Final Grammy Predictions: Olivia Rodrigo or Tony Bennett? It’s Just Your Everyday 19-Year-Old vs. 95-Year-Old Smackdown
02.04.2022 - 02:23
/ variety.com
Chris Willman Music WriterOlivia Rodrigo would appear to be close to a shoo-in for several Grammys, but when it comes to what’s generally considered the most prestigious prize, album of the year, there’s a serious competitor packing heat, and he’s old enough to be her grandfather’s grandfather.Rodrigo has a decent shot at winning the Grammys’ quadruple crown, for album, record, song and new artist of the year, just as another teen, Billie Eilish, did two years ago. Tony Bennett is the likeliest spoiler, however, of the 19-year-old’s shot at grabbing all the Grammy glory her first time out of the gate.
It’s the 95-year-old legend’s last time in contention (and that’s not being pessimistic about his odds of making it to the centenarian mark; it was announced last year that he’s retired, due to cognitive problems). His last recorded hurrah, a collaboration with Lady Gaga, wouldn’t exactly go down as the most au courant album winner ever, but it would prompt a lot of “awwwws” if it gives him one last hurrah on the world’s front pages.
Really, though, album of the year is still at least a four-contender field, out of the 10 releases that are up for it, With the eternal caveat that the Grammys are much, much harder to forecast than the Oscars, here’s our best attempt at soothsaying what’ll go down Sunday in Las Vegas. (The main telecast begins at 8 p.m./5 PT on CBS, but most of the awards are given out in a pre-telecast that can be seen on the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel.) ALBUM OF THE YEARThe field: “We Are,” Jon Batiste “Love for Sale,” Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga “Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe),” Justin Bieber “Planet Her (Deluxe),” Doja Cat “Happier Than Ever,” Billie Eilish “Back of My Mind,” H.E.R.