Who will come out on top at the 60^th Grammy Awards? We take our best stab a picking the winners for the pop, rock, R&B, rap, and country fields.

On November 28, 2017, the nominees/nominations were announced for the 60^th Grammy Awards.  The nominations as a whole represented relevancy, a step that the Recording Academy has been easing into over the last couple of years in particular.  Notably, there’s great diversity in the nominees, with few left-field surprises.  Arguably, this is the best crop of nominations yet because it matches the current musical climate, for better or for worse. Here are The Musical Hype way-too-early picks for the 60^th Grammy Awards in select categories.  These are subject to change.

Pop

Best Pop Solo Performance

“Love So Soft” (Kelly Clarkson)

“Praying” (Kesha)

“Million Reasons” (Lady Gaga)

“What About Us” (P!nk)
“Shape of You” (Ed Sheeran)

Will Win: Lady Gaga, “Million Reasons”

Should Win: Kesha, “Praying”

Dark Horse: Ed Sheeran, “Shape of You”

Comments: Another excellent category where it’s simply not easy to decide.  Personally, this is a three-person race – two women and one man.  Kelly Clarkson shouldn’t be underestimated – she’s pulled off the upset a couple of times.  Still, “Love So Soft” doesn’t seem like a frontrunner here.  Neither does “What About Us,” another brilliant record by P!nk.  That leaves newly-nominated Kesha, Lady Gaga, and darling Ed Sheeran.  

Kesha has a shot thanks to her honesty and vocal chops on “Praying.” Can she beat Lady Gaga, who has her own brilliant performance on “Million Reasons?” Maybe, maybe not.  Then again, both might cancel each other out, or the voters may simply go for the biggest hit of the bunch, “Shape of You” by Mr. Sheeran.

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

“Something Just Like This” (The Chainsmokers & Coldplay)

“Despacito” (Luis Fonsi & Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber)

“Thunder” (Imagine Dragons)

“Feel It Still” (Portugal. The Man)

“Stay” (Zedd & Alessia Cara)

Will Win: “Despacito”

Should Win: “Despacito”

Dark Horse: “Feel It Still”

Comments: This seems like the easiest opportunity for “Despacito” to win.  Still, “Feel It Still” became a big hit in its own right, while “Stay” might be the most fun duo/group performance of the bunch.

Best Pop Vocal Album

Kaleidoscope EP (Coldplay)

Lust for Life (Lana Del Rey)

Evolve (Imagine Dragons)

Rainbow (Kesha)

Joanne (Lady Gaga)

÷ (Divide) (Ed Sheeran)

Will Win: ÷

Should Win: Toss Up

Dark Horse: Joanne or Rainbow

Comments: This seems like the best shot Ed Sheeran has to win at the 60^th Grammy Awards.  Coldplay and Imagine Dragons feel like the odd bands out here. If it’s not Ed, bet on one of the girls, specifically Lady Gaga or Kesha.  The Lana Del Rey nomination makes me happy, but it’s hard to imagine Lust for Life beating out heavyweights Sheeran or Gaga.