Grammy Album of the Year Winners

Every Album of the Year since the first Grammys in 1959, newest first. Rumours, Thriller, 21, Cowboy Carter — the record industry’s own verdict, one a year.

68 titles

Debí Tirar Más Fotos (2025), Bad Bunny
A love letter to Puerto Rico: its sounds, its history, its people being priced out. The first all-Spanish-language Album of the Year winner. Reggaeton, plena, salsa: a homecoming record that became a statement.
COWBOY CARTER (2024), Beyoncé
The country album the Recording Academy finally acknowledged after decades of locking Black artists out of the genre's categories. Her first Album of the Year, on her fifth nomination. "TEXAS HOLD 'EM" led it. The win felt overdue and well-timed at once.
Midnights (2022), Taylor Swift
Her fourth AOTY win, a record; Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder, and Paul Simon each won three. Her fourth in fourteen years. Either the Recording Academy knows what the public wants, or the Recording Academy is the public. Possibly both.
Harry's House (2022), Harry Styles
The win that reopened a decade-old conversation about who the Grammys are for. Nominated alongside Beyoncé's Renaissance, Adele's 30, Kendrick's Mr. Morale. Harry Styles took it home. The discourse lasted a year.
We Are (2021), Jon Batiste
Nominated alongside Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, Lil Nas X, and Doja Cat. The Recording Academy made a choice that surprised everyone, including, reportedly, Jon Batiste. A genuinely good album that entered a conversation it didn't start.
folklore (2021), Taylor Swift
The pandemic indie-folk album that critics had called her best work. Her third AOTY. The one where the Recording Academy and the music press were briefly in agreement.
WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? (2019), Billie Eilish
The youngest artist to win AOTY at the time, at eighteen. An album she made in her brother's bedroom. "bad guy," "bury a friend," "when the party's over." One of the least contested wins of the decade.
Golden Hour (2018), Kacey Musgraves
Country-pop that the country establishment didn't play on radio and the pop establishment didn't fully claim either. Won anyway. "Butterflies," "Rainbow," "Happy & Sad." A surprise that felt inevitable in retrospect.
24K Magic (2016), Bruno Mars
The year it won over Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. Bruno Mars made a polished, joyful funk- pop record; Kendrick made the Pulitzer Prize album. The Recording Academy swept the night for Bruno. It remains a talking point.
25 (2015), Adele
Her second AOTY. The album that sold 3.4 million copies in its first week in the US. "Hello" as the lead single. The Grammys gave it to Adele; Beyoncé's Lemonade was the year's most discussed album. Another year, another conversation.
1989 (2014), Taylor Swift
Her full pop pivot. It won about sixteen months after release. The album's argument, that pop could be art, was already won by the time she accepted.
Morning Phase (2014), Beck
Won over Beyoncé's self-titled surprise album. A quiet Beck folk record beating Beyoncé remains the Grammy moment of the 2010s, even if Morning Phase is genuinely excellent.
Random Access Memories (2013), Daft Punk
"Get Lucky" as the summer of 2013. Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers, Giorgio Moroder. A love letter to studio-era funk that became a cultural event. One of the least controversial wins in Grammy history for a record that deserved it.
Babel (2012), Mumford & Sons
Won over Frank Ocean's Channel Orange. This is what people mean when they say the Grammys are behind. Babel is fine. Channel Orange is a landmark.
21 (2011), Adele
"Rolling in the Deep," "Someone Like You," "Set Fire to the Rain." An album that sold thirty-one million copies worldwide. The Grammys gave her six in one night. One of the most commercially justified wins on the list.
The Suburbs (2010), Arcade Fire
The first indie-rock Album of the Year. The year the Grammys surprised everyone who had written them off. Arcade Fire over Katy Perry, Eminem, Lady Antebellum, and Lady Gaga. The win that made people believe the Recording Academy could.
Fearless (2008), Taylor Swift
Her first AOTY, at twenty, the youngest winner at the time. Beyoncé's I Am... Sasha Fierce was also nominated. The start of the most decorated run in the category's history.
Raising Sand (2007), Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
