Music is a universal human language that can unite people of different backgrounds and ages. Anyone who wants to make a song, no matter how old they are, has a chance to write and record it and put it on the internet, potentially reaching a wide audience.
The Best New Artist category at the Grammys shines a light on young, up-and-coming artists who could be a force in the music industry for years to come. Genres like pop and rap, which young people tend to prefer, mostly have younger artists as nominees.
Twenty-somethings like Ed Sheeran, Justin Bieber, Zedd, Tyler, the Creator, Migos, and Alessia Cara could all be big winners on Grammy night.
Grammy nominees in classical music, a genre that has stood the test of time and can take decades to master, tend to be at the older end of the age spectrum. In the Best Classical Compendium category, two septuagenarian conductors have a shot at taking home the award. The 79-year-old Reinbert de Leeuw is facing off against 76-year-old Jordi Savall, among other nominees.
This year’s youngest nominee, 19-year-old Khalid, has five Grammy nominations: Best New Artist, Best Urban Contemporary Album for “American Teen,” Best R&B Song for “Location,” and Song of the Year and Best Music Video for his collaboration on “1-800-273-8255” with 21-year-old singer Alessia Cara and 28-year-old rapper Logic.
At the other end of the age spectrum, legendary composer Jerry Herman collected his eighth Grammy nomination at the age of 86 for Best Musical Theater Album for “Hello, Dolly!” His first Grammy nod came back in 1961 for Best Original Cast Show Album for “Milk And Honey.”
In order to determine the oldest and youngest 2017 Grammy nominees, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the ages of all Grammy nominated musicians. Nominees were considered only if their nomination fell under the general field or a field specific to a genre such as pop, rap, comedy, spoken word, or classical. The list contains the artist’s age as of January 22, 2018. Some nominees do not have their ages publically available. Deceased nominees were not considered.
Click here to see the oldest 2018 Grammy nominees.
Click here to see the youngest 2018 Grammy nominees.
25. Hans Graf
> Age: 68
> Category: Best Opera Recording
> Nominated for: Berg: Wozzeck
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24. Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens)
> Age: 69
> Category: Best Folk Album
> Nominated for: The Laughing Apple
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23. Rubén Blades: Rubén Blades Con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta
> Age: 69
> Category: Best Tropical Latin Album
> Nominated for: Salsa Big Band
22. Brian Eno
> Age: 69
> Category: Best New Age Album
> Nominated for: Reflection
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21. Murray Perahia
> Age: 70
> Category: Best Classical Instrumental Solo
> Nominated for: Bach: The French Suites
20. Antonio Adolfo
> Age: 70
> Category: Best Latin Jazz Album
> Nominated for: Hybrido – From Rio To Wayne Shorter
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19. Ralf Hutter: Kraftwerk
> Age: 71
> Category: Best Dance/Electronic Album
> Nominated for: 3-D The Catalogue
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18. Bette Midler
> Age: 72
> Category: Best Musical Theater Album
> Nominated for: Hello Dolly!
