The 2026 Grammy Award nominations are out, and at least two contenders are from Upstate New York.
Joe Bonamassa, who was born in New Hartford, N.Y., and grew up in nearby New York Mills, has been nominated for Best Contemporary Blues Album for the fifth time in his career. Bonamassa’s recent album, “Breakthrough,” is competing with Samantha Fish’s “Paper Doll,” Eric Gales’ “A Tribute to LJK,” Robert Randolph’s “Preacher Kids,” and Southern Avenue’s “Family.”
Bonamassa, who first started performing in Utica as “Smokin’ Joe” when he was 12 years old and soon opened for B.B. King, currently lives in Los Angeles. He was previously nominated for Grammys in 2013, 2016, 2022, and 2025, but has never won.
He’s far from having the most Grammy nominations without a win, though. Mastering engineer Chris Gehringer has been nominated 22 times without taking home a trophy, and Syracuse native Post Malone holds the record among recording artists with 18 nominations and zero wins.
Gehringer is nominated for Record of the Year at the upcoming Grammys for his work on Rosé & Bruno Mars’ “APT.” Malone was not eligible this year as he did not release any new music during the eligibility period (Aug. 31, 2024 through Aug. 30, 2025).
Elaine Martone, a Rochester native and Ithaca College alumna, is also among this year’s Grammy nominees. Martone is up for Producer of the Year, Classical, after winning the last two years in a row.
Elaine Martone accepts the award for producer of the year, classical during the 66th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Martone received the nod this round for her work with multiple artists, including the Cleveland Orchestra. Others nominated in her category include Blanton Alspaugh, Sergei Kvitko, Morten Lindberg and Dmitriy Lipay.
Martone, who lives in Cleveland and works for the Telarc record label, founded by her husband Robert Woods, has won six Grammys out of now 14 career nominations. She previously won Classical Producer of the Year in 2025, 2024, and 2007; Best Surround Sound Album for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s “Transmigrations” in 2010; Best Choral Performance for the ASO and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus’ “Berlioz: Requiem” in 2005; and Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group, for McCoy Tyner’s “Illuminations” in 2005. She also previously won a Latin Grammy Award.
Martone was born in Rochester and graduated from Ithaca College in 1979 with a bachelor of music degree.
The 2026 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 1 live on CBS and Paramount+ from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
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