Jon Batiste leads Grammy nominations Justin Bieber, Doja Cat, H.E.R. closely follow

Canadian musical talent was in the spotlight today at the nominations announcement for the 64th Grammy Awards, as some of the country'sbiggest hitmakers like Justin Bieber and Drake were named, as well as virtuosos in the classical world and behind-the-scenes stars.

But American musician Jon Batiste, the bandleader of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, emerged as the biggest surprise at this year's Grammys: The multi-genre performer and recent Oscar winnerscored the most nominations with 11 on Tuesday.

Batiste earned a nod for album of the year nod for We Are and one forrecord of the year forFreedoma feel-good ode to the city of New Orleans. His nominations span several genres including R&B, jazz, American roots music, classical and music video.

Justin Bieber, Doja Cat and H.E.R. each came away with the second-most nominations with eight apiece by the time the Recording Academy was done announcing its nominees for theJan. 31 show.

Several of Bieber'snominationswere forhis single Peaches, which features Toronto-raised R&B singer Daniel Caesar. It's nominated forrecord of the year, song of the year, best R&B performance and best music video.

Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo haveseven nods each.

The Weeknd nominated despite boycott

The Weeknd'sthree nominations were a surprise to many afterthe pop star saidhe wouldn't allow his label to submit his music. Earlier this year, he calledthe Grammys "corrupt" after he received zero nominations for the last Grammys despite having2020's biggest single, Blinding Lights.

The Toronto artist was nominatedfor his work on album-of-the-year projects, including Doja Cat's deluxe edition Planet Herand Kanye West's Donda.His third nomination was for his appearance on West's single,Hurricane,which also features Lil Baby.

"What I like is the fact that no one is thinking about what happened before, what was the controversy, what was the noise, or where was this artist making music last year," said Harvey Mason Jr., the Recording Academy's CEO.

He said voters focused on the "excellence of music" while considering nominees like Batiste and Kacey Musgraves, whose work also crosses over into different categories.

"The voters are truly evaluating music and not getting caught up in the reputations of any other outside noise or any history of artists," he said. "With that in mind, I think they're voting for things that they are acknowledging as excellence."

Canadians in the running

But Bieber, who is originally from Stratford, Ont., and The Weekndare in good company when it comes to Canadians with Grammy nods this year.

Toronto rapper Drake has two nominations. He's upfor best rap album andbest rap performance, alongside Future for the track Way 2 Sexy.

Cuban-Canadian Alex Cuba is named twice for songs from his latest album Mendo:best Latin pop album and best musica urbana album.

Dan Snaithof Dundas, Ont., better known as Caribou, is named in the best dance/electronic recording category for his single You Can Do It.

Canadian-born Joni Mitchelllandedher 16th career nomination forJoni Mitchell Archives, Vol. 1: The Early Yearsin best historical album.

Montreal singer-songwriter Allison Russell, with three nodstwo for best Americana roots song and best Americana roots performanceforNightflyer and a third for best Americana album, for her debut solo releaseOutside Child.

WATCH |Allison Russell on the life of a middle-class musician:

Allison Russell on the life of a middle-class musician

4 years ago

Duration 0:53

Montreal-born musician Allison Russell says streaming has made it almost impossible to sustain a career as a middle-class musician.

While Edmonton's k.d. lang didn't earn direct recognition from the Grammys, a dance mix ofConstant Cravingby Tracy Young grabbed a nod in best remixed recording.

Toronto director Petra Collins is nominated for helming Olivia Rodrigo'sGood 4 Uin the best music video category.

Toronto producerKevin Howes got a nod for writing the album notes forCreation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthologyin the best album notes category.

Montreal conductor Yannick Nzet-Sguin received three nominations in the best orchestral performance, best opera recordingalong with Canadian soprano Adrianne Pieczonkaand best classical solo vocal album categories, and his as well as Pieczonka's work on the operaPoulenc: Dialogues Des Carmliteshelped generate a nomination for its producer David Frost.

Israel-born cellist Matt Haimovitz,who is based in Canada and the U.S., is nominated for his contribution to Unexpected Shadows in the best classical solo vocal album category, as well as he performed onGlass: AkhnatenandPrimavera I - The Wind, projects in the producer of the year category by Frost.

Notable mentions go to Calgary songwriter Jenna Andrews, who co-wrote the hit songButterfor K-pop supergroup BTS, nominated in the best pop group performance category.

Alessia Cara of Brampton, Ont., is featured on the songHell and High Wateron Major Lazer'sMusic is the Weapon, up forbest electronic album.

Changing voting process, categories

Recording Academy CEOMason Jr. said he was pleased with the new peer-driven voting system.He instituted the 10-3 initiative which allows the academy's more than 11,000 members to vote for up to 10 categories in three genres. All voters can vote for the top four awards.

The new system replaced the anonymous nominations review committeethat determined contenders for key awards. Some claimed committee members favoured projects based on personal relationships and promoted projects they favoured and worked on.

"I know we didn't get every single one perfect," hesaid. "I know there will be some people that feel left out or that we missed a nomination here or there. That makes me sad because I don't want anybody to have that feeling. But I do feel like we're heading in the right direction. I'm pleased with the way our voters did the work."

For the first time, the academy expanded the number of nominees in the general field categories from eight to 10. The change impacts categories such as record, album, song of the year and best new artist.

Vying for the top awards

Other album of the year nominees include: Bieber's Justice (Triple Chucks Deluxe),Eilish's Happier Than Ever,West's Donda,Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga's Love for Sale,Olivia Rodrigo's Sour,Taylor Swift's evermoreand Lil Nas X's MONTERO.

Batistepicked up a bid in the best score soundtrack for visual media category for his work on Pixar's Soul,which won him an Oscar for best score earlier this year. Coming into Tuesday, he had three Grammy nominations but no wins yet.

Batiste will compete for record of the year against Bennett & Gaga's I Get a Kick Out of You,ABBA's I Still Have Faith in You,Bieber's Peachesfeaturing Daniel Caesar and Giveon, Brandi Carlile's Right on Time,Doja Cat's Kiss Me Morewith SZA, Lil Nas X's MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name),Rodrigo's drivers license,Eilish's Happier Than Everand Leave The Door Openby Silk Sonic the super duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak.

Rapper Jay-Z, who was nominated for three Grammys on Tuesday, now has the most nominations of all time with 83, moved past Quincy Jones, who has been nominated 80 times.