2016 Grammy Awards Nominations: Snubs and Surprises

Let's be honest: We all knew Taylor Swift was going to make an appearance in the 2016 Grammy Awards major categories such as Album of the Year and Song of the Year, but what we didn't expect was that some of her pals wouldn't make the cut at all.

Nick Jonas released his highly anticipated first solo album on Nov. 10, 2014, making it eligible for the awards, but unfortunately for the former Jonas Brothers group member he didn't make the cut. His song "Jealous" was easily one of the biggest hits of the summer, which only adds to our surprise at his snub.

Carly Rae Jepsen's album, "Emotion," didn't make the cut either, much to the chagrin of pop music fans everywhere. With its highly successful singles and commercial success, we were sure that she would fall into at least one of the categories.

Tori Kelly, on the other hand, made the cut for a slot in the Best New Artist category. While it goes without saying that she slays each and every one of her performances, we thought her limited commercial success would keep her off the coveted list. 

Four of the five songs featured in the Record of the Year category were expected, as they are major hits from Swift, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars and The Weeknd. But the fifth song, "Really Love" by D'Angelo and the Vanguard, was a bit out of left field.

Another artist who caught us off guard was Courtney Barnett in the Best New Artist category. While her album, "Sometimes I Sit and Think," received amazing reviews from critics, do people really know her just yet? She certainly isn't a household name, but the 2016 Grammys seem to be honoring truly quality music over pop stars.

PHOTOS: Candid moments from the 2015 Grammys

RELATED: Complete list of nominations for the 2016 Grammys

Copyright E! Online
Contact Us