Campbell, veteran music journalists (and friends) who have been arguing about the Grammys since the 1990s. As hosts of "How We Heard It," they invite listeners to play along during this episode as they make their picks from this year's nominees, choosing who deserves to win and who likely will win. Most importantly, they urge everyone to relax and enjoy the music. We're all friends here.
What this episode covers
It seems like forever ago that awards shows were a time to honor excellence. Now they've become an excuse to hate watch, an opportunity to tear apart artists for what they wear, what they say and even how they look at each other. Coming off a particularly contentious 2025 around the world, the upcoming Grammy Awards will certainly tick off a lot of viewers. For starters, these days we just get mad at everybody all the time for everything anyway. What's more, there are raw nerves out there about any number of social and political issues - and musicians aren't known for being diplomats who keep their opinions to themselves. And on top of everything, last year's Grammys saw Beyonce finally win her first Album of the Year award - for a country album that many country fans refused to accept as "country." (There are still residual hurt feelings over that one.) Many of this year's top contenders, for Album of the Year and other major awards, have been linked to key social issues and are known for saying what's on their minds. Bad Bunny (set to perform at halftime of this year's Super Bowl) could win Album of the Year among other awards. It would be the first time a Spanish-language album won for best overall album ... and it should be noted the Puerto Rican performer was in the news in 2025 for canceling shows and/or avoiding performances in many cities because of expectations of ICE raids targeting concertgoers. This year's Grammys could also find Kendrick Lamar or Lady Gaga win their first Album of the Year Grammy. Lamar, an early and committed advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement, hasn't flinched from controversy in his career - including during his recent vicious rivalry with Drake. Meanwhile, Lady Gaga has been a career-long, unapologetically vocal, ally for the LGBTQ members of society ... and 2025 was a particularly tough one for trans Americans. Enter Wayne Bledsoe and Chuck Campbell, veteran music journalists (and friends) who have been arguing about the Grammys since the 1990s. As hosts of "How We Heard It," they invite listeners to play along during this episode as they make their picks from this year's nominees, choosing who deserves to win and who likely will win. Most importantly, they urge everyone to relax and enjoy the music. We're all friends here.
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Prediction: The Grammys are going to enrage a lot of people
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