Tate McRae Earns First Grammy Nomination Despite Album Being Snubbed
Tate McRae has received her first Grammy nomination, but not for her latest album as many expected. On Friday morning, she was nominated for Best Dance Pop Recording for the song “Just Keep Watching” from the movie F1, which stars Brad Pitt.
Grammy Nomination and Social Media Reaction
McRae shared her excitement on Instagram Stories, writing:
Grammy nominated!!!!!! @recordingacademy.
The track “Just Keep Watching” also earned her wins at the VMAs in September, for Song of the Summer and Best Editing.
Competition at the 2026 Grammy Awards
Her nomination places her alongside major artists such as Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco for “Bluest Flame,” Lady Gaga for “Abracadabra,” Zara Larsson for “Midnight Sun,” and PinkPantheress for “Illegal.”
Album Success and Awards Snub
Surprisingly, her third studio album So Close to What received no nominations despite being her most successful album to date. It became her first No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart and includes singles like “Revolving Door,” “It’s OK I’m OK,” and “Sports Car.”
The album’s promotional tour featured notable performances on SNL, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the VMAs.
Best New Artist Category Explanation
While it might seem she was overlooked for Best New Artist, McRae was ineligible for that category because she had already been submitted three times, which is the maximum allowed.
Summary: Tate McRae scored her first Grammy nomination for a soundtrack single despite her latest, most successful album being completely shut out this year’s awards.
Would you like the summary to be more promotional or neutral?