‘Barbie’ Conquered the World. Are the Grammys Next?

The Grammy Awards have long faced criticism for spotlighting the work of older, male artists. But at the 66th annual ceremony on Sunday night, young women dominate the nominees: SZA earned nine. The R&B singer and songwriter Victoria Monét picked up seven. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus and the band boygenius all nabbed six. And one very recognizable lady has the most nods of all: Barbie.

“Barbie: The Album,” the soundtrack to the director Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster, will enter Sunday’s pre-telecast and prime-time ceremonies with 11 nominations across seven categories. (In best song written for visual media, four of its tracks will compete against one another.) Five of Billie Eilish’s six nominations this year honor “What Was I Made For?,” her spare, aching “Barbie” ballad, written with her brother, Finneas.

“It’s really cool to be part of the ‘Barbie’ family,” said Eilish, who could win her third record of the year trophy for the song.

“Barbie” charmed viewers at the box office with grosses of $1.4 billion worldwide, became one of last year’s inescapable cultural touchstones and scored eight Oscar nominations. How did its soundtrack become a powerhouse, too?

In terms of attracting talent, “It was Greta, hands down,” said Mark Ronson, one of the soundtrack’s producers, explaining how he conscripted an A-list roster that also includes Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj, Lizzo and Sam Smith. “Everybody admired her work — I feel like there wasn’t anyone who hadn’t seen ‘Lady Bird’ or ‘Little Women’ and didn’t love both of those films.”

Working with Gerwig was certainly part of the allure for Eilish, who first met the director when they were grouped together at a 2019 gala dinner. “I remember being like, ‘Greta Gerwig sitting next to us is so cool,’” she said in an interview. “‘She seems like somebody I would be friends with already.’”