Can Paul McCartney Match Taylor Swift's Grammy Record?
At the 2024 Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift made history—in more ways than one. The singer-songwriter’s single “Anti-Hero” competed for Song of the Year, and though it didn’t win, the nod was enough to make it a special bit of recognition for the superstar.
With one more chance to win the prize awarded to the “best” written song of the year, Swift broke out of a tie with several other musicians for the most nominations ever in that vertical. The chart-topper currently stands alone thanks to that feat, but that may not be the case for very long.
Before “Anti-Hero,” Swift was matched with both Paul McCartney and Lionel Richie for the most Song of the Year nominations, with six apiece. Both male songwriters have won the award once—McCartney for “Michelle” by the Beatles and Richie for “We Are the World”—while Swift is still waiting to earn the honor, even though she now claims the most nods of all time.
McCartney is a possible nominee once again this year. The Beatles’ comeback and “final” single “Now and Then” is eligible for prizes at the 2025 Grammys, including Song of the Year. While nothing is certain, it’s entirely possible that Recording Academy voters won’t want to miss out on another chance to reward the most successful and beloved band of all time.
“Now and Then” could very well earn McCartney his seventh Song of the Year nomination. That should be enough for him to reform his tie with Swift…though she’s also a very probable candidate for one of the eight available slots.
Swift has several singles that are eligible for Grammy love, and voters have shown themselves to be huge fans her as well. Her most likely submission will be “Fortnight,” the lead single from her latest full-length The Tortured Poets Department. The tune, which features Post Malone, soared straight to No. 1 on the Hot 100, and so it’s probably what she’ll lead with.
Source: Hugh McIntyre/forbes.com
