Tyla, the 21-year old South African singer/songwriter, has exquisite timing.
She has broken big just as the Recording Academy added a new category this year, best African music performance. Her global hit “Water” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. Afrobeats Songs chart on Oct. 21, one day after first-round voting for the 66th Grammy Awards ended. On Nov. 10, “Water” was announced as one of the nominees in that category. This week, just two weeks before final-round voting begins, that hit breaks into the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. (Final-round voting extends from Dec. 14 to Jan. 4, 2024.)
Tyla couldn’t have timed her breakthrough, and her song’s emergence as a top 10 hit, better if she had done it all specifically with Grammy deadlines in mind.
Does having a hit right as Grammy voters are making their final selections make a difference? Let’s just say it never hurt.
And Tyla isn’t alone. Here are other songs in this week’s top 40 on the Hot 100 that are nominated for Grammys this year (or are from albums that are Grammy-nominated). We also included two artists with hits in the current top 40 who are nominated for best new artist (Jelly Roll and Noah Kahan).
The numbers shown are the song’s ranking on the Hot 100 dated Dec. 2.
3. Doja Cat, “Paint the Town Red.” Best pop solo performance
5. SZA, “Snooze.” Best R&B song, album of the year and best progressive R&B album (SOS).
6. Zach Bryan featuring Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything.” Best country duo/group performance, best country song, best country album (Zach Bryan)
10. Tyla, “Water.” Best African music performance
14. Morgan Wallen, “Last Night.” Best country song (Note: Wallen isn’t nominated because he didn’t co-write the song.)
18. Luke Combs, “Fast Car.” Best country solo performance
21. Jelly Roll, “Need a Favor.” Best new artist
22. Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson, “Save Me.” Best new artist, best country duo/group performance
23. Olivia Rodrigo, “Vampire.” Record of the year, song of the year, best pop solo performance, album of the year and best pop vocal album (Guts)
27. Chris Stapleton, “White Horse.” Best country solo performance, best country song
30. Miley Cyrus, “Used to Be Young.” Album of the year and best pop vocal album (Endless Summer Vacation)
31. Dua Lipa, “Dance the Night.” Song of the year, best song written for visual media, best score soundtrack for visual media (Barbie: The Album)
36. Billie Eilish, “What Was I Made For.” Record of the year, song of the year, best pop solo performance, best music video, best song written for visual media, best score soundtrack for visual media (Barbie: The Album)
37. Noah Kahan, “Stick Season.” Best new artist
