2025 Grammy Predictions: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Nominees

Just weeks after finally being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cher could receive a Grammy nomination for Best Traditional Pop Vocal album for her first holiday album. Christmas. Nominations will be announced on Friday, November 8.

The worlds of rock 'n' roll and traditional pop were once far apart, but those worlds have been merging in recent years as genre lines blur. Six Rock Hall artists have won Grammys in this category – Joni Mitchell (for Both sides now), Rod Stewart (Stardust: The Great American Songbook, Volume III), Paul McCartney (Kisses on the bottom), Willie Nelson (Summer: Willie Nelson sings Gershwin and my way a tribute to Frank Sinatra), Elvis Costello (Look nowwith the crooks) and James Taylor (American Standard).

If Cher's album wins when the Grammy Awards are announced on Feb. 2, it would be the first holiday album to ever win in the category, though many have been nominated.

Cher has won just one Grammy during her six-decade career – best dance recording for the 1999 megahit. “Believe.” Her nominations date back to 1965, when Sonny & Cher were nominated for Best New Artist.

Cher is up for a nomination in the traditional pop category with Stephanie J. Block, who portrayed the icon in The Cher show on Broadway in 2019, winning a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Block is represented with her own Christmas album, Merry Christmas, my love. (The title track is a cover of the ballad made famous by the Carpenters in 1970.)

Several other Christmas albums are up for nominations, including Brandy's Christmas with cognacJohnny Mathis Christmas time is hereSeth MacFarlane & Liz Gillies' We wish you the happiestGregory Porter's Christmas wish and Jim Brickman Brickman sings Christmas. Brandy has received 12 Grammy nominations over the years, winning for “The boy is mine” Her Billboard Hot 100 collaboration with Monica. This would be her first nomination in this category.

Mathis is nominated four times in this category. It was proposed in 1991, the year the category was introduced. But Mathis' history with the Grammys goes back much further than that. He received his first nomination in 1960, the third year of the Grammys, for his outstanding recording “Misty.” Shockingly, Mathis, 89, has yet to win a Grammy in the competition. In 2003 he received a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy.

MacFarlane is a three-time nominee in this category. This is his second collaboration with Gillies.

Stewart is running for a nomination with Swing Fevera collaboration with Jools Holland. Stewart is a five-time nominee in this category, winning once.

Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends: A Celebration (Live at the Sondheim Theater) is a strong contender. Last year, two of the nominees in this category saluted the legendary Broadway composer, who died in 2021 at the age of 91. Liz Callaway was nominated for To Steve With Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim. A collection of various artists, Sondheim Unplugged (The New York City Sessions), Vol. 3it was proposed last year as well. “Old Friends,” which forms part of the new collection's title, is a highlight of Sondheim's 1981 performance Merrily We Roll Alongwhich won a Tony for best musical revival in June.

Another celebration of legendary Broadway composers is on the lineup — My favorite things: The Rodgers & Hammerstein 80s^u Anniversary Concert (Live from Theater Royal Drury Lane/ 2023.

Broadway legend Patti LuPone joins A life in notes. LuPone won Tonys for her performances in Evita, Gypsy and Company. Ben Platt, who won a Tony, Daytime Emmy and Grammy for Dear Evan Hansen and related works, introduced with Honeymind. Nine-time Grammy winner Dave Cobb was one of the album's producers.

Featuring Raye & the Heritage Orchestra My 21st Century Symphony (Live at the Royal Albert Hall). Raye has a good chance of getting a Best New Artist nomination next week. He picked up six Brit Awards in March.

Two albums by previous Best New Artist Grammy winners are up for nominations — Norah Jones Visions and by Paula Cole Id. Jones has received two nods in this category.

Janis Siegel and Yaron Gershovsky enter together The Colors of my Life. Siegel is a nine-time Grammy winner for her work with Manhattan Transfer. Straight No Chaser has two albums on the tracklist – Proof of the 90s and Magazine sock.

Other notable albums on the 78 album list include Crowded House's gravity stairs, By Toby Gadd Piano Diaries – The Hits, Gaither Vocal Band's let me be there Il Divo's XX: 20th Anniversary album, by Joe Jackson Mr. Joe Jackson presents Max Champion in “What a Racket!”, by Ingrid Michaelson For the Dreamers, Steven Pasquale with John Pizzarelli Some other time and The Sound of Rusic from his cast Rupaul's Drag Race.

Our fearless prediction

Cognac, Christmas with cognac

Cher, Christmas

Ben Platt, Honeymind

Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Sondheim's Old Friends: A Celebration (Live at the Sondheim Theater)

Rod Stewart & Jools Holland, Swing Fever