Grammys: Who Wins Big in The 2 R&B Performance Categories?
The countdown to get Grammys is less than a week away. This year, the two R&B performance group categories are Best R&B Performance and Best Traditional R&B Performance. It will be a fight to the end with a roster of heavy hitters on the nominees list for both categories. You have music veterans Chris Brown, Lalah Hathaway, and Justin Bieber facing off against newcomer but not a rookie Leon Thomas and Kehlani.
Best R&B Performance Showdown
The first category in Field 3: R&B, Rap & Spoken Word Poetry is category 20, Best R&B Performance. On the lineup is “Yukon” by Justin Bieber, “It Depends” by Chris Brown featuring Byson Tiller, “Folded” by Kehlani, “Mutt (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)” by Leon Thomas, and “Heart of a Woman” by Summer Walker.
Justin Bieber- “Yukon”
Bieber stepped back into the spotlight like he never left with the release of his 2025 album, SWAG, featuring the hit song “Yukon,” and surprised the world with the release of SWAG II. Not only is the “Never Say Never” singer nominated for four awards, but he is also one of the headliners at Coachella 2026.
Chris Brown- “It Depends” featuring Byson Tiller
Brown is another artist who dominated 2025, reminding the entertainment world that he is at the top. 2025 marked the 20th anniversary of the release of Brown’s first album, and to celebrate, he sold out stadiums worldwide with the “Breezy Bowl World Tour.”
But before going on tour, Brown had everyone dancing to the hit song “It Depends,” featuring Bryson Tiller. “It Depends” quickly became a fan favorite after Breezy teased the track on Instagram. The lyrics are catchy, but what instantly stands out is the track’s sampling of Usher’s 90s hit, “Nice and Slow.”
Kehlani- “Folded”
“Folded” by Kehlani is another song that had a viral moment. The love song was covered by mega artists like Toni Braxton and Tank. “Folded” is Kehlani’s highest charting song, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and earned two Grammy nominations.
Kehlani used her success from the song “Folded” to help single mothers. The “Worst Behavior” singer opened a pop-up laundry mat in several cities, offering free services to single mothers.
Summer Walker – “Heart of a Woman”
Walker is going head-to-head with Khalani, nominated for the same two categories this year. After almost five years, the “Girls Need Love” singer released the second part of the album, Over It, with Finally Over It. Outside of her messy situationship, Walker’s talent for penning a love song is unmatched.
Leon Thomas- “Mutt (Live From NPR’s Tiny Desk)”
From behind the mic to in front of the mic, Leon Thomas had a breakout year in the music industry in 2025. The “Victorious” star’s viral hit “Mutt” took the airwaves and social media by storm. The track “Mutt” was the debut song on the sophomore album of the same name.
Thomas’ success has earned him six Grammy nominations in 2026, including one for Best New Artist. How many awards will the “Yes It Is” artist take home?
Traditional R&B Titans Compete
The second R&B performance award is category 21: Best Traditional R&B Performance. The difference between a traditional performance and a regular performance is that traditional R&B focuses on the classical and soul elements of the genre over a contemporary sound. The nominees are “Here We Are” by Durand Bernarr, “Uptown” by Lalah Hathaway, “Love You Too” by Ledisi, “Crybaby” by SZA, and “Vibes Don’t Lie” by Leon Thomas.
Durand Bernarr – “Here We Are”
Bernarr is on the nomination list for three awards at the Grammy Awards 2026. Bernarr is another artist who has put in work in the music background. Bernarr has released songs since 2014 and has sung backup for soul artists The Internet, Ari Lenoxx, Anderson Pakk, and Erykah Badu.
Lalah Hathaway – “UpTown”
Hathaway is no stranger to the categories for Best Traditional R&B Performance. In 2015 and 2016, Hathaway took home the Grammy Award. According to Hathaway’s Grammy profile, she has won five Grammys and received 13 nominations throughout her career.
Ledisi – “Love You Too”
Will 2026 be the year Ledisi wins another Grammy? Despite contributing to the R&B music scene for almost 20 years, Ledisi has won only one Grammy with 14 nominations. Like Hathaway, Ledisi also has a Grammy in the category for best traditional R&B performance.
SZA – “Crybaby”
SZA is in for a big night at the Grammys, outside of her nomination for Best Traditional R&B Performance. She is nominated for three major categories. The “Broken Clock” singer’s collaborations with Kendrick Lamar have earned nominations for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year.
Leon Thomas – “Vibes Don’t Lie
Get used to seeing Thomas’s name; he is nominated again in another R&B category. Thomas is nominated in four out of five R&B categories. Thomas will also join the nominees at the Grammys for Best New Artist on stage for a performance.
Your Grammy Viewing Guide
Find out who will win on Sunday, Feb. 1, live on CBS, Hulu+ Live TV, and YouTube TV at 8 p.m. EST. If you have a Paramount+ Premium plan, you can watch the Grammys live. With the Paramount+ Essential plan, you can stream the award show the next day.
