Tate McRae Earns First Grammy Nomination
Tate McRae has received her first Grammy nomination, but not for her recent album. On Friday morning, she was nominated for Best Dance Pop Recording for “Just Keep Watching,” a track featured in the movie F1 starring Brad Pitt.
Sharing her excitement on Instagram Stories, McRae wrote,
“Grammy nominated!!!!!! @recordingacademy.”
Nomination Details and Competition
The song “Just Keep Watching” also earned McRae two VMA wins in September for Song of the Summer and Best Editing. At the 2026 Grammy Awards, she will compete alongside artists such as Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco for “Bluest Flame,” Lady Gaga for “Abracadabra,” Zara Larsson for “Midnight Sun,” and PinkPantheress for “Illegal.”
Album Success and Snub
Surprisingly, McRae's third studio album, So Close to What, was completely shut out from this year’s Grammy nominations. Despite this, the album is her most successful to date, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. It includes hit singles like “Revolving Door,” “It’s OK I’m OK,” and “Sports Car.”
The album’s promotion featured performances on Saturday Night Live, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the VMAs.
Best New Artist Category
McRae was not nominated for Best New Artist, but this was due to eligibility rules. She had already been submitted for that category three times, reaching the maximum allowed.
Author's summary: Tate McRae celebrates her first Grammy nod for a movie track despite her successful third album being overlooked, highlighting industry nomination rules and surprising outcomes.