17. Pablo Ziegler: Pablo Ziegler Trio
> Age: 73
> Category: Best Latin Jazz Album
> Nominated for: Jazz Tango
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16. Leonard Slatkin
> Age: 73
> Category: Best Orchestral Performance
> Nominated for: Copland: Symphony No. 3; Three Latin American Sketches
15. Michael Tilson Thomas
> Age: 73
> Category: Best Orchestral Performance
> Nominated for: Debussy: Images; Jeux & La Plus Que Lente
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14. Andrew Davis
> Age: 73
> Category: Best Choral Performance
> Nominated for: Handel: Messiah
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13. Taj Mahal
> Age: 75
> Category: Best Traditional Blues Album
> Nominated for: TajMo
12. Elvin Bishop: Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio
> Age: 75
> Category: Best Traditional Blues Album
> Nominated for: Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio
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11. Bob Dylan
> Age: 76
> Category: Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album
> Nominated for: Triplicate
10. John McLaughlin
> Age: 76
> Category: Best Improvised Jazz Solo
> Nominated for: Miles Beyond
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9. Charlie Watts: The Rolling Stones
> Age: 76
> Category: Best Traditional Blues Album
> Nominated for: Blue & Lonesome
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8. Joseph Shabalala: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
> Age: 76
> Category: Best World Music Album, Best Children’s Album
> Nominated for: Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration, Songs Of Peace & Love For Kids & Parents Around The World
7. Bernie Sanders
> Age: 76
> Category: Best Spoken Word Album
> Nominated for: Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In
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6. Martha Argerich
> Age: 76
> Category: Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance
> Nominated for: Martha Argerich & Friends – Live From Lugano 2016
5. Jordi Savall
> Age: 76
> Category: Best Classical Compendium
> Nominated for: Les Routes De L’Esclavage
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4. Tigran Mansurian
> Age: 78
> Category: Best Contemporary Classical Composition
> Nominated for: Requiem
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3. Reinbert de Leeuw
> Age: 79
> Category: Best Classical Compendium
> Nominated for: Kurtág: Complete Works For Ensemble & Choir
2. Jimmy Carter: Blind Boys Of Alabama
> Age: 85
> Category: Best American Roots Performance
> Nominated for: Let My Mother Live
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1. Jerry Herman
> Age: 86
> Category: Best Musical Theater Album
> Nominated for: Hello Dolly!
25. 6LACK
> Age: 25
> Category: Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best Rap/Sung Performance
> Nominated for: Free 6LACK, PRBLMS
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24. Chronixx
> Age: 25
> Category: Best Reggae Album
> Nominated for: Chronology
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23. Cardi B
> Age: 25
> Category: Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song
> Nominated for: Bodak Yellow
22. Shy Glizzy
> Age: 25
> Category: Best Rap/Sung Performance
> Nominated for: Crew
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21. Christopher McClenney
> Age: 23
> Category: Best R&B Song
> Nominated for: Location
20. Eric Balderose: Code Orange
> Age: 24
> Category: Best Metal Performance
> Nominated for: Forever
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19. Kali Uchis
> Age: 24
> Category: Best R&B Performance
> Nominated for: Get You
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18. Julia Michaels
> Age: 24
> Category: Song of the Year, Best New Artist
> Nominated for: Issues
17. Goldlink
> Age: 24
> Category: Best Rap/Sung Performance
> Nominated for: Crew
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16. Ben Platt
> Age: 24
> Category: Best Musical Theater Album
> Nominated for: Dear Evan Hansen
15. Elderbrook
> Age: 23
> Category: Best Dance Recording
> Nominated for: Cola
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14. Justin Bieber
> Age: 23
> Category: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
> Nominated for: Despacito
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13. Lil Uzi Vert
> Age: 23
> Category: Best Rap Performance, Best New Artist
> Nominated for: Bad And Boujee
12. Takeoff: Migos
> Age: 23
> Category: Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Album
> Nominated for: Bad And Boujee, Culture
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11. Tyran Donaldson (Antydote)
> Age: 23
> Category: Best R&B Song
> Nominated for: Supermodel
10. Olatunji Ige
> Age: 22
> Category: Best R&B Song
> Nominated for: Location
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9. Daniel Caesar
> Age: 22
> Category: Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Album
> Nominated for: Get You, Freudian
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8. Kehlani
> Age: 22
> Category: Best R&B Performance
> Nominated for: Distraction
7. Brent Faiyaz
> Age: 22
> Category: Best Rap/Sung Performance
> Nominated for: Crew
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6. Alessia Cara
> Age: 21
> Category: Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, Best New Artist
> Nominated for: 1-800-273-8255, Stay
5. Lorde
> Age: 21
> Category: Album of the Year
> Nominated for: Melodrama
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4. Mura Masa
> Age: 21
> Category: Best Dance/Electronic Album
> Nominated for: Mura Masa
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3. Dieuson Octave (Kodak Black)
> Age: 20
> Category: Best Rap Song
> Nominated for: Bodak Yellow
2. Ahjah Walls: The Walls Group
> Age: 20
> Category: Best Gospel Performance/Song
> Nominated for: My Life
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1. Khalid
> Age: 19
> Category: Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best R&B Song, Best Urban Contemporary Album, Best New Artist
> Nominated for: 1-800-273-8255, Location, American Teen
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