The 2026 Grammy nominations include some unexpected names, including Timothée Chalamet and Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Dalai Lama and Steven Spielberg. HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 02: Timothée Chalamet attends the 97th Annual Oscars at Dolby Theatre on March 02, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
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The list of nominees for the 2026 Grammys features many of today’s biggest stars at the top of the bill. Artists like Kendrick Lamar, Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter lead the pack with not only the greatest number of chances to win, but also nods in the biggest fields.
As is the case every year, the complete ranking of nominees across all 95 categories features several surprises, including a number of creatives who likely never expected to be in the running for music’s biggest honor — as well as a handful well-known figures who have historically had little to no connection to the music industry whatsoever.
And yet, they are now Grammy nominees. Here are five of the most surprising first-time Grammy nominees.
Timothée Chalamet Nominated For Bob Dylan Movie ‘A Complete Unknown’
Timothée Chalamet earns his first Grammy nomination this year thanks to his role in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. The accompanying album, on which Chalamet sings, is one of five potential champions in the Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media category.
Interestingly, Chalamet is the only named artist in the running, as the other four potential winners — F1: The Album, KPop Demon Hunters, Sinners and Wicked — have yet to list any specific producers or performers. That’s not unusual for this field and will likely change in the coming weeks.
Chalamet was nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars earlier this year for A Complete Unknown, though Adrien Brody took home the honor for The Brutalist. The actor may have another shot in just a few months, as he’s already earning rave reviews for Marty Supreme.
Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson Earns A Grammy Nomination
While it comes with one of the least sexy titles, one of the more exciting categories at the Grammys is Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording, which has changed names throughout the years. The trophy goes to the person who does the best job narrating an audiobook, and often the field is packed with well-known stars vying for a Grammy, even though they’re not typically connected to music.
Memoirs are popular in this category, and this year, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson earns a chance to win thanks to her book Lovely One, which she narrated herself.
The Dalai Lama Nominated For Audio Book
DHARAMSHALA, INDIA – JULY 06: The Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
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There are multiple surprises in the Best Audio Book, Narration and Storytelling Recording category this year, as is usually the case. In addition to a Supreme Court justice, the Dalai Lama himself could add to his already impressive list of awards and honors with a Grammy in just a few weeks.
He narrated his book Meditations: The Reflections of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which Recording Academy voters have selected as one of the five best audiobooks of the past eligibility period. The 90-year-old religious leader is now one of the oldest Grammy nominees in history.
Oscar-Winner Steven Spielberg Nominated For Grammys
Steven Spielberg, one of the most successful people in entertainment history, earns his first Grammy nomination this year. The 23-time Oscar nominee and three-time winner becomes a Grammy contender alongside longtime partners Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy in the Best Music Film category.
Music by John Williams, which chronicles the career of the celebrated composer, with whom Spielberg has worked on many of his most famous films, is competing against visual releases tied to artists like Devo, Raye, Diane Warren and Pharrell Williams.
Spielberg has now been nominated for all four of the EGOT awards, though he has yet to win a Tony or a Grammy.
Michael Polansky – Lady Gaga’s Fiancée – Earns A Nomination
If you don’t know the name Michael Polansky, don’t feel bad. He’s not known as a musician, but rather, for being Lady Gaga’s fiancée. In the years the two have been together, Polansky has become involved in many of his beau’s creative endeavors, including her most recent album Mayhem. As a co-writer on multiple tracks on the set, such as “Blade of Grass,” “The Beast,” “Vanish Into You” and single “Disease” – which is up for Best Pop Solo Performance – Polansky scores a nod for Album of the Year.
The 2026 Grammy Awards will air live on both CBS and Paramount+ on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2025/11/07/timothe-chalamet-steven-spielberg-and-a-supreme-court-justice-first-time-grammy-nominees/
