Madonna can easily be called one of the greatest pop musicians of all time. Some would give her the title of the most successful female pop artist ever, and at this point, she is an unquestioned legend. It took years, though, for critical applause to catch up with her commercial dominance.
The superstar scored her first Grammy nomination in 1986 for “Crazy for You,” but she did not win a prize until 1992. That year, the superstar took home Best Music Video, Long Form for Blond Ambition World Tour Live. She did not triumph in a true musical category until later in the decade, when Ray of Light was up for multiple honors. The full-length – still regarded as one of her best – won Best Pop Album, while its smash title track took home both Best Dance Recording and Best Music Video, Short Form.
Madonna regularly returned to the Grammys for decades, though she has only won a total of seven prizes. That’s not an insignificant sum, though it is fewer than a number of pop stars who began reaching the charts decades after her, such as Taylor Swift and Lady Gaga.
The Queen of Pop has not been nominated for any honor at music’s biggest night since 2010 – more than a decade and a half ago. That year, “Celebration” brought her back to the Best Dance Recording vertical, though it did not win. With a new critically-applauded and commercially successful release on her hands, it seems likely that Madonna will return to the Grammys — and she may even manage one of her greatest showings yet.
Madonna Could Approach Her Career-Best Grammy Showing
Most years Madonna earned Grammy nominations, she competed in only one or two categories. There were, however, a handful of ceremonies where the singer was up for multiple prizes.
Her most impressive showing came in 1999, when the powerhouse was nominated for five trophies, all connected to Ray of Light. That was also Madonna’s most successful year in terms of winning, as she took home three golden gramophones. Since then, Madonna has never been up for more than three trophies at one ceremony, but Confessions II and its singles may give her a chance to change that trajectory.
Confessions II Seems Like a Strong Dance Contender
Confessions II will almost certainly compete in the Best Dance/Electronic Album field. That arena is special for Madonna, as the original Confessions on a Dance Floor won the same Grammy in 2007.
Madonna may even find her way back to the all-important Album of the Year category with Confessions II. Such a nomination might have seemed unlikely before the full-length arrived, but critics have called the set some of her best work in a long, long time, and there may be a desire to recognize the singer’s longevity and overall career with another one of these nods.
That welcome nod could encourage voters to recognize Madonna’s continued and sometimes pioneering work in the electronic and dance fields – genres that have found their way into the Album of the Year category before.
Madonna Has Several Songs That Could Be Nominated
Several tunes featured on Confessions II could compete in different categories as well as the full-length.
“Bring Your Love” with Sabrina Carpenter, one of the biggest singles from the project, may bring the two women to the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance area. Any of the tracks where Madonna is the only credited performer could theoretically compete for Best Pop Solo Performance, though many will likely be classified in the dance/electronic fields instead.
There are several possible homes in that space, including Best Dance/Electronic Recording and Best Dance Pop Recording, one of the newer honors introduced by the Recording Academy. Among the likeliest contenders from Confessions II are singles “I Feel So Free,” “Love Sensation” and “Danceteria.” Exactly where they could compete – and which ones will earn some love – will depend on what Madonna and her team submit and how the Recording Academy ultimately categorizes the material.
Madonna May Return to the Visual Categories
It is also possible that Madonna may return to the visual fields, where she has won multiple trophies in the past. Throughout her career, the superstar has claimed both Best Music Video, Short Form and Best Music Video, Long Form, winning the latter category twice. The “Bring Your Love” visual could potentially compete, though it may be more about the music than the visuals this time around.
Madonna Might Earn Her Most Grammy Nominations Ever
Madonna already has multiple realistic avenues back to the Grammys with individual tunes and her latest album – and the predictions above do not include the hugely competitive Record and Song of the Year races, though those are a tougher bet.
It is entirely possible that Madonna could rack up several nominations for Confessions II and its singles. It would not be a complete shock if she ended up with enough nods to challenge her career-best five nominations in a single year. Even if she does not reach that mark, any return to the Grammy ceremony after more than a decade and a half away should be seen as a major comeback for the Queen of Pop.