A roots collaboration produced by T Bone Burnett. Won over Coldplay, Lil Wayne, Ne-Yo, and Radiohead's In Rainbows. The most niche AOTY win of the century. Not many people would have it in their top five.
River: The Joni Letters (2007), Herbie Hancock
A jazz tribute to Joni Mitchell. Won over Amy Winehouse's Back to Black and Foo Fighters. The Grammys gave their biggest prize to a jazz album. This happens very rarely and always generates conversation.
Taking the Long Way (2006), Dixie Chicks
The comeback album after country radio banned them for criticizing George W. Bush. Won five Grammys including AOTY. One of the most politically loaded wins on the list. The Recording Academy making a statement.
How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (2004), U2
Their second AOTY, for an album most people consider mid-tier U2. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" as the ballad. Won over Mariah Carey and Gwen Stefani. The conversation was brief and has not resumed.
Genius Loves Company (2004), Ray Charles
A posthumous duets album released after Ray Charles died. Eight Grammys including AOTY. The sentiment was genuine; the album is mostly a historical document. Nobody argues it was the best album of 2004.
Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003), OutKast
A double album: Big Boi's trunk rap on one disc, André 3000's avant-funk on the other. "Hey Ya!" and "The Way You Move" from a single release. The most artistically ambitious AOTY winner of the century.
Come Away with Me (2002), Norah Jones
Piano jazz and country-folk from a twenty-two year old in her debut year. Eight Grammys. The sleeper hit that defined "adult contemporary" for a decade. Still sounds like a Sunday morning in 2003.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2011), Various Artists
Appalachian folk and country assembled by T Bone Burnett for the Coen Brothers film. "Man of Constant Sorrow" as the breakout. Sold eight million copies. The Grammy win brought roots music to a mainstream audience that didn't know it existed.
Two Against Nature (2000), Steely Dan
Won over Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP, Beck's Midnite Vultures, Paul Simon's You're the One, and Radiohead's Kid A. Steely Dan's first new album in twenty years took Album of the Year over Kid A. This is still mentioned.
Supernatural (1999), Santana
Nine Grammys, including AOTY and Record of the Year. "Smooth" with Rob Thomas. A career-reviving blockbuster that swept the night. Thirty million copies sold. The 2000 Grammys were a party for Carlos Santana and everyone else was watching.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998), Lauryn Hill
Time Out of Mind (1997), Bob Dylan
Falling into You (1996), Celine Dion
Jagged Little Pill (1995), Alanis Morissette
MTV Unplugged (1994), Tony Bennett
The Bodyguard (1992), Whitney Houston
Unplugged (1992), Eric Clapton
Unforgettable... with Love (1991), Natalie Cole
Back on the Block (1989), Quincy Jones
Nick of Time (1989), Bonnie Raitt
Faith (1987), George Michael
The Joshua Tree (1987), U2
Graceland (1986), Paul Simon
No Jacket Required (1985), Phil Collins
Can't Slow Down (1983), Lionel Richie
Thriller (1982), Michael Jackson
Toto IV (1982), Toto
Double Fantasy (1980), John Lennon & Yoko Ono
Christopher Cross (1979), Christopher Cross
52nd Street (1978), Billy Joel
Saturday Night Fever (1977), Bee Gees
Rumours (1977), Fleetwood Mac
Songs in the Key of Life (1976), Stevie Wonder
Still Crazy After All These Years (1975), Paul Simon
Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974), Stevie Wonder
Innervisions (1973), Stevie Wonder
The Concert for Bangladesh (1971), George Harrison
Tapestry (1971), Carole King
Bridge over Troubled Water (1970), Simon & Garfunkel
Blood, Sweat & Tears (1969), Blood, Sweat & Tears
By the Time I Get to Phoenix (1967), Glen Campbell
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967), The Beatles
A Man and His Music (1986), Frank Sinatra
September of My Years (1965), Frank Sinatra
Getz/Gilberto (1964), Stan Getz & João Gilberto
The Barbra Streisand Album (1963), Barbra Streisand
The First Family (2021), Vaughn Meader
Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961), Judy Garland
The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart (1960), Bob Newhart
Come Dance with Me! (1959), Frank Sinatra
The Music from Peter Gunn, Henry Mancini