20 popular artists who have surprisingly never won a Grammy

Yvette ManesNov 25, 2020, 00:59 IST

Katy Perry, Blake Shelton, and Nicki Minaj are among artists who have shockingly never received a Grammy.Rich Fury/Getty Images, Rick Diamond/Getty Images, and Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Some of the most popular musicians of all time have never won Grammy Awards.
Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj, and Blake Shelton have several nominations but no Grammys.
Rappers Nas, Busta Rhymes, and Tupac all have at least one nomination but zero wins.
Legends like Diana Ross, Jimi Hendrix, and The Beach Boys never won a Grammy, but they did receive lifetime achievement awards from the Recording Academy.

Since 1959, the Grammy Awards have recognized the most talented musicians of the year.

It's often assumed that all of the legendary hit-makers have taken home a statuette or two — but there are actually quite a few iconic artists who seem to narrowly lose out year after year.

Read on for 20 talented artists who have never been awarded a Grammy, ranked by how many nominations they've received.

Brian McKnight has 17 nominations but no wins.

R&B singer Brian McKnight has been nominated alongside music icons like Prince. Jonathan Leibson/Stringer/Getty Images

Snoop Dogg has been nominated for 16 Grammys, but he has never taken home the prize.

Rapper Snoop Dogg has never won a Grammy. Richard Shotwell/AP

Björk has been nominated 15 times.

Björk was nominated in 2018. AP

Martina McBride has racked up 14 nominations since 1994.

Country legend Martina McBride has no Grammys. John Shearer/Country Rising/Getty Images

Dierks Bentley has also earned 14 nominations.

Dierks Bentley has been nominated in the country category since 2006. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

Nas has been nominated for a Grammy Award 14 times.

The rap legend Nas has lost to Drake, Jay-Z, and Kanye West. Gabe Ginsberg/Stringer/Getty Images

Katy Perry has 13 nominations but no wins.

Pop singer Katy Perry earned 13 Grammy nominations. Rich Fury/Stringer/Getty Images

Diana Ross has won a lifetime achievement award, but no Grammys.

Diana Ross won the lifetime achievement award at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Busta Rhymes has been nominated 12 times.

Busta Rhymes is another rapper who has lost to Kanye West. Bryan Bedder/Stringer/Getty Images

Nicki Minaj has 10 nominations but no wins.

Rapper Nicki Minaj has earned 10 Grammy nominations. Robin Marchant/Getty Images

Sia has nine nominations but hasn't scored a win.

Singer-songwriter Sia has yet to win a Grammy. Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images

Blake Shelton has been nominated eight times.

Blake Shelton has earned eight nominations in the country music category. Stephen Lovekin/Stringer/Getty Images

Tupac earned six nominations including one after his death.

The iconic rapper received a nomination after his tragic death. Columbia Pictures

Queen has had four nominations but no wins.

Lead singer Freddie Mercury performing in 1982. Hulton Archive/Stringer/Getty Images

The Beach Boys have received a lifetime achievement award but no Grammy.

The Beach Boys backstage at the Grammy Awards in 2012. Larry Busacca/Getty Images

Sammy Davis Jr. has a lifetime achievement award but no Grammy.

Sammy Davis Jr. never received a Grammy award during his career. J. Wilds/Stringer/Getty Images

Dean Martin has a lifetime achievement award but no Grammy.

The singer was given a lifetime achievement award in 2009. Keystone/Stringer/Getty Images

Morrissey has one Grammy nomination but hasn't won yet.

Despite his lengthy discography, the Smiths front man has only been nominated once. Ian Gavan/Stringer/Getty Images

Run-D.M.C. scored a lifetime achievement award but the group never won a Grammy.

The trio lost to Prince in 1986. Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Jimi Hendrix doesn't have a Grammy, but he does have a lifetime achievement award.

Rock guitar virtuoso Jimi Hendrix tragically died the same year he was nominated. Evening Standard/Getty Images

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