SZA, Kendrick Lamar tribute to the great Luther Vandross is poised to win Grammy Awards

A tribute to the late, great Luther Vandross was a big hit for Kendrick Lamar and SZA — and it now might win some big awards.

“Luther,” from Lamar’s “GNX” album and released as a single Nov. 29, 2024, is nominated in the Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories at the upcoming 68th Grammy Awards, which takes place Feb. 1 at the Crytpo.com Arena in Los Angles.

The nominations were announced on Friday, Nov. 7.

“Luther” was also nominated for Best Melodic Rap Performance. SZA, a Maplewood native, has won five Grammys in the past but never a Grammy in one of big four categories, which include Song and Record of the Year. SZA and Lamar’s “Black Panther” song “All the Stars” was previously nominated in the two categories in 2019 but did not win.

The “Luther” Song of the Year entry also recognizes another Jersey talent. Jack Antonoff of Colts Neck is listed as a songwriter along with SZA, Lamar and seven others. Antonoff also picked up a credit for Lamar’s “TV Off” Best Rap Song nom.

(Antonoff, who plays with the band Bleachers and often collaborates with Taylor Swift, additionally picked up a Song of the Year nom for Sabrina Carpenter’s “Manchild.”)

“Luther,” which spent 13 weeks on atop of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in 2025 thanks partly to a romantically interpretive video, contains a sample of Vandross and Cheryl Lynn’s 1982 cover of “If This World Were Mine.”

Vandross was the R&B and pop superstar whose velvety voice was responsible for many hits, including “Never Too Much”, “Here and Now”, “Any Love”, “Power of Love/Love Power”, “Since I Lost My Baby”, “Superstar”, and more. The singer and songwriter suffered a stroke and passed away in 2005 at JFK Medical Center in Edison. He was 54.

SZA and Lamar also received a nom for “30 for 30” in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category and SZA for “Crybaby” in Best Traditional R&B Performance. The pair’s Grand National Tour played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford in May and they also performed the Super Bowl halftime show in February.

Lamar received nine Grammy nominations on Friday; Lady Gaga got the second-most with seven. Gaga’s “Abracadabra” is also nominated in the Song and Record of the Year categories.

As for other Jersey nominees, Cardi B, who lives in Tenafly, received a nom in Best Rap Performance for “Outside;” Orange native Robert Randolph’s “Preacher Kids” scored a nom in Best Contemporary Blues Album; and Bruce Springsteen’s “Tracks II: The Lost Albums” box set picked up a nomination for Best Recording Package. Meghan Foley and Michelle Holme, art directors, are recognized.

Check out all the nominees at www.grammy.com/news/2026-grammys-nominations-full-winners-nominees-list.

Album of the Year

• “DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS” Bad Bunny

• “Man’s Best Friend” Sabrina Carpenter

• “Let God Sort Em Out” Clipse, Pusha T & Malice

• “Chromakopia” Tyler, The Creator

Record of the Year

• “Manchild” Sabrina Carpenter

• “Wildflower” Billie Eilish

• “Abracadabra” Lady Gaga

• “Luther” Kendrick Lamar With SZA

• “The Subway” Chappell Roan

• “Apt. Rose” Bruno Mars

Song of the Year (goes to songwriter)

• “Abracadabra” Lady Gaga. Written by Henry Walter, Lady Gaga & Andrew Watt

• “Anxiety” Doechii. Written by Jaylah Hickmon

• “Apt.” Rose,” Bruno Mars. Amy Allen, Christopher Brody Brown, Rogét Chahayed, Henry Walter, Omer Fedi, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Chae Young Park & Theron Thomas

• “DtMF” Bad Bunny. Written by Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, Scott Dittrich, Benjamin Falik, Roberto José Rosado Torres, Marco Daniel Borrero, Hugo René Sención Sanabria & Tyler Thomas Spry

• “Golden (From “KPop Demon Hunters”)” HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna, REI AMI. Written by EJAE & Mark Sonnenblick

• “Luther” Kendrick Lamar With SZA. Written by Jack Antonoff, Roshwita Larisha Bacha, Matthew Bernard, Ink, Scott Bridgeway, Sam Dew, Kendrick Lamar, Mark Anthony Spears, Solána Rowe & Kamasi Washington

• “Manchild” Sabrina Carpenter. Written by Amy Allen, Jack Antonoff & Sabrina Carpenter

• “Wildflower” Billie Eilish. Written by Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell

Best New Artist

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Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: SZA, Kendrick Lamar Luther Vandross tribute poised to win Grammys