2025 Grammys: Alicia Keys, Deborah Cox and Avery Wilson Nominated in Musical Theater Album Category

In the past year, musical theater has witnessed a notable rise in the representation of R&B and soul acts on Broadway, whether on stage or behind the curtain, gaining acknowledgment from the dedicated community.

At the 67th Grammy Awards, the hard work has led to nominations in the Best Musical Theater Album category for legendary artists, respected musicians, and rising stars.

Alicia Keys, Adam Blackstone, Deborah Cox, and Avery Wilson are among the 2025 nominees in this category, which honors “albums containing greater than 51% playing time of new recordings.”

Blackstone, an award-winning music director, multi-instrumentalist, and bassist shares a nomination in this category with 16-time Grammy winner Alicia Keys.

Hell’s Kitchen (Original Broadway Cast) is featured as one of five nominations. The album includes cast recordings of new and reimagined songs by Keys that are performed in the coming-of-age stage play inspired by her upbringing in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood.

The musical, written by Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz and directed by Michael Greif, debuted at Newman Theater at The Public in October 2023 and transferred to Broadway in March 2024, officially launching in April. Blackstone served as musical director.

Maleah Joi Moon, who played the younger version of Keys, is a principal vocalist nominated for Best Musical Theater Album.

She appears on a majority of the album, including on fresh versions of hits by Keys, such as “Teenage Love Affair” and “If I Ain’t Got You” 

One of the newest tracks, “Kaleidoscope,” the lead single from the Hell’s Kitchen (Original Broadway Cast) album, was released given an official video. It features Maleah Joi Moon and Keys. 

A remix version of the aforementioned track was featured as the signature song for the US Open this year. 

Back to the cast album, Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Kecia Lewis are also recognized as vocalists. Keys serves as composer, lyricist, and producer, alongside producers Blackstone and Tom Kitt.

At the 2024 Tony Awards, Hell’s Kitchen landed 13 nominations, including Best Musical.

Maleah Joi Moon won Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role In A Musical. Meanwhile, Lewis walked away with Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Musical. 

For additional details about the musical and its remaining shows, visit the official website of Hell’s Kitchen.

Wilson and Cox were featured as principal vocalists on The Wiz (2024 Broadway Cast Recording), a companion album for the revival of the 1975 Broadway production for which each starred.

In the stage musical, Wilson starred as Scarecrow, a role previously portrayed by Hinton Battle and Michael Jackson. Meanwhile, Cox took on the role of Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. 

The compilation earns both Wilson and Cox their first-ever career nominations.

It’s worth noting Cox’s 2007 album, Destination Moon, a tribute to Dinah Washington, was nominated for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, but she wasn’t nominated since the award goes to the credited engineers.

On The Wiz (2024 Broadway Cast Recording), Wilson impresses with a jamming rendition of “You Can’t Win,” and Cox astounds with her stunning versions of “He’s The Wizard” and “Believe In Yourself.”

Also nominated under the album as principal vocalists are Wayne Brady, who alternated as The Wiz, and Nichelle Lewis, who acted as Dorothy.

Jordan Joubert, Allen René Louis, and Lawrence Manchester are producers, with Charlie Wilson credited as composer and lyricist.

Following a successful pre-Broadway tour in fall 2023, a North American tour will begin in February 2025. Tickets are available at wizmusical.com.

Catch the 67th Grammy Awards live on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, airing on CBS and streaming live and on-demand on Paramount+.

Hell’s Kitchen (Original Broadcast Cast)

The Wiz (2024 Broadcast Cast Recording)

Best Musical Theater Album

For albums containing greater than 51% playing time of new recordings. Award to the principal vocalist(s), and the album producer(s) of 50% or more playing time of the album. The lyricist(s) and composer(s) of 50% or more of a score of a new recording are eligible for an Award if any previous recording of said score has not been nominated in this category.

Hell’s Kitchen — Shoshana Bean, Brandon Victor Dixon, Kecia Lewis & Meleah Joi Moon, principal vocalists; Adam Blackstone, Alicia Keys & Tom Kitt, producers (Alicia Keys, composer & lyricist) (Original Broadway Cast)

Merrily We Roll Along — Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez & Daniel Radcliffe, principal vocalists; David Caddick, Joel Fram, Maria Friedman & David Lai, producers (Stephen Sondheim, composer & lyricist) (New Broadway Cast)

The Notebook — John Clancy, Carmel Dean, Kurt Deutsch, Derik Lee, Kevin McCollum & Ingrid Michaelson, producers; Ingrid Michaelson, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

The Outsiders — Joshua Boone, Brent Comer, Brody Grant & Sky Lakota-Lynch, principal vocalists; Zach Chance, Jonathan Clay, Matt Hinkley, Justin Levine & Lawrence Manchester, producers; Zach Chance, Jonathan Clay & Justin Levine, composers/lyricists (Original Broadway Cast)

Suffs — Andrea Grody, Dean Sharenow & Shaina Taub, producers; Shaina Taub, composer & lyricist (Original Broadway Cast)

The Wiz — Wayne Brady, Deborah Cox, Nichelle Lewis & Avery Wilson, principal vocalists; Joseph Joubert, Allen René Louis & Lawrence Manchester, producers (Charlie Smalls, composer & lyricist) (2024 Broadway Cast Recording)